Politicians must accept public criticism and tolerate the work of journalists, because no one forced them into politics, said Ranko Vujović, Secretary of the Media Council for Self-Regulation (MSS), appearing on the show "At the End of the Day" on Television E.
“Politicians have a duty to accept that journalists must oversee their work. That is the role of the media and the foundation of any democratic society. Without such oversight, we would end up in autocracy,” Vujović emphasized.
Speaking about the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day, which was hosted this year by Belgium, Vujović said that a multi-day international conference was held in Brussels, focused on the state of press freedom and the position of journalists around the world.
“There were representatives from 180 countries, and the data presented was alarming. For example, one journalist is killed every four days globally. Furthermore, 85% of attacks and murders of journalists remain uninvestigated and unpunished. These are devastating facts that reflect the current state of affairs,” Vujović noted.
He recalled that Reporters without Borders published their latest Global Press Freedom Index on May 3, and while Montenegro was not poorly ranked, the overall global picture is the worst since these rankings began.
“We are witnessing a global decline in democracy, and with that comes a decrease in media freedom, freedom of expression, and all other conditions necessary for the proper functioning of the media,” Vujović added.
He particularly pointed to the negative consequences of the United States withdrawing from international initiatives that supported independent media in underdeveloped countries.
“This has left those media outlets stranded, and authoritarian regimes have welcomed the opportunity to crack down on free voices,” said Vujović.
Public Office Requires Accountability
Commenting on politicians’ attitudes toward the media, Vujović stressed that holding public office is a personal choice—and one that carries responsibility, including exposure to criticism.
“Politicians must accept that they are subject to public scrutiny, and that journalists can make mistakes. If they can’t handle being mentioned in the media, then perhaps politics is not for them. They are not children, nor are they in kindergarten—they hold serious political positions. If they don’t understand that, then they shouldn’t be seeking the public’s trust,” Vujović concluded.
Soirce: etv.me
