The Executive Director of the Media Council for Self-Regulation condemned the threats made against Itana Kaluđerović and expressed concern over the growing number of attacks on journalists.
Without a broader action plan that includes politicians, and without imposing harsh penalties on attackers, the safety of journalists will not improve, nor will they feel more protected, said Ranko Vujović, Executive Secretary of the Media council for self-regulation, on the “24 sata” program on E Television. He emphasized that certain politicians also need to change their rhetoric, which creates space for anonymous individuals to target media workers.
Vujović condemned the threats directed at E TV journalist Itana Kaluđerović, stating that it was just one of many attacks on journalists occurring lately. He pointed out that in the last five years, there have been five times more attacks on journalists than during the 2016–2020 period.
"I believe the number of threats, attacks, and insults is alarming. The attacks are so frequent that it’s hard to even keep track. The time has come for this society to take concrete action," Vujović stressed.
He noted that the threat to journalist Kaluđerović was made under a completely “benign” social media post.
"She didn’t write anything - she simply posted a photo wearing a Montenegrin-style shirt. Apparently, that alone was enough for someone to send her a threatening message," Vujović said.
According to him, a broader action plan is needed - one that includes politicians who, to begin with, should speak out publicly and condemn such attacks.
"Without such a unified effort, journalist safety will not improve, nor will a safe environment for their work be created. Politicians are primarily responsible for this - they must create conditions for the normal and safe work of journalists. Unfortunately, the journalistic profession has been undervalued and degraded for decades. Journalists have the lowest salaries in the country, they receive the least support, and it’s no surprise that they often become targets of individual attacks," said Vujović.
Some Parties Encouraging Threats
Since E TV began publishing a series of investigative stories and reports on political purges within the police, their journalists and editors have come under attack - particularly from Democratic Montenegro, the party that controls the security sector.
Vujović said this situation is unsurprising given that politicians in Montenegro, instead of defending journalists, often attack them and treat them irresponsibly and dismissively.
"E Television is being targeted by certain political parties because it scrutinizes the work of ministries under those parties’ control. Unfortunately, the reality is that our politicians are intolerant of criticism, investigations, and accountability, so they often react nervously and go to the extreme - labeling journalists as criminals, calling them the mafia, and using various insults. These messages, when coming directly from politicians, do nothing to improve journalist safety. On the contrary, they open the door for many anonymous or unknown individuals to feel emboldened to attack people - whether on the street or on social media," Vujović added.
Bad Examples and Good Practice
He singled out the recent work of the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office (VDT), reminding that it had issued instructions to prosecutors on how to handle cases involving attacks on journalists.
"In the last two cases, we’ve seen very harsh penalties handed down for these attacks. I believe this is a rare example of positive practice when it comes to protecting journalists. I think that without strict penalties for attacks on journalists, we can’t make progress in this area, nor will journalists feel any safer," said Vujović.
He believes other branches of government should follow the lead of the VDT and stand united in defense of journalists.
"Otherwise, we’ll have to organize ourselves as a guild and try to defend ourselves. I see no other way out of this situation," said Vujović.
When asked why the Montenegrin prosecution doesn’t act independently in serious cases of attacks on journalists, Vujović said that past years were marked by poor practices, citing examples such as the Basic State Prosecutor’s Office launching proceedings against historian and Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature professor Boban Batrićević over a column he wrote, and the police filing criminal charges against journalist Branislav Mandić.
"These are cases where state institutions, through formal charges, undermine journalists’ work and media freedom. The more recent practices suggest that the VDT is taking this problem seriously, and I believe that if this continues, it could yield results," Vujović said.
Manipulation and Abuse of Duško Jovanović’s Murder
Marking the 21st anniversary of the murder of Dan owner and editor-in-chief Duško Jovanović, Vujović stated that neither the previous nor current governments have done anything to uncover the details of the crime or those who ordered it.
"I believe that the manipulation and abuse of Duško Jovanović’s murder will continue. It is a tragic case - the first and only journalist murder in Montenegro. Over the past 20 years, the investigation has produced no results. The fact that the murder remains unsolved creates space for various abuses, primarily by politicians. It's paradoxical that the parliamentary inquiry committee investigating the case was formed by a government that already has all the institutions and mechanisms needed to solve it. Unfortunately, it all comes down to talk within that committee - where politicians sit, despite having no mechanisms at all. I fear it is purely political theater and an exploitation of the murder, which will lead nowhere," Vujović concluded.
Source: etv.me
