Bosnia-Herzegovina

[BA] Editorial Principles of the Public Broadcasting Service

IRIS 2003-6:1/10

Dusan Babic

Media Analyst, Sarajevo

In early May, the Editorial Principles of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in Bosnia-Herzegovina were adopted. The PBS in Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of the state-based Federal RTV B-H (FTV B-H) and Radio Television of Republika Srpska (RT RS), and of RTV B-H, serving as a countrywide broadcaster.

The Editorial Principles set standards which the managers, editors and journalists of the PBS shall respect in their reporting. The guidelines are particularly focussed at helping journalists to act in a more responsible manner. Therefore the guidelines have been derived from the main European professional codes of conduct. However, there are some new approaches, - especially mirroring events post-September 11

- on liability regarding media reporting, e.g. reporting on violence and criminal acts, paragraph 4, or reporting on terrorism and state security issues, paragraph 5.