Croatia

[HR] Rumours about Latinica Show

IRIS 2006-3:1/27

Nives Zvonarić

Ministry of Culture, Zagreb, Croatia

In December 2005 the Croatian Radio-Television (HRT) broadcast the Latinica show titled ''The Legacy of Tudjman'' which aroused great rumour in the general public. Latinica is a talk-show which has been broadcasted for years on the Croatian National Television (HRT). The show in question was about the first president of the Republic of Croatia. Broadcast just before a parliamentary discussion on the Report on Business Operations of the Croatian Radio-Television and on the activities of the Programming Council, the show was heavily criticized by members of the Croatian Parliament. They argued that the show lacked journalistic professionalism and balance, that it showed disrespect for different arguments and views, and portrayed a superficial, partial, one-sided and biased discussion on the subject.

The Latinica show was also discussed by the HRT Programming Council which is, under the Croatian Radio-Television Act, responsible for the monitoring of the implementation of the programming principles and obligations stipulated by the Act. It shall, in case of non-compliance, notify in writing the HRT's Director General, the head of the organisational unit, and the programme director, or the news programme editor-in-chief. The Programming Council found that the Latinica show - The Legacy of Tudjman - violated the programming principles of the Croatian Radio-Television, and requested the HRT Directorate to hold the author and host of the show to account.

The Director General of HRT set up a commission consisting of five members who had to watch the Latinica show again to decide whether or not any professional mistakes had been made. Based on the recommendation provided, the Director General of HRT would then adopt a decision. The same show was also discussed by the Ethics Commission of HRT.

The HRT Directorate proposed to the Programming Council to continue the broadcasting of the Latinica show, taking into account the long and successful tradition of the show. It was pointed out that at the organisational level, Latinica and other similar shows, should have a special editor to co-ordinate the work, take part in preparations and finally approve the broadcasting of the show whereby authors and journalists' freedom and right to criticism shall not be limited, and any detected superficiality, prejudice or lack of professionalism shall be eliminated.