BRATISLAVA, November 5, (WEBNOVINY) – The work of journalists in the era of Robert Fico was more complicated, as mainly the prime minister created a bad public image of the journalists, said Zuzana Krutka, the head of the Slovak Syndicate of Journalists at the organization’s congress taking place on Friday in Bratislava. Krutka thinks this evoked an extremely bad mood in the society. “You know how hard it made your work when you not only encountered reluctance to give you answers to your justified questions, but also offenses and underestimation,” said Krutka to the delegates at the congress. She admits that even among journalists are some who don’t show an ideal professional approach to their work, but she does not consider this to be a reason justifying insulting journalists as members of the profession.
The congress participants also approved the initiative Stand up for Journalism, demanding more influence of the public on public service media. They approached politicians with a request to help increasing the real impact of the public towards how these media are governed, how they manage funds and what they broadcast. The congress also appeals on judges, politicians and employers. The SSN wants the courts to thoroughly consider the sum of financial sanctions for the media, as they endanger the plurality of information to which the public are entitled with liquidating fines. Politicians should acknowledge journalism as a profession and the media as employers should realize that the work of a journalist should ensure him/her a certain standard of living; therefore it is important to improve their pays.
The Syndicate also adopted a new ethical code, as the original one was twenty years old. The codex sets the rules for professional behavior of Slovak Journalist Syndicate members and might also be used as a guideline for other professional and non-professional journalists. The new codex stipulates that a journalist cannot instigate hatred and discrimination based on race, religion, ethnic origin, age, social status, sexual orientation, ideology and gender.
SITA
