Newsroom
OSCE gives backing to new editor-in-chief of Radio Television Serbia
BELGRADE 11 October 2001
BELGRADE, 11 October 2001 (OSCE) - The OSCE Mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is expressing its support to Ms. Bojana Lekic in her new position as the editor-in-chief of the news program of Radio Television Serbia (RTS).
"It is extremely important for the credibility of RTS that the position of the main news editor of the station, after having been vacant for some time, is now filled again by an individual who has clearly won her spurs as a professional journalist. The OSCE Mission, working together with RTS to transform the company into a Public Broadcasting Service, is aware of the huge challenge this presents to all RTS employees and wishes the new editor-in-chief success in contributing to this process", said Stefano Sannino, the Head of the OSCE Mission.
According to Mr. Sannino, "the appointment of news editors in all media but particularly in public broadcasters, is an important element of this and therefore needs to take place according to transparent procedures based on professionalism and non-partisanship".
It is the understanding of the OSCE Mission that these procedures were followed also in all other appointments announced yesterday by the RTS Managing Board.
The establishment in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia of professional and objective public media as one of the pillars of a democratic society is an important objective of the OSCE's activities in the country. In this context, the OSCE Mission calls on the Serbian Government and Assembly to speed up the process of adopting the Act on Broadcasting designed to regulate the situation in the electronic media, set up an independent regulatory body and pave the way for RTS to truly become a Public Broadcasting Service.
"It is extremely important for the credibility of RTS that the position of the main news editor of the station, after having been vacant for some time, is now filled again by an individual who has clearly won her spurs as a professional journalist. The OSCE Mission, working together with RTS to transform the company into a Public Broadcasting Service, is aware of the huge challenge this presents to all RTS employees and wishes the new editor-in-chief success in contributing to this process", said Stefano Sannino, the Head of the OSCE Mission.
According to Mr. Sannino, "the appointment of news editors in all media but particularly in public broadcasters, is an important element of this and therefore needs to take place according to transparent procedures based on professionalism and non-partisanship".
It is the understanding of the OSCE Mission that these procedures were followed also in all other appointments announced yesterday by the RTS Managing Board.
The establishment in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia of professional and objective public media as one of the pillars of a democratic society is an important objective of the OSCE's activities in the country. In this context, the OSCE Mission calls on the Serbian Government and Assembly to speed up the process of adopting the Act on Broadcasting designed to regulate the situation in the electronic media, set up an independent regulatory body and pave the way for RTS to truly become a Public Broadcasting Service.