The Croatian Journalists' Union (SNH) called on all members, journalists and media workers in Croatia on Friday to mark tomorrow's World Press Freedom Day with a symbolic action "Five Minutes of Thunderous Silence" to draw attention to the need for better protection of journalists and journalism.
"The importance of the right to opinion and expression is recognized declaratively around the world as the basis of the freedom of every person, people and a symbol of true democracy in the country," SNH said in a press release, ahead of the action planned for Saturday at 11:55 a.m.
SNH calls on all journalists to suspend their work tomorrow from 11:55 to 12:00, and radio and television stations to suspend their programs for five minutes and read/show a special text. Journalists know best how freedom of opinion and expression is implemented in practice, they added.
"Their job is to mediate between the public and the centers of power on a daily basis so that all citizens can receive timely, complete and objective information about the decisions that the centers of power are preparing for them, as well as those they are hiding," they pointed out.
Without this information, citizens cannot make informed decisions in elections, notes the SNH, and due to its importance in contributing to democracy, journalism has been declared a public good. The union also warns that the journalistic profession in Croatia is characterized by poor working conditions and insufficient salaries.
"The best way to defend our fundamental human right is to organize. We must be aware that our rights and protection depend not only on employers but also on us," they said.
This year's theme for World Press Freedom Day is "Reporting in a Brave New World - The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media".
"Artificial intelligence can be a welcome tool in everyday journalistic work, but on the other hand, new technology opens up the space for great abuses, from the generation of fake news to the use of original journalistic works without copyright regulation," the statement said.
Photo: HINA/Damir Senčar
