The Complaints Commission of the Press Council in BiH - portal Ekskluziva.ba, 30.01.2013

Number: 032-02/13
Date: Sarajevo, 30.01.2013

ADJUDICATION

The Complaints Commission of the Press Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina

regarding the photo in the article

“Drama in a Trolleybus in Alipasino Polje”

published on the portal Ekskluziva.ba on 25.01.2013

COMPLAINT UPHELD

Breach of the Press Code of BiH:

General Provision

Article 9 - Privacy

In accordance with its mandate, the Complaints Commission of the Press Council in BiH reacted to the photograph in the article “Drama in a Trolleybus in Alipasino Polje”, published

on the portal Ekskluziva.ba on 25.01.2013, depicting a citizen being administered emergency medical assistance by the “Ambulance”.

The Complaints Commission finds a course breach of the Press Code of BiH, because the published photograph along with the sensationalistic headline violates ethics standards and infringe into the privacy of the citizen on the photograph

The Complaints Commission finds breach of General Provisions and Article 9 - Privacy, which stipulates that journalists “shall avoid intrusions into and individual's private life, unless such intrusions are necessary for the public interest”

Within the article “Drama in a Trolleybus in Alipasino Polje”, published on the portal Ekskluziva.ba on, photographs depicting a citizen while he was administered emergency medical assistance by the “Ambulance”. In accordance with its mandate, the Complaints Commission of the Press Council in BiH reacted and found course breach of the Press Code of BiH, being that it was not in the public’s interest to publish the contentious photo. The Complaints Commission of the Press Council in BiH concludes that there it is not in the public interest publish the information on the health condition of the citizen, in accordance with Article 9 - Privacy of the Press Cone of BiH which stipulates that journalists “shall avoid intrusions into and individual's private life, unless such intrusions are necessary for the public interest”

The Complaints Commission of the Press Council in BiH appeals to the editorial staff of the portal Ekskluziva.ba to be mindful of the manner of publishing citizens’’ photographs and to protection of privacy in the future.

General Provisions of the Press Code of BiH: ”Journalists of print and online media in Bosnia and Herzegovina (“journalists” further in the text) have an obligation to the public to maintain high ethical standards at all times and under all circumstances. It is the duty of journalists and publishers of print and online media to respect the needs of citizens for useful, timely and relevant information and to defend the principles of freedom of information and the right to fair comments and critical journalism. Journalists shall abide by commonly accepted social standards of decency and respect for ethnic, cultural and religious diversity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. ”Journalists shall abide by standards of human rights defined by international and BiH acts on human rights. Journalists shall develop the awareness of gender equality and the respect of individuality as the integral part of human rights. Journalists shall protect the rights of the individual, while at the same time upholding the right to information in the public interest. This Code is to be interpreted in light of both aforementioned definitions.”

Article 9 – Privacy of the Press Code of BiH: “Journalists shall avoid intrusions into and individual's private life, unless such intrusions are necessary for the public interest. Topics involving personal tragedy shall be treated with consideration, and the affected individuals shall be approached with discretion and sympathy.”

Members of the Complaints Commission: Chair, PhD Prof. Miodrag Zivanovic; Attorney Drazen Zubak; PhD. Enes Osmancevic; Attorney Nada Dalipagic; Judge Nada Arsenic; PhD Prof. Nada Ler - Sofronic; Editor Fuad Kovacevic; Journalist Faruk Boric and Editor Milan Sutalo.

Chair of the Complaints Commission

PhD Prof. Miodrag Zivanovic

Ekskluziva.ba