President of the Republic Extends Support to Efforts by HND and SNH to Help Journalists and the Media

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović has received the head of the Croatian Journalists’ Association (HND) Hrvoje Zovko and the head of the Trade Union of Croatian Journalists (SNH) Maja Sever, who presented him with measures for helping the media sector that has been affected by the coronavirus crisis.

They said that the Government should introduce special measures for journalists and members of the media, since they are not covered by the current ones. The main measures proposal calls for the establishment of a crisis fund through which journalists would be assisted – including non-profit and local correspondents, freelance journalists, photojournalists, cameramen and other media workers – under the auspices of the Agency for Electronic Media. Furthermore, they have proposed that financial assistance of the state to the publishers is done under the condition of no lay-offs or wage cuts, hence protecting media workers. They have also proposed that financial assistance from the state becomes available for part-time journalists and members of the local media.

President Milanović extended his support to the efforts by the Croatian Journalists’ Association and the Trade Union of Croatian Journalists to help media workers. He believes it is important to protect and promote media independence, especially in times of crisis.