The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and its affiliate BH Journalists have warned that BHRT, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s state-level public broadcaster, faces imminent closure due to a prolonged financial and institutional crisis. In September, the broadcaster was forced to reduce its programming after its bank accounts had been blocked for over a month, placing more than 700 media workers at risk of losing their jobs. The organisations warn that BHRT’s closure would threaten the functioning of the country’s entire public broadcasting system and undermine citizens’ access to independent and pluralistic information. The EFJ urges national authorities to unblock BHRT’s accounts, ensure the lawful collection and distribution of broadcasting fees, and establish a stable, transparent and independent funding model. It also calls on the European Commission and other European institutions to address the crisis within Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU accession process, linking sustainable public service media to the country’s commitments on media freedom, democratic governance and the rule of law. Read more here.
Source: European Federation of Journalists