The Media Council for Self-Regulation supports the dealing with all issues of public interest in the media, including the one recently tackled by the daily Pobjeda, writing about the work of a betting company. These days, the question of the relationship between the media and the companies with which they do business is once again open to the public. In order to be under pressure, a media outlet does not have to be attacked or sued. Sometimes it is quite enough to lose a job or an advertiser because they published something that someone did not like.
No one needs to say that kind of pressure out loud. It is enough for the editor to know that a critical text can cost money. Then some topics are bypassed, some questions are not asked, and the public is left without the information it should have. Self-censorship is hard to prove, and that is exactly why it is dangerous.
The Media Council for Self-Regulation does not dispute the right of any company to choose its business partners. Business cooperation, however, must not be a reward for favorable writing, nor a punishment for critical reporting or presentation of facts. This applies to state institutions and politicians, but equally to private companies and advertisers.
At the same time, we invite the media to keep business relations separate from the editorial policy. Readers must be sure that a positive text cannot be bought, and a critical one cannot be prevented by withholding the money.
Editorial independence is not a privilege of the media, but a requirement that they do their work for the public, not for those who pay.
Media Council for Self-Regulation
