Journalist Nemanja Živaljević announced that he is no longer a member of TV Newsmax Balkans.
As he stated in the statement, he decided to do so because of the direct censorship he experienced, which was informed to the public by former Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić.
"In my many years of professional engagement, I have always opposed any form of censorship. My closest associates and superiors know this. As a journalist and editor, I have tried to report credibly and accurately to citizens on current issues, to be part of independent, impartial and free media, always searching for the 'light of truth'. "I would like to emphasize that the editorial staff of TV Newsmax Balkans in Podgorica, which consists of experienced journalists from Montenegro, approaches their work in the most professional and ethical manner. This is supported by the fact that all political structures, as well as relevant interlocutors from the civil and academic sectors, were given the opportunity to be heard on the television program. However, I would like to inform the public that I am no longer a member of TV Newsmax Balkans, all because of the direct censorship I experienced, which was informed to the public by Mr. Krivokapić," reads the statement by Živaljević, which was sent from the email address of the Media Union of Montenegro.
Krivokapić accused the "Newsmax Balkans" television station of cutting out parts of the "Perspektiva" show in which he was a guest that spoke about, as he said, an incorrect and surprising statement by Serbian Patriarch Porfiry during his stay in the Kremlin.
Živaljević stated in a statement that he did not in any way contribute to the show with Krivokapić being censored.
"The entire piece was sent to the editorial office in Belgrade, including the part in which the former prime minister spoke about the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the President of Serbia. I did everything I could to prevent censorship, as an editor in the Podgorica editorial office, but to no avail. This is also proven by the business correspondence with the superior editorial office in Belgrade, to which I informed that 'I do not support additional editing, i.e. removing part of the interview with Krivokapić. I am not in favor of the other option, not broadcasting the show (...)'. Despite this, the editorial office of TV Newsmax Balkans in Belgrade decided to shorten the show, explaining that it was 'too long'. This action violated my professional integrity and credibility, built over almost 19 years in several of the most important Montenegrin media. I am not part of the 'chain of power', nor did I violate the Constitution of Montenegro, as Mr. Krivokapić pointed out in his public address. Quite the opposite. In this case, unfortunately, I am in the same chain as the former prime minister," said Živaljević.
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He emphasizes that he entered into communication with Krivokapić completely openly, as he did with all other interlocutors.
"With the sincere intention of hearing his position on current topics in Montenegro, but also in the region. I am grateful to him for agreeing to record the interview, but I also apologize for the inconvenience he experienced, which was not my fault. I experienced no less inconvenience," concluded Živaljević.
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