The Minister of Culture and Media Tamara Vujović called on all politicians and power holders to always strive to create conditions in which journalists and their work are respected.
She said that journalists ask, inform, control, indicate, criticize, even when it is not safe, when it is uncertain and tense, when there are bad weather conditions.
"At dawn, at night, when the session of the Government, the Assembly is prolonged, when they are exposed to inconveniences, when they feel degraded, when they are attacked - they are there, because the professional task calls," said Vujović.
As she said, it may not always be easy for public officials to answer questions "because they made important decisions, which will affect everyone's lives, and negotiated for a long time to ensure the best possible position for the state and society".
"But do we have the right to deny media workers an answer, or even worse, 'look down on them'?! We don't have it, neither humanly, nor politically, nor because we cannot take away the public's right to know", said Vujović.
She stated that one of the most important duties of citizens is to choose their leaders, but also that they should be informed about what they do while they are in power.
According to Vujović, the only court to which everyone, sooner or later, once every four years or earlier, will be exposed is the court of the public, which ultimately depends on the politician's ability to prove that his public interest is above all others.
"And for the public to understand him and support his policy, it is possible only through two-way communication with citizens, whose media and journalists are mediators," Vujović added.
Precisely because of this, as she pointed out, journalists have the right to ask, and politicians have the obligation to answer.
Vujović said that journalists must not be humiliated, discouraged, intimidated, exposed to any kind of pressure.
"When we don't like how they write about us, we can't intimidate them with criminal charges to silence them. We can't divide them into 'favorite' media and journalists and those we don't like and don't like," said Vujović.
According to her, the government must not look for the "obedient", because that kills journalism and gives rise to political propaganda.
Vujović said that it is up to the decision-makers to ensure free and independent work for all media, to give them space to be critical, to open up the most important social topics and point out omissions.
"Because they constantly remind us of our responsibility, it forces us to be better, to build a better society and with commendable results, as soon as we find ourselves at the door of the European Union," stated Vujović.
She said that journalists who ask are guardians of the temptation of politicians to avoid becoming autocrats if the pressure of governance becomes too much.
"All of us who breathe democracy, strive for it, gather under its flag, give it our best, we fundamentally understand it, we need to strengthen the independence of journalism in Montenegro and create the conditions for journalists to impose government control by asking questions, following our promises and balance in order to curb political ambitions," Vujović pointed out.
She said that, on the other hand, despite all the challenges, objectivity should always be the goal, a set of widely accepted standards that govern everyday journalism.
"That's why only the profession and ethical principles should teach journalists how to work, internal self-regulation to correct and return them to the right path, and not anyone from any position of power," stated Vujović.
As she said, journalists must never forget that and must never put a price on themselves, nor make the slightest compromise, which would in any way threaten and humiliate the profession, which they serve citizens and many whose voices are not heard.
"Politicians, as well as journalists, are responsible for public speech, and therefore they must always remember that they create an atmosphere in society, which spills over to users of social networks, who become broadcasters of what is the main narrative, expressing direct threats and hate speech." said Vujovic.
Media ethics and journalistic codes, as she stated, must never become an outmoded category.
Vujović said that public officials, as well as journalists, are responsible so that everyone lives in a society without divisions, tensions, and negativity.
"I call on all fellow politicians and power holders, especially colleagues from the Government, which is unequivocally democratic and pro-European, to always strive to create conditions in which journalists and their work are respected," stated Vujović.
She added that the fact that those who elected them should be timely, objectively and truthfully informed must be respected.
"Let's not allow the media workers in front of our government, waiting for a solution to a situation of great public interest, journalists in the House of all citizens of Montenegro and those in other public areas, who were denied an answer, to be a picture of the lack of democratic potential to understand their role and importance ", Vujović said.
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