A TV Vijesti journalist found herself between a cordon of police firing tear gas and protesters throwing bottles and stones. Danijela Lasic, on September 6, 2021, at King Nikola Square in Cetinje.
"Close encounters" between police and protesters, whose reason for gathering and protesting was the enthronement of the Metropolitan of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) in Montenegro Joanikia, had also happened the day before at Belvedere. Lasica was reporting then, as she says, just a few meters from the blockade and the people who were protesting.
"Behind me were people at the blockades, very angry about everything that had happened in Cetinje in those days. Tired, nervous, betrayed, disappointed... Angry, at that moment, also at the media house I belong to. People were shouting, cursing, at one point they were literally behind my back. I thought I had to be calm and think about what I was saying, and that it was an integral part of the job," the journalist remembers.
She says she is aware that she could have had a “safer location” and that many colleagues have told her that she was unnecessarily exposing herself to danger. She blames herself for not having a gas mask, because “the tear gas was unbearable,” and she had an equally unpleasant experience earlier reporting from the Democratic Front protest in front of the Parliament of Montenegro.
It was during one of these protests that the police threw tear gas at journalists, who later testified that they were wearing "press" insignia and that it was clear to the Police Directorate officers that they were media workers.
And just as in 2021, citizens protesting at Belvedere did not like the editorial policy of TV Vijesti, in 2015, supporters of the then DF opposed the way RTCG reported, so a journalist from that media outlet at the time Ivana Šebek She was prevented from finishing her job. They insulted Šebek with derogatory names.
Ivana Šebek later, while appearing on RTCG's Dnevnik, stated that she and the crew did not feel safe during the protest.
Danijela Lasica says that her decision was to take a risk: "All of these experiences were traumatic to some extent, but I can still say that they are probably the moments in my career that I am most proud of... However, I decided that if I wanted to show the viewers of my media outlet the true picture from the field and report in the best way, then I had to be there. The editorial staff did not ask me to do that, I was even advised to join in from a safe location. The decision was entirely mine," explains the TV Vijesti journalist.
No risk assessment
In Montenegro, there is no practice of risk assessment for journalists reporting from public gatherings and protests. Media outlets often send inexperienced journalists to cover protests, and most media outlets do not have protocols for emergency intervention in case of threats to the safety of journalists in such situations, even though public gatherings carry increased risk for journalistic teams.
Journalist and member of the Commission for Monitoring Investigations into Attacks on Journalists Predrag Nikolić He says that the practice of risk assessment is largely non-existent and that it all comes down to the journalists' own ability to navigate.
"Media outlets should be required to conduct a risk assessment when sending teams to high-risk gatherings, as well as a plan for covering risky events. And at the scene of the event, they should be provided with all the necessary infrastructure and basic protection, and later, if necessary, psychological and legal assistance," Nikolić said.
He explains that in a polarized society like Montenegro's, "some media outlets are perceived as representatives of the 'enemy side', so, depending on the organizer and the type of gathering, this is an additional threat." Nikolić reminds that the amendments to the Criminal Code of Montenegro from 2021 provide greater criminal protection for journalists. Among other things, a new criminal offense of "preventing journalists from performing their professional duties" was adopted. According to him, media outlets should first adopt protocols, and then more efficient cooperation with the police should be established, and journalists who report from protests should be educated.
According to data from the Media Union of Montenegro, since 2014, when they began monitoring, 11 attacks on journalists at public gatherings have been recorded. The last such attack was registered in December 2022. At the same time, 24 direct attacks on journalists, involving physical force or assaults, have been recorded. When it comes to attacks of this type, there is a significant growth trend, as there were eight from 2014 to 2020, and 2021 from 16 to date.
Three years ago, they published “Guidelines for Risk Assessment for Media Activities: Building a Culture of Safety in Montenegro”.
“It was the first attempt to establish standards for the protection of journalists in the field. The national public broadcaster, Radio Television of Montenegro (RTCG), took a step forward by drafting a Risk Assessment Act in February 2023. However, that document does not focus on the specific challenges of journalism, but rather deals with the technical, technological and security aspects of the working environment,” he says. Marijana Camović Veličković from SMCG.
Young journalists particularly unprotected
A survey they conducted last year found that 57 percent of journalists surveyed were unaware of the existence of specific guidelines and protocols regarding workplace safety, while 27 percent believed that such protocols did not exist. Only 16 percent of respondents confirmed that their employer had such policies, but most could not provide specific details.
"Only one in five journalists believes that there are clear instructions when reporting on risky events. Young journalists are particularly unprotected - only 10 percent of respondents believe that new journalists are trained about these risks when they arrive at the newsrooms," they say in SMCG.
The first step towards the safety of journalists at public gatherings, they say, is a systematic risk assessment for any reporting on potentially dangerous events. “Journalists in the field should have the necessary protective equipment, and clear instructions should be created for journalists, including recommendations on the route of movement and mapping of safe zones,” recommends the SMCG activist.
The importance of adequate equipment for journalists at public gatherings is also emphasized by Nikolić, who says that recognisability is necessary, which can be achieved by wearing a vest with the words "press" written on it.
"In addition, when reporting from risky gatherings, there is a whole range of additional equipment: protective helmets, goggles, gas masks, body cameras, various emergency applications... In addition to visible identification, preparation is essential in terms of good planning of event monitoring, coordination of the field team and the editorial office, establishing communication with the police, and adequate attitude and behavior within the event itself with the crowd...", he explains.
At the same time, says Nikolić, it is necessary to educate the public about the role of journalists and the media in society. He cites the experience of Croatia as a good example.
"Two years ago, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of that country, the Croatian Journalists' Association and the Journalists' Union signed a Protocol on the conduct of police, journalists and other media workers at public gatherings of public interest," says Nikolić.
Council of Europe standards and practice in the EU
The Council of Europe has also addressed issues of journalist safety at protests. As media workers are often the target of police attacks or their lack of understanding of the media's work, the Council of Europe has made specific recommendations in a brochure on this issue.
“Law enforcement officers have a constitutional obligation not to prevent or obstruct the work of journalists during demonstrations. Journalists have the right to fair and restrained police treatment of them… Senior police officers responsible for police conduct have an obligation to ensure that all police officers providing security at an event are adequately trained and informed about the role of journalists, especially during public demonstrations…” are some of them.
They also state that "intentional attempts to seize or damage journalists' equipment, or to prevent reporting, constitute a criminal offense, and those responsible for such conduct shall be held criminally liable in accordance with the law. Seizure of printed material, video or audio recordings, etc. constitutes an act of censorship and as such is prohibited by international standards."
The same recommendations state that no special accreditations are required for protests.
In the United Kingdom, an agreement has been reached between several journalist unions and the country's police forces, which provides guidance to the police that they should allow and assist the media to carry out their reporting responsibilities from the scene, provided that the media do not interfere with police activities, and that rules should be agreed for the police to respect press cards as a form of media identification.
France is working on training for police with the aim of facilitating mutual understanding between journalists and the police and ensuring the safety of journalists during public demonstrations.
After several cases of attacks on journalists at public gatherings, the deletion of recordings from the phone of the “Novosti” correspondent from Nikšić, Veliša Kadić, as well as the arrest of several journalists (unrelated to the protests), the Association of Professional Journalists has prepared short recommendations for colleagues on how to behave in such situations. The document, authored by DPNCG lawyer Maja Živković, states that “in the field, a journalist/photojournalist should have a valid, clear and legible ID card, with a photograph, which establishes that he/she is employed by a certain media outlet or media organization, or that he/she works for them on another legal basis.
"A journalist/photographer should always remain calm and professional when approached by a police officer, but without fear, if acting in accordance with the law, and continue reporting/filming, including the interaction with the police. The police cannot take items, data, or recorded material from journalists/photographers...", are some of the recommendations.
SMCG recommends that journalists move in groups of at least two people, as they will be able to protect themselves and help each other in unforeseen situations. It is also desirable that, if circumstances allow, they contact the police before the protest begins, in order to avoid, possibly, identification with the participants of the gathering and be recognized as media workers.
Among them is the advice that “in situations where demonstrations turn violent, it is crucial that journalists do not stand between demonstrators and the police, as this area often becomes the epicenter of the conflict.” Journalists should also prepare in advance for potentially risky situations - from analyzing the atmosphere and assessing possible dangers, to planning safety steps in case of an escalation of violence.
Media outlets must invest in training
Neđeljko Rudović, Director of the Media Directorate at the Ministry of Culture, believes that it is necessary to develop clearer and faster protocols for emergency intervention in situations where the safety of journalists is threatened. This, he explains, includes quickly informing the police and other relevant services, as well as cooperating with human rights organizations that provide assistance to journalists in crisis situations.
“Unfortunately, the practice of risk assessment of journalists when reporting from protest rallies is not sufficiently developed and is not always systematic. Journalists are often exposed to risks, but these risks are not always predictable. The Ministry of Culture and Media, together with relevant institutions, should continue to develop strategies that will help in better risk assessment and increase the safety of journalists in the field. Media outlets must invest in training journalists on safety procedures when reporting from protests,” recommends Rudović.
He says that many countries have developed protocols for protecting journalists, especially in crisis situations. For example, in some European countries, he explains, “there are special units dealing with the protection of journalists, as well as legal obligations that ensure their safety while reporting.”
Interlocutors and standards practiced in some countries indicate the need for newsrooms to work on educating reporters and providing adequate equipment, as well as the need for training the police themselves to understand the importance of journalistic work.
Taken from the website of the Association of Professional Journalists of Montenegro
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