The Media Union of Montenegro (SMCG) and the Media Institute organized a panel discussion on the position of media workers, on the occasion of the Montenegrin Journalists' Day, which is celebrated tomorrow.
In addition to the organizers, the panel was attended by journalists and photojournalists.
SMCG President Radomir Krackovic congratulated media workers on Journalists' Day, adding that he hopes their position will improve.
He said that the safety of journalists has significantly deteriorated, and that their economic status has not changed significantly.
According to him, there were 33 attacks on journalists last year, of which 18 were attacks on female journalists.
He also claims that 29 attacks on journalists were reported to the Police Directorate last year.
Krackovic said that they also include unreported attacks in their database, as well as other types of incidents.
The Mechanism for the Safety of Journalists, he said, will provide legal and psychological assistance to journalists.
"It is worrying that entire editorial offices were targeted. The economic status has improved in some media, but not at a general level... Long negotiations are underway on a new collective agreement at Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG). Our task as a union remains to negotiate a sectoral collective agreement (GKU)," said Krackovic.
Olivera Nikolić (Media Institute of Montenegro) said that the journalism profession is facing serious challenges.
Poor socio-economic status, he points out, is one of the key problems of media workers.
"Although we have formally good laws and can boast about them. What is written on paper is one thing, but in practice it is different...".
She said that there is great pressure on the RTCG Union, and that journalists there "don't know what awaits them."
She drew attention to the Code of Journalists, adding that its changes are underway.
She said that the existing code is a solid and good self-regulatory framework, which provides the basis for conducting business with integrity.
Vice President of the Media Union Marijana Camović Veličković cited several examples of attacks on journalists and photojournalists.
She said that the case of online threats against journalist Itana Kaluđerović has been concluded.
She mentioned cases of harassment of journalists. She points out that female journalists from smaller towns in Montenegro have also been attacked.
"The general impression of Montenegrin female journalists is that they are unprotected. No editorial office provides psychological help... The past year has been marked by anti-union activity," said Camović Velicković.
She recalled that the Union, in at least 30 cases, provided psychological assistance to journalists.
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