Following the BH Journalists Steering Committee’s statement at the end of August, in which it responded to direct political pressure by Bugojno Mayor Edin Mašić against journalist Osman Mešan and RTV Bugojno, as well as to an attempt to influence the editorial policy of the media outlet, Mayor Mašić sent a letter to the Association claiming that the statement “requires a direct response.”
BH Journalists reacted after Mayor Mašić sent a written request to RTV Bugojno Director Erdin Hasanbegović to review the work of journalist Mešan over a report broadcast on the programme Informator on August 17, describing his reporting as “extremely unprofessional” and calling for his “sanctioning.” At the same time, he requested information “as to whether the journalist meets the requirements for retirement.”
In his letter to BH Journalists, the Mayor of Bugojno stated that the conclusions regarding political pressure, political disciplining of journalists and an attempt to influence the editorial policy of RTV Bugojno had been reached without reviewing the disputed report broadcast on August 17. He called on the Association to analyse the content of the report and distinguish criticism of a public official from what he described as insults and disparagement. At the same time, he denied having requested that the journalist be prohibited from working or having determined what RTV Bugojno should broadcast, while explaining his question about whether employee Osman Mešan met the requirements for retirement as an insistence on compliance with the law.
He called on the BH Journalists Association to, as he put it, apply the same professional criteria to journalists as to other citizens, with the message that “media freedom also entails responsibility and professional standards.”
Below, read the response of BH Journalists to Mayor Mašić, in which it is, among other things, explained with arguments why calling for sanctions against a journalist and requesting information on whether an employee meets the requirements for retirement constitute explicit political pressure and interference in the employee’s retirement process.
We also reminded the Mayor of the provisions of the Council of Europe Declaration on Freedom of Political Debate in the Media, which stipulate that public officials, in their reactions to the media and journalists, should take into account the fact that they have voluntarily accepted their public duties and, by their own decision, accepted being subject to public criticism concerning matters related to decision-making in the public interest and, in general, the performance of duties paid for with taxpayers’ money:
Response of BH Journalists to the letter from Mr Edin Mašić, Mayor of the Municipality of Bugojno, concerning the statement of the BH Journalists Steering Committee
Dear Mr Mašić,
The BH Journalists Association thanks you for the letter you sent regarding the statement of the BH Journalists Steering Committee, published in support of and solidarity with journalist Osman Mešan and the employees of RTV Bugojno. At the same time, we kindly ask you to accept our apology for the delay in responding, which was caused by the Association’s numerous obligations during the days leading up to the election campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As a professional association of journalists and other media workers, we were established with the aim of protecting the rights and safety of journalists, as well as media freedoms in cases where they are violated, while respecting European standards of freedom of expression, the values of free journalism in the public interest, and domestic legislation. In the process of protecting journalists, we use various legal and legitimate means, such as public statements, letters to institutions and individuals, representing journalists and media outlets in disciplinary and administrative proceedings, legal counselling, and defending media freedoms before domestic and international courts. Furthermore, based on a decision of the BH Journalists Steering Committee, in protecting journalists and media outlets we assess compliance with journalistic codes of ethics and the principles of professional journalism.
Based on the above parameters, the statement was issued, which in your latest letter you interpret in a way that not only does not correspond to its content, but also denies your own requests addressed to the Director of RTV Bugojno on August 18, 2026. We remind you that you requested the “sanctioning” of journalist Osman Mešan, as well as that you be informed whether this employee “meets the requirements for retirement.” (Attached: Your complaint to RTV Bugojno against Osman Mešan dated August 18, 2026.)
These two facts alone – calling for sanctions against a journalist and requesting information on whether an employee meets the requirements for retirement – constitute explicit political pressure and interference in the retirement process of an employee, which is regulated by the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance of the Federation of BiH and falls under the authority of the management of RTV Bugojno, not the Mayor of Bugojno.
We would also like to draw your attention to the provisions of the Council of Europe Declaration on Freedom of Political Debate in the Media, which stipulate that public officials, in their reactions to the media and journalists, should take into account the fact that they have voluntarily accepted their public duties and, by their own decision, accepted being subject to public criticism concerning matters related to decision-making in the public interest and, in general, the performance of duties paid for with taxpayers’ money. (The Declaration is available at this link: https://bhnovinari.ba/bs/2004/02/19/deklaracija-o-slobodi-politike-debate-u-medijima/)
Likewise, you should take into account that the task of journalists and media outlets is not merely to write about decisions and actions that are nice and positive, but that they have the right, in their reporting, to disturb, shock, offend… where there are no other ways to draw attention to matters of public importance. This standard for assessing media content and the conduct of journalists is reflected in numerous judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, and has been largely accepted by the judiciary in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (A section of a Strasbourg Court judgment used by the Constitutional Court of BiH in its work is available at this link: https://www.ustavnisud.ba/hr/praksa-europskog-suda)
We will not respond to the other claims in your letter, including your unfounded assertions that BH Journalists did not listen to and professionally assess the RTV Bugojno report you dispute, as well as your attempt to place yourself, as Mayor of the Municipality, on an equal footing with journalists and citizens. In the preceding paragraphs, we have explained why you cannot be in the same position as ordinary citizens and journalists within the framework of public political debate in the media. We have also presented all the facts of the case, as well as the circumstances surrounding BH Journalists’ responses in cases of violations of the rights and freedoms of the media and journalists by public officials.
Sincerely,
On behalf of the
Steering Committee of the BH Journalists Association:
Borka Rudić, Secretary General
