Journalist unions condemn HTV coverage of Lika protest

The Croatian Journalists' Association (HND) and the Croatian Journalists' Union (SNH) have issued a joint condemnation regarding the coverage of the upcoming ‘Hodaj za Liku, hodaj za Hrvatsku’ protest on Croatian Television (HTV).

The professional organizations criticized the HTV central news program for broadcasting political reactions from Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Defense Minister Ivan Anušić without providing fundamental information about the protest itself. According to the statement, the report failed to mention the organizers, the reasons for the protest, or the specific demands of the protesters.

The HND and SNH argue that the public broadcaster failed its obligation to provide balanced and comprehensive information, essentially replacing journalistic facts with political interpretations. They emphasized that citizens, including those in the Lika region, have a right to relevant information rather than pre-selected political commentary, and they are demanding explanations from HTV editors regarding the professional criteria used for this decision.