HEAD OF SARAJEVO’S NOVI GRAD MUNICIPALITY VISITS ONASA
SARAJEVO, Nov 23 (ONASA) – General Manager of the Independent New Agency ONASA Elvira Begović met today at the Agency’s headquarters in Sarajevo with Head of the Municipality of Novi Grad Damir Hadžić, who was informed about the work of the Agency.
General Manager Begović said that the mission of the Agency is continuing contribution to the development of true, independent and professional informing in advanced, European-oriented, multiethnic and multicultural BiH, aiming to expand its network outside of BiH as well.
Head Hadžić emphasized that ONASA was an example of a modern way of organizing a news agency, including a representative number of employees and clear business rules.
“This indicates the maximum seriousness of the overall system, respectively the need of ONASA Agency to abide by the rules and work standards of news agencies in which there is no coloration or bias. This is a pure journalistic methodological work, with no possibility of excessive deviation, unlike most media in BiH that are attached to some side because of a variety of reasons,” Hadžić emphasized.
As he said, ONASA is without doubt a very serious news agency, and its employees are very engaged and do their job in quantifiable way.
“I am pleased to feel good atmosphere in ONASA Agency and see very satisfied and motivated staff,” Hadžić added.
Speaking about the role of media in the overall political and economic situation in BiH, Head Hadžić said that there are many media that have the ambition to, except the media, deal with the political space, even in terms of decision-making.
“These media often have a label of independent media, and in fact are not. Especially in the last 1.5 years, the commitment of a number of media towards certain political structures is evident. Also, their ownership structure suggests that the media do not suffocate because of the limitations on freedom by political or social factors, but by economic factors,” said Hadžić.
Hadžić pointed out that press freedom does not depend only on the sociopolitical environment, but also the economic situation, as a new category of neoliberalism that is increasingly present in BiH, adding that it would be best if the media were economically independent, which is difficult to secure.
During the visit, Head Hadžić visited all the premises and spoke with employees of the Agency. (End)