By: Association of Journalists and Publicists
The Association of Journalists and Publicists (ZNP) is closely monitoring the events of the past few days at RTV Slovenia. After the management of the institution, appointed by Robert Golob’s government, replaced all key directors and editors, it seems that a pogrom against individual presenters and journalists has now begun, especially within the news programme of TV Slovenia’s Channel 1.
The presenters, who cannot be denied journalistic competence, were removed from leading individual programmes under the pretext that the new acting editor Polona Fijavž was forming her team. In the redaction, they have reportedly experienced covert harassment and underground demonisation. As revealed in a separate letter by the former editor-in-chief Jadranka Rebernik, some individuals have even made rude comments about the appearance of certain journalists and written mean-spirited remarks about “newcomers”. The situation has escalated to the point where one of the presenters had to seek medical help due to all the events and pressures.
We also point out that Polona Fijavž was appointed as the acting editor-in-chief of the news programme on the 1st channel of TV Slovenia without prior assessment of her suitability by the editorial team, as required by the law. In our view, all the personnel changes she has implemented are, therefore, illegal and, above all, illegitimate since she lacks a legal mandate for them.
We call on the management of the news programme on the 1st channel of TV Slovenia, led by Polona Fijavž, as well as the management of TV Slovenia and the administration of RTV Slovenia, to halt the pressures and pogroms against individual presenters and journalists. We also call on responsible institutions such as the mobbing commission at RTV Slovenia, the labour inspectorate, the Human Rights Ombudsman, and others to take action. We will inform the European Commission and international journalist associations about the events at RTV Slovenia.
Once again, we would like to emphasise that those constitutional judges who recently revoked the decision to temporarily suspend the amendment to the Radio and Television Slovenia Act are also responsible for the current situation at RTV Slovenia. Their decision has enabled the political personnel purge currently taking place at RTV Slovenia under Robert Golob’s government. We call on the constitutional judges once more to make a final decision on the constitutionality of the amendment to the Radio and Television Slovenia Act.
The Administrative Board of ZNP, September 27th, 2023.
