AJM: Public Officials Should Refrain from Insults and Discrediting Journalists and Media

The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) expresses concern regarding the irresponsible and inappropriate communication on social media by Petar Bogojeski, Director of the National Agency for European Educational Programmes and Mobility, directed towards the editorial team, journalists, and editors of the portal Racin.mk.

In a democratic society, public officials have a duty to foster a respectful and responsible relationship with the media, to respect their work, and to refrain from making derogatory remarks, discrediting, or insulting journalists. Such language, in which journalists are labeled as “servants,” creates a hostile environment for their work and can be interpreted as an attempt to exert pressure on freedom of expression and media independence.

It is particularly concerning when such communication comes from public officials or party representatives, as it not only undermines the reputation of the institution they represent, but such statements can also fuel increased hatred in public discourse and potentially lead to hate-motivated acts.

We remind everyone that there are self-regulatory bodies available, such as the Council of Media Ethics of Macedonia and the Council of Honour of AJM, where any individual, including public officials, may file a complaint if they believe that a particular media outlet has published content that does not adhere to professional and ethical standards.

We call on all public office holders, including Mr. Bogojeski, to respect media freedom and the dignity of the journalistic profession, and to use institutional mechanisms if they have concerns about media content, rather than resorting to offensive and disparaging comments on social media.