Zhanna Litvina refused take part in talk show on Belarusian Television
7- 24.04.2009, 11:30
Zhanna Litvina, head of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), refused to take part in Alyaksandr Martynenka’s program “Otvetny Khod” on the First National Channel.
Zhanna Litvina told the BAJ press service why she decided not to take part in the talk show on the theme of Belarusian information environment development, which was shot on April 22.
“The program doesn’t suppose live broadcast. It means words of the speakers may be changed. Or, which is even worse, remarks may be wrenched out of the context during the editing. Unfortunately, it is widely used o television today. I don’t want to be an accomplice of insincerity and mutilation,” the BAJ head said.
Zhanna Litvina thinks her many-year experience in Belarusian TV and radio system gives her the moral right to refuse or agree to take part in such programs.
“I am happy for see the times of rise of the Belarusian television and radio, the time of live broadcasting, when the main task of journalists was to get every thought of a guest across the audience. This is forgotten now. Our colleagues seem to have accepted the role of performers of the ideological order,” she told.
The BAJ head reminded that the problems, the independent media face, have been written down and sent to directors of a number of governmental bodies, read out to representatives of Lukashenka’s Administration, the Ministry of Information at round tables six months ago, saying nothing about independent webpages.
“We have seen no response to our appeals, our problems haven’t been solved, but got bigger. I mean first of all, a new wave of refusals to be spread for independent newspapers and denial accreditation to journalists. We have reached the stage where principal reforms in media sphere are needed. Law-makers, experts, all parties interested should meet for public hearings and take steps to settle relations between the authorities and press, find a role of media in society in accordance with the Constitution,” Zhanna Litvina said.
