We are shocked by the amount of intolerance and attempted media lynching by certain political entities and media outlets, just because the Labor Inspectorate found certain procedural shortcomings when we were taken over from other media outlets. These shortcomings, as is clear to the public, are not the result of our actions, but the employer's mistakes. However, while those responsible are kept quiet, our names are being dragged around in the media as if we had committed a crime, and not as people who lost their jobs due to someone else's mistake.
1. Untruths about our professional status
It is a lie that we do not meet the requirements for the jobs we performed at RTV Podgorica. We each have 15 years of experience in the media, 35 years of life, and numerous professional awards and recognitions behind us. Throughout our entire careers, we have performed our work responsibly, objectively, and professionally – which, obviously, is not to some people's liking. However, that is an integral part of journalism – truthful reporting is not always to someone's liking.
2. The responsibility lies with the system, not us
We emphasize again – we did not break the law. The procedural lapse was made by the legal department, not by journalists who were doing their job honorably. Although everyone knows this, the burden of responsibility has been shifted to us, which we consider unfair and unprofessional.
3. On name-calling and attempts at discrediting
It is particularly shameful that individuals dare to publicly call us names and demand that we return the salaries we honestly earned. During that period, we did our job, improved the work of RTV Podgorica and contributed to its objectivity and openness towards all interlocutors. This is precisely what bothers those who are used to television being closed and under party dictate.
It is interesting that these same critics claim that television is "not watched," yet they know exactly what is being broadcast. Just keep "not watching" - it is enough for us that you know our every word.
4. Attack on professional integrity and public interest
We believe that what is happening is an attack on our professional integrity, but also on the independence of RTV Podgorica – a media outlet that has finally become a public service for all citizens, and not a tool of one party, as was often the case before. Now, when it is being done objectively and professionally, it is becoming a problem for some.
5. Where is the Media Union?
We are disappointed, but not surprised, by the silence of the Media Union of Montenegro, which is supposed to protect all journalists, not individual interest groups. Unfortunately, their passivity confirms what many already know – that this is a union of individuals and individual media outlets, and not a true protector of journalists' rights.
However, we would like to thank our colleagues from the RTV Podgorica Union who sent us public support today, because they showed what real union solidarity looks like!
Conclusion
It is scandalous and extremely discriminatory that some people give themselves the right to judge whether we have the right to apply for the next competition, because it is an attempt to abolish our right to work, which is guaranteed by the Constitution. Just as we did during the takeover, we now meet all professional and legal requirements – not only for the local public service, but also for national media such as RTCG. And where we will go and what we will do next, we will decide for ourselves.
We do journalism out of conviction, not out of interest!
Nemanja Lacman
former deputy editor-in-chief of RTV Podgorica
Milan Sekulović
former editor of Television Podgorica
