As part of Croatia’s contribution to the Council of Europe’s Journalists Matter campaign, and in synergy with OSCE initiatives aimed at improving the safety of media professionals, Croatia has undertaken a notable initiative to bring protocols for the protection of journalists directly into the country’s newsrooms.
In March and April 2025, newsroom staff—including journalists, editors, photojournalists, and cameramen—from leading media outlets such as RTL Croatia, 24sata, Večernji list, Pixsell, Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT), and NOVA TV were presented with key safety protocols.
These protocols aim to ensure:
- Protection of journalists during public gatherings;
- Prompt police response when criminal offences are committed against journalists or other media actors;
- Safe and unhindered reporting on matters of public interest.
The Media Coordinator from the Ministry of the Interior led the presentations, which included detailed explanations of the agreement and two accompanying protocols, signed between the Ministry, the Croatian Journalists’ Association, and the Croatian Journalists’ Union.
The presentations were attended by: Hrvoje Zovko, President of the Croatian Journalists’ Association; Maja Sever, President of the Croatian Journalists’ Union; Jasna Vaniček-Fila, Member of the Council for Electronic Media and National Coordinator for the Council of Europe’s Journalists Matter campaign.
These efforts reflect the joint commitment of Croatian authorities and journalist associations to advance the Council of Europe’s campaign priorities, while also aligning with the broader OSCE framework for journalist protection.
These in-newsroom sessions have facilitated:
- Active dialogue between media professionals and law enforcement;
- Training opportunities for the effective application of the protocols;
- Strengthened mutual understanding of roles, risks, and responsibilities in the field.
Monitoring and Results
The Ministry of the Interior is tasked with monitoring the implementation of these protocols and reporting findings to journalist associations and the National Coordination Committee.
Key data from 2024:
- 16 cases of threats or violence against journalists were recorded;
- 13 cases resolved, with criminal charges submitted to the State Attorney’s Office;
- 3 cases remain under investigation (two threats and one case of property damage);
- No recorded instances required the application of the public gathering protocol.
These statistics underscore both the importance of institutionalised safeguards and the ongoing need to prioritise journalist safety, particularly in the context of public reporting.
Further Information
