Zagreb - MPs on Thursday voiced no objections to the government’s nominees for Hina's Steering Council, however, SDP MP Ivan Račan raised concerns over below-average journalist salaries, while HDZ MP Dario Pušić criticised the editorial policy of the news agency's BiH bureau.
“One of Hina's biggest problems is low salaries. Journalists there earn less than the national average, which is a serious issue, especially when the government boasts about record GDP growth,” said Račan. He added that the agency is struggling to attract young journalists, and that its staff is aging.
"Surprise us - come back in two months and say, ‘we’ve improved working conditions at Hina’,” Račan told the ruling HDZ.
He also noted that Hina's office space is still under renovation following the 2020 earthquake, forcing most of the newsroom to work remotely.
MP Dubravko Bilić (Centre and Independent North Platform group) agreed that journalists' conditions must improve and that the agency needs a younger workforce.
Dario Pušić, an HDZ MP representing the diaspora, expressed dissatisfaction with the editorial policy of Hina’s BiH bureau, asking whether the Steering Council would review it. "Hina, through its Bosnia and Herzegovina correspondent, consistently frames political events in BiH in a way that harms the Croatian people."
The state secretary at the Ministry of Culture and Media, Mladen Pavić, who presented the government’s proposal, described Hina as a highly professional agency with 100 full-time staff and around 50 freelancers, covering a broad range of public, cultural, political, and sports events.
He acknowledged Račan’s concern about workforce renewal and wages, and added that renovation of Hina's building was completed two months ago.
The government proposed new appointments to HINA’s Steering Council as the terms of four members expired last month. It suggested the appointment of Andrej Matijašević from the ranks of Hina employees, and the reappointment of Slavko Kozina and Božidar Đerek, along with new member David Benić, from the pool of economic, legal, and IT experts.
The Steering Council has five members: Chair Majda Tafra-Vlahović, whose term continues for two more years, and four members whose terms are now up.
MP Anka Mrak Taritaš (GLAS) stressed Hina’s importance, especially in the age of misinformation. "It’s crucial to have a reliable, central source of information, with staff capable of doing quality work." She particularly praised the agency’s coverage of parliament's work.
Parliament will vote on the nominees next week.