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Strengthening the Openness of Prosecutors’ Offices towards Media and Public

During the second day of the Round Table “Communication of Prosecutors with Media and Public“ the participants had the opportunity to discuss the various issues and possible challenges that exist in order to improve the communication between the Prosecutors’ Offices and Media.

Ms Jocelyne Rande shared her extensive experience in crisis communication that amounted to highlight the need to redefine the role of Chief Prosecutors on communication and the necessity to organize media training with the two Centers for Education of Judges and Prosecutors in Federation BiH and Republika Sprska.

The last session was dedicated to exchanging views with two journalists who explained their expectations and their working methods as well.

Mr Fedžad Forto, Deputy Editor in Chief of FENA News Agency and Ms Zinaida Đelilović, journalist of Oslobođenje spoke about their experiences when reporting on the work of prosecutors. The discussion that followed the initial presentations was focused on how prosecutors can understand media, and how working with media can provide better information to the general public.

With regards to the conclusions of the event Ms Isabelle Arnal, EU4Justice Team Leader briefly summarised them in saying that the Chief Prosecutor should be on the front line talking to media on specific cases.  “One of the most key issues to take into consideration is that a communication strategy is rooted in the general policy and priorities of Prosecutor Offices as designed by chief prosecutors.” – stated Ms Arnal.

EU4Justice will be organising a similar event on communication in the future in cooperation with the institutions in BiH.