Regarding the decision of the jury of the Swiss foundation Reichard von Grafenreid to award a prize to the propaganda video of the local journalist Peter Balsley, a second letter was sent today.
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| Propaganda over professionalism, will it happen? / Illustration: Ivan Maksimović |
The contents of that letter are published here in full.
Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to you for the second time regarding your decision to award the award to journalist Peter Balzli for his video TV news.
This time especially to the president of the jury for video journalism Helena von Beust, as well as the members; Oceana Galmarini, Laurent Keller, Francesca Luvini and Hansjürg Zumstein.
I stated the reason why I am writing to you in my previous message, dated April 24, when I delivered my letter of explanation to your official address. In it I state that your decision to award the journalist Peter Balzly was unfounded. I don't know if this sounds cruel, but the consequences that such a decision will have, will be terrible considering that they are openly calling for a new armed conflict, a new war.
I also want to emphasize that I am not against the topic and problem that this journalist is dealing with. By no means. I object, absolutely, to the way the problem is presented because it is a way that is far from professional, as I explained in detail in the letter that I am submitting once again.
I would like to point out that by rewarding this kind of journalism, it will not represent an incentive for professionalism in journalism, but the exact opposite, it will be an incentive for propaganda, for serving the interests of political powers and corporations, the forerunners of war hawks.
If that is your goal, then I apologize. In that case, and in that case only, I admit that you made the right decision. If, however, as you say, you reward "the most exceptional in Swiss journalism", then I have to say that this is not the case at all, because propaganda is one thing, and journalism is something completely different. Especially when it is aimed at provoking new armed conflicts and spilling blood on either side.
I hope that personal vanity, to which we are all susceptible and from which we all suffer, will not overcome the professionalism that recommended you as members of the jury of this prestigious award. Just out of conviction that professionalism would prevail, I dared to address you.
Once again, I present a letter in which I explain in detail that the TV news of the journalist Peter Balsley is an ordinary propaganda work, and not a work in which we can see any professionalism: https://www.
I also consulted media professionals for their opinion and they agree with my position when it comes to the award-winning work of journalist Peter Balzley and stand behind it with their signature:
Ninoslav Randjelovic, professor at the Department of Media and Communication at the University of Seoul, South Korea and independent producer and author of documentary films
Phil Hammond, Emeritus Professor at the Department of Media and Communication, South Bank University, London, Great Britain
Ivan Maksimović, independent journalist
