SLOBODAN PRISTUP INFORMACIJA OD JAVNOG ZNAČAJA I MEDIJSKE USLUGE

Abstract

The author believes that the media have a duty to provide information and inform the public about all issues of public interest. It can also be considered that media information by the nature of "media matters" is information of public interest, and media services are "services to the public". Media services contain information of public interest in the essential material sense because the editorial control of the media assesses that the public has the idea to (sa)know about certain information. The paper points out that journalists in the provision of media services have the right to access information of public importance. However, their professional knowledge, experience and responsibility puts them in a special position in cases where public authorities deny the right of access to information with the argument that they have a certain level of secrecy. Media requests that responsible persons of public authorities, the Commissioner and other participants in such "cases" give their comments and express their views and opinions, further focus, raise and "warm up" the attention of the public, giving this information the character of information of public importance in the essential sense. At the same time, professional and responsible media informing the public about such "prohibited" documents, cases and secret information is an additional argument. which may contribute to the application of the "test of public interest" that applicants of the right to free access to information of public importance finally exercise their right. The author also points out the possible situations of "leaking" of secret information and even business secrets through the media, but also to the current regulations in the Republic of Serbia and the EU this matter that broadly covers and resolves such situations.