Something isn’t right with society when the journalist becomes the story, and more important than the news itself, Tatjana Lazarević said yesterday at the National Theater in Belgrade, where she received the „Prize Knight of the Profession“ award. This marks the first time this award was presented to someone from Kosovo.
„It is not the journalist’s job to produce a lie, embellish or ruin reality, or color the truth – in a lighter or darker tone, but to give us all a mirror,“ she said.
Noting that Kosovo has dominated headlines for too long, she said: „We are destroying our shared house to the point that it is becoming unbearable. We are tearing off and nailing the owner’s plate, we are throwing it like a game to beasts in front of a crowd. We hate and kill each other, we deny the identity and well-being of the other side, and we cooperate easily in dirty doing. It is an ugly mirror.“
For an unbearably long time, they have been calling our home a hearth. Why not the Garden of Eden? – she said.
In addition to the editor of the KoSSev portal, the „Prize Knight of the Profession“ award was also presented to journalists Vesna Mališić, Petar Peca Popović, scientist Aleksandar Kavčić, MIA Major Katarina Petrović and professor of the Faculty of Philosophy Ognjen Radonjić.
The prestigious award „Prize Knight of the Profession” is awarded by the non-governmental organization League of Experts – LEX, for the 18th time. It is awarded to exceptional individuals from various spheres of society, who have earned the title by their conscientious and professional work and behavior, and their attitude towards their profession.
The jury consisted of Prof. Dr. Vida Ognjenović, prof. Dr. Vesna Rakić-Vodinelić, prof. Dr. Žarko Trebješanin, Božo Prelević, and the president of the jury prof. Dr. Zoran Radovanović.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the recently deceased professor Ratko Božović, one of the founders of the „Prize Knight of the Profession“ award, was honored with a minute of silence.
Below we publish the speech of the editor of KoSSev.
Dear jury, Dear laureates, colleagues,
Something isn’t right with society when the journalist becomes the story, and more important than the news itself.
We’ve been the top story for too long. Up to the point it becomes unbearable, many individuals in this profession lean to one side or the other, bypassing the facts, unbearable only to them and those they represent.
It is not the journalist’s job to produce a lie, embellish or ruin reality, or color the truth – in a lighter or darker tone, but to give us all a mirror.
I look into that mirror, in whose particle of truth, I myself – I hope – participate with my work. Who are we? Where are we? Where are we going? What are we doing? Why?
It is too painful to look at Maleficent’s reflection in the mirror.
They say truth and faith are the first steps to healing. For years, I’ve been searching for just that word – precise and accurate, which can encompass us all with its power.
I couldn’t find that single word. Maybe you will.
Dear Jury,
I am honored by the recognition – touched by your gesture and the company in which I found myself.
Not for a single moment will I think that I truly belong there, but I understand time, bearing its burden myself.
It is not a good thing when someone’s home becomes the news, more important than the members of the household. This means that not everything is right in that house.
Kosovo has been the top story for too long. We are destroying our common house on and around it to the point it is becoming unbearable. We are tearing off and nailing the owner’s plate, we are throwing it like a game to beasts in front of a crowd. We hate and kill each other, we deny the other side’s identity and well-being, and we cooperate easily in dirty games. It is an ugly mirror.
They say that knowing one’s self and recognizing the other is the first step towards healing our societies. We all need confession and compassion, if not immediately for reconciliation, then for conciliation.
For an unbearably long time, they have called our home a hearth. Why not the Garden of Eden?
Because hearths go out as soon as a black scarf is thrown over the mirror.
If it was me who painted the truth in a darker tone, I plead for forgiveness.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
