An agreement is needed between the media in Bulgaria to force the leaders of the main political parties in Bulgaria to return to the public pre-election debate. This means agreeing to organize such debates together. This was said by the Director General of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA) Kiril Valchev during today’s discussion on the freedom of speech of the media in Bulgaria. The event is today at the University of National and World Economy (UNSS).
“Forums like this one are an opportunity for cooperation between the media in Bulgaria. Because the public interest is for cooperation to be before competition between them. The results of such cooperation should lead to some practical results of great public interest,” noted Valchev.
According to him, the first of these practical results is the restoration of leadership political debates. “In Bulgaria, they have disappeared for many years, in contrast to democratic countries, where they continue to be of great importance – the latest example is the presidential candidate debates in the United States of America, the first of which even led to a change of one of the two main candidates,” the general director pointed out of BTA.
According to him, in our country, during the election campaigns, the media give formal arguments to the political leaders to avoid such debates with the explanation that too many media insist on their independent organization and “supposedly because of their equality” no debate has been reached for years. This is certainly one of the factors, it may not be the most important, but it is in the group of factors that lead to the deplorable result that Bulgarians are disinterested in voting in elections, before which they do not see a choice in a normal democratic debate”. noted Kiril Valchev.
A second result of the cooperation between the media, according to Valchev, would be the restoration of classic interviews with political leaders. “Their one-sided communication with written declarations on social networks or short statements in front of cameras and microphones cannot replace communication with answers to journalistic questions in an interview. That is why it is necessary to agree among the media in Bulgaria to refuse that main political leaders are practically always replaced in interviews by other representatives of main parties or even by speakers who are not part of political life, but only its analysts. This means an agreement to refuse such participations together,” said the general director of BTA.
The restoration of press conferences is the third result of the cooperation between the media in the country, he believes. Together, we must stop the practice of political leaders making statements in front of a crowd of reporters who are shouting at each other trying to ask a question, which usually allows politicians to say whatever they want, often without answering questions, Valchev noted.
According to him, political leaders themselves need to restore their more authoritative presence in society, which cannot be done when almost always the most important messages are sent on foot, by the way, most often in a place where they are, in fact, in a different occasion from the commented topic. “Therefore, agreement is needed between the media in Bulgaria to restore dialogue with the country’s leaders from the respectful distance that we see in the institutions of the European Union, where press conference rooms or tribunes for shorter briefings continue to function. This means agreeing together to give up gatherings around politicians, which give them grounds for unflattering definitions of journalists,” Valchev explained.
According to him, the restoration of the distance between journalists and politicians is the fourth practical result of the cooperation between the Bulgarian media. Kiril Valchev noted that journalists are not publicists to prepare politicians for interviews. “Let’s remember how the BBC canceled an interview with former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson after one of the TV’s most famous journalists inadvertently sent him the notes with the prepared questions to him. That is why there is a need for agreement among the media in Bulgaria that such practices are unacceptable,” he believes.
The general director of BTA explained that the fifth result of the joint work between the media in our country is the restoration of citing sources. “The well-informed source who wished to remain anonymous” is not admissible when he is actually a source of authority and usually uses the media to check the public reaction to some supposedly anonymous information. Let us recall that the Associated Press (AP) news agency fired the journalist who reported, citing an anonymous US intelligence source, that two Russian missiles hit Poland on November 15, 2023, which information turned out to be wrong and initially caused shock of a possible conflict between Russia and NATO,” said Kiril Valchev. He added, that it is necessary to agree between the media in Bulgaria that the anonymity of a source should be preserved when its disclosure endangers it, not to facilitate it. A special case in which we must always point to a source is artificial intelligence, which the audience always needs to know he was being used by the media, he added.
Another result of the cooperation between the media is the restoration of citation between the media, according to Valchev. “It is no professional achievement to stand on the fence of another media outlet to have its interlocutor repeat in front of the camera and microphone of your media outlet what your colleague managed to get him to say in an interview a little earlier. Or you gain nothing by silencing another media as a source of some information. That’s why we need an agreement between the media in Bulgaria, that by mutually referring to each other, we practically increase the trust in the media in general as sources of information for which they have editorial responsibility,” he explained.
Restoring support among the media when journalists become the object of aggression because of their work is the seventh practical result indicated by Valchev. He commented that good examples of such mutual support should be followed. He gave an example of the case in Haskovo on the last election day, when BTV journalists were attacked while filming near a polling station. “That is why there is a need for agreement between the media in Bulgaria that we must together prevent Bulgarian journalists from being among the sad statistics from the recent UNESCO report from the International Day to Combat Impunity for Crimes against Journalists that in the last two years every four days somewhere around the world, one journalist is killed because of his work, most often in his own country”, commented the general director of BTA.
Anna Tanova-Atanasova, Executive Director of the Association of Bulgarian Radio and Television Broadcasters (ABRO) and Chairman of the Management Board of the National Council for Self-Regulation, Rector of UNSS Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, General director of the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) Emil Koshlukov, the general director of the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) Milen Mitev and the acting chairman of the Council for Electronic Media (CEM) Dr. Simona Veleva.
What are the main challenges facing media freedom in Bulgaria today?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Kiril Valchev, General Director of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA)
Time.news Editor: Good afternoon, Kiril Valchev. Thank you for joining us today to discuss such critical issues surrounding media freedom and political discourse in Bulgaria.
Kiril Valchev: Thank you for having me. It’s an important conversation, and I’m glad to shed light on these pressing topics.
Time.news Editor: You recently emphasized the necessity of cooperation among media outlets to reinstate political debates. Why do you think these debates have become a rarity in Bulgaria?
Kiril Valchev: For many years, political debates have virtually disappeared from our media landscape. This is unfortunate, especially when we look at democratic countries where such discussions play a pivotal role in shaping public opinion. The situation in Bulgaria stems from an unhealthy competition among media outlets, which has led to a reluctance for collaboration. As a result, political leaders often slip away with minimal accountability and formality, further disengaging the electorate.
Time.news Editor: That makes sense. You mentioned that the absence of debates has contributed to a general disinterest among Bulgarians in voting. How significant do you believe these debates are in re-engaging the electorate?
Kiril Valchev: They are crucial. Debates provide voters with the ability to hear directly from the candidates about their platforms, policies, and character. Without these interactions, voters may feel they lack a real choice and become apathetic. In democracies where debates are standard, we often see enhanced voter engagement and turnout. We need to give the Bulgarian electorate the same opportunity to assess their options.
Time.news Editor: You also discussed the importance of restoring classic interviews with political leaders. What are some of the changes you propose in how these interviews are conducted?
Kiril Valchev: Currently, there’s a trend where political leaders are represented by spokespeople or analysts rather than themselves. This must change. We need to insist on direct communication where leaders respond to questions posed by journalistic professionals. It’s about accountability and transparency. Politicians should also reintroduce press conferences where journalists can interact with them meaningfully, rather than shouting questions in a chaotic atmosphere.
Time.news Editor: That sounds promising. You pointed out the concept of restoring a respectful distance between journalists and politicians. Why do you believe this is necessary?
Kiril Valchev: The respectful distance is vital for maintaining journalistic integrity. When journalists merely act as conduits for politicians’ messages, it diminishes the role of the press as a watchdog of democracy. We need to avoid situations where politicians can sidestep accountability. Instead, we should emulate the structured, respectful environments seen in the institutions of the European Union where meaningful dialogue can occur.
Time.news Editor: You also mentioned the importance of citing credible sources. In today’s era of misinformation, why do you think this is particularly pressing for Bulgarian media?
Kiril Valchev: It’s essential because relying on anonymous sources can lead to serious pitfalls, such as spreading misinformation that can sway public perception and policy. In the case of the recent AP incident, an incorrect report led to international alarm. Our media should prioritize verifiable sources to ensure the public receives accurate information. Moreover, we must educate audiences about the role of artificial intelligence in media reporting, ensuring transparency in our sources.
Time.news Editor: Last but not least, could you elaborate on the idea of citation among media? How could this foster a healthier media landscape in Bulgaria?
Kiril Valchev: Collaboration through citation can significantly enhance trust in media. By acknowledging each other’s work and building upon it, media outlets can demonstrate accountability and responsibility. This is not just about reputation; it’s about fostering a sense of unity among the media in Bulgaria, which could in turn elevate the standard of reporting and public discourse.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Kiril Valchev, for sharing such valuable insights. The road to enhancing media freedom and political accountability in Bulgaria may be challenging, but your vision offers a strong foundation to work towards.
Kiril Valchev: Thank you for the opportunity to discuss these crucial matters. I remain optimistic that through cooperation, we can restore the integrity of political discourse in Bulgaria.