Media Responsibility

False Interview with Prime Minister

One of the editors of the Croatian daily newspaper "Jutarnji list" - Davor Butkovic, published on February 9 an interview with Ivo Sanader, Croatian Prime Minister, done through sms messages and e-mails. At least he thought so. After the governmnent denied that Sanader was even talked to Butkovic recently, it was discovered that on the other side was not the Prime Minister but 23-years-old Viktor Zahtila


By WAVE Team
from Belgrade, SERBIA


The Croatian daily newspaper "Jutarnji list" published on February 9 an interview with Ivo Sanader, the Croatian Prime Minister - the title was "Serbian Radical Party, one more reason for us to get into NATO". The author was one of the editors, Davor Butkovic, but the conversation with Sanader was done through mobile phone messages and e-mails. At least Butkovic thought so. After the governmnent denied that the Prime Minister has even talked to the journalist recently, it was discovered that on the other side was not Ivo Sanader but 23-years-old Viktor Zahtila.

"A false interview is a highly unprofessional and unethical act that can produce bad effects on democracy in the Croatian society", said the Public Relations Bureau in their press release.

The media and journalists in this country agreed this was the biggest scandal in the history of Croatian journalism. Modern technology and new media - sms and e-mail communication - are "accused" for this misunderstanding. Viktor Zahtila, a 23-year old boy from Zagreb is in the middle of media attention right now. As his friend Milena Zajovic told "Vecernji list" - the competitor of "Jutarnji list" - her friend Viktor sent a message to Davor Butkovic saying: "Bule, happy new year" without a signature. Butkovic responded "thanks" and he considered the story over. But after that he received the "Dear Ivo" message and questions about NATO and other political issues. Zahtila thought: "something's going on here" and then answered the questions. Some parts he took from Prime Minister's earlier statements and some of them even from "Jutarnji list". According to his words, he did not sign any message as Ivo Sanader and he was wondered if someone could take his "joke" seriously.

Zdenko Duka, the president of the Croatian journalists association, said that "Davor Butkovic was not careful in doing this interview" and marked this as an example of unprofessional behaviour. Stjepan Malovic reminded of "first lessons of journalism - important interviews with important people can be done only by sitting face-to-face and talking".

"Jutarnji list" apologized to the Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and all the readers and announced to publish the results of the investigation - how everything happened.

Viktor Zahtila, ex-journalist of "Nacional" and activist of gay organization "Iskorak", admitted that he made a joke but explained there was no intention to produce any damage. There is still no answer how Butkovic had Zahtila's number in his mobile phone, especially not how it was written down under the name of Prime Minister Sanader. Anyway, Stipe Oreskovic, the general manager of Europa Press Holding, the publisher of "Jutarnji list", informed the public they did not find this joke very funny and announced that EPH will charge Zahtila for false representing, cheating, widening false news and so on...

Because of the scandal, the editor-in-chief of "Jutarnji list" - Tomislav Vrus and author of false interview Davor Butkovic offered their resignations two days later. Vrus' resignation is refused and it's still not clear what will happen with Butkovic who accepted full responsibility for this professional mistake.


(Published: 09.03.2008.)

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