The research project of the
During the final press conference, the gossip “journalist” from Dani Magazine, Vuk Bačanović, used an opportunity to hold a five-minute lecture, pointing out that he was one of the fierce critics of the ICBP “for his own reasons.” Instead of posing relevant questions to Dr. Swelim, Bačanović indicated that he had a problem with the organizers of the conference as only “several scientists were sitting behind the conference table.” He also attempted to lecture one of the world’s most experienced archaeologists, Dr. Swelim, by suggesting how he was supposed to use in his archaeological analyses, and stressed that he was not a 22 year-old but that he was 26. Mr. Semir Osmanagić presided over this part of the conference and never interrupted this five-minute lecture, despite the fact that journalists are supposed to ask questions instead of holding lectures.
In his response, Dr. Swelim reminded the 26 year old “journalist” of his provocative e-mails during the course of the last year, including the fact that he had published many false articles in which he called Swelim “senile” and a “fool.” This was just one of the incidences of the attempted intimidation toward Dr. Swelim that came directly from Bačanović and his “masters.” Bačanović’s lack of manners and respect towards Dr. Swelim came to light as he interrupted Dr. Swelim three times while speaking. This sparked many reactions among the media members who directly confronted Bačanović and asked him about his “rights” to comment about the foreign scientists, as he failed to attend a five-day conference which was open to all media members, which at the time would have afforded him the opportunity to hear all the scientists speak. The audience applauded the comment, from another journalist, that “Sarajevo is full of young, self-proclaimed and indoctrinated gossip-journalists like Bačanović himself"—an applause which left Mr. Bačanović visibly shaken, as he was confronted with his own false statements and the articles which he published over the course of the last year to the present. Mr. Philip Coppens condemned Mr. Bačanović and stated: “I am really angry. As a professional journalist, it is your task to attend and provide a balanced perspective. Science is two sides to one argument. All the rest is religion, dogma, and preaching”.
It was apparent that Bačanović never came to the press conference to report as an objective journalist but rather to cause an incident and to intimidate. The difference between “gossip” and professional journalism is something that the 26-year old gossip “journalist” Bačanović still has yet to learn.
