Sællmann: – I am very finished “cross denial” -saken – VG

Newscaster Siv Kristin Sællmann (50) was of NRK management asked to drop gold cross on TV. It was not a violation of discrimination law.

– I’m really done with ‘cross denial “-saken. I used this cross without wishing to provoke anyone, it was a random trinket I used that day, says Siv Kristin Sællmann VG Friday afternoon.

It was the autumn of 2013 Sællmann was made aware that viewers had reacted the lower usage and called NRK. Necklaces The necklace was reacted, is a 1.4 centimeter big gold cross with black diamonds.

Following a complaint storm took the experienced newscaster told NRK management to drop the necklace when she was sending.

Neutrality important

Earlier Friday adopted Equality Tribunal stated that NRK is allowed to refuse its own program managers to use religious symbols. The decision by the appeal board, which reproduces NRK, says:

“NRK news program managers presents national news. The news includes political, religious and cultural themes, which for many can be perceived as controversial. The Tribunal believes that neutrality must be considered in light of this. “

WITHOUT CROSS: Presenter NRK Sørlandet, Siv Sællmann, browsing Today the news without cross around his neck.

Photo: Personal , Personal

“News is presented independent of the program manager’s age, gender or ethnicity. These stand out as the most neutral during transmission is generally important for a neutral news reporting. Concern for the protection of press credibility as an independent news agency warrant. “

The decision goes against the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Sunniva Ørstavik conclusion from June last year.

– There is not so we refuse television program managers to use religious symbols, but it depends on the circumstances. In a newscast should appear most neutral, but this need not be as important in such an entertainment program, said program director Grete Gynhild-Johnsen NRK.

– The necklace is in a drawer at home

Sællmann familiar with the decision by the appeal board, but have no comments on that, either personally or in principle.

– I did that I was told by management, and there has never been any conflict with NRK. It is not I who asked that this matter should be taken further, says Sællmann.

newscaster tells us that it disputed the necklace is at home in a drawer.

– There are an expensive and real jewelry, but I have not used it since. It took about a year before I used a necklace again. A period I considered giving cross necklace to the Salvation Army, but now I want to keep it. I’ll use it again, but not on the screen, then, says Sællmann.

“Cross Deny” -saken received enormous attention in autumn 2013. On Facebook, the support group “Yes to carry the cross and when where I will “created. Today there are still regular activity on the side, which has 120,000 likes.