CroatiaThe article reports that the city of Rijeka paid over 6,000 euros to a PR agency, Kreativ Media d.o.o., for crisis communication services during a potential strike by workers at the municipal cleaning company Čistoća. The request was made by a member of the City Council, Hanina Paleka, who asked for information on whether the company had engaged external consultants for communication, marketing, and public relations. The mayor, Ive Rinčić, confirmed that the company hired an external expert for one month, from July 24th to August 23rd, 2026, for 60 consultant hours. The service was selected through a limited tender process and included support for preparing and implementing communication strategies during situations requiring professional and coordinated public information. The mayor emphasized that this engagement was meant to provide specialized crisis communication support rather than replace internal staff responsibilities. Although the strike did not occur, some planned activities were carried out during negotiations with unions, and a communication plan for a possible strike was developed.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information regarding the hiring of an external PR firm by a municipal entity, focusing on procedural transparency and cost justification. It does not take a clear ideological stance but provides balanced reporting on the decision-making process, including the selection,
