08. 10. 2012

BELGRADE AGAINST, ALL OTHERS "FOR"

Nis, October 8, 2012. (Danas) - Serbia needs regional public service broadcasting, especially in the transition period, and government should have no doubt regarding this solution, because it something that the media, citizens of the state have already reached a consensus on - this is the opinion of majority of participants of the Round Table on Regional Public Service Broadcasting, held in Nis.

This event was organized on the initiative of Niska Television (NTV), founded by the City Assembly. It was organized as a part of the public debate on the issue before adoption of a new set of media laws, including law on public information, broadcasting, Tanjug news agency and public services.

The participants said that this debate was initiated after the recent statement by the Minister of Culture Bratislav Petkovic and his deputy Dragan Kolarevic that "Media Strategy will be redefined while the state will gradually withdraw from the media". The statements were interpreted as abandoning the solutions of  forming six public service broadcasters, provided by the Media Strategy.  Several media and journalists' associations are opposing this solution, especially NUNS and ANEM.