25. 03. 2013

MEDIA UNPREPARED FOR MARKET RACE

Belgrade, March 25, 2013 (Danas) - Defining the role of the state in the media system is very important for the freedom of information in Serbia.

This could be seen as a position of the media community in Serbia, summed up in one sentence at the panel discussion "The state and the Serbian media market" organized by Danas Press Center.

Media community, composed of NUNS, UNS, ANEM, NDNV and Local Press, believes the state should provide for equal opportunities for all media, and that it is the beginning and end of its role. However, in this moment, the state is not only generating market conditions, primarily through legal framework, but it is also directly participating in the media market, thus creating unequal conditions for other contestants in this game, it was stated by media community at the event.

The report of the Anti-Corruption Agency from 2011 showed that the state was immediately participating in the media market, and with 40 percent of revenues from marketing in media coming from the state budget clearly pointed to the political pressure and control over media.

The media organizations and associations also pointed to a great pressure of certain media to have the current system of financing preserved, primarily the Belgrade-based RTV Studio B.

Aleksandar Gajovic from the Ministry of Culture and Media opposed the claims that could have been heard over the past few weeks, that the Draft Law on Public Information would shut down the media financed from the republic, regional or local self-government budget. Instead, the new legislation would provide for new rules of conduct of those media which should be privatized.

"I share the fear of those media that have been financed from the budget, as they now need to get into the market race and play by new rules of the game", Gajovic said. "One thing is for sure - not all media will survive the game, as even this sphere is governed by the rule that only the strongest survive. And, who is the strongest will be known after two or three years, the time needed for dust to settle down."