13. 11. 2013

Former CNN Correspondent Dissatisfied With Media Laws in Serbia

Belgrade, November 13, 2013 (Tanjug) - The executive director of Channel N1 and  longtime CNN correspondent Brent Sadler said that the Serbian government proposed Law on Broadcasting restricts the freedom of information and said that he will bring this matter before the European institutions.

As reported today  by the "Financial Times ," Sadler plans for next year the launch of a 24 hour Channel N1 that would be broadcast in Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia.

Sadler, however, said that the proposed law suppresses the new television station even before it was launched. The effect could be to prevent a powerful independent force to enter the market, said the former CNN correspondent.

"Financial Times" notes that Sedler and the legal team of the television station are working to adopt amendments to the law, before it is passed , but he warned that if it does not happened he will forward a  complaint to Brussels.

This daily reports words of Freedom House project director Silvana Hadbank Kolačkovska, stating that Serbian media are working now in a highly politicized environment, and that they are restricted by corruption and economic factors.

- Adopting a law whose purpose is the improvement of media environment and harmonization with European standards is quite logical. The only question is whether the proposed draft law will help any of these issues - concluded Hadbank Kolačkovska .

"Financial Times" cites the written response by the Assistant Minister of Culture and Information Sasa Mirkovic, who said all reasonable proposals received in conjunction with the Law on Broadcasting will be considered.