21. 08. 2015

Monitoring of the realization of the process of project co-financing of media

The Coalition of journalists and media associations, informal partnership of Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS), Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS), Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (NDNV), Association of independent local media Local Press (LP) and Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), believes that the proper application of the rules in the area of project co-financing of the media is of exceptional importance for the development of the media sector - it should ensure spending of the budget funds on support to the production of media content of public interest instead of direct financing of the media, in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner that does not lead to distortions of the competition on the market (competition procedure). Therefore, ever since the announcement of the first competition under the new Law on Public Information and Media, Coalition has been carrying out monitoring of the implementation of the process of the project co-financing of the media, pointing to and reacting to irregularities, and actively participating in it, by proposing their candidates and participating in the work of the commissions, if the competitions are in accordance with the legislation.

To monitor the entire process more comprehensively and more effectively, the Coalition has planned a number of joint activities and the system of work within the project "To be or not to be for media reform in Serbia - monitoring of the project co-financing of the media", which would be implemented from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016, with the support from the British Embassy in Serbia (British embassy Belgrade). The goal is to contribute, based on monitoring and evaluation of project co-financing of the media, as key to the success of media reforms in Serbia, to improvement of regulations in this area and creation of sustainable system in which the taxpayers' money intended for the media will be spent in the public interest. The project is led by UNS in cooperation with partners: NUNS, NDNV, Local Press and ANEM.

Some of the key activities of the Coalition are: the formation of a five-member Media pool, where each organization has one representative, which follows the announcement of the competition and the regularity of the process, in case of detected irregularities reacts publicly, provides authorities and other participants in the process with consultations and advice as well as proposes candidates for the members of Competition Commissions to authorities; monitoring of the process of project co-financing of the media - competition procedure at the national, provincial and local level, where each organization is in charge of the monitoring of the process in a number of cities and municipalities (Coalition will inform the public on the results of monitoring, using websites and social networks of the Coalition's organizations); creation of the base of the collected data, for systematic monitoring of the process and comparisons in the next period; drafting reports on the results of the monitoring process of the project co-financing of the media for a certain period, which will be publicly presented at the planned joint events. The preparation and public presentation of the report that contains a legal analysis of the monitoring results with recommendations for improving the related regulations, as well as reports containing comprehensive media analysis of the process - White Book, are also planned.

Members of the Media pool are: 

Members of the Coalition and, for each organization, the cities and municipalities where it carries out the monitoring of the process of co-financing of media content of public interest:

Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS):

Obrenovac
Subotica
Vršac
Apatin
Sremska Mitrovica
Vladimirci
Šabac
Valjevo
Lajkovac
Ljig
Mionica
Osečina
Ub
Smederevska Palanka
Aranđelovac
Negotin
Zaječar
Sokobanja
Kosjerić
Nova Varoš
Požega
Užice
Čajetina
Gornji Milanovac
Vrnjačka Banja
Kraljevo
Novi Pazar
Aleksandrovac
Brus
Babušnica
Bela Palanka
Dimitrovgrad
Pirot
Secretariat for Culture and Information of the AP of Vojvodina
Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Srbije

Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS):

Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (NDNV):

Bačka Topola
Mali Iđoš
Žitište
Nova Crnja
Novi Bečej
Sečanj
Ada
Kanjiža
Senta
Čoka
Bela Crkva
Kovačica
Opovo
Plandište
Kula
Sombor
Bač
Bačka Palanka
Bački Petrovac
Beočin
Vrbas
Žabalj
Sremski Karlovci
Temerin
Titel
Novi Sad
Inđija
Pećinci
Ruma
Stara Pazova 
Šid
Sjenica
Tutin

Association of independent local media Local Press (LP):

Mladenovac
Novi Kneževac
Odžaci
Koceljeva
Krupanj
Loznica
Ljubovija
Mali Zvornik
Velika Plana
Golubac
Batočina
Knić
Lapovo
Rača
Topola
Kragujevac
Despotovac
Rekovac
Svilajnac
Bor
Knjaževac
Lučani
Čačak
Raška
Varvarin
Kruševac
Trstenik
Ćićevac
Ražanj
Blace
Žitorađa
Kuršumlija
Prokuplje

Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM):

Zrenjanin
Kikinda
Alibunar
Kovin
Pančevo
Bečej
Srbobran
Irig
Bogatić
Smederevo
Veliko Gradište
Žabari
Žagubica
Kučevo
Malo Crniće
Petrovac
Požarevac
Jagodina
Paraćin
Ćuprija
Kladovo
Bajina Bašta
Priboj
Aleksinac
Gadžin Han
Doljevac
Merošina
Svrljig
Niš and city municipalities