30. 06. 2008

MEDIA SECTOR REFORM GROUP STATEMENT ON AMENDMENT TO LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT ACT AND ON A NEW MEDIA FUND TO SUPPORT LOCAL MEDIA IN SERBIA

Representatives of Media Sector Reform Group, a joint working group of the Independent Journalists Association of Serbia (NUNS), Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) and Local Press, would like to thus send in an official initiative to the relevant institutions of the Republic of Serbia, to consider amendments to the existing Local Self-Government Act in order to enable transparent and effective financing of local media organizations in Serbia. At the same time, Media Sector Reform Group supports potential establishing of a Republic of Serbia Media Fund, which will, according to the Group, become indispensable in the near future.
 
There is no traditional way of financing local media organizations in Serbia. Local governments handle this issue in different ways. In cases where media privatization process has already been completed, local governments mainly fulfil their obligation to fund the work of their local media by signing individual contracts with local media organizations. Those contracts define the obligation of local media to inform citizens on the work of their local governments. However, there is tangible potential for abuse in this area. Namely, some cases there have already emerged showing that funds had been directed in such a way to support the work of the so-called "pliable" media outlets, that is, to support media organizations that openly expressed their inclination and support for one or another political option, securing additional financing for themselves.
 
This is exactly why we propose amendments and addenda to the existing Local Self-Government Act and a more detailed regulation of this area. Media Sector Reform Group thinks that the Local Self-Government Act should oblige local governments to allocate funds for these purposes, that is, to provide "public information", only through the process of public tenders. Media Fund of the Republic of Serbia should also contribute to greater independence of local media organizations in Serbia and enable them to survive. We thus support the establishing of such a Fund by the end of 2008, after a new Government of the Republic of Serbia is formed, together with its network of institutions and bodies. Significant financial assistance could be provided from the EU Instrument of Pre-Accession, that could, together with an adequate funds from the Republic of Serbia budget, form sufficient basis for the initial phase of Fund's operations in the first quarter of 2009.

Media Sector Reform Group 
NUNS, ANEM and Local Press