14. 10. 2010

THE PUBLIC MUST BE INCLUDED IN DRAFTING THE MEDIA STRATEGY

Belgrade, October 14, 2010 - Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS), Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS), The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (NDNV) and Local Press strongly disagree with the statement of the Managing Board Chairman of the Media Association (ASMEDI) Veselin Simonovic, saying that the drafting of the Serbian Media Strategy should not include journalists' associations, but only the media and those related to the media business-wise.

The Media Strategy should serve as a platform for a comprehensive legal regime of the information space, while the statement of Veselin Simonovic, Chief Editor of the daily "Blic", the most important issue of the Ringier Axel Springer Media AG, seems to show the intention of the managers and shareholders in the media industry to create media legal framework in his own discretion and interest. It would be scandalous if the state accepted these demands, as the protection of the public interest is one of the most important pillars of society. Therefore, ANEM, NUNS, UNS, NDNV and Local Press believe that, in addition to the state, journalists' and professional media organizations, the process of drafting the Media Strategy must include civil society organizations, representatives of educational, scientific and cultural organizations and institutions, in short, the entire media public.

Giving way to the intentions of media bosses would be the same as if the state left the regulation of labor legislation exclusively to the capital, without allowing any influence of employees and their unions. Owners of media must be aware that their capital does not imply ownership of the information space, the journalists and other media workers and audience.