04. 05. 2012

WHERE ARE THE FUNDS FOR APPROVED MEDIA PROJECTS

Belgrade, May 4, 2012 - Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS), Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS), Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) and Business Association Local Press call on the Ministry of Culture, Media and Information Society to immediately provide information on the funds recently allocated to the media through the public call for application of projects and approved by the relevant commissions.

The competition was called back on November 1 last year, while the project applications were accepted by December 1, 2011.

Although the commissions for approving the applications completed its task almost two months ago, there are still no information about the outcome of the call available to any of representatives of media, nor have the contracts been signed with the media, whose projects were accepted by the said commissions.

Journalists' and media associations hold such behavior of the representatives of the Ministry of Culture utterly inapprehensible, as they have not yet published the results of the call or provided explanations to why the funds have not yet been given to the accepted media projects.

UNS, NUNS, ANEM and Local Press consider such irresponsible act as a form of pressure on already vulnerable media, local in particular, which puts at risk their survival, as well as the fundamental right of citizens to be informed.

In Belgrade, May 4, 2012

Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS)

Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS)

Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)

Business Association Local Press