20. 06. 2011

Association of Media: Strategy to be improved in public debate

Statement of the Managing Board of the Association of Media

Belgrade, June 20, 2011 (ASMEDI Newsletter) - At the session held on June 15, 2011, the Managing Board of the Association of Media discussed the Draft Strategy for Development of Public Information System in the Republic of Serbia until 2016 that the Ministry of Culture had tabled for the public debate. As one of the initiators of the idea of necessity of drafting the Media Strategy, and through its representatives in the working group, active participant in drafting of the said document, the Managing Board concluded that this document considerably reflected the stands of the Association of Media, especially pertaining to media ownership, role of the state, project funding of all media, local ones in particular, necessity of amending and harmonizing media legislation, stimulative measures pertaining to support for print media...  

At the same time, the Managing Board of the Association of Media concluded that this text, good in its basis, could be considerably improved by more precise formulations, especially in the parts related the transparency of ownership and protection of competition.

The Managing Board of the Association of Media advocates for full transparency of the ownership structure of media and consistent protection of competition. Solutions to be proposed in the final version of the Strategy must not limit the development of media industry. Hence, the Managing Board of the Association of Media decided to submit to the Ministry of Culture, within the public debate, concrete proposals that related to regulating these fields as to prevent possible imprecise or arbitrary interpretations. The Tanjug News Agency has retained the right to inform in detail the Ministry of Culture, Media and Information Society on its view on the proposals given in the Draft Strategy.

The Managing Board of the Association of Media will continue with active and constructive participation in the process of adoption of the quality document of the Strategy that is of the utmost importance for development of all media in the Republic of Serbia.