20. 10. 2014

MEDIA AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES – DEVELOPMENT OF TRUST

The debate will be focused on essential changes in the relationship of the state, local self-autonomies and the media that new media law pertain to. Some of the questions that the participants will aim to answer are:

• What is project-based financing and how will it be implemented?
• How can we establish public interest at a local level?
• How prepared are media and local authorities to act proactively toward improving informing of citizens in their communities? 
• Where do the pressures based on financial dependence on local authorities end and where does the development of trust begin?

The public debate "Media and Local Communities - Development of Trust" is the 11th out 12 planned debates organized within the Campaign for Media Literacy of the Media Coalition, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It was held yesterday in Cacak with the aim to raise public awareness about free and responsible journalism as a basis for a democratic society.

Media Coalition is an informal partnership of five media organizations: the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS), Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS); Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (NDNV), Business Association of Local Independent Media "Local Press" and the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM).

Speakers at the public debate will be:

Dejan Stojanović, head of the group for normative affairs in the Information Sector of the Ministry of Culture and Information

Nadežda Vuksanović, head of the City Authority for social affairs of the city of Cacak

Aleksandar Dačić, assistant mayor for social affairs of the city of Cacak

Nedim Sejdinović, secretary general of the Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina