News

"Very little can surprise us anymore in this long process of selecting the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM), which has been ongoing for a significantly longer time than it currently appears. What is unusual is that beneath a major student victory and the pressure they exerted for the competition to be repeated, there seems to be agreement among the authorities, the public, and the EU to conclude this process by the end of summer. However, beneath this apparent consensus, everything is actually boiling over; I believe there is no real consensus, as all participants have different ideas on how to bring this process to a close, and I have no optimism about how it will turn out," said Professor Snježana Milivojević from the Faculty of Political Sciences for N1.

The Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS) strongly condemns yesterday's public appearance of the President of the National Assembly, Ana Brnabić, in which she presented a series of falsehoods and manipulative interpretations of the provisions of the Law on Electronic Media (ZEM) concerning the selection of members of the Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM).

The Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation warns that Bojan Bilbija's candidacy for membership on the REM Council does not meet legal requirements: he has not proven that he has worked for 10 years in electronic media, has appeared on pro-regime TV 448 times, and has spread intolerance and propaganda.

The representative of the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), Saša Mirković, stated today that the renewed process of selecting members of the Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM) "is not progressing in a positive direction" and noted that it resembles the previous, annulled process, when seven candidates withdrew due to irregularities.

The Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation is concerned about the candidacy of Miloš Garić, advisor to the Minister of Information, for the REM Council: he works for the executive power, is a regular guest on pro-regime TV, and has signed a statement asserting that there are no legal obstacles to his candidacy despite being the owner of a TV production company.

The meeting of the Assembly Committee for Culture and Information, during which proposals for candidates for members of the Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM) Council will be discussed, will be held on Friday, May 30th.

Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) "undermine the pillars of democracy," and Serbia is one of the countries in Europe with the highest number of such cases against journalists and civil society organizations, it was stated today at the Anti-SLAPP conference.

"Illegal installation of spyware has disrupted my rhythm of life and work, the peace in the editorial office, and family tranquility."

In the lead-up to the "National Assembly" of the Progressive Party in Niš, an experimental program of a new television station in this city has commenced. Operating without permission to use its name and without a license to broadcast, Niš TV has been airing its "pro-regime" morning program for several days, hosted by former associates of the arrested mayor, while the rest of the day is filled with content from Informer. Professor Rade Veljanovski emphasizes that this television station is currently broadcasting outside the law, and that no one can stop them at this moment because the REM Council does not exist. Journalist Aleksandar Stankov assesses that this may be the last attempt for the SNS to improve its ratings.