Branimir Grulović and Branislav Sančanin in 67 out of 87 committees formed so far.

Branislav Sančanin is, at 23, immediately behind Grulović in the number of municipalities/cities in which he has been selected for the commission.

In addition to being elected in 44 local self-governments, Grulović was also selected as a member of the commission for the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications (MIT) competition for co-financing projects for the production of media content in the languages of national minorities, while Sančanin was selected for the MIT commission for evaluating projects intended for television.

All other independent media experts, totaling thirteen, have been distributed across the remaining 23 commissions formed so far (three municipalities each have two media experts in the commission, editor's note).

As a reminder, in accordance with the new Law on Public Information and Media (ZJIM), candidates are ranked by the number of points they have earned based on their education, work experience, project writing and evaluation, and participation in international professional conferences when forming the commissions. Points were awarded to candidates by MIT based on the submitted documents.

Out of a maximum of 100 points that candidates applying to evaluate media projects could achieve, Grulović has 98, while Sančanin has 100.

Although Grulović stated in his biography published by the Ministry that he is applying as a journalistic and media association, rather than as an independent media expert, he is still listed as a "media expert" on the final candidate list for the commission members formed by MIT.

Grulović also noted in his biography that he is a member of PROUNS and UNS, although his membership in UNS ended in 2020.

Only three candidates out of 169 applicants in JIS this year, among them media expert Branislav Sančanin, candidate from the Professional Association of Journalists of Serbia (PROUNS) Miodrag Popov, and representative of the Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (DNV) Biljana Ratković Njegovan, have the maximum number of points. Following them are Branimir Grulović and DNV representative Jelena Dopuđ with 98 points.

PROUNS is currently the most represented journalistic association in the commissions

In the commissions formed so far, PROUNS members lead among those representing journalistic and media associations, having members selected in commissions in 37 municipalities/cities.

UNS currently has representatives in commissions in 23 local self-governments, while the Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (DNV) and the Center for Media Culture and Education each have 22.

Controversial commissions in Ćićevac, Mali Crnić, and Petrovac na Mlavi

In analyzing the commissions formed so far, UNS noted that in the municipality of Ćićevac, both candidates from journalistic associations were appointed at the proposal of the Association of Radio Stations “RAB Serbia” (Miloš Rajković and Nevena Azinović), which is not allowed by the Rules, nor is it technically permitted for journalistic and media associations proposing candidates in JIS to propose two candidates for one competition.

UNS previously reported that candidate Miloš Rajković was appointed in the commissions in Obrenovac and Novi Pazar as a member of the Association of Radio Stations RAB Serbia (RAB), while in the municipality of Babušnica he was selected as a media expert.

Miloš Rajković also stated in his biography, published on the MIT website, that he is applying as an independent candidate, while he is also listed as a "representative of RAB" in the final candidate list published by MIT.

UNS, ANEM, and PU "Lokal Pres" previously called on MIT to explain how this situation is possible, as well as under which mandate Miloš Rajković is applying in JIS – as an independent media expert or is he being proposed for the commissions by RAB Serbia? We did not receive a response.

As the third member of the commission in Ćićevac, independent candidate Saša Kokalj was selected. UNS, NUNS, and PU "Lokal Pres" have already reported that in the application form, at the place where it indicates whether the candidate is applying independently or as a candidate from a journalistic and media association, he marked both, which is not in accordance with ZJIM.

According to ZJIM, in the commission for co-financing media projects, the majority of members must be appointed at the proposal of journalistic and media associations, if such exist.

Nevertheless, UNS determined that the municipalities of Mali Crnić and Petrovac na Mlavi have two media experts, and the justification for the formation of the commissions in these municipalities did not specify whether there were enough proposals from journalistic and media associations for participation in the commission.

The municipality of Senta also has two independent media experts in the commission, but the Resolution on the formation of the commission in this municipality states that only one candidate from journalistic and media associations applied in response to the call for proposing commission members.

So far, 60 local self-governments have not yet selected their commissions, nor has the Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Information, and Relations with Religious Communities.

Source: UNS