"Responsible" media to receive state aid

The culture minister says financial aid to the media during the crisis will be provided “based on media’s social responsibility, not as help to companies.” Nebojsa Bradic said that that meant that “those media that work on providing quality information in the citizens’ interests, that work in the interests of developing democracy and society, are those that will receive assistance.” "Responsible" media to receive state aid “The task force that’s going to be formed from media representatives, the Culture Ministry and journalists’ associations will submit a proposal on who is to receive assistance,” said the minister. He said that the next package would include measures that were already visible today, such as proposals for loans from the European Investment Bank, explaining that many media companies had invested in development and equipment, but that the current downturn in readership and advertising was jeopardizing their existence. According to Bradic, the airwaves needed to be streamlined, broadcasters operating without licenses or as pirates needed to be taken off the air, while other measures were also required to protect this industry as it was directly imperiled by the effects of the crisis.

"Responsible" media to receive state aid

“The task force that’s going to be formed from media representatives, the Culture Ministry and journalists’ associations will submit a proposal on who is to receive assistance,” said the minister.

He said that the next package would include measures that were already visible today, such as proposals for loans from the European Investment Bank, explaining that many media companies had invested in development and equipment, but that the current downturn in readership and advertising was jeopardizing their existence.

According to Bradić, the airwaves needed to be streamlined, broadcasters operating without licenses or as pirates needed to be taken off the air, while other measures were also required to protect this industry as it was directly imperiled by the effects of the crisis.