ANEM: Freedom of expression threatened

ANEM stated that the attack on journalist Teofil Pancic shows that freedom of expression is still threatened in Serbia. The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) warned also that threats and attacks on journalists because of their blogs also show a lack of freedom of expression in Serbia. ANEM: Freedom of expression threatened The media regulatory framework is still unfavorable, both because of the lack of some laws such as the Media Concentration Law and because of the poor implementation of certain regulations, for example the Broadcasting Law, ANEM points out. In their opinion, it is “visible in the case of non-transparent election of the general director of the Serbian Broadcasting Corporation” and in the fact that the amount of surplus from the fees that broadcasters are paying to the Republic Broadcasting Agency (RRA) are still high. The Constitutional Court has finally decided that the disputable Law on the Amendments to the Public Information is generally unconstitutional but it has already had serious effects on the freedoms of the media, ANEM stated. The report points to a growing censorship caused by fear of the possible implementation of the Law on the Amendments to the Public Information Law and a wasted year for the Serbian media scene. Transition processes still do not have the sufficient attention of the authorities, although small progress has been made in the field of privatization with the appointment of a director of a company which is supposed to be the main operator of the network and multiplex, the report reads. But it stresses that the privatization of the media is still left without concrete and systematic solutions. “Competent authorities so far obviously did not manage to create a favorable media environment or to solve many problems which are pressuring the media, either because they could not or because they did not want to,” ANEM pointed out in its report. According to ANEM, one of the most important future tasks for the media sector is an active involvement in the creation of the Media Strategy and the Media Study, adding that its recommendations should be used as a foundation. In order for the Media Strategy to represent a step forward, it is necessary that the competent ministry and the authorities are open to objections to the Media Study, which are already being given, but also for alternative proposals and suggestions of the media professionals and representatives of the very media whose survival and futures are at stake, the report concluded.

ANEM: Freedom of expression threatened

The media regulatory framework is still unfavorable, both because of the lack of some laws such as the Media Concentration Law and because of the poor implementation of certain regulations, for example the Broadcasting Law, ANEM points out.

In their opinion, it is “visible in the case of non-transparent election of the general director of the Serbian Broadcasting Corporation” and in the fact that the amount of surplus from the fees that broadcasters are paying to the Republic Broadcasting Agency (RRA) are still high.

The Constitutional Court has finally decided that the disputable Law on the Amendments to the Public Information is generally unconstitutional but it has already had serious effects on the freedoms of the media, ANEM stated.

The report points to a growing censorship caused by fear of the possible implementation of the Law on the Amendments to the Public Information Law and a wasted year for the Serbian media scene.

Transition processes still do not have the sufficient attention of the authorities, although small progress has been made in the field of privatization with the appointment of a director of a company which is supposed to be the main operator of the network and multiplex, the report reads.

But it stresses that the privatization of the media is still left without concrete and systematic solutions.

“Competent authorities so far obviously did not manage to create a favorable media environment or to solve many problems which are pressuring the media, either because they could not or because they did not want to,” ANEM pointed out in its report.

According to ANEM, one of the most important future tasks for the media sector is an active involvement in the creation of the Media Strategy and the Media Study, adding that its recommendations should be used as a foundation.

In order for the Media Strategy to represent a step forward, it is necessary that the competent ministry and the authorities are open to objections to the Media Study, which are already being given, but also for alternative proposals and suggestions of the media professionals and representatives of the very media whose survival and futures are at stake, the report concluded.