The media situation in Serbia

Branka Otasevic says in an article published by the daily newspaper Politika: "The transformation of the pretty much unconvincing – in both literal sense and with regard to its programme – Radio-Television Vojvodina, the public service broadcaster of the Province of Vojvodina, is an obvious consequence of ambitious steps taken in all segments. Now everything looks more dynamic, modern, professional, skillful – it is worthy of the more frequent promotional content and teasers. The Evening News ("Dnevnik 1") and Vojvodina Evening News are now more professionally produced. Everything else has been improved too – the studio scenery and lighting, the hosts' accent and pronunciation, as well as their styling... The news programe has been strengthened, while the local news are well-made. International cultural events have been reported on very thoroughly, from Sterijino Pozorje to the Festival of European Film to Exit..."
(Politika, 22.07.2012)

One of the promises of the new ruling coalition is the freedom of the media and revoking of the restrictive Law on Public Information. Leaders of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and the United Regions of Serbia (URS), Aleksandar Vucic and Mladjan Dinkic, respectively, who have supported such a move, had previously been behind creation of restrictive media regulations, reports Novi Magazin.
(Novi magazin, 26.07.2012)

Milos Vasic says in an opinion piece published by the daily newspaper Danas: "Braca Petkovic has been appointed as the minister of culture. He owns a candy store as well as a collection of antiuqities and vintage cars. From what I've heard, he owes the state some eight and a half million dinars in taxes and was facing confiscation of property, so he must be feeling better now. However, the problem with the new minister goes beyond taxes. So far, he has made unnecessary statements in line with extreme nationalism and clerical fascism. He said that he was going to introduce 'patriotism' in culture, supposedly including the public information sector. He would arrest Oliver Frljic. On top of all this, he participated in promotion of the memoirs of the butcher from Visegrad, Milan Lukic."
(Danas, 30.07.2012)

Gordana Susa says in an article published by the daily newspaper Danas: "Aleksandar Vucic is now free to talk about a 'gangster-style robbery', accusing the leaders of the Democratic Party (DS). He has announced his intention to revoke the Law on Information. However, when you revoke something, it becomes necessary to introduce something else. Therefore, I am deeply suspicious of Vucic's intention to revoke something as long as he does not announce what he intends introduce in its place. The candidate for the position of the minister of culture, loyal to the new government, has already revealed that he would revoke modernity and contemporary way of thinking, and introduce the past and tradition."
(Danas – weekend edition, 28.07.2012)

Regarding the purchase of the daily newspaper Politika, there is another logical question that should be answered: since the people who bought it are nothing more than traders, resellers and administrators, why do they need a powerful media group? How much more money has to be invested in the company at Makedonska Street to repay its debt and other liabilities, increase circulation, and upgrade the equipment? What possible interest in such things can these office workers from Moscow have? It is almost inconceivable that they do not have a backing from someone far richer and more powerful, who has a serious and long-term interest to buy this old and established media company, reports the daily newspaper Vecernje Novosti.
(Vecernje novosti, 20.07.2012)

Dragoljub Zarkovic has published an opinion piece in the daily newspaper Blic: "There are two crucial questions that need to be answered. First, how is it possible that the price for one of the 'the pillars of Serbdom' can be so low? Serbian tycoons pay more money for status symbols – airplanes and yachts! The second question is closely related to the first one. How is it possible that the true buyer of Politika has not felt the need – after buying one of the jewels of Serbian literacy and culture – to publicly announce such a move and or at least to introduce himself to the editorial office of the newspaper. It seems that the real buyer is trying to hide his identity for reasons that are known to him, which can only arouse suspicion."
(Blic, 23.07.2012)

Ruza Cirkovic says in an opinion piece carried by the daily newspaper Danas: "Everything that we have heard and seen during the last week about the purchase of Politika is just a manifestation of a crooked system that will bring misfortune on Serbia and fill the pockets of its main participants with someone else's money. At the same time, Politika was not bought transparently by VAC either, because at the time when VAC acquired a half of the newspaper, the company Politika a.d. had its own small private owners. It was a private company, but the Government of Serbia treated as a publicly-owned company. After the withdrawal of VAC from the ownership, Politika has been treated as if it was a property of a political party."
(Danas – Business, 23.07.2012)

The new president of the National Parliament of Serbia, Nebojsa Stefanovic, who is a member of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), is not aware of any activities related to drafting of a new media law. He assumes that provisions of the current law that are contrary to democratic values and which have resulted in concentration of power and monopoly in the media sector would be revoked, reports the daily newspaper Vecernje Novosti.
(Vecernje novosti, 26.07.2012)

Jovica Krtinic says in an article published on the website of the Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS): "The media in Serbia might play a key role in the negotiation process that awaits Serbia on its path towards the full membership in the European Union."
(UNS, 20.07.2012)

Radomir Licina says in an opinion piece published by the daily newspaper Danas: "Having in mind our bitter experience with the changes of media laws in Serbia and the years-long difficulties in implementation of the media strategy, it is easy to conclude that 20 years after the so-called democratic changes, Serbia and other countries in the region are still facing serious problems which are threatening their democracy."
(Danas, 19.07.2012)

More than two decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall, top politicians and party leaders in South East Europe are still struggling to accept free media and live with criticism. They publicly accuse journalists of undermining national interests, treason, mafia ties, conspiracies, etc. SEEMO observes with growing concern the way top politicians in South East Europe speak to media and about media.”Numerous recent examples in Romania, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Republika Srpska and Macedonia illustrate this trend. On 13 May 2012, Tomislav Nikolic, then presidential candidate and currently Serbia’s president, said during the TV show Word by Word, on RTS, that once elected president, he would call RTS and say: "I am coming to the television tonight, you will inform about everything I do, I am the president of Serbia," quoted UNS.
(SEEMO, Večernje Novosti, 23.07.2012)

Media freedom in Europe is deteriorating. According to a report presented to the Council of Europe, a pattern of violence and legal abuses directed at journalists has begun to take root in several European countries, threatening to stifle free, independent media with censorship and intimidation. Since late 2009, at least 17 journalists have been killed or abducted in Europe in the course of their work. Seven of these incidents took place in Russia, the most dangerous place in Europe to be a journalist. The threats to media freedom in Europe are all too apparent: intimidation, attacks, and murder; legal harassment and wrongful imprisonment; and official controls, criminal libel laws, and intolerable political and commercial pressure on journalists. Countries can no longer claim ignorance. The time has come for all concerned - journalists, civil-society groups, political parties, and citizens - to stand up for press freedom.
(CIMA Daily Media News, 23.07.2012)

Jan Briza says in an opinion piece that appeared in the daily newspaper Dnevnik: "It is true that the Democratic Party (DS) is in control of the daily newspaper Politika. It is also true that the same newspaper was controlled by the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) when Vojislav Kostunica was the prime minister of Serbia. New editors-in-chief, key members of the editorial office and the editorial policy have been changed every time there was a change in government. As a co-owner of Politika, VAC has never interfered with the editorial policy of the newspaper, leaving such activities to the politicians in power. It is not likely that the new co-owner of Politika intends to continue such practice. It is even less likely that Aleksandar Vucic – once Seselj's young protege and Milosevic's terminator of the free media – will easily give up on the recent practice that the majority partner of the ruling coalition forming the future government of Serbia, which is the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), should have control over the editorial policy of the newspaper. Therefore, Politika is facing a future filled with difficulties. The same can be said of Serbia as well. In every country, the free media are of crucial importance."
(Dnevnik, 22.07.2012)

The state and the media

Verica Kalanovic, nominated by the United Regions of Serbia (URS) for the position of the minister for local self-government and regional development, says: "The rule of law must be upheld. The media should report freely and must not be threatened after publishing the truth. We will consult media associations and OSCE and support adoption of a new law that would control the concentration of ownership over the media and its transparency. I think that the first step should be support to the freedom of the media."
(Danas, 23.07.2012)

The leader of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), Aleksandar Vucic, said that the Law on Information would be revoked: "We will revoke the Law and ensure the freedom of the media, but that does not mean that we will allow crime and thuggery, similar to what happened to Politika."
(Alo!, Dnevnik, Politika, Vecernje novosti, 22.07.2012)

President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic said to the daily newspaper Vecernje Novosti: "Phantom companies have appeared from nowhere and bought media companies of national importance like Novosti and Politika. When Politika was nationalized in 1991, deputies spoke in the National Parliament for days in order to delay the implementation of that decision. Today, no one has raised their voice while the oldest newspaper in the Balkans is being transferred into the hands of the officials of the Democratic Party (DS), hidden behind their friends whom they allowed to build an empire. Serbia must not allow this."
(Vecernje novosti, 19.07.2012)

The new government should reduce the influence of the state on the media, said the president of the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS), Vukasin Obradovic in his Twitter interview on the topic of "The New Government and the Media". Regarding the financing of the media, Obradovic said that NUNS would demand that the government stop financing the news agency Tanjug, which would be the first step towards free market competition. Obradovic is opposed to formation of regional public service broadcasters because that would constitute a political and not a media project.
(Beta, NUNS, 01.08.2012)

Public service broadcasters

Although the Primary Court in Cacak has rejected the lawsuits filed by Radio-Television Serbia (RTS) against 311 citizens of Cacak who were not paying the TV fee, that does not mean that the citizens of Serbia are not obliged to pay it anymore, reports the daily newspaper Alo!. Slobodan Kremenjak, ANEM's lawyer, says that the Court has not rejected the lawsuits because they were ungrounded, but because of formal reasons. This does not mean that the TV fee should not be paid, but that RTS is required to formulate its lawsuits differently.
(Alo!, 19.07.2012)

One of the election promises given by the leader of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), that Aleksandar Tijanic, the director of Radio-Television Serbia (RTS), would be removed from his position, will probably not be fulfilled, reports the daily newspaper Blic. According to sources from the media, the acting president of the SNS, Aleksandar Vucic, has reached an agreement with Tijanic about his remaining at the position of the director of the public service broadcaster until the end of his term. Tijanic himself says that he will probably be the last to find out whether he would be removed from the position.
(Blic, E-kapija, 07.19.2012)

Critics have an extremely low opinion of Tijanic's success at the helm of the public service broadcaster. Tijanic claims that he has made the most-watched programme. From the outside, it can be said that Radio-Television Serbia (RTS) is neither better nor worse than what it would have been had someone else been in Tijanic's place, says the daily newspaper Blic, characterizing it as only slightly more decent than its competitors whose programme is filled with reality shows, close to the government as much as it is expected from the public service broadcaster, and with a programme that is bursting at the seams with re-runs of once-popular programmes.
(Blic, E-kapija, 21.07.2012)

According to our sources, the most serious candidate for the position of the director of RTS is Vilibald Eric, a TV produces with extensive experience in Sarajevo and Ukraine, reports the daily newspaper Kurir. The position of the general director of Radio-Television Serbia (RTS) is equally desired by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and the Serbian Socialist Party (SPS). SPS also has a candidate for the position. Zarko Obradovic, who is in charge of human resources in the SPS, aims to convince a professor at the Megatrend University and the dean of the Faculty of Culture and the Media, Milivoje Pavlovic, to join the race for the position of the director of RTS.
(Kurir, UNS, 24.07.2012)

Radio-Television Serbia (RTS) has issued a press statement saying that the broadcaster has not called for nor introduced the TV fee, but that the TV fee was introduced in accordance with the decision of the Government of Serbia made in 2002. RTS will suggest the Government of Serbia new legal framework that would allow fulfillment of the Government's obligation to provide RTS a stable and sufficient source of financing, in line with European practice. This framework should bring to the same level the rights and obligations of citizens of Belgrade and Novi Sad, 60 percent of whom paid the TV fee in the last month, and the citizens living in the rest of Serbia, where the average rate of payment was around 21 percent, says RTS. One of the possible models for more stable financing of RTS is to allow the broadcaster to collect the fee itself.
(Tanjug, Blic, E-kapija, 18.07.2012, Press, 19.07.2012, Tanjug, Pregled, UNS, 20.07.2012,Novi magazin, 26.07.2012)

Former neighbours of the director of Radio-Television Serbia, Aleksandar Tijanic, who live in rural communities in the municipality of Kursumlija – some 20 villages in total – are not covered by the RTS terrestrial signal. Despite this, they have been receiving bills for TV fee each month.
(Beta, Danas, 20.07.2012, Kurir, UNS, 21.07.2012)

RTS has large claims in Subotica, because its citizens watch TV programme via cable networks and consider that paying an additional TV fee for RTS is unjustified. Those who have not been paying the TV fee say that it would be logical for cable providers to pay the fee to RTS, similarly to their relationship with other TV stations.
(Danas, 30.07.2012)

Threats, attacks and legal proceedings against journalists; media-related trials

Ilic vs. Beckovic

Coalition partners of Velimir Ilic, the leader of the political party New Serbia (NS), did not want yesterday to condemn his attack and threats against journalist Olja Beckovic. Only the United Regions of Serbia (URS) commented on the latest incident caused by the future minister. URS says that Ilic was not acting in official capacity and that his behavior has nothing to do with the party or the coalition agreement.
(Blic, 19.07.2012)

The leader of New Serbia (NS), Velimir Ilic, believes that his accusations against Olja Beckovic will not cost him the ministerial position. Ilic told the daily newspaper Press that the leader of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), Aleksandar Vucic, and the future prime minister, Ivica Dacic, had not criticized him for his statements about the author of the TV show "Impression of the Week".
(Press, 19.07.2012)

SEEMO condemned yesterday the latest insults made by the leader of the political party New Serbia (NS) against journalists and called on all politicians in Serbia to threatening and insulting journalists.
(Dnevnik, 19.07.2012)

The president of the New Serbia (NS), Velimir Ilic, apologized to Olja Beckovic and TV B92 for insults made several days ago at a press conference, after being criticized by his coalition partner, the leader of the SNS, Aleksandar Vucic.
(Alo!, Blic, Danas, Dnevnik, Informer, Press, Pregled, Politika, Kurir, 20.07.2012)

-------

Voja D. from Kikinda attacked writer Srdjan Tesin and cameraman of TV VK, Kristijan Tot, during the presentation of music bands from Kikinda and the book "Small Circle", written by Vladislav Vujin, in the Cultural Center of Zrenjanin. Voja D. also insulted the Radio VK host, Darko Zivkovic. The audience prevented the incident from escalating. The Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (NDNV) condemned the incident and demanded that the authorities arrest the attacker and investigate the motive behind the attack. The Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS) called on the authorities in Zrenjanin to immediately investigate the incident.
(Kurir, 22.07.2012, UNS, 23.07.2012, Beta, Politika, 24.07.2012)

Miroslav Miskovic, the director of the local newspaper from Gornji Milanovac, Takovske Novine, threw out yesterday a journalist, Vladislav Vujovic, from the editorial office after the journalist criticized his work.
(Beta, Danas, Press, Vecernje novosti, UNS, 24.07.2012)

The Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS) condemned the dismissal of journalist Vladan Vujovic by the director of the weekly magazine from Gornji Milanovac, Takovske Novine. Vujovic said that the case will have an epilogue in court.
(Beta, Danas, 26.07.2012)

During a water polo match between Serbia and Hungary, Danilo Ikodinovic strongly criticized the RTS commentator, Aleksandar Stojanovic, reports Kurir.
(Kurir, 30.07.2012)

The International Initiative for Monitoring of Anti-Serbianism (MIPA) will sue the news agency Beta and the daily newspaper Blic for violation of the laws of the Republic of Serbia.
(UNS, 26.07.2012)

Following the criminal charges filed by the Police Station in Apatin, the Primary Public Prosecutor's Office in Sombor initiated a lawsuit against Jovan Banjac from Apatin because of destruction and damaging of the property of TV Apatin.
(UNS, 27.07.2012)

Rights of journalists

The case of Laslo Sas

Laslo Sas, a contributor to newspapers Magyar Szo and Het Nap, who was sentenced by the Primary Court in Subotica in April of the last year to pay a fine in the amount of 150,000 dinars for libel against Laslo Torockai, the leader of the movement "64 Zupanije", began serving a five-month prison term on Friday because he was not able to pay the required amount. The process lasted for almost four years because the Serbian police banned Torockai from entering Serbia for the period of two years due to an incident that happened on Palic.
(Alo!, 22.07.2012, UNS, 23.07.2012, Politika, UNS, 26.07.2012)

The vice president of the government of Vojvodina, Slavisa Grujic, said today that it is outrageous that journalists in Serbia can be punished for libel against an individual who was banned from entering Serbia for two years because of extremism. Grujic made his statement during his visit to Katali Sas, the wife of the retired journalist Laslo Sas, who is now imprisoned. Grujic offered his help in providing everything that Sas, who is in bad health, might need to make his stay in prison more bearable. Grujic welcomed the response of journalistic associations, who had protested against this injustice, and added that the Secretariat for Culture and Information of the Province, headed by him, will demand that Sas be pardoned and leave the prison as a free man. "There are initiatives to collect the needed amount of 150,000 dinars which Laslo Sas is required to pay, but I think that the president of the Republic should pardon this man. The government should support him and set him free", said Grujic.
(Beta, NUNS, 24.07.2012, Politika, Press, Vecernje Novosti, Press, Politika, 28.07.2012)

The Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS), the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS) and the Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (NDNV) call on Tomislav Nikolic, the president of Serbia, to pardon Laslo Sas.
(Alo!, Vecernje Novosti, Press, 27.07.2012)

If Laslo Sas had sufficient income for normal life, only a few people would have reacted to the unreasonable verdict of the Primary Court in Subotica, reports the daily newspaper Press. However, since Laslo Sas is dependent on his wife's small pension, he cannot afford to pay the fine and had no other choice but to begin serving a five-month prison term. Laslo Torockai, on the other hand, is the leader of the movement "64 Zupanije", whose members call Vojvodina "the southern province", i.e. Delvedek, and who demand revision of the Trianon agreement of 1920 and creation of Greater Hungary within its pre-World War I borders.
(Press, 29.07.2012)

If the government does not begin the procedure for pardoning of the journalist Laslo Sas from Subotica, journalistic associations and the daily newspaper Press intend to collect money and buy his freedom. Journalistic associations warn that if the verdict remains unchallenged, Laslo Sas will be the first journalist serving a prison term for insult since the adoption of the new criminal code.
(Press, 30.07.2012)

Journalistic associations have launched an initiative to pardon the journalist, but he is required to ask for pardon himself.
(UNS, 30.07.2012)

The lawyer for the Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS), Zoran Lakicevic, said today that the verdict made against journalist Laslo Sas for insulting of the leader of the Hungarian rightist extremist movement was unfounded and senseless.
(UNS, 31.07.2012)

Journalist Laslo Sas delivered to the administration of the District Jail a plea demanding pardon from President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic, reports the newspaper Suboticke Novine. In the meantime, Reporters Without Borders, which is an international organization for protection of the freedom of the press, condemned the verdict against journalists Laslo Sas and called on Serbia to protect journalist.
(Politika, NUNS, Press, 31.07.2012, Dnevnik, Kurir, Večernje novosti, 01.08.2012)

The Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS) informs the public and its colleagues that the cabinet of the President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic received today a plea sent by journalist Laslo Sas, who is serving a prison term of 150 days.
(UNS, 01.08.2012)

The minority media

The legal framework of the Republic of Serbia reflects its strong commitment to protection of minorities and their cultural identity, which was noted by the Venice Committee. The Committee gave a positive assessment of the Serbian Constitution. However, in practice, implementation of the regulations and the actual protection of minority communities slightly differ from the theory – this is one of the conclusions of the expert analysis by the Monitoring Mission for protection of minorities organized by the EU Delegation to Serbia. In the media scene, there are many examples of non-implementation or wrong interpretation of the right to information in minority languages, or the presence of minorities in the media.
(Danas – Weekend edition, 28.07.2012)

The National Council of Hungarians will launch an initiative to take over some of the founding rights in Radio Subotica. The councilor for information in the National Council, Erzebet Zita Simon, said that the media outlet is of special significance for informing of the Hungarian national minority i.e. preservation, improvement and development of its national identity.
(Magyar Szo, NDNV, 26.07.2012)

Members of the National Council appointed yesterday Istvan Bodzoni as the director of RTV Panon. Bodzoni had been the acting director of the station since September of the last year. He said that most of the specified goals had been achieved: programme structure was changed, the technology of production has been upgraded, the network of correspondents has been created, while several agreements on cooperation have been signed with domestic and Hungarian media outlets. The director of RTV Panon added that it was necessary to ensure a more stable financial backing and to extend its area of coverage.
(Magyar Szo, NDNV, 26.07.2012)