Professional standards

The Complaints Committee of the Press Council, which began working a month ago, has adopted its first decisions about complaints against articles published in the daily newspaper Press and weekly magazine NIN. The Committee decided that the article entitled "Doctor Tortures Wife and Her Lover", which was published on 9 September 2011, had violated the provisions of the Journalistic Code of Conduct of Serbia related to protection of privacy of citizens. The Committee has ordered the newspaper to publish the decision. The Committee rejected the complaint submitted by the former Minister of Health, Tomica Milosavljevic, in relation to the article "Government Protects Former Minister" published by NIN magazine. The Committee was of the opinion that NIN had not violated the provisions of the Code. The decisions and their explanations are available on the web site www.savetzastampu.rs
(UNS, 28. 10. 2011, Danas, 29.10.2011)

A new issue of the magazine Kultura, dedicated to trends, dilemmas and challenges of contemporary journalism, was presented in the Institute for Research of Cultural Development. A professor at the Faculty of Political Science, Neda Todorovic, said that the editors of the magazine had managed to investigate some of the most important problems of contemporary journalism, "faced with today's challenges".
(Danas, NUNS, 01.11.2011)

A book entitled "In Front of the Camera" is a result of the work of a group of most experienced journalists from BBC and CBS. The does not exist as such in English language, but consists of specially commissioned individual reports. The Serbian-language editor of the book is Olivera Jovicevic, who is an editor at Radio-Television Serbia (RTS), while the book was translated into Serbian by a director working for RTS, Mina Stanojevic. The book was published by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
(Politika, NUNS, UNS, 08.11.2011)

The Sabic case

The Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations for Freedom of Access to Information has called on the Committee for Culture and Information of the National Parliament of Serbia to immediately deliver its proposal for appointment of the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Protection of Personal Data. The first seven-year term in office of the current Commissioner ends on 22 December 2011 and the law allows the Commissioner, Rodoljub Sabic, to serve another seven years in office.
(Danas, NUNS, 27.10.2011)

The Journalists Association of Serbia (UNS) calls on the committee for Culture and Information of the National Parliament of Serbia to again nominate Rodoljub Sabic as the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance. The UNS highly values the support of Rodoljub Sabic to the freedom of expression in Serbia and his assistance to journalists in their professional activities which are in public interest.
(UNS, 27.10.2011)

The Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS) and the Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (NDNV) have called on the Committee for Culture and Information of the National Parliament of Serbia to initiate the procedure for election of the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance as soon as possible. At the same time, NUNS and NDNV support the proposal of the Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations for Freedom of Access to Information that the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance, Rodoljub Sabic, be re-elected to the same position because of his excellent performance. In the fragile democratic practice of the post-5 October Serbia, the Commissioner Rodoljub Sabic has achieved enormous and pioneering work aimed at opening various governmental "treasure troves" of information. He has offered invaluable assistance to professional journalists and the media, says the joint statement.
(NUNS, NDNV, B92, Blic, 28.10.2011)

ANEM calls on the Committee for Culture and Information of the National Parliament of the Republic of Serbia to initiate the procedure for election of the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance. ANEM considers that Rodoljub Sabic deserves a new term in office due to his exceptional professional qualities and work results.
(ANEM Press Statement, NUNS, 01.11.2011)

The Judges' Association of Serbia and the Association of Public Prosecutors and Deputy Public Prosecutors of Serbia have asked the parliamentary Committee for Culture and Information to re-elect Rodoljub Sabic to the position of the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Protection of Personal Data.
(Tanjug, Pravda, NUNS, 03.11.2011)

A coalition of eight non-governmental organizations "Civic Vojvodina" is concerned about the fact that the Committee on Culture and Information of the National Parliament of Serbia has so far avoided to nominate the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and to deliver its proposal to the National Parliament. "We consider that the current Commissioner, Rodoljub Sabic, is most responsible for the successful work of this institution and that there exists not a single reason that he should not be re-elected to this position", says their announcement.
(Danas, NUNS, 29.10.2011, 31.10.2011, Dnevnik, 31.10.2011,NDNV, 03.11.2011)

Even before the beginning of the electoral procedure for appointment of the new Commissioner for Information of Public Importance, Rodoljub Sabic has already won support of the largest political party in the parliament. The vice president of the Democratic Party (DS), Jelena Trivan, said that it was up to political parties to nominate candidates for the position of Commissioner, and announced that the Democratic Party would attempt to provide necessary votes for re-election of Sabic.
(Kurir, 02.11.2011, Danas, NUNS, 03.11.2011, Vecernje Novosti, NUNS, 04.11.2011)

Awards, assessments, training courses, conferences, contests

CEI and the SEEMO are pleased to announce the winner of the CEI SEEMO Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism 2011, Mr. Kalicki Włodzmierz. Special Investigative Journalism Diploma were awarded to Artan Hoxha (Albania), Dijana Subotički (Serbia), Matej Šurc and Blaž Zgaga (Slovenia.) Dijana Subotički (Serbia) got diploma for her work on investigative stories along the news and reports, covering failures, missuse of power and corruption at local and regional level, but also as a message to journalists working on investigative stories at local level
(SEEMO, 20.10.2011)

A journalist from the newspaper Nezavisne Novine Palanacke is the first winner of the award for journalistic humanitarianism "Djoko Vjestica" which is presented by the Journalistic Association of Serbia (UNS).
(UNS, 26.10.2011, Politika, Press, 27.10.2011)

A columnist for the weekly magazine Vreme, Ljubomir Zivkov, and a journalist working for the Beta news agency, Dinko Gruhonjic, have received the "Dusan Bogavac" award for journalistic courage and ethics from the Independent Journalistic Association of Serbia (NUNS).
(Beta, NUNS, 27.10.2011)

In cooperation with the Danish LEDIB (Local Economic Development in the Balkans) program, the Association of Journalists from Nis organized a counseling event for the colleagues from the region. The event was dedicated to reporting on economy, judiciary and crime.
(Vecernje Novosti - Srbija, 31.10.2011, Juzne vesti, 03.11.2011)

Journalists from Dnevnik daily newspaper, Sladjana Gluscevic and Branka Dragovic Savic, are the winners of the award for best reporting in the field of local self-government. The award was presented by the representatives of the European Union in Serbia, the Council of Europe and the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities.
(Dnevnik, NUNS, 31.10.2011)

On 16 November 2011, the second regional Press Media Summit will be held in Belgrade. The event will bring together more than 200 regional leaders of most prestigious newspaper publishing companies. This year, they will be joined by leaders of marketing, media and PR agencies and highest officials of European associations. Additional information and registration form are available here: abcsrbija.com/dogadjaji/najave-dogadjaja.html.
(Danas, 28.10.2011, ABC, 31.10.2011, Pravda, NUNS, 02.11.2011, Dnevnik, 03.11.2011(ASMEDI, November 2011)

So far, more than 120 guests from all parts of the region have been registered for the Second Press Media Summit.
(Blic, NUNS, 08.11.2011)

The contest for the best media report about the process of European integration in Serbia in 2011 ends on 1 December. The media reports must be published/broadcast by any of the media outlets in the Republic of Serbia in the period 1 January – 1 December 2011 and should be sent to the address: Republikа Srbijа, Vlаdа, Kаncelаrijа zа evropske integrаcije, ZA NOVINARSKU NAGRADU, Nemаnjinа 34/1, 11000 Beogrаd.
(NUNS 07.11.2011)

The editor of RTV VK, Dijana Suboticki, has received a special diploma for investigative journalism from the Central European Initiative (CEI) and the South East Europe Media Organization (SEEMO). She has been awarded for their investigative work in the local community. This is her second international award that Dijana Suboticki has won this autumn – in October she received an award for investigative journalism from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
(NUNS, 07.11.2011)

The International Day for Tolerance will be marked in Backa Topola on November 16, said the president of the Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (NDNV), Dinko Gruhonjic. An award for tolerance will be presented by the Danube Bureau Foundation Novi Sad/VOjvodina under the auspices of the President of the Parliament and the Government of Vojvodina. NDNV has joined the project and as of this year journalists will receive annual tolerance awards which will be transformed into NDNV's award for promotion of tolerance.
(Danas, 05.11.2011)

The editorial office of Belgrade Insight (www.belgradeinsight.com), the only newspaper in English language in Belgrade, celebrated on Tuesday the publication of its 100th issue. The event was attended by representatives of diplomatic corps, non-governmental organizations, local media and numerous companies. Belgrade Insight is issued two times a month and distributed at more than 350 locations. According to research conducted in July this year by the Intelligence agency, the newspaper has around 15,000 readers.
(BIRN, 09.11.2011)

The Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School awards scholarships for research projects focusing on the Internet and its role in the society. Recipients of scholarships have been invited to create research projects themselves or to participate in projects that are already being implemented by the Center. The program will last for a year (academic year 2012/2013) and will be held on the Harvard University. The deadline for application is 18 December 2011. Detaled information on conditions, application and the program is available here.
(MC, 09.11.2011)

The Information Department of the Ministry of Culture of Serbia has organized a contest for co-financing of production and/or distribution of media content in media outlets in the Republic of Serbia that is significant from the aspect of public interest. The deadline for application is 1 December 2011. Additional information (criteria, forms, contact details) is available at the website of the Ministry of Culture, Media and Information Society.
(MC, 11.11.2011)

The Central European Development Forum (CEDEF), in cooperation with the Agency for Energy Efficiency of the Republic of Serbia and under auspices of the Henkel company, has organized another journalistic competition for the best media report on "Insulation in Buildings and Energy Efficiency". The competition will be open until 30 December 2011. Media contact person: Lea Grubić, 011/30 36 134, office@cedeforum.org
(MC, 11.11.2011)

Anniversaries

On the occasion of 73th anniversary of birth of Milovan Ilic Minimaks, the Association of Kragujevac and Friends of Kragujevac organized a memorial evening in honor of the famous radio and TV journalist under the title "Minimaks Forever".
(Vecernje Novosti, 04.11.2011)

The national news agency, Tanjug, celebrated the 68 anniversary of its inception by awarding journalists whose reporting on the crisis in the north of Kosovo has served as a confirmation of best standards of Serbian journalism. The awards were received by journalists Zoran Mirkovic and Zeljko Tvrdisic, photographer Milos Jelesijevic and cameramen Marko Trosic and Edib Tahirovic.
(Pravda, NUNS, UNS, 08.11.2011)

Media visits

The President of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Mirko Cvetkovic, and his associates visited the headquarters of the Media Association and met with editors-in-chief of media companies which are members of the Association. The discussion about the current political and economic situation and the problems facing the media industry lasted for much longer than the time assigned by the protocol of the visit.
(ASMEDI, November 2011)

In Memoriam

Two cameramen were killed in the city of Subotica when a truck hit them while they were making a commercial. Both of them used to work for local TV stations.
(Blic, B92, NUNS, 04.11.2011)