Media Strategy: State to EXIT media, but when?

One of the conclusions of the media strategy adopted by the government five days ago is that the state will definitely have to exit all media companies, including Politika AD and the Tanjug agency. The new strategy explicitly says that the state „will immediately submit a registration application for the deletion of the news agency JP Novinska agencija Tanjug from the register of companies“. However, this does not mean that this agency will cease to exist, it will rather become privately-owned, which means that Serbia will lose the only national news broadcasting agency. When it comes to Politika AD, it is necessary to „draw up and implement a plan for the state’s complete exit“ from the ownership in this company. Namely, Politika AD publishes the magazines Politikin Zabavnik, Ilustrovana Politika and Bazar. The strategy says that the state was committed to respecting its commitment not to own the media, but that „because of the importance of the media companies that had not been privatized (Politika, Tanjug, etc.), it can be said that, in a formal sense, the goal is only partially fulfilled, while it is essentially not fulfilled.“ The deadline for the implementation of the aforementioned measures regarding the state’s media exit has not been specified. The new media strategy could also limit the value of sponsorship and donation agreements that media publishers sign with public companies and other public authorities. It is also proposed to create a register in which all the data on the money allocated to legal entities and entrepreneurs engaged in the production of media content would be available. The strategy proposes to ensure greater independence, transparency and efficiency of REM. The strategy also envisages the strengthening of the local media, which could be contributed to by the prescribed tax relief intended for such media. It is interesting to note that there is a proposal to oblige public companies to earmark at least 15 percent of the money they spend annually on advertising to local and regional media in order to strengthen their role.

Izvor: Politika

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