SKOPJE 11.09.1017 – The Association of Journalists of Macedonia, together with representatives of the print media, met with the Minister of Information Society and Administration Damjan Manchevski.
The possibility of subsidizing the print media in Macedonia was discussed at the meeting . This topic was initiated by AJM in order to help newspapers adapt to the new market conditions, especially after the emergence of the Internet and social networks.
Concerned by the closure of several newspapers, the AJM believes that the Government has a range of measures that can help to restructure the media market. “The Government can implement various tax incentives, public service discounts, subsidies for paper, printing or assistance for the development of the distribution network of newspapers. Such measures are applied in various European countries, “stressed at the meeting the director of AJM, Dragan Sekulovski.
Representatives of the print media proposed various forms of subsidies and pointed out that without the Government’s help, their existence would be in doubt.
Minister Manchevski expressed understanding about the problems the newspapers face and agreed to organize a debate, on which all representatives of printed national and regional media in the Republic of Macedonia will be invited to discuss possible subsidies models.