NOVI SAD, 23.05.2018. – The representatives of media associations paid a visit to Maja Pavlovic, the owner and director of the TV Channel 9 from the northern city of Novi Sad who went on hunger strike after her TV was shut down because of debts.

Pavlovic told the colleagues she would persist in her demand to first “settle the debt issue with the state and then draw the line to see who owes what and to whom.”

The TV Channel 9 signal was shut down last week after 20 years of broadcasting. It joined the list of several local media that had to stop publishing or broadcasting due to an unbearable financial situation.

They complain that the regime uses its resources to shut them down because of the criticism of the authorities.

Pavlovic said she asked the state to honour the right the TV had according to the Constitution and laws and to pay their debt to the Channel 9.

“Then we can pay ours and if after that we still owe them something then their decision will be justified,” Pavlovic said.

“But,” she added, “I cannot allow the channel to be closed because of our debt and that at the same time they don’t pay theirs.”

Pavlovic said that her TV station, after many years, could not get any money for their projects, the banks would not give them a loan because of their risk assessment, while both regional and local media in Serbia generally did not have access to bigger marketing agencies.

Among those who visited Pavlovic were representatives of the Independent Union of Journalists in Serbia (NUNS), Independent Society of Journalists in Vojvodina (NDNV) and of the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM).

The director of the Emission Techniques and Links (ETL), a state enterprise, Branko Gogic said his company did everything possible but that the Channel 9 did not want to cooperate.

He added he was willing to continue a dialogue and find a compromise.

Nino Brajovic, the Secretary-General of the Union of Serbia’s Journalists (UNS) appealed to the ETL to put the Channel 9 signal back and then continue the talks.

If they don’t, Brajovic says, “this will be yet another end of a television whose owner has managed to have an independent editorial policy and to wrestle with cable operators’ networks to avoid the shutting down of the TV signal.”

Belgrade is under international criticism for what experts see is curbing the media freedom. The area is covered by a chapter in the accession talks with the European Union.

The latest Reporter Without Borders’ report  said Serbia had dropped 10 places from the last year’s survey, but authorities in the country disagree, saying “that description is not deserved.”

SARAJEVO, 23.05.2018.-Zijad Dzemic, a controversial director of the Institute of Metrology in BiH (the only institute of this kind in the world) and institute whose officials proclaimed and authorized it as the only legally authorized body in charge with the viewership audience measurement of TV programs, publicly released and shared the information that “the only BiH Licensed laboratory, verified and marked 714 audience measurement devices and distributed in around 600 households, out of entire group of approved measuring devices”, after he had received a countless number of enquires, requests and demands related to irregularities, inconsequent and rather suspicious actions (suspicious actions where, in most cases, he personally had participated) as far as the viewership audience measuring of TV program is concerned.

Not to mention the fact that this Institute, whose primary principle should be based upon exactness, the answer to one of the key questions of Bosnia and Herzegovina media industry, (with limited number of distributed people meters by the only authorized Agency in BiH, Audience Measurement Ltd, conducts the measuring and directly decides about the dispersing of already insufficient media marketing profit share) is their reply that there are “AROUND 600 households” examined. The fact that viewership audience measurement system in BiH seems non – transparent and unrealizable, but also seems illegal with quasi-criminal action appearance, which altogether does makes this situation additionally suspicious, makes the fact, released by Mr. Dzemic, does not even correspond with the facts posted on the official website of the Audience Measurement Agency (with 450 households and 680 people meters). Furthermore, Mr. Dzemic statements correspond even less with information provided to TV houses and marketing agencies, according to which the number of “measured” households (measured in reality) hardly exceeds the number of 150.

Manipulation becomes more feasible with such a limited number of people meters distributed in public; the limited number of sample cases and according to many statisticians; it will increase the possibility of eventual mistakes and errors appearing in this system.

The question that any person whose opinion is based upon common – sense consequently emerges:” If this measuring system is unreliable, insufficient and inadequate, what is the purpose of using this measuring method”? This is exactly where all disadvantages of media marketing system arise; without proper audience measurement it would not be possible to launch commercial advertising campaigns and it would be even more complex to measure its efficiency. Any measurements, even those that are considered as unreliable and poor, are definitely better than none.

The above mentioned fact is well known to Audience Measurement officials which was why they persistently refused to allow United Media Industry (body which gathers over 20 TV houses and marketing agencies) to conduct independent audit that would allow the UMI officials to go through their records, check the background and correctness, including the information that the Agency releases on daily basis, as this kind of legal audit is, after all, a regular and standard common practice in the media world.

Even 16 members of UMI refused to sign the contract with the AM for 2017 unless the duty of Audience Measurement to allow independent auditor (UMI members would pay for this) to have access to AM information and data become a constituent part of this Contract.

More absurdly, the problem of completely unsettled media – marketing market in BiH, can be settled and solved only with the involvement of institutional bodies of BiH, because only the state, that is, its institution (the above mentioned Institute for Measurement) becomes legally authorized for audience measurement viewership issues and work properly. The scheme in this “process”’ is thus more than obvious: They pass the legal provision on legal measuring issues; they integrate people – meters into time measuring devices (which once again is a completely unknown method in the world); they set the software that can be provided by a single company only (Nielsen), they license and authorize the laboratory with AM being the only company with appropriate measuring devices of the above-mentioned company, and consequently the people – meters are verified by the very same company and we finally conclude this scheme with the AM being the only company entitled to undergo the verification process. The result (outcome): no other agency for viewership audience measurement cannot and will not appear in BiH market which would in fact practically allow, with no consequences, and directed by a single (sole) company with no competition, to release information regarding ratings as they wish and in cooperation with those with whom they share common (profit) interests.

The others, especially if they dare to criticize such deviant system, face systematic rating decrease (decline) which directly impacts the income they make out of marketing and this mainly concerns local (domestic) TV houses that employee local staff, produce program and pay taxes to the state, unlike vast and ever-growing number of foreign channels available to local audience through cable operators, IPTV, and satellite-based platform, which actually, according to information provided by the AM, are viewed by almost 50% of local audience.

Additionally, these channels become more interesting and attractive to local marketing agencies and companies, taking into consideration that advertisements broadcasted via these (foreign) channels don’t undergo obligatory legal tax payment, they can provide their clients with very low – priced and cheap commercial seconds, that is, GRP. Along with all this, let us emphasize that local marketing market value had undergone a significant decline (certain and approximate estimate outlined that TV stations lost some BAM 30 million, which was almost half the amount (BAM 50 million, which was the amount provided by the CRA officials in 2013, pursuant to market analysis of broadcasted programs,

Shortly, ever since the AM began with viewership audience measurement, the amount of market money has rapidly decreased, the number of TV channels has increased, public broadcasting services debts have increased and due to poor RTV tax fees collection, are trying to survive in the market through marketing service provided etc. Silenced by high ratings, both RTRS and FTV, fail to report about the issues that include malversations regarding the viewership audience measuring. Therefore, the information provided by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, during the Council of Ministers meeting session at the end of last year, did not appear on programs broadcasted by these two TV houses. This meeting session identified numerous irregularities in the work by the management of the Institute of Metrology (including their general director), including the malfunctions regarding the audience measurement of TV programs in BiH.

There is no report about the AM laboratory either, that is, AM as the only laboratory of this kind in BiH, that performs its business operations with no valid accreditation issued, because the Institute of Accreditation (BATA) refused to accredit this particular laboratory, since, as they claimed, there was no legal background for such actions in neither local nor European law practice. This would eventually oblige BATA with legal duties, since BATA is a member of European Accreditation Association, and would additionally have to base their actions upon either local or European laws.

In order to solve this problem, the Council of Ministers of BiH should cancel the disputable Order by the Institute of Metrology and, colloquially speaking; re-introduce people – meters method in the local market. This would, just as in all other countries, allow many companies (with valid references), to bid for further projects regarding the viewership audience measurements. Local (domestic) media industry could additionally select the best and most appropriate firm or firms for this particular work and as a result, thus provide the money deriving from the commercial advertising (which is, in commercial terms, essential for regular business operations and survival in the market) distribute and disperse to all parties that should receive certain amount of this marketing money all based upon relevant and accurate results. If this does not happen in the near future, media market in BiH shall continue with its decline with no possibilities for forthcoming recovery.

This text is a part of E-Bulletin– fifth edition of special serial of BHN online bulletin implemented through the “Media and Public Reputation” (origin. “Mediji i javni ugled”) project, also representing a contribution to public debate regarding the transparency of media ownership and upholding and encouraging the passing of set of laws aimed to advance media field and information market in BiH.

NJUJORK, 22.05.2018. – Napadi na istraživačke novinare u Evropi poprimili su razmere krize, ocenila je u intervjuu za Glas Amerike koordinatorka za Evropu i Centralnu Aziju u Komitetu za zaštitu novinara Nina Ognjanova.

Ona je poručila da rešavanje nedavnog napada na crnogorsku novinarku Oliveru Lakić mora biti prioritet za vladu Crne Gore.

„Crnogorske vlasti moraju da sprovedu agresivnu, nezavisnu i efikasnu istragu i da pronađu odgovorne za brutalni napad na Oliveru Lakić i pre toga za bombaški napad na Seada Sadikovića, još jednog istraživačkog novinara, koji je napadnut manje od mesec dana pre Olivere Lakić“, poručila je Nina Ognjanova.

Komitet za zaštitu novinara, sa sedištem u Njujorku, upozorio je da novinari u Crnoj Gori, ali i drugim evropskim zemljama rade u izuzetno neprijateljskoj atmosferi.

Ona je kazala da o činjenici da novinari nisu bezbedni, niti zaštićeni, svedoče ubistva novinara na Malti i u Slovačkoj, Dafne Karuane Galicije i Jana Kucijaka, kao i napad na Oliveru Lakić.

Prema njenim rečima, najugroženiji su oni koji izveštavaju o organizovanom kriminalu i korupciju, a krivac za „trenutnu sumornu medijsku sliku“ na evropskom tlu je nekažnjivost.

Opasnoj atmosferi za novinare doprinosi i neprijateljska retorika koja dolazi sa najviših nivoa vlasti što je, smatra Nina Ognjanova, slučaj na Balkanu, ali i u centralnoj i jugoistočnoj Evropi.

Zbog postojeće situacije, Komitet za zaštitu novinara poručuje da bi rešavanje slučajeva napada trebalo bude prioritet ne samo za vlade, već i za Evropsku uniju.

„EU je veoma svesna pritiska na njene institucije da sa domaćim vladama pronađu brzo i efikasno rešenje za ovu krizu. Sloboda medija mora biti prioritet agendi bilateralnih i multilateralnih sastanaka i sporazuma. I ako se ti zločini ne reše, ne treba nastaviti uobičajenu komunikaciju“, kazala je Nina Ognjanova.

SARAJEVO, 20.05.2018. – Members of the BH Journalists Association call the media to report on the migrants and refugees Članovi Udruženja/udruge BH novinari call on media from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina to report on migrants and refugees from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other Middle East countries, who are coming to Bosnia and Herzegovina more and more with professionalism, responsibility and journalistic ethics.

Sensationalism in media reports, hesitation, xenophobia, discrimination and demolition of human dignity and rights, especially children, represent serious violations of the value of journalistic profession. That is why we appeal to editors and journalists that they are truthful, credible and respectful of the personal integrity of all migrants and refugees, writing about their needs, the difficulties they face or the demands of BiH state organs.

We also invite reporters and editors to be more objective and critical when questioning officials in BiH, who, with their public statements, do not contribute to solving the problems of hundreds of foreigners, including a significant number of women and children, but who are unfounded to criminalize them and used for daily policy purposes. The media and journalists must have a professional distance to such statements and politicians, and put them in the context of the BiH’s legal obligations and the provisions of international humanitarian law.

Members of the BHJA Assembly, gathered at a session in Sarajevo