Premijerki Ani Brnabić predati zahtevi za poboljšanje medijske situacije

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14/11/2017

BEOGRAD, 14.11.2017. – Predstavnici Grupe za slobodu medija predali su danas predsednici Vlade Srbije Ani Brnabić zahteve za poboljšanje medijske situacije, medju kojima su formiranje nove radne grupe za izradu Medijske strategije, rasvetljavanje svih napada na novinare, kao i povlačenje države iz vlasništva u Politici, Večernjim novostima i Dnevniku i prestanak rada agencije Tanjug, ugašene Vladinom odlukom pre dve godine.

U zahtevima se navodi da novinarska i medijska udruženja, novinari i novinarke, mediji, organizacije civilnog društva i gradjanke i gradjani okupljeni u neformalnoj Grupi za slobodu medija, od Vlade i Skupštine zahtevaju da predstavnici vlasti, prvenstveno najviši državni funkcioneri, prestanu sa javnim prozivkama i pokušajima diskreditovanja novinara i medija.

Oni traže da Vlada, ministarstva, njeni članovi i predstavnici drugih državnih institucija, kada dostavljaju pozive za javne dogadjaje, odgovaraju na pitanja novinara i zahteve medija za intervjue i izjave, na jednak način, bez selekcije i diskriminacije, tretiraju sve medije koji poštuju Kodeks novinara Srbije.

Grupa traži da nadležni državni organi po hitnom postupku rasvetle sve napade na novinare i slučajeve ugrožavanja njihove bezbednosti i pokrenu postupke protiv počinilaca, kao i da hitno sprovedu i objave rezultate analize dosadašnjeg postupanja policije i tužilaštva u slučajevima ubistava i napada na novinare.

Zahteva se da Ministarstvo kulture i informisanja odmah obustavi rad na novoj Strategiji razvoja javnog informisanja, zbog neodgovarajuće metodologije i strukture članova radne grupe, koja je predstavnike najbrojnijih novinarskih i medijskih udruženja onemogućila da suštinski utiču na izradu ovog kapitalnog dokumenta.

Traži se da Ministarstvo u dijalogu sa predstavnicima medijske zajednice i civilnog sektora što pre utvrdi drugačiju metodologiju rada i strukturu nove radne grupe, kako bi Strategija razvoja javnog informisanja bila u najboljem interesu novinarske profesije, medija, njihovih izdavača i gradjana i gradjanki.

Od parlamenta Grupa je zatražila da pokrene postupak razrešenja članova Saveta REM i da se prilikom izbora novih članova Saveta otkloni mogućnost uticaja izvršne i zakonodavne vlasti na predloge drugih predlagača.

“Skupštinski odbor za kulturu i informisanje nije nadležan da ispituje podobnost članova koje su izabrali ovlašćeni predlagači, niti Skupština da odbije da se izjašnjava o predlozima za izbor članova Saveta”, navodi se u zahtevima i dodaje da izmenom Zakona o elektronskim medijima treba definisati takve kriterijume izbora članova Saveta koji bi obezbedili da kandidati budu profesionalci dokazani u svom radu, koji imaju nesporan moralni kredibilitet, kao i da se iz kruga ovlašćenih predlagača isključe organi vlasti i političke institucije.

Grupa traži da se dosledno sprovedu zakoni koji se odnose na završetak procesa privatizacije medija, utvrdjivanje nedržavnog vlasništva u Politici, Večernjim novostima i Dnevniku i povlačenje države iz vlasništva tih novinskih kuća, kao i hitno brisanje JP Tanjug iz Registra privrednih društava, Tanjugovih servisa iz Registra medija i prestanak rada agencije, na osnovu Odluke Vlade Srbije od 3. novembra 2015. godine.

Traži se da se omogući zakonom garantovana uredjivačka i poslovna samostalnost i finansijska nezavisnost javnih medijskih servisa i da Vlada u cilju zaštite njihove uredjivačke nezavisnosti, omogući javnim medijskim servisima da se dominantno finansiraju iz takse, kao što je i predvidjeno zakonom.

Zahteva se i da Ministarstvo kulture i informisanja, Komisija za kontrolu državne pomoći, Državna revizorska institucija, Komisija za zaštitu konkurencije, Uprava za javne nabavke i Savet za borbu protiv korupcije, u okviru svojih nadležnosti, kontinuirano sprovode nadzor i kontrolu trošenja sredstava za projekte na konkursima za sufinansiranje medijskih sadržaja, javnih nabavki za pružanje medijskih usluga i sponzorstva i donatorstva iz javnih prihoda.

Od Vlada se traži da formira nezavisnu komisiju koja će analizirati sistem sufinansiranja medijskih sadržaja u javnom interesu i predložiti mere sprečavanja zloupotreba konkursa na svim nivoima, kao i da Ministarstvo precizira uslove i kriterijume donošenja odluka na konkursima za finansiranje medijskih programa i uvede delotvoran mehanizam za osporavanje odluka o dodeli sredstava, pre nego što ona budu utrošena.

Grupa traži da se poboljša radni položaj novinara kroz striktnu primenu Zakona o radu, u delu poštovanja radnih prava i osnova radnog angažovanja u radnom odnosu i van radnog odnosa, i primenu Zakona o sprečavanju zlostavljanja na radu.

Dodaje se da se od Vlade zahteva da obezbedi izvršenje rešenja poverenika za informacije od javnog značaja i zaštitu podataka o ličnosti koja nisu izvršena, da sama postupi po svim zaostalim zahtevima za pristup informacijama i da ubuduće po tim zahtevima postupa u zakonskom roku, na način propisan Zakonom o slobodnom pristupu informacijama od javnog značaja.

Traži se da se sveobuhvatno i dosledno uredi oglašavanje državnih organa i drugih organa vlasti izmenama zakona o javnim nabavkama ili donošenjem Zakona o oglašavanju organa javne vlasti.

Grupa zaheva da Ministarstvo pravde formira nezavisnu komisiju za izradu evidencije i analizu sudskih postupaka protiv izdavača medija, urednika i novinara, u skladu sa praksom Evropskog suda za ljudska prava.

“Zahtevamo dosledno poštovanje autorskih prava u medijskoj sferi i takvu izmenu Zakona o autorskim pravima koja će sprečiti finansijske pritiske na izdavače medija kroz presude sa prekomernim novčanim iznosima za kršenje autorskih prava, takodje u skladu sa praksom Evropskog suda za ljudska prava”, navela je Grupa.

Zahtev je i da Vlada Srbije usvoji dodatne podsticajne mere i olakšice štampanim medijima i regionalnim i lokalnim medijima, koje su taksativno nabrojane u dosadašnjoj Strategiji razvoja sistema javnog informisanja u Srbiji, ali do sada ni jedna od njih nije primenjena, i da razmotri mogućnost utvrdjivanja obaveznog procenta izdvajanja iz budžeta lokalnih samouprava za projektno sufinansiranje medijskih sadržaja od javnog značaja.

Predstavnici Grupe za slobodu medija danas su u Vladi Srbije razgovarali sa Anom Brnabić.

Media Days urges political leaders to ensure press freedom in Western Balkans

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IJAS

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14/11/2017

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TIRANA, 14.11.2017. – Media Days urges political leaders to ensure press freedom in Western Balkans – European Federation of Journalists.

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) welcomed the focus, that European Union has provided, when over 250 representatives of media, stakeholders and policymakers from the Western Balkans and the European Union met at the EU Western Balkans Media Days in Tirana, Albania, on 9 and 10 November 2017, dedicated to the important role of media in the accession process.

Two panels and six workshops gave the opportunity for participants to exchange their views and work on forward-looking initiatives for independent, sustainable and professional media, in a region where the media freedom situation is not only slow to improve, but also in some countries moving back.

In particular, the worsening situation in Serbia was highlighted by many speakers, who denounced the double discourse from state leaders and also from the EU. At the same time from Brussels announces to foresee Serbia as EU-member before 2025.

At the meeting all Serbian journalists showed their impatience bý standing up for press freedom applaud by most of the participants.

Mogens Blicher Bjerregård, president of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), spoke about social dialogue and also informed about the UNESCO-EFJ project “Building trust in media in South East Europe and Turkey” and emphasised the need for political will in the region:

“I met many journalists claiming that their political leaders are speaking with two voices: they support free speech when they speak internationally, but show a hostile approach at home. This has to be changed. There is no doubt that both EU and political leaders in the region must seriously step up effort to improve the situation in the Western Balkans in general, and in Serbia in particular. Social dialogue within the media is also crucial as both safe and good working conditions are prerequisites for free and independent media.”

EU-commissioner Johannes Hahn said in his final speech: “I am with you”, though it was not possible for him to give concrete promises. However, he announced, that there should be such Media Days every year, and he was in particular impressed by very strong interventions from Serbian journalists.

Some of the recommendations made to the different stakeholders during the conference were:

Strengthen public broadcasting with editorial independence and find solutions to better adapt the online media
Increase resources for investigative journalism and journalists’ training
Allow more editorial freedom in private media
Improve the legislation and train judges, police and authorities in the values of press freedom
Ensure thorough investigations into cases of harassment and violence against journalists
Create new business models
Introduce and implement social dialogue to improve working conditions

Editorial independence and ownership transparency – are starting point of regulated relationships in the media

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BHJA

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14/11/2017

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SARAJEVO, 14.11.2017.- Report “Looking for better ownership transparency regulation and media financing from public budgets” presented

The transparency of media ownership and financing of media in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not regulated and allows instrumentalization and abuse. Also, it is doubtful that the exercise of the functions of media public interest is without adequate monitoring, these are some of the conclusions of the report “Looking for better ownership transparency regulation and media financing from public budgets” which was presented yesterday in Sarajevo.

The report was prepared under the project “Media and public reputation,” funded by the European Union and implemented by a Consortium consisting of BH Journalists, Mediacentar Sarajevo, the Press Council and the Association JaBiHEU. The presentation was opened by Vladimir Pandurevic, project manager of the EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, who on this occasion, stressed that he hopes “that this project will result in the adoption of adequate legislation in the field of transparency of media ownership and advertising,” and that in this sense “the authorities will implement the recommendations of non-governmental sector”.

In the opening statement, Borka Rudić, General Secretary of the Association BH journalists, said that the project “Media and public reputation” was presented in the Parliament a year ago, and that the presentation is the result of one year serious research of BH practices in the field of media ownership transparency regulation, media financing from public budgets and advertising. “We are pleased to say that we have completed the most difficult part of the work in this project, and these are the recommendations for the adoption of the two laws and transparent media financing from public budgets. These are topics that are often accentuated in recent years in the reports of the European Commission on the progress of B&H in the process of EU integration”, Rudić said.

Saša Rukavina, executive editor of Oslobođenje newspapers, said that it is important to know who owns a particular media: “When it comes to print media, it became clear since 1996 when the state decided to no longer sovereign public print media. As far as the portals are concerned, for more than 60 percent of them, we do not have information about the property, and the only disclosed information is marketing department contact. We should know the ownership of particular media“, Rukavina said, particularly emphasizing the importance of regulating the marketing industry in B&H, which constitutes an important sector for survival and media financing.

The director of Hayat TV, Elvir Švrakić supported the efforts of the media community to regulate media ownership and financing in a transparent manner: “It is also necessary to devote attention to the question how many media can be owned by one person. Transparency is very important, none of the owners do not need to be hidden because the media use state public resource – frequencies. I think that this issue should not be the responsibility of the Communications Regulatory Agency. In the neighboring countries, there is usually a specific body responsible for regulating the ownership transparency. It also raises the question of editorial policy and its connection with the financing. An example is Agrokor. In fact, only when charges were brought, some media began to report on this case“, Švrakić pointed out.

Sanela Hodžić, the editor, and co-author of the Media Center research has presented some of the main findings and recommendations to create transparent law on ownership and media financing through advertising. In the part of the media financing, Nermina Voloder and Milan Živković were the co-authors of the study.

“We can say that the regulation of media ownership and financing of media in B&H is minimal at this time so that in any way one had not disabled hidden ownership or instrumentalization of public funds for personal promotion rather than for the promotion of journalism and communication needs of citizens”, Hodžić said, adding: “When it comes to the registration of ownership, there are registers of businesses, foundations data and CRA registers about license users for audiovisual broadcasting, but the information on indirect and related owners are not listed in these registers. Also, the CRA’s rule on the concentration of media ownership expired in 2006. In addition, an insight for the public is made more difficult as to who is behind some of the media and those who exert influence on the media”.

The research “Looking for better ownership transparency regulation and media financing from public budgets” resulted in recommendations for transparent funding of the media, and it is the adoption of legislative and regulatory solutions that would: cover all media sectors and media-related sectors, ensure the transparency of direct , the indirect owners and shares, ensure transparency of interests in other companies (especially media and related sectors), ensure transparency of information about the interests with the owners of related legal and physical persons, the main sources of income, the management structures and major media editors, as well as information about political connections of the owners. It is also necessary to regulate the issue of data collection and publication of data on these issues, as well as which institution or organization would be responsible for something like that. It is also important to regulate the excessive concentration of foreign ownership as well as the issues on conflicts of interest.

Othe important Report findings

When directing public money into the media, one should in particular take into account the characteristics of the media contents (own production, themes of public interest, representation of social groups, adherence to professional norms) as well as the characteristics of media organization itself (non-profit character, a larger number of employees, good protection of labor rights, well defined statutes, transparency of ownership). Ideally, the policies of financing the media must ensure the promotion of special shortage programs that are of public interest, but also the satisfaction of the general informative media function.

In order to achieve the independence of decision-making related to the financing of the media, it is necessary to appoint an expert committees, rather than political bodies that currently make decisions, the election of members of these committees on the basis of public competitions, clear and relevant criteria of competence, and norms against conflicts of interest. Alternatively, citizens can select the motion or the media which support will be allotted to.

In order to achieve legitimacy and transparency in the procurement of media services, it is necessary to explain the specific public interest in the given services and facilities and to demonstrate that the specific public interest cannot be secured without this specific procurement. In this process, it is important to minimize the non-transparent negotiation procedures and direct agreements and to ensure the basic principles of transparency, active competition, non-discrimination and the principles of the best price-quality ratio.

Recommendations in terms of financing of the media monitoring, including the procedures and the effect on the public interest, is the establishment of mechanisms for regular media reports, financial and programming, strengthening financial performance audits as well as monitoring of civil society organizations.

Editorial independence should be regulated by the statute regulating the appointment and status of editors and journalists (public calls, clear professional criteria, consultation with journalists on the appointment of editors, publishing information about the procedure, the reasons and procedures for dismissal, the introduction of the clause of conscience and the improvement of the status and respect of labor rights ). Additionally, the system to sanction non-compliance with these standards is necessary as well as the financial stability of the media and employees. Logically, the accountability of the media is necessary as well, and that would be determined through financial and narrative reports, as well as through the copies of bills paid from the public budget funds and transparent reports on the overall business and information published in the Impressum or closing programme word that the specific media is co-financed with public funds.

Summary of the research is available here, and the full text of the report will soon be published in electronic and printed form.

Serbia’s Free Media Advocates Submit Requests to PM

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IJAS

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14/11/2017

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BELGRADE, 14.11.2017. – Members of ‘For Media Freedom’ – an informal group comprising journalists, editors and activists – are to meet Serbia’s Prime Minister on Tuesday to discuss what they say is the free media’s worsening plight.

Members of the “For Media Freedom” organisation were due on Tuesday to meet Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and submit a list of requests and complaints about what they call the worsening situation of the free media sector in the country.

The editor of the local newspaper Vranjske, Vukasin Obradovic, said it would be the first time that the umbrella for 26 media associations and NGOs had sat down with Brnabic – and the focus of their talks would be the status, rights and conditions of journalists in Serbia.

“We will present our requests to improve the status of the media in Serbia and the things the government could do in those terms,” he told N1 television on Sunday.

Obradovic, a former head of the Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia, NUNS, added that the “For Media Freedom” group did not intend to enter into any political discussions and wanted only to concentrate on the conditions of journalists.

Criticising the EU for its non-involvement in the problems facing the media in Serbia, he said the EU should not be “hypocritical and observe the state of media freedom in Serbia using different lenses in relation to the standards applied in the EU”.

Representatives of “For Media Freedom” group who participated in the EU-Western Balkans Media Days, held in Tirana last week, staged a brief protest during that event by standing in black shirts with the message #EUdoMore.

Serbian journalist Tamara Skrozza said in her speech during the event on November 10 that “the EU should not be fighting our battles, but also not complicate our efforts to fight for the freedom of the media in Serbia”.

Many journalists feel under attack in the country if and when they speak out.

On September 18, the party of Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin, which is part of the government, called the editor of the Serbia’s Crime and Corruption Reporting Network, KRIK, Stevan Dojcinovic, a “drug addict”.

The verbal attack was in apparent retaliation for his published investigation into the minister’s real estate puchases.

Soon after, Obradovic went on hunger strike in protest over the closure of his title and what he called the decline in media freedom in Serbia.

In earlier incident, the apartment of Dragana Peco, a journalist with the KRIK network, was broken into on July 8, while she was out.

The Interior Minister, Nebojsa Stefanovic, promised that the case would soon be solved. Months on, those responsible for the incident have not been found.

Journalists also complained of being attacked on the day in June when new President Aleksandar Vucic was sworn in.

Several incidents, including assaults on journalists, marred the occasion. The perpetrators of these assaults were not arrested, however, even after the media published their photos.

A progress report published by the European Commission in November 2016 noted that Serbia had made no real progress, and had only carried out “some level of preparation”, in terms of supporting freedom of expression.

The watchdog rights organisation Freedom House, in its last report, said that Prime Minister, now President, Aleksandar Vucic – and media outlets aligned with him – had pursued a drive to portray all investigative and critical media organizations as foreign-backed propagandists seeking to damage the government and destabilize the country.

“Self-censorship was a worsening phenomenon that journalists attributed to concerns about both harassment and economic pressure,” the report for 2015, published last year, said.

The UN Human Rights Committee expressed in March its concern about Serbian officials publicly vilifying and intimidating media professionals, and about the prosecution of journalists and civil society actors merely for expressing their opinions.

The European Union enhances support for independent media in the Western Balkans

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BHJA

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14/11/2017

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TIRANA, 12.11.2017. – As announced during the conference “EU-Western Balkans Media Days” held in Tirana, The European Commission will invest in new initiatives to support independent journalism, viable media outlets and to foster cooperation between public service media.

At the conference, the European Commission presented comprehensive proposals on strengthening independent media in the region and recalled that media freedom is one of the political criteria for joining the Union, a necessity for countries that want to join the EU.

As published in the announcement – “The new EU funds will provide training for young journalists and journalists in the middle of a career across the region, which will encourage research journalism that contributes to reconciliation”.

According to the new technical assistance program for public service broadcasters regional co-production of investigative journalism, media content for youth and digitization will be supported.

In addition, in order to support independent media, new actions will be launched together with the European Fund for Democracy to support the launch of an independent media outlet and “small scale initiatives”.

“Freedom of expression is a fundamental value of the European Union and is inextricably linked to further progress on the road to the EU,” said European Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn, who attended the conference.

He added that the EU-Western Balkans paves the way for a more comprehensive approach to supporting independent media, helping to spread media literacy in the region, helping digitization and knowledge transfer.

“A living, economically viable and pluralistic media sector is equally important for the exercise of freedom of expression, such as the legal, political and judicial conditions that guarantee it,” Han said.

The EU has allocated EUR 2 million for a regional training and support program for improving quality and professionalism in journalism, and the program will be launched in the first half of 2018.

1.5 million euros have been allocated for the technical assistance program for the public service media in the Western Balkans and the program should start in early 2018, while four million euros have been allocated for the implementation of the Civil Society and Media Support Plan in the Western Balkans, and the project begins at the beginning 2018.

The “EU-Western Balkans Media Days” conference took place on November 9 and 10 in Tirana and gathered more than 250 representatives of media outlets and media organizations as well as policymakers from the EU and the Western Balkans.

Presuda Apelacionog suda: Informer i Vučićević da plate 186.000 dinara

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IJAS

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13/11/2017

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cekic-pixabay-foto-openroadpr — Foto: Pixabay

BEOGRAD, 13.11.2017. – Zbog toga što su u nizu tekstova iznosili neistine o Veranu Matiću, glavnom uredniku informativnog programa B92, Informer i urednik ovog tabloida Dragan J. Vučićević moraju Matiću da plate 186.000 dinara, na osnovu pravosnažne presude Apelacionog suda.

Apelacioni je potvrdio presudu Višeg suda kojom su februara ove godine za povredu ugleda i časti osuđeni Insajder tim, kao izdavač Informera, i glavni i odgovorni urednik Vučićević, jer su, prema navodima presude, prenosili neistinite informacije što je dovelo do ugrožavanja Matićevog kredibiliteta.

Viši sud je najpre presudio da Matiću treba da isplate 250.000 dinara, ali je Apelacioni smanjio iznos na 100.000 za duševne bolove i 86.000 za sudske troškove.

Tužba je podneta zbog serije tekstova o Matiću, objavljivanih u Informeru od avgusta 2014, do maja 2015. godine, u kojima se između ostalog navodi da Matiću „preti otkaz na B92“ jer su vlasnici navodno nezadovoljni njime, da poseduje padobran od 3,1 miliona evra, da „zgrće lično bogatstvo“ koji je „temeljno finansijski upropastio B92“, da je „ispod žita“ pokušavao za sebe da osigura funkciju generalnog direktora RTS-a, a u jednoj kolumni ga Vučićević naziva i „korumpiranim skotom“.

Kako svoje tvrdnje nije mogao da dokaže, sud je utvrdio da je Informer iznosio neistine, kao i da je pojedinim tekstovima, u kojima je Matić nazvan medijskim tajkunom, potencijalno ugrožena njegova i bezbednost njegove porodice, kao i njegov kredibilitet.

U presudi se sudsko veće pozivalo i na Kodeks novinara Srbije koji je takođe u više tačaka prekršen.

Appeal against the court decision on Softić’s lawsuit

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TUMM

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13/11/2017

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PODGORICA, 13.11.2017 – Lawyer Dalibor Tomović requested modification of Podgorica Basic Court decision on Tufik Softić’s lawsuit. He requested compensation of EUR100.000 due to ineffective and unproductive investigation conducted regarding attacks on the journalist by competent prosecution offices.

The Basic Court in Podgorica at the end of October issued a decision in which it awarded Suftić compensation, which should have been paid by the state, in the amount of EUR 7.000 due to the fact that it did not even after 10 years find neither the attackers not those who ordered attacks.

“By respecting the right to an impartial judge’s assessment of the amount of non-pecuniary damage, however, having in mind the legal standards of the European Court of Human Rights in similar cases we consider that the court has wrongly applied the substantive law when it rejected a part of the claim” states Tomović’s appeal.

The lawyer calls upon a number of judgments of the European Court, which in similar cases awarded a higher amount of compensation.

“As the court found in the disputed judgment that claimant’s personality rights were violated, referring to Articles 2 and 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Article 28 (paragraphs 1, 2, and 3) of the Constitution of Montenegro, it comes out that by proper application of the substantive law and European Court practice – having in mind the circumstances of the case and the fact that the violation of the rights of the claimant has resulted in lasting and irremediable consequences – the appeal should be accepted” – states the document.

Regarding the first attack on Softić, the Court found that failures in the activities of the state and relevant bodies do not relate only to the duration of the pre-trial procedure and the investigation, but also to the fact that the prosecution questioned the journalist seven years after the attack. Therefore he was not allowed to actively participate in the investigation.

It is added further that the prosecution questioned for the first time Draško Vuković and Dragan Labudović seven years after the attack while Nikola Božović was never questioned, although the journalist mentioned them in his statements to the Police Directorate as persons who threatened him for his newspaper articles.

The European Union steps up support to independent media in the Western Balkans

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IJAS

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13/11/2017

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TIRANA, 12.11.2017. – At the EU-Western Balkans Media Days that took place on 9 – 10 November in Tirana, Albania, the Commission announced that it will invest in new initiatives to support independent journalism, sustainable media outlets, and boost regional cooperation among public service media.

Freedom of media is one of the political criteria for EU accession – a must for countries willing to join the European Union. At the EU-Western Balkans Media Days conference, the Commission put forward comprehensive proposals to strengthen independent media in the region. New EU funds will provide training for young and mid-career journalists across the region, thereby boosting investigative journalism that contributes to reconciliation. A new technical assistance programme for Public Service Broadcasters will support regional co-production of investigative journalism, media content for youth and digitalisation. In addition, to support independent media, new actions with the European Endowment for Democracy will benefit start-ups for new independent media outlets and small-scale initiatives.

Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations, participating at the EU-Western Balkans Media Days said: “Freedom of expression is a fundamental value of the European Union and inextricably linked to further progress on the EU path. The EU-Western Balkans Media Days pave the way to a more comprehensive approach to support independent media outlets, assist the expansion of media literacy in the region, help digitalisation and know-how transfer. A vibrant, economically sustainable, independent and pluralistic media sector is equally important for exercising freedom of expression as are the legal, political and judicial conditions that guarantee it.”

Regional Training and Support Programme to improve Quality and Professionalism in Journalism (€2 million)

The action will focus on young and mid-career journalists trained in quality journalism and enhance publications of qualitative investigative stories. A regional network will support the development and exchange of investigative skills by involving journalists, training providers from the EU and the Western Balkans, as well as academic Institutions. The existing EU Award for Investigative Journalism will continue as part of the action. The project is expected to be launched in the first half of 2018.

Technical assistance programme to Public Service Media in Western Balkans (€1.5 million)

The programme aims at establishing standards and best practices across the Western Balkans as a common frame of reference for independent and professional media. The initiative will generate synergies between the 6 Public Service Media promoting regional exchanges on policies and practices. This will initiate a new phase in the media reform process, including integrated newsrooms, editorial guidelines, and long-term strategies. Finally, the programme will expand cooperation on investigative journalism, mechanisms for co-production on selected topics and regional exchange of digitised archive materials. The projects will start in the beginning of 2018.

Implementing a scheme to support Civil Society Organisations and media in the Western Balkans (€4 million)

The Commission, in close cooperation with the European Endowment for Democracy, will provide demand driven support to start-ups and new media initiatives. Support will be provided to journalists, bloggers and researchers in the region as well as to provide bridge funding for small-scale initiatives. The projects will start in the beginning of 2018.

EU-Western Balkans Media Days conference

The EU-Western Balkans Media Days took place in Tirana, Albania, on 9-10 November 2017 gathering over 250 representatives of media outlets and media-organisations, as well as policymakers from the EU and the Western Balkans, to discuss about freedom of expression, economic sustainability of the media sector, and the role of media in the accession process.

Two panels and six workshops provided a platform for media professionalism to exchange views and share best practices. The conference contributed to pave the way for new forward-looking initiatives to foster independent, sustainable and professional media in the region.

Evropska unija povećava podršku nezavisnim medijima na Zapadnom Balkanu

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IJAS

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13/11/2017

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TIRANA, 12.11.2017. – Evropska komisija će investirati u nove inicijative da podrži nezavisno novinarstvo, održive medijske kuće i da podstakne saradnju između medija javnog servisa – najavljeno je tokom konferencije “EU-Zapadni Balkan medijski dani” održane u Tirani, saopštila je danas Komisija.

Evropska komisija je na konferenciji izložila sveobuhvatne predloge o jačanju nezavisnih medija u regionu, navodi se u njenom saopštenju i podseća da je sloboda medija jedno od političkih kriterijuma za pristupanje Uniji, neophodnost za zemlje koje žele da udju u EU.

„Nova EU sredstva omogućiće obuku za mlade novinare i novinare u sredini karijere širom regiona, čime će podstaći istraživačko novinarstvo koje doprinosi pomirenju“, navodi se u saopštenju.

Kako se navodi, novi program za tehničku pomoć za radio televizije javnih servisa podržaće regionalnu kooprodukciju istraživačkog novinarstva, medijske sadržaje za mlade i digitalizaciju.

Uz to će za podršku nezavisnim medijima biti pokrenute nove akcije zajedno sa Evropskim fondom za demokratiju da podrže startap nezavisne medijske kuće (outlet) i „inicijative manjih razmera“, navodi se u saopštenju.

„Slobooda izražavanja je osnovna vrednost Evropske unije i neodvojivo povezana sa daljim napretkom na putu za EU“, rekao je u saopštenju evropski komesar za proširenje Johanes Han koji je učestvovao na konferenciji.

On je dodao da EU-Zapadni Balkan medijski dani utiru put ka sveobuhvatnijem pristupu podrške nezavisnim medijima, pomažu u širenju medijske pismenosti u regionu, pomažu digitalizaciju i transfer znanja.

„Živ, ekonomski održiv i pluralističan medijski sektor jednako je važan za sprovođenje slobode izražavanja kao što su pravni, političko i pravosudki uslovi koji ga garantuju“, rekao je Han.

EU je za regionalni program obuke i podrške za poboljšanje kvaliteta i profesionalizma u novinarstvu izdvojila dva miliona evra a program će biti pokrenut u prvoj polovini 2018. godine.

Za program tehničke pomoći za medije javnog servisa na Zapadnom Balkanu izdvojeno je 1,5 miliona evra i program treba da počne početkom 2018, dok je za sprovođenje plana za podršku organizacija civilnog društva i medija na Zapadnom Balkanu izdvojeno je četiri miliona evra, a projekat počine početkom 2018.

Konferencija „EU-Zapadn Balkan medijski dani“ održana je 9. i 10. novembra u Tirani i okupila je više od 250 predstavnika medijskih kuća i medijskih organizacija kao i tvorce politike iz EU i Zapadnog Balkana.

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