The Association of Journalists of Kosovo is alarmed with the language used by Kosovo’s First Gentleman, Prindon Sadriu towards journalists and media in Kosovo, labeling them “a joint criminal enterprise”.

“When representatives of a Joint Criminal Enterprise, ‘journalists’ of informal politics, people involved in racketing and misuse of millions, give lessons. These are the people who slander who paid 1.200 US Dollars for a night at Hotel Interconntinental Manhattan, or paid a breakfast $50 per person (their lunches and dinners going up to thousands of dollars)”, Sadriu wrote late Tuesday.

These accusations and attacks coming from President’s husband who also is a high ranking diplomat with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs add to the insecurity of journalists in Kosovo. Recently, language of spokespersons of other members of the ruling party towards journalists is unacceptable and a direct pressure for the work they do.

PODGORICA, 08.02.2022 – Sports journalist Igor Ćulafić was illegally fired and Nova M television has an obligation to return him to work.

This stems from the decision of the High Court in Podgorica, which confirmed the earlier decision of Niksic judges that the disciplinary proceedings against the journalist, which resulted in his indictment, was conducted in violation of the Labor Law and the General Collective Agreement.

Ćulafić was fired in 2018 because during the disciplinary proceedings conducted under the employer, it was determined that he had committed a serious violation of work discipline because he announced in the central news program that he would broadcast match Lithuania- Montenegro, and that he behaved inappropriately, which is why the police had to intervene.

However, the Court was of the opinion that the procedure was both formally and substantially legally deficient and that it did not satisfy the procedure provided by the Labor Law and the General Collective Agreement.

Having in mind that Ćulafić did not comment on the mentioned match at the end, the court is of the opinion that there was no violation of work discipline. Also, the court determined that Ćulafić was not provided with information on who would comment on the match, and he could not be informed that it would not be him, even though he was the only employee in the sports newsroom at the time.

At the same time, the broadcaster is obliged to pay Ćulafić around 2,500 euros in court costs before the first and second instance bodies.

The Kosovo Police have arrested today in Suhareka the cameraman of the news agency, Ekonomia Online, Albion Selitaj, while he was performing his duties as cameraman, reporting from the action of the Police in “NBI Suhareka”.

AJK strongly condemns the unprofessional behavior of Kosovo Police officials, furthermore demands his immediate release.

AJK expects of Kosovo Police that instead of obstructing media workers on duty, to provide safe environment for media workers when reporting on such events.

PODGORICA, 30.01.2022 – The owners and directors of the media in Montenegro agree that the biggest consequences of pandemic crisis are of a financial nature, as well as the organization of work due to the absence of employees.

In the research “Socio-economic position of media workers in Montenegro“, published by the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (SMCG) at the end of last year, a special part refers to interviews with employers and directors of Montenegrin media.

The research team sent a structured questionnaire with 11 questions to the addresses of all registered media in Montenegro. However, it turned out that media managers are not ready to answer questions concerning themselves, despite numerous requests and reminders.

The survey with media owners and directors was conducted in March and April 2021, and the questions were answered by: TV Nova M, RTV Corona, RTV Cetinje, RTV Budva, RTV Rozaje, Radio Tivat, Radio Berane, Radio Montenegro and Portal Analitika .

When it comes to the structure of employees, newsrooms are made up of 40 percent or more of women, and RTV Corona’s newsroom consists of 90 percent women. They point out that women are also in editorial positions. Radio Television Budva has only women in editorial positions, as do Portal Analitika and Radio and Portal Berane.

We also asked employers what are the biggest problems they have faced in the last two years, ie since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. They agree that the biggest consequences of the crisis are of a financial nature, as well as problems with the organization of work due to the absence of employees.

Radio Berane told us that the biggest problem since the appearance of the virus is the restrictions in the work of employees, because due to the use of the right to paid leave, there is a shortage of workers. However, the limitations are also reflected in the reduced interest in advertising content. They reveal that they did not hire or fire any journalists during 2020, and that they do not plan to do so in the future.

At Portal Analitika, as they told us, employees occasionally worked from home until November 2020, after which they returned to the newsroom. Their experience has shown that the performance and organization of the team are much better when working in the newsroom. They reveal that they hired two new workers in 2020, but that there were no layoffs caused by the crisis.

The biggest challenge during the pandemic for the Radio Montenegro newsroom, which has 96 employees and one part-time associate, was to save the newsroom from the virus. Therefore, they temporarily postponed the broadcasting of certain shows and organized work from home. They point out that there were no dismissals. “During the previous year, we hired two journalists for vacant positions, due to the retirement of fellow journalists. I hope that there will be no need for dismissal, because even now we have the need to hire new workers in order to fill the vacancies “, the management of the Radio told us.

Radio Tivat points out that the employees in that media worked from home for the portal during the pandemic, and that such a way of working proved to be good. They point out that there were problems in the organization of work, due to the illness of the members of the editorial office, but that this did not affect their reporting. Two employees left the media and hired one journalist indefinitely. There were no dismissals. “There will be no layoffs. We operate very rationally. Last year, we operated with a profit of 18 thousand euros. We receive salaries until the 7th of the month. We have no debts, neither to the state, nor to suppliers. We are very proud of the work and business of Radio Tivat “, they told us in that media.

RTV Budva points out that, due to the pandemic, they are facing justified absences of employees and are not able to record new shows due to respect for epidemiological measures. Some of the employees in that medium worked from home, which, as they say, did not affect the quality of work much. There were no layoffs or hiring of new people in that media, and they do not expect that the number of employees will be reduced in the future.

Corona Radio and Television point out that the pandemic has left financial consequences. Due to the nature of the work, employees in that medium (one full-time employee and five part-time associates) worked from the newsroom, or reported from the field. They hired two journalists in that medium, and they did not have any layoffs. They add that they do not plan to lay off “but if this financial situation continues, they will be forced to lay off a couple of workers”.

The local public broadcaster, Radio Television Rozaje also felt the financial consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. They point out that during and after the pandemic, their marketing opportunities are limited, as well as that their budget funds are limited. They add that working from home has influenced the reduction of the production of that medium. This media outlet employed three workers, while two of them were fired.

The small number of employees, especially cameramen, one camera at their disposal and the lack of an editorial vehicle are part of the problems of the Radio Television Cetinje editorial office. But these, they reveal, are problems that existed before the crisis. Employees in that medium worked from home only when they were infected with the Covid-19 virus or while they were in isolation. Also, on several occasions, the working hours of Radio Cetinje were adjusted, but this only partially reflected on the results of the work. During the previous year, they hired one journalist, and there were no layoffs. “There will be no dismissals in RTV Cetinje, and we still do not know how and when we will solve the financial problems, which date back a long time and have nothing to do with the Covid crisis, given the fact that due to bad relations with the founder, we have not signed Agreement on mutual rights and obligations for the next three years “, they state in the letter for SMCG.

According to TV Nova M, the main problem facing commercial TV broadcasters is insufficient state aid to the media. “Both the previous and the current government did not help us enough, they did not subsidize our salaries, they did not put us on the list of endangered activities, except for a few months last year,” the management told us.

The director of TV Nova M, Ivana Sebek, pointed out that commercial broadcasters would be most helped by exemption from duties to the Broadcasting Center, the Electronic Media Agency, PAM and the Film Center “at least for a year, so that we are approximately equal to the players on market registered in other countries, which do not operate under Montenegrin legislation (Pink M). ”

She adds that it is necessary for employers to receive subsidies on employees’ salaries, as an endangered activity, because they are forced to lay off employees in order to operate with as few “inevitable” losses as possible.

“That is because we want to keep employees, not to send them at the expense of the state, but we are financially exhausted and have no choice. We want to save jobs for Montenegrin citizens”, Sebek said. The media point out that they hired one journalist during the Covid-19 pandemic, but that they also fired, without specifying the number of those fired. They add that the layoffs will continue, especially if there is no help from the state.

Today, the AJK’s Board held its first meeting for 2022.

In this meeting the Board members discussed about the work plan of the organization, as well as the projects that are currently being implemented by the executive staff of AJK.

The Chairman of the Board, Xhemajl Rexha, discussed with the other members about the meetings that he will hold with local and international partners regarding the new projects that are about to start implementing.

PODGORICA, 25.01.2022 – Private televisions had a loss of 91.5 thousand euros in 2020, while private radio stations had a plus of almost 38 thousand euros.

These are the results of a survey published at the end of 2021 by the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (SMCG).

In 2020, Vijesti Television had the highest profit among Montenegrin private media of 822.5 thousand euros. Total revenues were over 2.9 million euros (the vast majority from marketing, 170 thousand from subsidies, grants and donations), costs close to 2.1 million and all this was achieved by 71 employees.

In 2020, Nova M Television made a loss of 570 thousand euros, the largest shown among all Montenegrin media. They had high revenues of 1.55 million but also huge expenditures of over 2.1 million euros. 58 people worked in that television.

The Prva TV also had a big loss in 2020 of 366.5 thousand euros. The total income was one million and 65 thousand euros, and the expenses were 1.43 million, and 39 employees worked in that television. Play radio also operates within the same company.

Television A1, which was founded on the foundations of the former Atlas Television in bankruptcy, and which was renamed TV Adria at the end of September 2021, had a loss of 122 thousand euros in 2020. The financial report of its founder, Atlas media group, reported a total income of just over 50 thousand euros and costs of almost 175 thousand. During 2020, nine people worked at A1 Television.

In 2020, cable television Korona from Bar recorded a deficit of 2.5 thousand euros, with revenues of nearly 23.5 thousand euros and expenses of almost 26 thousand, with two employees. Radio Korona also operates within the same company.

Cable television San from Bijelo Polje was in a small plus of 441 euros. Four employees generated income of just over 27 thousand euros, while the total expenses were a little more than 26.5 thousand.

Cable television Novi from Herceg Novi had a loss of about 10 thousand euros. Revenues were a little over 13 thousand and expenses more than 23 thousand euros. There were two full-time employees in this television.

Radio Television Teuta had the best business result among cable televisions. This RTV from Ulcinj, which broadcasts in Albanian, made a profit of almost 65,000 euros in 2020. Revenues were over 570 thousand and expenditures about 506 thousand euros. A total of 19 people worked in television, radio and the Teuta portal.

Another cable television in the Albanian language, TV Boin from Tuzi, also had a successful 2020 with a profit of 28 thousand euros or revenues of nearly 75 thousand and costs of about 47 thousand euros. Four employees work in this media. And this television, like Teuta, has its own portal.

Among the cable televisions is the Srpska Television, which is mostly financed from the Fund for the Protection and Exercise of Minority Rights. Together with Srpski radio and the portal and magazine Srpske novine, in 2020 they had a slight plus of 742 euros, with revenues of almost 104 thousand and expenses of slightly more than 103 thousand euros, and they did not have any registered permanent employees.

Television MNE sport, a specialized cable television that broadcasts sports events from Montenegro on three TV channels, in 2020 made a profit of nearly 64 thousand euros, with revenues of 472 thousand while costs were 408.5 thousand euros. A total of nine people worked in this media.

Data on the business of Television 7 are not available from cable televisions, as its founder is the Lottery of Montenegro, whose main activity is organizing games of chance.

Private radio stations, of which there were 38 in 2020, have much lower revenues than television, but overall, they have operated positively.

By far the biggest income and profit had Radio Antena M, which in 2020, with its portal, was in the plus of over 120 thousand euros. Total revenues were more than 445 thousand euros (of which 72 thousand from subsidies, grants and donations), expenditures about 325 thousand and 15 employees worked in this medium.

Podgorica’s music radio stations Elmag, Mag and El radio, which operate within the same company, together had a net profit of over 11 thousand euros, with revenues of more than 197 thousand and expenses of about 186 thousand euros. A total of seven employees worked in them.

An excellent result in the year of the pandemic was achieved by the Drugacija Radio Station, also from Podgorica, which had a profit of over 42 thousand euros, ie revenues of over 191 thousand and expenses of almost 149 thousand euros. This radio station alone has seven employees.

The church radio station of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Serbian Orthodox Church, Radio Svetigora, in 2020 operated with a loss of over 13.5 thousand euros, or revenues of just over 45 thousand, all of which are subsidies, grants and donations and expenses from close to 59 thousand euros. This radio station had one employee.

Radio Jadran from Herceg Novi was at a loss of almost 9.5 thousand euros with revenues of 47 thousand and costs of over 56.5 thousand. This radio, which also has its own portal, has four employees.

There are no publicly available or accurate data on the operations of seven radio stations in 2020. Radio Skadar Lake from Podgorica has not submitted a financial report to the Tax Administration since 2017, and Radio Glas Plava since 2019. There are no precise data for Radio “Z” from Niksic because the owner of the radio is the Auto-moto company “Zarubica company”, which the main activity is technical inspection of vehicles, so the business of the radio is shown within the overall business. It is similar with Radio “Star FM” from Cetinje, whose owner is a company that deals with tires, and with Radio “S” from Herceg Novi, whose founder is a company that deals with telecommunications and electrical equipment. Radio Adriatic from Bijelo Polje founded the NGO “Djakomo Adriatic” whose main part of business is various projects. Radio Fatih from Tuzi is a non-profit radio station of the Meshihat of the Islamic Community for which there are no financial reports in the database of the Revenue and Customs Administration. By the way, the radio stations Fatih and Homer are non-profit media, which have no income from marketing but only from subsidies, grants and donations of their founders.

Apart from Antena M and Radio Jadran, Radio Svetigora, Radio Petnjica, Radio Titograd and Radio Dux, which is a medium of the Croatian national minority in Montenegro, have their own portals. There is also Radio Skala, which was shut down at the end of 2020, but the portal continued to work. When it comes to this category of media, 26 out of 37 private radio stations, for which business data are available, had 74 employees in 2020, including some who worked in the portals of these media. These radio stations had a total profit of almost 38 thousand euros, with revenues of one million and 646 thousand euros and expenses of one million and 608 thousand.