18. 03. 2015

Most media not contributing to keeping citizens informed

During a session of the parliamentary committee on culture and information, at which the Council's latest report was presented, Milicevic said that the five most significant problems faced by the media system are non-transparency of media ownership and funding, economic influence through the budget, the problem of privatisation of the media and the uncertain status of the public broadcasting service, censorship and self-censorship, as well as tabloidisation.

He said that the Council has sent to the government 24 recommendations aimed at improving the media and that he expects them to be adopted and implemented soon.

Speaking about problems on the media scene, Milicevic said that the influence of the political elite on editorial policies persists, including in media with non-transparent ownership and funding.

More than half of the media analysed have no clearly visible owners, he said, adding that the Council addressed the "perception of censorship" and that it expects this to be examined by the authorities.