The media center submitted a complaint to the Ombudsperson RTCG and the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services regarding, as they stated, the disputed hidden political advertising (advertising) broadcast on June 22 on TVCG.
According to the statement signed by the director of the Media Center Goran Đurović, in Dnevnik 2, which is broadcast on the first and second channel, an extensive report (4 minutes) was published from the meeting of the Europe Now Movement at which the committee of that parliamentary party for Podgorica was founded.
"In the report, parts of the speeches of the president of that party, Milojko Spajić, who currently holds the office of Prime Minister of Montenegro, the president of the newly formed party committee, Saša Mujović, who is the current minister of energy and mining, and the party leader and current mayor of Podgorica, Olivera Injac, were published. from the party meeting, according to the Media Center, represents a deviation from the RTCG Program Production Plan for 2024 and a violation of the RTCG Program Principles and Professional Standards balanced reporting, as announced and promised in the part of the Program and Production Plan related to TVCG," the announcement reads.
Reporting of this type, as they added, does not fit into one of the objectives stated in the Rulebook on program principles and professional standards of the RTCG, which reads - "timely, comprehensive, objective, balanced and credible processing of events in Montenegro, the region and beyond, supporting fair and constructive dialogue at the local, regional and national level".
"The RTCG Rulebook also states that, based on Article 51 of the Law on the Election of Councilors and Members of Parliament, 'political propaganda is not allowed in RTCG programs, except during the pre-election campaign.' of the ruling parties, does not belong to objective and balanced reporting, but to the provision of space for party propaganda at a time when there are no election campaigns. According to Article 67 of the Law on Audiovisual Media Services, advertising implies the broadcasting of any form of information by a certain legal or physical person for a certain fee or for of self-promotion, which aims to present and draw attention to a certain product or service of that legal or physical person... Article 68 of the same law prescribes that 'disguised and deceptive commercial audiovisual communications' are prohibited 82 and 1: 'Political advertising is advertising, with or without financial compensation, which recommends the activities, ideas or views of the submitter of a confirmed electoral list or candidate during an election or referendum campaign, in accordance with special rules. Unless otherwise prescribed, the provisions of this law relating to advertising shall be applied accordingly to political advertising.''
According to Đurović's press release, the content in question belongs to covert commercial audiovisual communications and represents covert advertising (advertising) of a political entity.
"We remind you that the Law on AVM Services stipulates that a fine in the amount of EUR 500 to EUR 20.000 will be imposed on a legal entity for a violation of Article 68 of the Law. We remind the public that following the complaint of the Media Center, TVCG by the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services already issued a warning on March 29 of this year because it broadcast a report from the New Serbian Democracy Congress. The agency treated the multi-minute speech of NSD officials and their guests as illegal advertising. that gives power holders more space for propaganda, continues. Unfortunately, the Government of Montenegro and the Parliament rejected the proposals of 40 NGOs and the Media Union of Montenegro, which we asked to immediately implement the procedure for the election of the new RTCG Council and general director because the current management structure is also under strong political influence," concludes Đurović's statement.
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