Gallagher: There was an earlier belief that the government controlled the RTCG

There was an earlier belief that the government controlled the Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG), announced today the head of the Department for Media and Culture of the Embassy of the United States of America (USA) in Montenegro, Nicole Gallagher.

"It's time for the Public Service to work in the interest of all citizens, regardless of any preference," said Gallagher at the conference "RTCG today - how to get a better public media service", organized by the Media Center.

The conference is organized within the project "Reconnecting citizens and public broadcaster RTCG", which is financed by the US Embassy in Podgorica.

Gallagher pointed out that it is in the public interest that the Public Service is always open to the public.

She stated that there are now new management bodies in the RTCG, whose election is accompanied by serious doubts about the legality of the procedure, and who have the responsibility to be independent in their work and resist inappropriate political pressures.

Minister of Public Administration, Digital Society and Media Tamara Srzentić said that the Public Service is a pillar of a democratic society and must remain independent and free from political pressure.

"The lifeblood of the Public Service is the employees of that media house, regardless of political affiliations," said Srzentić.

The director of the Media Center, Goran Đurović, stated that with the analysis they were doing, they dealt, among other things, with the production of content and the realization of program production plans, employment policy.

Đurović said that it will be interesting from where the costs for court proceedings will be paid.

The President of the RTCG Council, Veselin Drljević, recently said that there is a danger that a law office will block the account of the Public Service, due to a debt of 750.000 euros for court costs.

Đurović stated that the transmission of religious content has no place on the Parliamentary channel, and that is what happened.

"That used to be the basis for dismissing the general director, and we wonder if there will be any responsibility," said Đurović.

Srzentić stated that she had read the Media Center's report and that she was glad that the NGO was helping the work of the Public Service to improve with positive criticism.

She pointed out that the media scene is polarized, which was also noted in the European Union report.

The President of the Assembly of the Media Center Dragoljub Duško Vuković pointed out that the analysis showed, among other things, that there were missed opportunities to go one step further on the occasion of an event in illuminating all important aspects, which suggests a possible lack of professional knowledge and responsibility towards the public, but also that it is possible that it is possible self-censorship.

Drljević does not see anything objectionable that the Parliamentary channel was broadcasting a religious event.

He pointed out that the public interest was for the event to be broadcast, and that perhaps the regulations did not stipulate that it be on the Parliamentary channel, but that they would probably have objections if the broadcast were on another channel.

The analysis showed that Dnevnik 2 neither in terms of content, nor in terms of processing news and reports, generally does not meet the programming principles and highly professional standards set in the Rulebook on programming principles and professional standards, i.e. in the Code of Journalists of Montenegro.

Đurović explained that from October 1st to July 31st, they followed the main daily news programs of TVCG every day.

Raonic: Political influence will not be allowed

The general director of RTCG Boris Raonic said that the management will be pleased to look at all the allegations from the analysis of the Media Center and to guarantee that any political influence will not be allowed.

"It will be a great help in all those things that we found in RTCG", Raonic said and added that he is ready to discuss all topics within RTCG as well.

"In two months, the new management has already come up with professional and balanced reporting. I think we have to give the Public Service a chance and keep in mind the overall environment," said Raonic.