The Agency for Electronic Media (AEM) issued a warning to Radio Television of Montenegro (RTCG) for violating the Law on Audiovisual Services because they broadcast covert political advertising during their news broadcasts on June 22.
This is stated in the AEM solution, which "Vijesti" had access to.
"The warning is issued due to the broadcast of covert commercial audiovisual communication (covert political advertising), which is prohibited by Article 68 paragraph 2 of the Law on Audiovisual Media Services and Article 13 paragraph 1 of the Rulebook on Commercial Audiovisual Communications," the decision reads.
On June 24, the non-governmental organization Media Centar submitted a complaint to AEM, in which it stated that the Television of Montenegro (TVCG) in Dnevnik 2, which is broadcast on the first and second channels, published an extensive report (four minutes) from the meeting of the Movement Europe now on who founded the committee of this parliamentary party for Podgorica.
"Parts of the speech of the president of that party were published in the report Milojko Spajić, who is currently serving as Prime Minister, President of the newly formed party committee, Saša Mujović, who is the current minister of energy and mining, and the party champion and current mayor of Podgorica Oliver Injac", stated from the Media Center.
They assessed that such reporting from the party meeting represents a deviation from the Program Production Plan of RTCG for 2024 and a violation of the Rulebook on Program Principles and Professional Standards of RTCG.
The media center pointed to the provisions of the Law on Audiovisual Media Services, which define advertising (Article 67), as well as the ban on broadcasting covert and fraudulent commercial audiovisual communications (Article 82), and fines for violating this ban.
In the AEM statement, RTCG claimed that the public service "absolutely did not emphasize the municipal board of PES in its reporting, but it was information as an introduction to a story that is important for every individual in the country, which is economic improvement through increased wages, which is one of the PES programs and entry into the European Union".
"At the event that is the object of the complaint, despite the fact that it is about the formation of the municipal committee of the Europe Now Movement in Podgorica, the dominant topics were related to the creation of state policies that are of public interest. That is why the information in all media houses was key in all information programs, not only on the Public Service, which cannot under any circumstances be classified as commercial audiovisual communication", they stated, among other things, in the statement.
AEM concluded that covert advertising is indicated by the fact that in this particular case RTCG enabled the presentation of the activities, views and representatives of a parliamentary party, which had the aim of promoting (advertising) their results, reputation and social support.
"And it could mislead the public (viewers) regarding the nature of the broadcast content, that it is a report and not (political) advertising, due to the way it is presented or included in the editorial content which, according to its format, is dominantly recognized as not -advertising (this is for a daily news show)", the decision reads.
They state that the broadcast segment of the news program without an editorial explanation is aimed at presenting information of importance or in the interest of only one subject, but also that the broadcaster made it possible for the presenter/journalist's questions, announcements, scrolling in the lower part of the screen during the broadcast of the program to be unambiguously and unjustifiably emphasize the views, positive aspects of the work, results or activities of only one political subject, although editorially it would be justified and more comprehensive to present other aspects of the event or the issues raised, the views of other persons.
They also point out that the right to information about current events and activities, as well as the work of state bodies and officials, was used for inappropriate presentation and promotional reference to representatives of political subjects, i.e. their activities, ideas or political views.
AEM also believes that the RTCG states in its statement that "the public service did not emphasize the municipal board of PES in its reporting, but it was information as an introduction to a story that is important for every individual in the country, which is economic improvement through increased wages, which is one of the programs of PES and entry into the EU" indicate that the broadcaster's intention was not to report, inform about the formation of the party committee in the capital city assembly, but to emphasize the program of that party.
"This confirms the choice of statements/allegations of the representative of this political entity, the cover for the announcement and the content of the crawl during the broadcast of the subject in question, with a clear intention to directly promote the goals and attitudes of this political entity, as well as the reputation of its representatives who perform public functions (prime minister, minister, mayor). Although he prepared and broadcast it as a report on a specific event, in essence, the item in question represents unilaterally prepared content that presents the views of only one political party...", the decision states, among other things.
They are preparing for Eurosong 2025
The Council of the RTCG decided at the electronic session held on Friday and Saturday to announce a competition for the election of the Ombudsman for the third time, after the resignation was noted Todor Brajković. He resigned after the other candidates announced criminal charges against Drljevic and the other Council members who voted for him.
The Council session was not open to the public, and the media was not officially informed about what was decided by the body that supervises the work of the public service.
The Council also announced a public call for the election of a member of the RTCG Ethics Committee, which was adopted on April 15. The Rulebook on the procedure for selecting the composition for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 was also adopted, and it is planned that this year at the Montesong festival, the song that will represent Montenegro at the international competition will be chosen.
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