The Montenegrin media scene is subject to political pressures and divisions, said the president of the European Federation of Journalists, Maja Sever, and said that a lot needs to be done to provide a framework for the free and safe work of journalists.
In an interview with the MINA agency, Sever said that journalists often work in difficult conditions, facing threats and attacks, political pressures, but also poor salaries and unprotected labor rights.
"In Montenegro, the media scene is subject to political pressure and divisions," said Sever.
She stated that there are visible changes in the legislative framework, but that a lot needs to be done in order to ensure a framework for the free and safe work of journalists.
Speaking about the main challenges on the Montenegrin media scene, Sever pointed to the need to protect female journalists from misogynistic and sexist threats, to the problem with the relationship with the public media service, but also to the fact that there is still no epilogue in the case of the murder of journalist Duško Jovanović.
As she reminded, the European Federation of Journalists joined the Media Union of Montenegro in an urgent call to the authorities to protect female journalists from misogynistic and sexist threats, ensuring that investigations are treated with the seriousness they deserve, including establishing a gender-based motive and connection to journalistic work.
"A serious approach to protecting the safety of male and female journalists is certainly one of the important challenges. It is not enough to accept the legislation, it must be implemented," emphasized Sever.
When it comes to the attitude towards the public media service, she reminded that the European Federation of Journalists and MPs in the Assembly expressed concern about the recent changes to the Law on the National Public Broadcaster in Montenegro.
She pointed out that the Cabinet of Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, without a public debate, changed the agreed text of the bill on which the working group for media legislation had been working for almost 30 months.
"Key changes in the law, such as reducing the years of experience required for the general manager, as well as advertising in prime time, are not the expected direction of strengthening the professionalism of the management structure, nor is the commitment to representing the public interest", assessed Sever.
According to her, such a move is inexplicable, considering that the initial intention of the changes in the law was precisely to increase the criteria for management structures in the civil service.
"By introducing the possibility of additional income for the public service, without prior correction of the state budget, unfair competition is introduced into the media sector and raises the question of the sustainability of the media," Sever added.
According to her, although the media laws are part of the package of laws that were required to obtain the Interim Benchmarks Report for Chapters 23 and 24 (IBAR), any substantive reform should enable the effective rule of law and prioritize the representation of the public interest.
"What is positive is that the protection of the integrity of the members of the newsroom has been improved, as well as that local public broadcasters finally got the opportunity to be financially stable," Sever said.
She pointed out that it is good that the issue of freelancers in the media is included in the law for the first time, which, she believes, is a significant step forward compared to the previous legislation.
Sever emphasized that it is not easy to work in the media environment during two decades of impunity in the case of the murder of journalist Duško Jovanović, and said that it sends a dangerous message.
"For the heaviest crime in the history of Montenegrin journalism, only one accomplice was convicted, who will soon be released, as he has almost served a multi-year prison sentence," Sever reminded.
Speaking about the situation in the media in the Western Balkans, Sever said that the journalistic profession is undervalued, and that the main problems faced by the media are political and economic pressures.
"Our profession is absolutely undervalued, unfortunately this is a trend all over the world. Of course, in this part of the world where the profession has never been given its deserved place in society, this is even more pronounced than, for example, in Western Europe," she said. is North.
According to her, journalism is under pressure from political and economic interests and it is difficult to choose which one is more fierce, but also to fight back and ensure the freedom and independence of the media.
"Both of them, both those who have political and those who have economic power, do not understand the essence of journalism as a public good, as something that serves the public interest and citizens, not politics or advertisers, so we are witnessing the capture of the media on several levels", Sever stated.
As she added, the policy conditions media financial support with public funds that are necessary for survival, but also limits free work through bad legislation and avoiding the obligation to provide safe and sustainable working conditions.
"Those who have economic power in their hands condition ads and in that way capture the media," Sever said, adding that journalists also face various forms of pressure, including threats, violence and lawsuits.
Sever reiterated that the profession of journalists is undervalued in many countries of the region, partly, as she stated, due to low salaries and unsafe working conditions, but also due to lack of support from the public and the political elite.
"That underestimation can be caused by a lack of understanding of the importance of free journalism for a democratic society, but also by the authorities' conscious efforts to ensure control over information," said Sever.
As she added, if digitization and its impact on journalism are added to all of this, it is clear that "a big test is ahead of us".
When asked if the situation in all Balkan countries is similar, Sever replied that it differs only to some extent, but that problems such as political influence, pressure on journalists and economic dependence of the media are common to most countries in the region.
"The main obstacles to the improvement of media freedom include the lack of legal protection for journalists, the influence of political and economic powers on the media, as well as insufficiently developed institutions that should protect media freedom," said Sever, reminding that journalism and the media in the world are also facing major changes. which change their role, but also their strength and sustainability.
Commenting on the challenges that journalism is struggling with today, Sever indicated that the European Union (EU) recognized the growing problems and in the last convocation of the parliament, as a response, accepted a series of legal acts with the aim of protecting journalism.
This, as she clarified, resulted in the European Act on Freedom of the Media, by which all members undertook to protect the independence of the media, and any intervention in editorial decisions is prohibited.
Sever emphasized that this law applies only to EU members, but that it is a good direction.
When asked whether Montenegro, which is in the process of joining the EU, should adopt the same act, she said that the adoption of a special act with the same name is not binding and that the good practices and solutions recognized by the act should be transferred to the already existing legislation and thereby further improving it.
"Despite all the mentioned problems, it is in these countries of ours that journalists show courage and strength and despite difficult working conditions and numerous pressures, it is precisely journalists who are the only remaining corrective to those in power, and with their daring investigative stories they reveal corruption and bad actions of the rulers", she pointed out. North.
As she said, because of this, journalists are very often the target of attacks and lawsuits.
"But we can still read great independent journalists and their place in our societies is extremely important," said Sever.
Commenting on the use of the media to spread foreign influences, misinformation, but also hate speech, she pointed out that the Western Balkans is particularly vulnerable due to its geopolitical position, past and internal weaknesses.
"The media that spread propaganda, hatred and intolerance represent a serious threat to our societies, stability and peace", warned Sever.
As she said, such media should be regulated, but that requires political will to enforce existing laws and strengthen legal frameworks that will support professional and quality journalism, while punishing propaganda, spreading disinformation and hatred.
"It is also important to work on raising citizens' awareness of the importance of professional journalism, to provide better working conditions for people in the media and to strengthen media literacy among citizens," assessed Sever.
Bonus video:
