The President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, said that independent media are a pillar of every democratic society.
He spoke at the opening of the Media Forum of Southeast Europe, which is held in Podgorica. He said that the theme of this year's forum "Media and elections - professional and political challenges" comes at the right time, in a year in which millions of people voted in more than 50 countries of the world.
"The 'super-election' year, as many call it, is already nearing its end, and the period ahead will most certainly be a challenging period in which the decisions made by citizens and the politicians they supported will shape our social reality. For Montenegro, the super-election the year had passed, in which the country got a new president and a new executive," said Milatović, as announced by his cabinet.
The role of independent media in the democratization process is not limited to objectively informing citizens, but also to promoting values such as freedom of expression, rule of law and transparency, he pointed out.
"They guarantee that citizens are aware of important political, economic and social issues, as well as the activities of political leaders and institutions. In this way, independent media influence the public to be informed, but also engaged in political life, thereby strengthening the democratic process." .
He said that a special responsibility, in this context, rests with the media financed by citizens - local and public services, which "in many countries of the region, and Montenegro is no exception, are often under the influence of political and other influences", which is why "instead of objectivity and professionalism become instruments of government". "In that way, instead of strengthening these media, they actually weaken democratic processes in society," said Milatović.
Speaking about the professional challenges of reporting during election processes, he emphasized the importance of accurate, balanced and timely information.
"However, in practice we encounter problems such as bias, lack of professional standards, and I can freely say the epidemic of the phenomenon of sensationalism, with the aim of diverting the public's focus from key topics."
Milatović pointed out that another significant challenge is financing the media during election campaigns.
"Political actors invest huge amounts of money in advertising campaigns, which on the one hand creates pressure on the media to accept certain narratives in order to ensure financial stability. The lack of transparency in the financing of campaigns and media content, as well as the non-application of existing norms, contributes to the violation of media objectivity and responsibility. Regulatory bodies that should guarantee equal representation of the political offer in the media during the campaign are often insufficiently effective and subject to influence. while others are marginalized".
He also said that adapting traditional media to the digital era is a special challenge.
"Online platforms and social networks have become a dominant source of information, but at the same time a space for spreading misinformation and fake news, which can manipulate public opinion and thus influence the outcome of elections. These phenomena are often linked to the malignant influence of third countries, which That's how they want to achieve their geopolitical influence. The insufficiently developed media literacy in the region only further complicates the fight against these harmful phenomena with which, as a society, we have to fight," said Milatović.
He added that, first of all, it is necessary for state institutions to communicate accurate information in a timely manner, but that, "unfortunately, we live in an era of everyday political marketing that often markets untrue information, among other things, by state institutions."
"In this regard, the role of independent media as 'guardians of democracy' is crucial. Through investigative journalism and unbiased reporting, independent media expose false information, abuses of power, corruption and inefficiency of institutions. In this way, they increase the government's responsibility towards citizens and reduce the space both in Montenegro and in the entire region where democratic institutions are still in the consolidation phase, the media have the additional responsibility of being the bearers of democratic changes to work together, the most important of which are: 1) Strengthening the independence of the media - We must create conditions for independent and free journalism, which includes legislative reforms, protection of journalists from political and economic pressures and transparency of media ownership; 2) Improvement of professional standards - in in that context, the education of journalists and editors on ethical norms and professional reporting is key. Also, the promotion of investigative journalism plays an important role in detecting and preventing election manipulations; 3) Strengthening of regulatory bodies - Institutions that regulate media space during elections must be independent, professional and transparent; 4) Raising the level of media literacy - implies dedicated work, especially with the younger generation, helping citizens to recognize and understand the difference between credible information and fake news; 5) The fight against disinformation, which requires a strategic approach to suppressing it, in cooperation with partners from the non-governmental sector and international organizations," the president said.
He pointed out that today, in a developed media ecosystem in which information travels faster than ever before, a systematic, coordinated approach and the creation of connections between numerous actors at the local, national and international level is needed in order to overcome "some of the numerous challenges that we face".
"And that is why we are all here today. To send an important message through an open dialogue, exchange of opinions and best practices that the great power and influence that the media and politicians have in society also carries a great burden of responsibility, and we must all be aware of that burden. I note with regret that the conversation about the media environment in Montenegro begins through the prism of commemorating the 20th anniversary of the murder of the editor of the daily newspaper Dan Duško Jovanović, which has not been resolved even after two decades the perpetrators of this crime, it is a prerequisite that we move forward as a community," concluded Milatović.
Bonus video:
