17 years ago, we could not have imagined that we would be participating in a major undertaking that would lead to the creation of a media outlet that would become the most watched and most influential in Montenegro. A good number of us had no experience in television, but through persistent and patient work and learning, we managed to create a good media product that enjoys the trust of viewers.
This is how TV Vijesti's editor-in-chief Radomir Kračković described the founding and beginning of TV Vijesti, which is celebrating its 17th birthday today.
"Throughout the years, TV Vijesti has been in an unfavorable media environment. We have not been favorites of any government...", emphasized Krackovic, who believes that Vijesti has a healing influence on Montenegrin society and the state.
"Although there may have been some mistakes during all these 17 years, of course there are in every business, I believe that Vijesti, not just the television, but the entire group, had a historic impact on the development of our society and state precisely because of its uncompromising stance and work in the public interest and for the good of all citizens, and therefore our viewers," said Krackovic.
He is encouraged, he says, by the recently presented research conducted on the occasion of the Day of Montenegrin Journalists, which showed that Vijesti television in Montenegro is even more threatening than social networks.
"Unfortunately, I don't know how long that will be, because we are all witnessing this enormous growth, but my opinion is that social networks will never be able to replace real and objective media. It is very clear, of course, that their influence is growing, and of course we still face new challenges in terms of technology, but we have certainly adapted to them. Since last year, we have had an improved image, which is a segment that we have been missing all these years... We have never had problems with content, viewers have always recognized that, and now I believe they have something to see in that visual sense," he said.
TV Vijesti Executive Director Marijana Bojanić was the first to wish viewers good morning, while working on the morning program at the time.
"The energy we had when we started with television was enormous, and for most of us it was our first TV experience and we learned television on the fly. At that time, our boss was Vladan Mićunović, and the head of the desk who taught us the most was Marijana Buljan. Those were exciting days," said Bojanić.
However, he also remembers the less beautiful ones...
"That was the time when we were under government sanctions for two and a half years, we couldn't get a license for terrestrial coverage, and only one cable operator agreed to broadcast our program."
The key challenge, he points out, is achieving the highest level of professionalism in the given circumstances.
"It seems to me that we have succeeded... We had very good foundations, since the 90s when Professor Miško Perović, Željko Ivanović and Ljubiša Mitrović founded the weekly Monitor. Those were the first steps of professional journalism in Montenegro, free journalism without censorship and pressure. After that, the same team founded the daily "Vijesti" in 1997. This is a serious company that has been carefully built over many years with a serious vision and mission. Even today we have numerous challenges, they do not stop...", said Bojanić.
Bonus video:
