Media Sustainability Index 2003: Montenegro
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MEDIA 2003SUSTAINABILITY INDEX Media Sustainability Index 2003 Development of Sustainable Independent Media in Europe and Eurasia Media Sustainability Index 2003 Copyright © 2004 by IREX www.irex.org/msi/ IREX 2121 K Street, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20037 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (202) 628-8188 Fax: (202) 628-8189 www.irex.org “All who stood in favor of these laws during their adoption were exposed to strong pressure—the politicians remained the decision-makers in the domain of media.” Montenegro Introduction espite the opposition’s withdrawal from government participation in May, 2003 brought relative stability to the Montenegrin government. The defeat of the opposition in the parliamentary elections in late 2002 and the presidential elections in early 2003 made it possible for the ruling coalition to work within a democratic mandate. Politics were the Montenegrin media’s center of attention during 2003, with reports focused on the development of the constitution, questions of legitimacy raised relative to the work of the parliament, political scan- dals and state policy on domestic reforms, foreign policy toward the DEuropean Union (EU) and Serbia, and other key issues. The increas- ingly active civil society—the number of nongovernmental organiza- tions (NGOs) grew to 2,400—also contributed to a more democratic climate in the country. There were mixed economic indicators, however: The gross domestic product grew by 2 percent, foreign trade increased, the inflation rate fell to 7 percent, the job market grew to 30,000 legally employed workers, and bank interest rates declined to approximately 15 percent. On the downside, the average monthly salary stagnated at E190 per worker, with 12 percent of the population below the poverty level and 30 percent potentially vulnerable. Meanwhile, foreign invest- ment fell to around E30 million as the gray economy flourished. For the media industry, there were few positive steps during 2003. Although Montenegro won admission to the Council of Europe through adoption of liberal media laws in 2002, the implementation of these laws continues to be slow and difficult. With more media outlets opening, competition has stiffened. Media professionalism remains inadequate, and ethical standards are low. There have been disputes related to the public broadcasting service and difficulties in establish- ing an institutional framework. Progress in 2003 included greater pluralism in terms of available information, gradual development of the legal framework (including a criminal law that restricts penalties for libel to fines rather than prison sentences), and better institutional support for the media community. MONTENEGRO 65 Objective Scoring Indicator Scoring The averages of all the indicators are averaged to obtain a single, Each indicator is scored using the following system: overall score for each objective. Objective scores are averaged to provide 0 = Country does not meet indicator; government or social forces may actively an overall score for the country. IREX interprets the overall scores as follows: oppose its implementation 3 and above: Sustainable and free independent media 1 = Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator; forces may not actively oppose its implementation, but business environment may not support it 2–3: Independent media approaching sustainability and government or profession do not fully and actively support change 1–2: Significant progress remains to be made; 2 = Country has begun to meet many aspects of the indicator, but progress may society or government is not fully supportive be too recent to judge or still dependent on current government or political forces 0–1: Country meets few indicators; government and society actively oppose change 3 = Country meets most aspects of the indicator; implementation of the indica- tor has occurred over several years and/or through changes in government, indicating likely sustainability 4 = Country meets the aspects of the indicator; implementation has remained intact over multiple changes in government, economic fluctuations, changes in public opinion, and/or changing social conventions 66 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ Objective 1: Free Speech politicians remained “Are these laws the decision-makers Montenegro Objective Score: 2.46/4.00 in the domain of a step forward; media.” are they better? All Media Sustainability Index (MSI) panel participants Panelists considered the new media legislation (the Media Law, noted the lack of Of course, they are. the Broadcasting Law, and the Law on Public Broadcast- laws on free access Are they good enough? ing Services “Radio Crna Gore” and “TV Crna Gora”) to information, as marking tremendous progress toward creation of a saying it reduces I don’t think so,” modern legal framework for development of the media in the obligation of said one panelist. Montenegro. Although the new legislation still has some the authorities to deficiencies, it is generally seen as a body of law contrib- ensure the media uting to modernization of the sector. One important can inform the example is the redefinition of defamation in the new public. One participant noted that the proposed law in criminal code, which now limits penalties to fines. “Are draft form did not set any time limits for state officials these laws a step forward; are they better? Of course, to supply requested information. Another statutory they are. Are they good enough? I don’t think so,” said issue the panelists noted concerned the potential con- one panelist. “All who stood in favor of these laws during centration of media outlet ownership. Panelists said the their adoption were exposed to strong pressure—the absence of antimonopoly laws encourages the owner- ship of many outlets by a small number of owners. MSI participants also said the current copyright law is inad- Legal and social norms protect and promote equate, and the failure to implement existing legislation free speech and access to public information is even more problematic. Although the existing media legislation was passed ■ Legal/social protections of free speech exist in 2002, progress in implementation has been slow due and are enforced. to resistance and manipulation by the media community ■ Licensing of broadcast media is fair, competitive, itself. The delay in establishing a public broadcasting and apolitical. service at the national and municipal levels is of particu- lar concern. The transformation of the Radio I Televizija ■ Market entry and tax structure for media are fair Crna Gore (RTCG) into a viable organization has been and comparable to other industries. a challenging process. The organization has experienced ■ Crimes against journalists or media outlets are management difficulties, including unclear provisions prosecuted vigorously, but occurrences of such for selecting members of the RTCG Council. Finding crimes are rare. skilled program managers and other staff, making the ■ State or public media do not receive preferential necessary changes in organizational structure, improving legal treatment, and law guarantees editorial equipment, and planning a strategy for financial sus- INDICATORS independence. tainability have been major problems for Montenegro’s ■ Libel is a civil law issue; public officials are held largest media house. to higher standards, and the offended party Also, the transformation of local media into must prove falsity and malice. public-service outlets has been inefficient, panelists said. SPEECH SPEECH The municipal authorities in Montenegro appear unable ■ Public information is easily accessible; right of access to information is equally enforced for all and unwilling politically to speed up the process. “We FREE FREE media and journalists. have tried to make perhaps the most liberal media laws in Europe,” said one panel member. “After the adop- ■ Media outlets have unrestricted access to infor- tion of the laws, a number of us have been involved in mation; this is equally enforced for all media and journalists. their implementation throughout the past year. We have been all around Montenegro several times and met with ■ Entry into the journalism profession is free, and almost everybody who has been connected to media in government imposes no licensing, restrictions, any way. It is generally considered that implementation or special rights for journalists. would be better if the laws were more coercive. The big- MONTENEGRO 67 “There were 5,000 gest problem is the for generally accepted standards. Last year’s Code of lack of political will, Ethics, although supported by trade associations and people from all over primarily at the media outlets, has not become a binding document for Montenegro who local level, because journalists. It was the general impression of the panel there was much that journalists in Montenegro are torn between respect- responded to the manipulation of ing professional standards and rejecting them. “Profes- advertisement the process in some sional standards are low due to the changing nature of municipalities.” society and basic financial limitations,” said one par- published in a daily Participants ticipant, who noted: “There were 5,000 people from all paper under the title also said the Broad- over Montenegro who responded to the advertisement casting Agency (BA) published in a daily paper under the title ‘Do You Want ‘Do You Want to must work efficiently to Become a TV Star.’ At the same time, only one person to develop a strategy applied for a journalism course entitled ‘How a Journal- Become