Belgrade, 4 November 2025 – The Niš City Administration has awarded more than four million dinars in individual grants for the project co-financing of media content to INI media d.o.o. Niš, the publisher of Niš TV – which is not registered in the Media Register and does not hold a broadcasting license from the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM)—and of the outlet’s namesake portal, which was entered into the official register just over two months ago.
By a decision dated 3 November 2025, the Niš City Administration approved co-financing for this company’s project, as an individual grant, in the amount of RSD 4,028,400. According to the decision, the goal of this media company’s project, “Eco Awareness, for a Sustainable Future,” is to raise public awareness about the importance of preventive behaviour in protecting the environment.
The journalists’ and media associations—the Association of Independent Electronic Media (AIEM), the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS), the Journalists’ Association of Serbia (JAS), Local Press and the Media Association—ask the competent authorities by which criteria substantial budget funds are being awarded to media that have existed for only a few months.
We remind the public that Niš TV, despite not being registered and not having a license, began operating in May of this year, while its portal was entered into the Media Register only on 28 August 2025. This raises the question of how the city administration that issued the decision on individual grants to the publisher of these outlets could assess the applicant’s capacities and prior experience in reporting based on such a short period of existence.
It is also questionable how an entity that has for months been violating the law by broadcasting a programme without a license and without official registration can receive funds for the project co-financing of media content.
The journalists’ and media associations view this action by the Niš City Administration as further undermining the project co-financing process for media content, which in 2025 in particular has proven to be a tool for supporting pro-government and propaganda outlets rather than an incentive for professional, high-quality journalism.
Association of Independent Electronic Media (AIEM)
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS)
Journalists’ Association of Serbia (JAS)
Local Press
Media Association
