After the Bureau for Social Research (BIRODI) submitted an initiative to the State Audit Institution (DRI) requesting a performance audit of Telekom Srbija, a majority state-owned joint-stock company, the DRI said it will consider the request during the preparation of its next audit plan, scheduled for 2027, BIRODI said.
“While respecting the DRI’s legal autonomy in selecting audit subjects, this request was prompted by the results of our continuous media monitoring and audience research, which BIRODI has conducted since 2012, indicating a trend of denying citizens their right to truthful, complete, and timely information, as guaranteed by Article 51 of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia,” BIRODI said.
BIRODI emphasized that auditing the effectiveness of Telekom’s media investments is a matter of public interest. It said it is essential to determine whether the funds of the state-owned company are being used economically, efficiently, and in a way that contributes to media pluralism, freedom of information, professional journalism, and fair market competition.
As key indicators for the performance audit, BIRODI proposed evaluating the impact on the plurality of sources, content balance, the financial dependence of media outlets on Telekom, and changes in editorial patterns following investment.
Source: N1
