Radio-television of Serbia got a new director, but she will not take office immediately, so her deputy was chosen. When Manja Grcic takes office and what prevents her from doing it immediately
Newly elected general director Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) Manja Grcic he will not take office immediately, but will take over the position after February 23.
She informed the Management Board of that media house about it, reports Serbian Association of Journalists (UNS).
The reasons why Manja Grcic is unable to assume the position immediately are not officially known, according to UNS.
Until she officially takes office, the position of deputy director will be performed by Dejan Jovanović, who was present at the RTS Board of Directors’ electronic meeting on Thursday (February 12) evening.
Manja Grcic was elected unanimously at the session of the Board of Directors of RTS on February 11 for the new general director.
Why doesn’t Grcic take office yet?
Although the official reasons are not known, the reason why Manja Grcic does not take office until February 23 could be hidden in other functions which she attended when she was elected general director of RTS.
Manja Grcic currently sits in several director’s chairs, and among media experts there is no single answer as to whether she is legally in conflict of interest.
She is currently the general director of the Tanjug news agency and co-owner of K1 television. This is the business he runs with Željko and Jovana Joksimović, with whom he is also godmother.
Grčić and Joksimović are also the owners of Minacord Media, which six years ago, with the approval of the Government of Serbia, leased Tanjug for 10 years for 628.000 euros.
She has another director’s chair in the marketing agency “Majo Public”, which is owned by her and Jovana Joksimović, and provides services to various state-owned companies – from Srbijavoz to Telekom. During 2024, that company earned more than half a million euros. Their clients include Dipos, the Automobile Association of Serbia, AMS Insurance, eAdministration, the Museum of Natural History…
What is (still) controversial in the election of Manja Grcic
The appointment of Manja Grcic caused numerous reactions in the media world of Serbia, and apart from the fact that some see her as the ideal director of the regime’s public service, her expertise is also questionable.
The Association of Serbian Journalists announced that Manja Grcic’s diploma does not have enough points for her to be the head of RTS. From the diploma that Manja Grcic submitted to the competition for general director of Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS), it follows that she has 180 ESPB points acquired through academic education in Great Britain. Law on Public media services provides that a candidate for general director must have a diploma with 240 ESPB points.
That’s what it’s for Slađana Ivančević also pointed out, the opponent of Manja Grcic for the General Director of the Public Service.
“During the opening of applications, the RTS Board of Directors accepted the candidacy of Manja Grcic, even though she did not have a certificate that the diploma she submitted to the competition carries 240 ESPB points, and it was not certified either,” Ivančević said.
What does the Law on Public Media Services prescribe?
The Law on Public Media Services stipulates that the general director must have at least ten years of experience in managerial positions in the media or in other areas important for the operation of the public media service.
The candidate must have at least 240 ESPB points obtained through academic education, citizenship or residence in Serbia, as well as a submitted work and management program for the duration of the mandate.
The mandate of the general director lasts for five years, with the possibility of one re-election.
Source: Vreme
