United Media said on Friday that Telekom Serbia CEO Vladimir Lucic did not deny reports that the state-owned company was buying a privately-owned pro-regime tabloid and TV station.
“Lucic did not try to deny reports that he is planning to buy the Kurir tabloid and TV station and invest dozens of millions of Euro of public funds into that media outlet which has a history of flagrant violations of all professional standards, laws and ethical norms,” a statement said.
It added that Lucic used “the well known strategy of lies and attacks on United Media outlets to admit that Telekom Serbia will partner with the media and portals which have years of what is seen as “excellent” practice in Serbia. It’s clear that the CEO of the state-owned company has not problem with the fact that Kurir is known to be a media outlet which violates professional and ethical journalism standards. On the contrary, He is prepared to formally place it under the auspices of Telekom, that is under state ownership. If Lucic really does decide to invest millions of Euro of public money into the tabloid, that will be remembered as the moment when the state financially supported a media outlet which is the symbol of the violation of the rights of the citizens to true information,” it added.
“United Media warned several years ago that the state’s investment of 38 million Euro into Igor Zezelj’s company is an introduction into the takeover of Kurir. Unfortunately, that was made legal last year when the media laws were amended giving Telekom the formal right to own media outlets and rewarding Telekom for its 10 years of illegal ownership of media outlets.
“United Media, an international company which has more than 55 TV channels in its portfolio and produces professional content aired on a market of 40 million people, is known for its credible and truthful journalism which brings it the highest trust of the public.
“Serbia’s institutions and public have to seriously wonder why a state-owned company, financed with public money, would spend a single Dinar on a tabloid which all relevant players see as an example of a lack of professionalism and propaganda. This is not just a question of spending public funds but of moral integrity and responsibility. When state funds are used to finance media outlets which continuously deceive the public and violate basic ethical norms and the rules of the profession, it becomes clear that the values of a free society and the foundations of the state are in jeopardy,” United Media said.
Source: N1
