Rade Veljanovski, a professor emeritus of the Belgrade University School of Political Sciences, believes that the Serbian state TV (RTS) used public procurements to funnel part of its funding to “media outlets that the regime needs.”
Veljanovski told the daily Danas that, by deciding to spend 36 million dinars (1 euro – 117 dinars) on advertising in the Kurir, Informer, Srpski Telegraf, Blic, Vecernje Novosti and Alo tabloids without calling a tender, the RTS management showed that the service is part of the regime’s propaganda apparatus rather than an institution dedicated to the public interest, as both its mission and the law demand.
On the other hand, RTS Managing Board member Predrag Azdejkovic sees no problem with promoting the RTS everywhere and anywhere, even in tabloids, “because a public service should be addressing everyone, tabloid readers included,” the daily reported.
When asked to comment on the fact that the public broadcaster is advertising in media which regularly violate media laws, the Code of Journalists’ Ethics and every other journalistic standard, RTS CEO Dragan Bujosevic and Managing Board chair Branislav Klanscek failed to answer, Danas reported.
According to the Public Procurement portal, the RTS last year spent just over 77.8 million dinars (VAT included) on advertising services, the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia reported.
Of these funds, 41.8 million dinars was spent on billboard ads, while 36 million was paid for advertisements in print and online dailies such as Informer, Srpski Telegraf, Alo, Kurir, Vecernje Novosti and Blic.
Source: N1
