This publication is the result of a project that is a response to the need to preserve the integrity of the election process and the integrity of media reporting. The development of media infrastructure in the area of the Western Balkans abolished state borders and thus, in addition to positive changes, also brought challenges. One of them is the possibility that, by moving the election campaign to a neighboring country, the relevant electoral legislation and regulatory institutional framework can be circumvented, thereby undermining the integrity of the electoral process.
The results of the monitoring of television reporting carried out by REM, whose programs are broadcast or/rebroadcast on the territory of Montenegro, indicate that this risk exists. Data from the Electronic Media Agency show that around 10% of Montenegrin citizens are informed through television stations under the jurisdiction of REM. These are primarily Pink, Prva, RTS and Happy.
Also, the results of the monitoring show that the media content broadcast primarily during the campaign for the presidential elections, in the first round, was in the guise of supporting the presidential candidate Andrija Mandić, negative presentation of the presidential candidate Milo Đukanović and marginalization of the newly elected President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, which in to a certain extent, it was corrected in the second round, in which he was dominantly presented positively, unlike against candidate Đukanović, who was mostly presented neutrally.
The report was made by BIRODI, for the needs of the project implemented by MANS with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
You can view the complete report HERE.
