Millions in media grants for newly formed portals that already violate code

A Serbian media watchdog has raised concerns over significant state funding allocated to newly established online portals, many of which were registered only months before securing project financing. The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) reported that Zaple Media Group, a media publisher, received a total of 16.2 million dinars (approximately 138,000 euros) from completed media content funding competitions this year.

ANEM's analysis revealed that Zaple Media Group's projects were supported across various locations, including Užice, Požega, Vojvodina, Aranđelovac, Majdanpek, Aleksinac, and Bajina Bašta. The company also secured 4.9 million dinars for seven projects from the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications' competition for internet media. Notably, many of the supported websites, such as Užice oglasna tabla and Stara Pazova uživo, were reportedly in existence for only a few weeks or months at the time of the funding applications.

Further complicating the situation, ANEM highlighted that the company Zaple Media Group was registered in December of the previous year and established 12 new portals starting January 1 of this year. It also acquired two existing local portals. The watchdog pointed out that the Commission for Complaints of the Press Council has already ruled in 11 cases that the content on these new media outlets violated the Code of Journalists and Women Journalists of Serbia.

Adding another layer of controversy, ANEM noted that Gradimir Banković, the director and editor-in-chief of all 14 media outlets under Zaple Media Group, has recently appeared in media analyzing the socio-political situation as a representative of the Center for Social Stability. This NGO is known for organizing counter-rallies and producing films that target government critics. The center's recent film, "Zlo doba 2," specifically targeted Veran Matić, the president of ANEM's Managing Board.