The state is increasingly proving itself either powerless or simply unwilling to protect journalists and media workers. Evidence of this lies in the growing number of brutal verbal and physical attacks that continue to go unpunished.
Under the title “Do Press Councils Have a Future?”, the annual conference of the Alliance of Independent Press Councils of Europe (AIPCE) will be held in Montenegro on 25 and 26 September, 2025. This annual gathering of European press and media councils, which takes place in a different European country every year, will be, for the first time, organized in one of the Western Balkan countries.
Media Council for Self-Regulation Council (MSS) strongly condemns the attack on colleagues from Vijesti and Pobjeda, who were physically assaulted, harassed, detained, and whose work equipment was seized and partially destroyed while they were professionally carrying out their task – reporting to the public on events in Gornje Zaostro, where Chetnik apologists, led by Metropolitan Joanikije, glorified a man under whose command innocent people were killed 80 years ago.
Several media outlets in Montenegro this morning published a video of an attempted murder in Budva, thereby grossly violating the Montenegrin Journalists’ Code of ethics and demonstrating irresponsibility towards the public and the profession.
The footage of yesterday’s murder in Podgorica, published in full by the IN4S portal, along with screenshots showing the perpetrator holding a firearm and aiming at the victim, represents the crudest form of sensationalist journalism.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is capable of taking over routine tasks in journalism, but it must not replace the essential role of journalists. While it can be a useful support tool, human oversight and editorial control are always necessary.
The Media Council for Self-Regulation (MSS) signed the "Agreement on the allocation of funds to cover operational costs necessary for the activity of the self-regulatory body" with the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services (AMU). These are funds allocated through the Fund for Encouraging Pluralism and Diversity of the Media, intended for AVM service providers - commercial and non-profit broadcasters, and for self-regulation of the media for the year 2024. The funds that are provided through the Fund for self-regulation and allocated to the NGO Media Council for Self-Regulation, in the name of a grant to cover operational costs, amount to EUR 126,157.65.
A two-day workshop on the amendments to the current Journalists of Montenegro Code of Ethics was held in Podgorica on 26 and 27 June, with the support of the Council of Europe, OSCE, and UNESCO. The workshop was led by Juan Barata, a media expert of UNESCO.
Organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, representatives of Montenegrin media self-regulatory bodies visited Berlin from 2nd to 5th June on a study trip. The visit provided an opportunity for meetings with representatives of journalists’ unions, media outlets, as well as the German Press and Media Council.
Despite clear warnings from the European Commission, the Council of Europe, and the European Parliament that public officials must not endanger media freedom in Montenegro with their statements, the practice of targeting journalists and media outlets continues unabated.
