AJM: Without stable funding, there can be no substantial reforms in MRT

At the open session of the Programming Council of MRT, where representatives of the media community and institutions discussed the future of the public broadcaster, its development priorities, and the need for substantial reforms, a serious issue was also raised regarding the financing of MRT, Macedonian Broadcasting, and the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services.

A representative of the media regulator pointed out that the Government had adopted a conclusion to amend the Law on Audio and Audiovisual Media Services (Article 105, paragraph 1), whereby 2023 would be used as the basis for calculating funds, instead of the previous year as предусмотрено in the current legal framework. This approach could negatively affect the financing of MRT, MRD, and AVMS, and directly limit the implementation of the announced reforms.

Any amendment to the legal framework that directly affects the financing of the public broadcaster, broadcasting infrastructure, and the media regulator must be transparent, well-reasoned, and prepared with the involvement of all relevant stakeholders. Reducing the budgetary base without public debate and prior consultation with the Programming Council of MRT, AVMS, MRD, journalistic organizations, and the media community creates a risk that reforms will remain merely declarative.

Stable and predictable funding is a prerequisite for an independent, professional, and modern public service broadcaster. Without adequate resources, it is unrealistic to expect new employment, staff rejuvenation, archive digitalization, technological modernization, development of new platforms, improved working conditions, and strengthening of the correspondent network.

The President of the Program Council of MRT, Davor Pashoski, emphasized the need to adopt a new law on MRT, revise the Code of Ethics, strengthen cooperation with international organizations, and implement visible reforms to improve the public broadcaster’s performance. He highlighted that the Program Council remains open to cooperation with all relevant stakeholders, and that holding this open session confirms such an approach and the commitment to broader professional dialogue on MRT’s future.

The new Director of MRT, Zoran Ristoski, outlined the key priorities of his program. He emphasized that the goal is to restore the level of the public service, noting that without a strong public broadcaster there can be no strong media in the country. Ristoski pointed out that the media landscape in Macedonia has been at a low level over the past two decades and that serious steps are needed for improvement.

He also addressed the challenges faced by MRT, including the reduced number of employees—from around 2,000 to approximately 600—the age structure of staff, and working conditions. It was noted that a financial analysis is underway, alongside announced measures to increase the number of journalists, digitize the MTV archive, develop a new digital platform, employ young professionals, and organize training for journalists and other staff.

At the public session, the President of AJM, Mladen Chadikovski,said that MRT should be a leader, an example, and a partner in media sector reforms. He pointed out that the public broadcaster should set standards for professionalism, technological development, human resource innovation, and protection of the public interest, while reforms should preserve and further develop the pluralism of content that MRT has established over the years.

Chadikovski noted that AJM continuously advocates for a better legal framework for the functioning of the public broadcaster, including opening a debate on a separate law on MRT. According to him, future legal solutions should clearly define the status of journalists and creative staff, who should not be treated as public administration, as this complicates employment and professional development. He pointed out the importance of developing a network of local correspondents with regular employment contracts and appropriate infrastructure, as well as the need for the public broadcaster to consider correspondents abroad, given that this is a real need that commercial media can hardly cover independently.

The Executive Director of AJM, Dragan Sekulovski, proposed concrete forms of cooperation between AJM and MRT. He noted that AJM, in cooperation with the Macedonian Institute for Media, can support the assessment and improvement of MRT’s existing Code of Ethics, as well as assist in the preparation of a new five-year strategic plan for the public broadcaster.

Sekulovski also announced the possibility of organizing free training for MRT journalists through the AJM Training Academy, with the support of the European Union Delegation, as a first step toward longer-term and structured professional support. He also informed that AJM will soon invite MRT to join a new initiative supported by UNDP, aimed at strengthening information integrity and establishing broader cooperation among institutions, media, and civil society organizations.

AJM remains committed to a partnership-based approach and active support for reforms leading to a strong, independent, and professional public broadcaster. At the same time, AJM emphasizes that these reforms cannot be implemented without stable, transparent, and predictable funding for MRT, MRD, and AVMS, as well as without an open consultation process for all legal amendments that directly affect the media system and the public interest.

Photo: AJM