26 September 2003

Alert

Increased funding to state-owned news agency threatens existence of privately-owned media, says WAN


(WAN/IFEX) - In a 25 September 2003 letter to Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, WAN and the World Editors Forum expressed their concern over the government's consideration of a request to provide increased funding to the state-owned Macedonian News Agency (MIA).

According to reports, MIA, which already dominates the market in news agency services, recently asked the state assembly to finance its running expenses of about 730,000 euros (approx. US$839,000). WAN and the World Editors Forum are seriously concerned that by providing further financial support to MIA, the government would be reinforcing the near-monopolistic position already enjoyed by the state-owned news agency.

WAN and the World Editors Forum noted that the provision of a state subsidy of this kind would distort the market of news agency services in Macedonia. It would directly threaten the existence of the privately-owned news agency Makfaks and suppress other private initiatives in this area.



Source:

World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers
96 bis, rue Beaubourg
75003 Paris
France
alison.meston (@) wan-ifra.org
Phone: +33 14 742 8537
Fax: +33 14 278 9233
 

Stay on top of free expression news.

Sign up to receive the weekly IFEX Communiqué.


Macedonia

IFJ supports campaign for independent journalism and pluralism 8 July 2011 IFJ calls for A1TV network to be allowed to continue broadcasting following political and judicial pressure 2 February 2011 Premises of A1 TV headquarters allegedly blocked by police in Skopje 29 November 2010 IFJ condemns television call for violence against journalists 19 May 2010 "Shqip Media" newspaper journalists stopped and searched by police on their way to cover election campaign 12 March 2009 See all alerts: Macedonia


 
The International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) is a global network of 95 organisations working to defend and promote the right to free expression.
Permission is granted for material on this website to be reproduced or republished in whole or in part provided the source member and/or IFEX is cited with a link to the original item.