While the Montenegrin journalists celebrated this day it also served as an opportunity to review The Draft of Media Law, which is on a public debate.
The Centre for Investigative Journalism, the Association of Professional Journalists, the Media Institute, the Media Union and the Media Centre expressed their opinions on the matter during a press conference which was held at the EU Info Centre.
They all expressed dissatisfaction in the existing Draft of Media Law, since they believe that the solutions are not clearly defined and elaborated. Due to this setback, they believe that, if Parliament were to adopt the Draft, it can reduce the freedom of journalists and provide a way for the state to interfere in the media editorial policy and finance independence.
They are mostly worried about articles which define the protection of journalistic resources, the finance of media pluralism, the integrity of journalists and the media self-regulation. These associations and organisations related to journalism will work to submit an amendments to The Draft of Media Law to The Government – who initially proposed the Law.
Montenegrin Journalists’ Day is on the 23rd of January, since the first issue of the newspaper called „Crnogorac“ was published on that day in 1871.