Judita Popovic: REM Major Cause of Chaotic Broadcasting Media Scene

REM - Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (Beta/Milos Miskov)

The electronic media scene in Serbia is chaotic which has a lot to do with the Regulatory Body for the Electronic Media (REM) with its gentle approach to arrogant violations of the law by commercial providers of media services, REM council member Judita Popovic said on July 21.

On the other side, Popovic said in an interview with the July 21 edition of the Vreme weekly, public broadcasters are "impersonal and anesthetized and have forgotten what their role in society actually is." She explained that according to the Constitution and laws REM was an independent body, but that it answered to the Serbian parliament, which, she said, highlights the question of its independence.

She stressed that the very idea of the existence of the regulator with a clearly defined role was good and in the public interest, but that the question was how much freedom the "regulator of the regulator" was willing to allow.

"The REM is as independent as the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government are. If the national parliament subjects its work to the needs of the Cabinet, if the Cabinet listens to what the president of the republic wants and if the judiciary acts according to tabloid accusations and trials held in the thunderous silence of judges and prosecutors, then it is illusory to expect the REM to be the torchbearer of responsible work for the benefit of the public," Popovic stressed.