OSCE Mission to Montenegro provides support to Montenegro’s public broadcaster
Supporting journalists of the national public service broadcaster – Radio Television Montenegro (RTCG) to report reliable, balanced news where facts are checked is the core to the OSCE Mission to Montenegro’s programme to support freedom of the media. Complementary to this is the provision of technical equipment to facilitate their daily work, said Dominique Waag, Head of the Mission, in meeting Boris Raonić, RTCG General Director on 17 March 2022 in Podgorica.
During the meeting, the Mission provided 18 sets of mobile journalism equipment to RTCG. The equipment includes smartphones with stands, mobile interview kits with microphones, tripod kits and complementary technical add-ons for the efficient use of the equipment. This equipment will enable journalists to conduct interviews throughout the country, produce videos and edit material on one device, producing news reports promptly while preserving production quality.
In handing over the equipment, Ambassador Waag said that the RTCG, as the public broadcaster, carries an enormous responsibility to provide accurate information to the public on emerging news stories and current affairs.
“As citizens, we are dependent on the information we receive from the media. Technology has deceased the time that news rooms have to verify and fact check. The provision of mobile journalism equipment offers not only a chance for the journalists to work with the latest technological industry standards, but also to produce high-quality content capable of being verified,” said Ambassador Waag.
General Director Raonić said that the concept of video journalism encourages a new generation of journalists to produce stories faster, with more flexibly and in step with new media.
“We express our gratitude to the OSCE Mission for this equipment, which confirms our co-operation. Our strong partnership is the result of the Mission’s commitment to strengthening the professionalism and independence of the public service,” said Raonić, adding that he was convinced that in this way RTCG will be more visible and present, strengthened in its role of providing balance impartial information to the public.
The Mission will continue supporting Montenegrin media houses in line with OSCE commitments and principles.