2024 Rule of Law Report - Country Chapter Montenegro

The media sector in Montenegro is regulated by the Media Law which was recently amended in June 2024. The Montenegrin government also adopted its Media Strategy (2023-2027) alongside an Action Plan for 2023-2024. The new Audio Media Services Law aims to strengthen the AAVMS, which has been granted extensive powers that include the ability to impose fines for legal violations.

Regarding media ownership, the Law on Media requires all media outlets to disclose ownership details for all entities that hold over 5% of the shares. Failing to do so would mean not receiving public advertisements. 

Media outlets in the country struggle to sustain themselves due to insufficient advertising revenue. There is also low compliance when it comes to public sector bodies publishing payment records. Insufficient funding makes media outlets vulnerable to political and corporate influence, especially at the local level.

The Radio Television of Montenegro (RTCG), a state-owned national public broadcaster, receives 1.34% of the national budget. Considering that it operates multiple TV and radio channels, funding remains insufficient to cover the operational load of RTCG. 

The judiciary is slow in following up on significant past cases of violence against journalists. In 2022, 22 cases of violence were reported, but only 13 criminal proceedings were initiated. Many emblematic and critical cases remain unresolved. Although defamation was decriminalized in 2011, Montenegro continues to struggle with ensuring the safety and protection of journalists, as evidenced by several reports of intimidation. There have been no significant cases of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) in recent years.