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The media landscape of Montenegro is more than saturated, with 12 TV stations, 40 radio stations and 5 national dailies. Competition on the limited advertisement market is fierce. Many media only survive thanks to wealthy investors. Vijesti, the major independent newspaper that was set up with strong support from international donors, sought support from the Westdeutsche Algemeine Zeitung (WAZ), which bought 51% of the shares. As a result of intensive lobby by UNEM, the network of private electronic media, several media and civil society organisations, and strong interference by the international community, in December 2002 several laws were adopted that can be seen as exemplary for southeast Europe. The laws provide for example for the transformation of the state broadcaster RTCG into a truly public broadcasting service, controlled by a board representing civil society.
In Montenegro Press Now has supported the association of private broadcasters UNEM, the working group for implementation of the media laws, a monitoring project for the transformation of state broadcaster RTCG, several independent media outlets, and the Rotoslog printing plant, which is printing several independent publications.
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