(WAN/IFEX) – In a 3 July 2002 letter to Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski, WAN and the World Editors Forum (WEF) expressed serious concern over a 50% reduction in the cover price of the government-owned “Vecer” newspaper in the run-up to elections. According to reports, the publishing house Nova Makedonija, in which the government owns a […]
(WAN/IFEX) – In a 3 July 2002 letter to Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski, WAN and the World Editors Forum (WEF) expressed serious concern over a 50% reduction in the cover price of the government-owned “Vecer” newspaper in the run-up to elections.
According to reports, the publishing house Nova Makedonija, in which the government owns a 70% stake, has reduced the cover price of the daily “Vecer” from 10 MKD (approx. US$0.16) to 5 MKD (approx. US$0.08). While accepting that price reductions may form a valid part of publishing strategy, WAN and WEF expressed their concern that Nova Makedonija, one of the country’s biggest loss-making companies, may in effect be “dumping” “Vecer” at the tax-payers’ expense simply to increase pro-government coverage in the run-up to elections. The two organisations noted that the “Vecer” price cut has occurred in difficult economic conditions; indeed, many privately-owned publishers reportedly feel that prices must rise to cover increasing costs.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the prime minister:
– calling on him to ensure that government funds are not used to finance the price cut of “Vecer” and that in future Nova Makedonija competes with privately-owned publishers on a level playing field
Appeals To
The Right Honourable Ljubco Georgievski
Prime Minister of Macedonia
E-mail: office@primeminister.gov.mk
Please copy appeals to WAN.
