Fund for the Promotion of Pluralism and Diversity of Electronic Media

What is the Fund for the Promotion of Pluralism and Diversity of Electronic Media?

The Fund for the Promotion of Pluralism and Diversity of Electronic Media co-finances and promotes the production and publication of audiovisual and radio programmes and electronic publication content on topics of public interest laid down by law. The Fund is managed by the Agency, and its funding is provided under the Croatian Radiotelevision Act, which requires HRT to pay 3% of the total licence fee revenue collected each month into the Fund.

Who is the Fund for?

Beneficiaries of the Fund may be local and regional television broadcasters and non-profit television broadcasters, local and regional radio broadcasters and non-profit radio broadcasters, for-profit and non-profit providers of electronic publications entered in the Register of Electronic Publications kept by the Agency, non-profit radio and television providers referred to in Articles 26 and 92 of the Electronic Media Act, and non-profit producers of audiovisual and radio programmes.

What does the Fund co-finance?

The topics of public interest for which Fund resources may be awarded are defined by the Electronic Media Act and relate to: exercising citizens’ right to public information; promoting cultural diversity and preserving heritage; developing upbringing and education, science and the arts; promoting creative work in Croatian dialects and special cultural projects and events; national minorities in the Republic of Croatia; raising awareness of gender equality and other highest values of the constitutional order, as well as awareness of the equality of gender identities and sexual orientation; promoting quality programmes for children and young people aimed at their well-being; raising public awareness of the capabilities and contribution of persons with disabilities and promoting respect for their rights and dignity, including combating stereotypes, prejudice and harmful practices towards persons with disabilities; historically accurate portrayal of the Homeland War; developing and promoting media literacy programmes; environmental protection, health promotion and fostering a culture of health.

Procedure for awarding and accounting for Fund resources

Decisions on awarding Fund resources are made by the Council for Media, which, through the Ordinance on the Fund for the Promotion of Pluralism and Diversity of Electronic Media, lays down the manner and procedure for conducting the public call, the allocation of Fund resources among individual types of beneficiaries (media), and the monitoring of how the resources are spent and whether the programmes and content for which they were awarded are delivered. All beneficiaries must account for the resources received, both in terms of programming and finances, in a timely manner and in accordance with the Instructions provided and published.

The public call is published for a one-year or multi-year period on the Agency’s website and in the Official Gazette (Narodne novine). Applications to the Fund are submitted through the Agency’s information system (ISA) once the public call has been published.