Balkan Media Assistance Program Bimonthly Narrative Report: April 1, 2018 - May 31, 2018

The project aims to strengthen the sustainability of the independent media sector in the region, particularly in the digital space. The project implementation period runs from September 29, 2017, through February 28, 2021. The project is based on three objectives: providing outlets and media partners with more substantial and stable resources to operate as viable enterprises; strengthening the ability of content producers to engage wider audiences and expand reach across the region; and fostering stronger partnerships to advance solutions on common challenges in the digital space. The project team continued the needs assessment process with the remaining Key Partners during the reporting period, including Žurnal (Sarajevo), Koha Group (Pristina), Radio KIM (Caglavica), Radio KontaktPlus (Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North), Sloboden Pečat (Skopje), 360 degrees (Skopje), CINS/BETA (Belgrade), Južne Vesti (Niš), and BIRN Hub. A training of trainers (TOT) on "Audience Understanding and Digital Development" was held in Sarajevo on May 28-30. The workshop included sessions on understanding audience behaviors using analytics data, identifying best practices in content management and social media marketing, essential metrics of digital performance, and core concepts of monetizing digital content. The training was attended by eight trainees from the six BMAP Key Partners, BMAP's Media Resource Website Editor Fedja Kulenovic, and three independent audience-analytics experts from the region. The Western Balkans (WB) region is experiencing significant developments in the media landscape. Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), a US investment fund, has announced plans to acquire the "Pink Bosnia and Herzegovina" and "Pink Montenegro" TV channels. This acquisition has the potential to create a regional network of platforms for disseminating KKR TV productions in the Western Balkans. Additionally, KKR has plans to apply for a terrestrial TV license in Serbia, which could further solidify its position in the region. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska's President Milorad Dodik has made statements attacking USAID interventions in the country, including the BMAP project. These attacks followed a visit by Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament, to Sarajevo on April 23, 2018. Dodik accused the US Congress and the US Ambassador to BiH of using USAID projects in BiH for "undermining democracy in Republika Srpska", "interfering in Republika Srpska internal affairs", and "influencing the elections". The BMAP team is currently assessing and mitigating the risk posed by the potential collapse of the print divisions of three BMAP Key Partners - Oslobodjenje Group (BiH), Vijesti Group (Montenegro), and Sloboden Pecat (Macedonia). This risk is significant due to the financial and editorial models of these companies being heavily dependent on print. The BMAP team is working to assess and mitigate this risk to ensure the sustainability of the independent media sector in the region.