Media subsidies policy needs to be changed
On 14 November, Hekimen held an extraordinary general assembly at the Martin Ugalde Andoain Cultural Park. The members of the sector agreed on the need for other policies in the aid of the Basque Government. The Vice-Ministry of Language Policy has modified the criteria for distributing media grants and Hekimen has stated that it has taken the decision without consensus with the sector.
Scope as an objective, not as a starting point
Among other things, the Basque Government has given more importance to media coverage, but Hekimen believes that “the objective must be to measure” the scope, “not the only starting point”.
In order for the subsidy policy to be effective, the organization representing the media in the sector considers that the media network needs “minimal” support: “At present this minimum is not guaranteed, and without increasing it, whatever the measuring formula of the scope, it will not be enough and that weakens the sector”.
Hekimen, for its part, has underlined the need for strategic reflection. “We need to change the policy of subsidies and turn the media budgets down in recent years, so that companies continue to dismiss the product with dignity.”
The sector is prepared to reflect on the criteria and as the Basque Government has also shown its will, Hekimen has called for joint work: “Now is the time to take steps.”
Four collaborative working groups
Hekimen will set in motion four working groups following the general assembly. Advertising, synergies, Internet strategy and innovation will work to jointly identify the challenges faced by Basque media.
In addition, the General Assembly discussed and adopted a proposal for measuring hearings that will allow Basque media in the sector to have up-to-date information on the number of consumers they have on the network.
Motion in the Basque Parliament
The PNV, EH Bildu and the PSE-EE passed a motion on the media in the Basque Parliament last week. The text urges the Government to analyse the measures to be taken in conjunction with the Basque media, “including the financial envelope”, to ensure the presence of the media.
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