According to results of the second survey of the Media Clientelism Index (MCI) presented last week, the position of Croatia has worsened as well as the situation regarding the institutional framework that regulates the work of media, especially its exposure to clientelistic practice, pressure, politicization and unjustified influence.

The survey was carried out as part of the ''Civil Response to Clientelism in Media – Media Circle'' project in six Southeast European countries - Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia and Romania.

''Clientelism and politicization of the media is a rule rather than an exception. In each of the surveyed countries there is a lack of freedom in the media which is largely controlled by various political, economic and financial interest groups'', explained Munir Podumljak, the executive director of the Partnership for Social Development non-governmental organization.

None of the countries in the region has established a comprehensive media register in order to provide the public with an insight into the situation in each section of the media market, whether by type of the media or by their ownership structure.

As far as access to business results of privately owned media is concerned, it was unsuccessful in most countries except in Croatia and partly in Macedonia where indicators for television and radio broadcasters were available.

Around 200 media in Croatia and nearly 800 in Serbia used the state support for the media in 2015. The total value of financing in Croatia was 10,9 million Euros.

Additional funds assigned from the state budget for promotion and advertising in Croatia amounted to 31,5 million Euros. The total revenue of advertising agencies in 2015 amounted to 511,2 million Euros, whilst their profit was 21,3 million Euros.