When Antena M first went on air, on July 18, 1994, Montenegro was still far from achieving the goals we believed were worth fighting for. But over time, those dreams began to take shape: the country regained its independence, adopted a pro-Western foreign policy, joined NATO, and – at least according to our government and the European Commission – stands within reach of EU membership. Montenegrin became the official language…
How much Antena M contributed to these milestones is for others to decide. What we do know is that we gave it our all. And that we gave far more to Montenegro than it ever gave us. Then again, we never asked anything of our country – only that it exist, and that it uphold the values Antena M has always stood for through its editorial policy.
In the 31 years since, Montenegro has never fully embodied the vision Antena M has believed in. But never – not once – has it strayed so far from those values as it has over the past four years. This Montenegro is neither sovereign, nor civic, nor free, nor prosperous, nor secular, nor genuinely committed to the values at the heart of the European Union and Western civilization.
How can a country whose leaders claim the road to Brussels runs through alliances with those who celebrate Ratko Mladić as a hero – and deny the genocide in Srebrenica – possibly be taken seriously? The answer is simple: it can’t.
Even three decades ago, Montenegro wasn’t the media colony it has become today. Antena M, along with just a handful of others, remains independent. But we are now a stark minority, overwhelmed by media – more accurately, propaganda – outlets working to erase Montenegro’s national and civic identity, its multicultural character, and the principles of free journalism.
This didn’t happen overnight. It’s not just the result of a few years of misguided media, cultural, and educational policy – it’s the outcome of decades of neglect. And it reflects something deeper: a failure among even pro-sovereignty advocates to grasp just how essential independent Montenegrin media is to the country’s freedom. That’s why support for pro-Montenegrin outlets remains rare – more the exception than the rule.
Still, Antena M stands as proof that even under the harshest conditions, it’s possible not only to endure, but to stand firm against a powerful propaganda machine backed by those who cannot abide the existence of Montenegro as a state – or the very idea of Montenegrin identity.
Exactly one year ago, we pledged that Antena M TV would begin broadcasting in 2025. Quietly and steadily, we’ve been working to make good on that promise. We believe we’re now just months away. And we believe you’re just as eager as we are for that moment to arrive.
Komentari (0)
POŠALJI KOMENTAR