Working in the interests of its stations, but also the entire media sector, ANEM has set, as one of its primary goal, the improvement of the regulatory framework that enables media to develop in accordance with democratic, professional and ethical standards. ANEM also aims for the establishment of a healthy media market and a favorable environment for the development of electronic media. ANEM managed to gather around its goals more than 100 stations, which have the status of full or affiliate members. Almost a quarter of all granted broadcasting licenses got the ANEM members. Today ANEM stands for the largest association of electronic media in Serbia, which enjoys the reputation and respect of both other media associations and the authorities.
Benefits of ANEM membership are multiple, and most important are the following:
- Free legal assistance
ANEM provides its full members with free legal advice and legal assistance in the field of application and respect of media laws, through a law firm, "Zivkovic & Samardzic", ANEM's longtime partner. Members receive timely information and expert advice that will help them to harmonize their work with applicable regulations. Highly professional free-of-charge legal assistance significantly facilitates the resolving of many problems that the stations are facing with in their work. At the same time, lawyers of this office, who have expert knowledge and extensive experience in the field of media laws, significantly contribute to ANEM reputation, by proper directing and defining of the legally established requests and goals of the Association.
- Advocacy aiming to improve the position of broadcasters
ANEM advocacy activities are always guided by the needs of its members and are carried out in their best interests. However, by advocating for their better position, ANEM is also acting in the interests of other broadcasters and the entire sector. ANEM has a long tradition of advocacy for media reforms that lead to improving the position of broadcasters in the media scene. Defined requests and quality, professional and clear proposals, contributed to the successful implementation of these activities and add to the reputation of the Association. ANEM is, therefore, in professional sphere, and by the competent authority, recognized as one of the most serious and most respectable organizations, which can make a change and move things forward.
- Better positioning of members before authorities
Deeming it important to its members to have a better position in the existing circumstances, no matter how bad they are, ANEM strives to provide assistance to them through its activities. ANEM manages to gain benefits for their members that facilitate their position with direct contacts and negotiations with relevant authorities, suggestions and the concrete requests that are legal and feasible. Negotiating positions are significantly fortified due to the strength and reputation of the Association itself; hence the membership to ANEM means an extra quality for each of its stations.
- Reaction and protection in case of violations of media freedoms and freedom of expression
Presuming that the fundamental postulation for engagement in the media business is the respect for media freedoms and freedom of expression, ANEM daily monitors the implementation and exercise of these freedoms and adequately responds in case of their violation. By issuing public statements and distributing them to a number of addresses, ANEM directs the attention of the public and increases public pressure on the competent authorities, which often results in preventing further violations of these freedoms and more serious consequences. Thanks to good cooperation with other media associations, ANEM, through joint statements and joint actions, further protects its members in case of serious violations of these freedoms.
- Networking and cooperation between stations
ANEM membership is rather diverse: local and regional, small and big, radio and TV stations, so the interaction and exchange of experiences is very important for the development and improvement of operations of each station individually. Enabling different forms of cooperation, ANEM contributes to easier overcoming of the problems that the stations are facing with in their work. At the same time, each of the stations promotes ANEM activities in its local community and thus contributes to the strengthening of the impact of the Association.
- Program exchange and free program production
Striving to help their stations to easily get to quality content for broadcast, ANEM engages in finding and distribution of program production, enabling stations to broadcast for free. ANEM also encourages the exchange of programs between the stations, as well as free distribution of independent productions. In addition, in cooperation with A-media, ANEM offers a production of high-quality radio and TV series, which members can broadcast free-of-charge. This way, the Association contributes to raising the quality of program offers of their stations, and their financial sustainability.
- Workshops for stations
Aiming to strengthen the capacities of its member, ANEM endeavor to organize free trainings and courses in various fields, important for the stations' needs. Workshops are aimed at clarifications of doubts and provide concrete answers to questions that appear in practice as a problem. By ensuring the participation of representatives of relevant competent authorities, as well as the quality speakers, ANEM offers its members a possibility to get the right answers and expert guidance of those most competent for the respective area, to solve their problems. At the same time, the stations are provided with a unique opportunity to advocate by themselves, for improvement of their situation through direct meetings with the authorities in these workshops.
ANEM constantly works on strengthening its capacities, through encouraging the building of the capacity of its member stations. ANEM directs its activities to give necessary assistance and services to its members, at the same time working on the creation of general conditions for their progress.
ANEM is always open to admission of new members. Every station that follows the highest professional and ethical principles, has a rich program, quality news content, including investigative journalism, and provides citizens with timely, truthful and complete information in its local community, is able to join. The final decision on the full membership, which creates policy and direction of development of the Association, is made by the Assembly of the association.