Federal News Agency (FENA) is the news agency of Bosnia & Herzegovina (BiH) that was established in 2000 through the amalgamation of the agencies BH Press and Habena.
Media assets
News agency: FENA
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
FENA was established by a regulation of the Government of the Federation of BiH in 2000. The agency’s management board is appointed by the government. The board elects the agency’s general director and deputy director, but these appointments must be approved by the government.
Source of funding and budget
According to an official budget document, FENA operated with a budget of BAM 3m (US$1.9 m) in 2019, most of which was contributed by the government in the form of a state subsidy. This figure represents the latest data we have identified about FENA’s finances.
Editorial independence
Local experts and journalists interviewed for this report in April and May 2024 say the appointment of the management board allows the government to control editorial coverage at FENA.
There is no domestic statute or independent assessment or oversight mechanism that would validate the editorial independence of FENA.
August 2024