SERBIA

In Serbien operieren heute rund 500 Radiostationen, 200 Fernsehsender und es erscheinen etwa 2000 regelmässige Publikationen. Angesichts dieses Wildwuchs und der politischen Machenschaften ist es zentral, über eine detaillierte Kenntnis der Medienlandschaft zu verfügen, sind doch rund 90 Prozent dieser Medien reine Unterhaltungskanäle ohne irgendwelchen Informationsgehalt. Von den relevanten Stationen wiederum wird ein wichtiger Teil kontrolliert von den Machteliten des Staates. Den zehn staatlichen oder regierungsnahen Fernsehstationen mit nationalen Frequenzen stehen beispielsweise ein gutes Dutzend unabhängiger Stationen mit lokal beschränkten Senderechten gegenüber. Auch im Bereich unabhängiger und professioneller Medien kennt Serbien damit aber eine Vielfalt, die weit über das hinausgeht, was wir in den angrenzenden Ländern kennen. In den gut zehn Jahren unter Präsident Milosevic haben diese Medien bewiesen, dass sie Herz und Hirn des gesellschaftlichen Widerstandes gegen das Regime sind und sich auch nicht von oppositionellen Parteien vereinnahmen lassen. Unabhängige Medien in Serbien wurden damit als Rückgrat der gesellschaftlichen und politischen Dissidenz immer wieder zur Zielscheibe des Regimes und für uns zu Hoffnungsträgern der Veränderung. Die verschärften Übergriffe seitens der Regierung seit Beginn des Nato-Krieges 1999 und die anstehenden Wahlen in der zweiten Jahreshälfte 2000 machten die Unterstützung und Verteidigung unabhängigen Medienschaffens zur Schicksalsfrage für Serbien und die ganze Region. Die Medienhilfe Ex-Jugoslawien hat in ihrer Arbeit im Jahr 2000 hier einen Schwerpunkt in ihrer konkreten Arbeit gelegt.

Die Repressionen gegen unabhängige Medien und Medienschaffende waren so zahlreich, dass sie hier auch auszugsweise nicht wiedergegeben werden können. Wir verweisen auf die Berichte auf unserer Homepage, in denen das Netzwerk unabhängiger elektronischer Medien in Serbien ANEM detailliert Woche für Woche die aktuellen Entwicklungen dokumentiert (www.medienhilfe.ch/Projekte/FRY/ MediaReports/Reports.htm). Als Beispiel seien hier einzig die Angriffe von Vojislav Seselj, Führer der Radikalen Partei und damals noch stellvertretender Ministerpräsident Serbiens in Erinnerung gerufen: Mitte Februar machte er unabhängige Medien verantwortlich für den Mord an Pavle Bulatovic, Verteidigungsminister Jugoslawiens, bezeichnete sie als „Verräter an der serbischen Nation“ und drohte Medienschaffenden: „Wir werden keine Handschuhe mehr anziehen. Alle diejenigen, die für die Amerikaner arbeiten, müssen die Konsequenzen dafür tragen. Welche Konsequenzen? Die schlimmstmöglichen. Glaubt nicht, dass ihr überleben werdet, wenn wir umgebracht werden.“ Unterstützt wurde er dabei vom jugoslawischen Informationsminister Goran Matic. Am 6. März stürmten Polizeieinheiten den populären und regimekritischen Belgrader Fernsehsender Studio B, prügelten zwei Anwesende fast zu Tode, kappten Kabel und stahlen einen Teil der Anlage. Andere unabhängige Medien wurden mit hohen Geldbussen in den Ruin getrieben, weil sie in ihrer Berichterstattung Angehörige der Regierung kritisierten. Am 9. Mai wurden an einer einzigen Protestkundgebung der Opposition in Pozarevac, der Geburtsstadt der Milosevics, 25 Journalisten verhaftet. Am 16. Mai übernahmen die Behörden die unabhängige Belgrader TV-Station Studio B und damit auch Radio B2-92, das auf einer Frequenz von Studio B Unterschlupf gefunden hatte und das bis zum Umsturz am 5. Oktober nur noch über Internet senden konnte, vor allem aber als Produktionsstudio für die anderen Radiostationen im Netzwerk unabhängiger elektronischer Medien in Serbien ANEM operierte. Ein anderes Beispiel für orchestrierte Übergriffe ist die Regime-Zeitung Politika, in der OTPOR!-AktivistInnen namentlich aufgeführt und als „nervlich labile Personen, bekannt als Straftäter“ sowie als „Psychopaten“, „Homosexuelle“ oder „Schwarzhändler“ bezeichnet wurden.

Als Beispiel unserer Arbeit soll hier die Unterstützung für den Journalisten Miroslav Filipovic erwähnt werden, der vom Regime wegen angeblicher Spionage zu sieben Jahren Gefängnis verurteilt wurde. Die Medienhilfe Ex-Jugoslawien engagierte sich aktiv gemeinsam mit anderen Medienorganisationen für die Freiheit von Miroslav Filipovic und eröffnete unter dem Titel „Prime time for Freedom“ ein spezielles Solidaritätskonto (http://www.medienhilfe.ch/News/Archiv/2000/serbia.htm).

Ein zentrales Problem für die Printmedien war in dieser Zeit die künstliche Verknappung der Papierversorgung durch die einzige, staatlich kontrollierte Papierfabrik in Serbien. Über ihre Partnerorganisationen Vereinigung der Privat-Medien und Local Press sowie in Zusammenarbeit mit internationalen Organisationen unterstützte die Medienhilfe Ex-Jugoslawien die Beschaffung von Roto- und Offsetpapier, um den Zeitungen und Zeitschriften ihr reguläres Erscheinen zu garantieren.

Vor allem im Vorfeld der Wahlen vom 24. September verschärfte das Regime seine Übergriffe gegen Medienschaffende weiter, je deutlicher und offensichtlicher die Niederlage der Regierungsparteien wurde. Noch am 20. September titelte die NZZ (S. 5): „Milosevic-Regime verordnet ‚Objektivität’ – Systematische Ausschaltung unabhängiger Medien“. Viele unabhängige Medien haben sich denn auch aus ureigenstem Interesse aktiv an der Wahlkampagne beteiligt, indem sie die Bevölkerung zu einer Wahl der Verantwortung aufriefen. Mit speziellen Wahlsendungen, Wahlbeilagen in Publikationen, Plakaten, Fernseh- und Radiospots, mit Konzerttourneen und Strassenaktionen, vor allem aber mit professioneller Berichterstattung über die Probleme des Landes und die Perspektiven seiner politischen Führung wurden die BürgerInnen aufgefordert, ihre Stimme zu erheben und sich an den Wahlen zu beteiligen. Als am 5. Oktober die Bevölkerung den Wahlsieg der Opposition dann auch auf den Strassen Belgrads gegen den Widerstand des alten Regimes durchsetzte, waren die staatlichen Medien ein zentrales Ziel. Das Gebäude von Radio-Fernsehen Serbien RTS wurde gestürmt und mehrere Redaktionen von oppositionellen Medienschaffenden übernommen Die Befreiung der Medien begann und am 10. Oktober wurde auch Miroslav Filipovic freigelassen. Alle Anklagen und das ganze Verfahren wurden fallengelassen.

Die Medienhilfe Ex-Jugoslawien konnte unabhängiges Medienschaffen in Serbien in seinem Überlebenskampf gegen die brutalen Übergriffe des Regimes auch finanziell unterstützen. Im Rahmen der dringlichen Unterstützungsmassnahmen, die vom Stabilitätspakt für Südosteuropa beschlossen wurden, konnten wir unseren PartnerInnen rund 560'000 Franken für konkrete Projekte zukommen lassen. Beigetragen dazu hat vor allem auch ein sechsstelliger Betrag, den die Schweizer Regierung sprach. Die Medienhilfe Ex-Jugoslawien war zudem aktive Teilnehmerin des internationalen Netzwerks, das Projekte unabhängiger Medien im Hinblick auf die Wahlen vom September und Dezember koordinierte und finanzierte. Insgesamt konnte die Medienhilfe Ex-Jugoslawien für diese Wahlprojekte rund 150'000 Franken einsetzen. Ein detaillierterer Bericht über die internationale Zusammenarbeit im Medienbereich für diese Wahlen findet sich auf unserer Homepage (http://www. medienhilfe.ch/News/Archiv/2000/MHint.htm).

Die Situation Ende des Jahres, als die Medienhilfe Ex-Jugoslawien eine erneute dreiwöchige Projektreise durch ganz Serbien durchführte, präsentierte sich als „Twilight Zone“, als Umbruch, bei dem das Alte nicht mehr gilt, das Neue aber noch nicht in Kraft ist. Die direkte Bedrohungssituation und die staatlichen Repressionen des alten Regimes gehören der Vergangenheit an, aber auch die neue Regierung ist nicht frei von der Versuchung, die Medien in ihren Dienst zu stellen. Während Medien, die sich in den letzten zehn Jahren ihre Unhängigkeit und Professionalität gegen das alte Regime erkämpft haben, auch gegenüber den neuen Machthabern auf kritischer Distanz bleiben, sind die alten Staatsmedien heute die neuen Staatsmedien. Bis gestern noch waren diese Medien Sprachrohr der Hetze gegen die Opposition und gegen unabhängige Medienschaffende – und von einem Tag auf den anderen abonnierten sie alle die bis gestern noch verteufelten unabhängigen Nachrichtenagenturen, strahlten Produktionen unabhängiger Stationen aus usw., um sich selbst als unabhängig zu präsentieren. Nach Jahren der politischen Entlassungen und Stellenbesetzungen, der opportunistischen Berichterstattung und regimetreuen Hofberichterstattung sind diese Medien aber zumindest vorläufig kaum in der Lage, sich unabhängig und professionell zu verhalten. Während einzelne Medienschaffende wegen ihrer offenen Unterstützung für die alten Machthaber kompromittiert sind und von ihrer Arbeit freigestellt werden, sind viele andere schlicht nicht in der Lage, selbständig zu denken und zu berichten. Die Welt aus Schwarz und Weiss besteht für sie weiterhin, nur dass der bis anhin als Strahlemann dargestellte Milosevic jetzt in dunkelstes Schwarz gehüllt wird, während Kostunica, bis gestern noch eine Unperson, heute die bisherige Rolle von Milosevic übernommen hat. Die vielen journalistischen und technischen Pannen in diesen Medien sprechen Bände. Dass da RTS-Journalisten, mit dem frischgebackenen Präsidenten Kostunica auf dem Weg nach Biarritz, ihre „Kollegen“ von Beta und Vreme wegdrängen mit dem Argument, sie hätten als staatliches Fernsehen ein Vorrecht auf ein Statement des Präsidenten, zeigt offensichtlich, wie weit es mit dieser Unabhängigkeit her ist.

Die internationale Gemeinschaft legt grosses Gewicht auf den Umbau der alten Staatsmedien zu öffentlich-rechtlichen Medien. Im Vordergrund steht dabei der Umbau von Radio und Fernsehen Serbiens RTS. Angesichts der riesigen Probleme dieses Medienkolosses, der riesigen Schulden dieses Unternehmens (25 Millionen DM alleine für nicht bezahlte Stromrechnungen), der mit rund 8500 Angestellten aufgeblähten und professionell oft nicht qualifizierten Belegschaft, der fehlenden gesetzlichen und wirtschaftlichen Grundlagen für den schnellen Aufbau einer öffentlich-rechtlichen Radio- und Fernsehanstalt sowie angesichts der politischen Druck- und Manipulationsversuche durch die neue Regierung werden unabhängige und private Medien aber noch für einige Zeit das Rückgrat professionellen Journalismus in Serbien bleiben. Eine Konferenz über die Transformation elektronischer Medien vom 10.-12. Dezember, organisiert von ANEM in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Europarat, hat hier klar Position bezogen und Vorschläge gemacht (siehe den Beitrag von Gwyneth Henderson auf unserer Homepage unter http://www.medienhilfe.ch/News/Archiv/2000/statemedia.htm). Ganz ähnliche Problemberge sehen andere Staatsbetriebe wie die Nachrichtenagentur Tanjug oder die Zeitungen Politika und Borba vor sich. Die Mühen der Niederungen liegen da noch in weiter Ferne, der Aufstieg hat noch nicht einmal begonnen und wird Jahre dauern, wie die Erfahrungen aus anderen Transformationsgesellschaften (Polen, Tschechien usw.) zeigen.

Zu warnen ist zudem vor Privatisierungen und Investitionen, bei denen die Hintergründe unklar sind. In den letzten Wochen des alten Regimes wurden Dutzende von ehemaligen Staatsbetrieben ehemaligen Regierungsleuten überschrieben, um so den Einfluss der alten Politik zu sichern. Die alten Regimemedien versuchen, mittels solcher Pseudoprivatisierungen ihre unrechtmässigen Privilegien wie nationale Sendefrequenzen oder staatliche Investitionsleistungen in die Infrastruktur zu retten, um sich so gegen eine gleichberechtigte Konkurrenz durch die unabhängigen Privatmedien abzusichern. Eine fundierte Abklärung von Besitz- und Verfügungsrechten sowie eine klare Gesetzgebung für die Vergabe von Sendefrequenzen und Publikationsrechten ist Voraussetzung dafür, dass eine transparente und gleichberechtige Partnerschaft von privaten und öffentlich-rechtlichen Medien entstehen kann.

Besonderes Augenmerk richtete die Medienhilfe Ex-Jugoslawien in ihrer Projektarbeit auch auf unabhängige Medien in Minderheitensprachen. Minderheitenmedien können als Gradmesser und Schrittmacher für gesellschaftliche Toleranz und Medienpluralismus betrachtet werden. Auf die Wahlen hin wurden für konkrete Programme Medien in ungarischer Sprache in der Vojvodina und in Romanes (Sprache der Roma-Bevölkerung) in Südserbien unterstützt.

Für das Jahr 2001 wird die Medienhilfe Ex-Jugoslawien das Schwergewicht ihrer Unterstützungsarbeit auf den Umbau und die Umorientierung ihrer PartnerInnen für die neuen Bedingungen legen. Print-wie elektronische Medien, Nachrichtenagenturen und Filmproduktionen, Berufsverbände und Netzwerke, alle werden sich im Hinblick auf die kommenden Mediengesetze und die veränderten wirtschaftlichen, politischen und sozialen Rahmenbedingungen neu orientieren und neu positionieren müssen. Ausbildung im Bereich Management und Marketing, aber auch Unterstützung für die Gesetzgebungsprozesse und die weitere regionale Vernetzung sind dabei vordringlich. Zudem werden wir besonderes Gewicht legen auf Minderheitenmedien und spezifische Produktionen, die sich mit der Aufarbeitung der neuesten Vergangenheit befassen, z.B. Dokumentarberichte und Debatten über Krieg und Kriegsverbrechen, über die serbische Politik in Bosnien-Herzegowina und im Kosov@, über Kollektivschuld und individuelle Verantwortung. Medien in Serbien brauchen diese Unterstützung, damit das Ende des alten Regimes auch wirklich zum Anfang der Demokratie werden kann.

II MAIN PROBLEMS AND NEEDS

Problems of independent media in Serbia are not solved with the change of the authorities. Actually, only prospective for their real development are created. Problems are huge and complex and will need donors support in order to be properly dealt with. In a difference to other counties in the region, independent media in Serbia already rose in public their basic problems and needs. We briefly summarise them as follows:

1. The federal authorities have not done anything in regard to media issues for four months of their rule. The work in legal regulation of media field has not even started. A number of laws to regulate some key issues (privatisation, registration, licenses and frequencies, PBS, etc.) are still the ones brought by the former authorities, which do not fulfil even minimum of required democratic standards. However, they can not be further fully implemented because of reactions and pressure that would be put both from international community and local public. This situation of a legal vacuum puts media into the position of high uncertainty and postpones their work on designing the most appropriate strategies for their future development. Therefore, media organisations themselves, together with legal experts, established a team who has been working on proposals of new laws in media field (thanks to the grant from Irish Government, Medienhilfe Ex-Jugoslawien already supports work of this tram).

2. One of key problems is the current stage of RTS and its transformation into a PBS. RTS is completely devastated, both in regard to technical facilities and, even more, human resources. It is absolutely unable to create public information programming which would meet basic professional standards. And will not be able to do it in quite some time to come. Currently the only one actually providing good-quality and professional information programming are ANEM affiliates. However, a number of its affiliates are public local broadcasters which actually belong to RTS system and thus the new regulation of RTS will certainly have consequences on a future composition and functioning of ANEM. The association already developed various strategies for its transformation.

3. Some concrete moves of the new authorities clearly show they are keen to keep a tight control over state media. New management and editorial leaderships of all media founded by the Federal and Serbian Parliament as well as most of media founded by the local authorities are appointed by the DOS and quite often are prominent members of some party within this coalition. This is certainly a clear sign that the new authorities actually do not want to go for real transformation of the state media and will try their best to avoid it, postpone, or slow-down. It is obvious that within such scenario, ANEM and RTVB92 will actually continue to play the role of PBS.

4. Under the strong pressure from independent media organisations, the Federal Government, brought moratorium on issuing frequencies till a new laws regulating this matter will be passed. Whether the second request – that all broadcasters should be given equal chances in tender that is expected to take place in the second half of the year – is yet to be seen. Benevolent stance and even signs of readiness for accepting “good services” from private broadcasters owned by formerly high officials of the formerly ruling parties (TV Pink, BK TV, TV Palma) who, due to ties with the former regime, gained national licenses and thus monopoly position on the broadcast market. As award, they might preserve monopoly position they gained under the Milosevic regime. On the other hand, there are signs that idea to allocate national frequency to really independent and currently the most professional broadcaster – RTV B92 – is not well seen. Accordingly, the authorities might opt for a solution to have no national broadcaster which is out of the government control.

5. Also the request for putting moratorium on foreign investments in the aforementioned broadcast monopolies till a source of capital invested in them is checked was not fulfilled. TV Pink already sold 49% of its shares to a private company seated in Liechtenstein. Also, a certain kind of money washing is allowed. On the other hand, decision on compensations to independent media who were sued under the draconian Information Law and were forced to pay extremely high punishments is not yet made. Only a very few cases of returning the equipment seized from many independent broadcasters, mostly ANEM affiliates, happened so far. Put together, these two processes continue to keep privileges established during the former regime and additionally hinder development of independent media.

6. Although the independent media scene is in Serbia quite developed in comparison to other countries in the region, in some parts of the country it is extremely under-developed. Particularly important is to emphasise that to such areas belong two particularly important: 1. south of Serbia with Presevo valley, where the escalating inter-ethnic conflict is, and 2. Sandzak, where an enormous inter-ethnic conflict potential exists. A few existing independent media organisations in these areas are quite small and operate in extremely poor conditions, lacking even basic needs being fulfilled. Vojvodina also does not have developed independent media scene which would meet needs of multi-ethnic society, one of its key characteristics, which its citizens managed partly to preserve. However, one should not forget that the SSJ (the party established by Zeljko Raznatovic – Arkan who was its president till his assassination) scored the best results in December elections exactly in Vojvodina. This represents danger for emerging of inter-ethnic conflicts in forthcoming debate and decision-making processes on re-gaining Vojvodina’s autonomy. All in all constructive role of media in conflict prevention and conflict de-escalation needs to be properly addressed.

7. The independent media have already started the debate on issues relevant for their structural transformation that would enable them to reach self-sustainability. Various approaches and strategies have been drafted. However, one should bear in mind that this is largely dependant on progress of developing market-economy conditions. Market-economy is yet to be established in Serbia and the estimated current amount of capital invested in marketing on the annual level is around 10 Mio. DM. Which is pretty modest and quite insufficient to enable even media survival, let alone development.

III OBJECTIVES, PRIORITIES AND STRATEGY*

· Preservation of the development level of private media sector and its further strengthening and rise of its level of professionalism;

· Making sure that the pledging of the new authorities to guarantee freedom of media will be connected to appropriate concrete policies in media field, including transformation of the state into public media;

· Ensuring country-wide access to accurate and impartial information, free of any political manipulation or influence, to all citizens regardless of their ethnic or religious origin;

· Ensuring that the right of ethnic minorities to freely develop media in their respective mother tongue is fulfilled, as one of important measure for reaching full respect of human and minority rights and thus contribute to progress and peace in the country;

· Development of inter-ethnic and cross-cultural media co-operation, both within Serbia and with media in countries with whom Serbia was at war;

· Providing conditions that an open public discussion on issues related to war crimes, responsibility and guilt can be performed.

· Structural support to projects for media transition, according to the following priorities:

o Projects for re-structuring and development of management and marketing capacities, in particular of media networks and single media organisations whose operation make a backbone of the country’s independent media scene;

· Structural support for establishing a broadcaster with national frequency capable to perform professional and responsible journalism, and which will be out of the control of the authoroties;

· Support to media projects related to peace-building and dealing with conflicts, with the following priorities:

o Support to independent professional media in areas of manifested conflict (south of Serbia) or latent conflict potential (Sandzak and Vojvodina);

o Support to independent media in minority languagues as well as multi-ethnic and multi-lingual media;

o Support to productions of majority media related to issues of human and minority rights as well as co-production projects with minority media;

o Support to projects addressing traumatic burden from a recent past, in particular issues of war crimes, responsibility and guilt;

IV PROJECTS TO BE SUPPORTED

ANEM (Projektcode MH2001-SER01-ANEM) – The Association of Independent Electronic Media currently gathers 31 radio and 18 TV stations throughout Serbia, as well as a few stations in Montenegro and BiH. It is the first, the largest and the most successful media network in the SEE. It was ANEM, who, by its systematic work on creating a critical public in Serbia’s countryside through last few years, gave a key-contribution to Serbia’s democratic changes. However, new conditions need that ANEM re-structures and re-organises its operation in order to be self-sustainable on the market.

Total project budget is 2’615’150 US$. Grants amounting at 243’100 US$ (9.3%) have already been provided by IREX Pro Media (360’150), EC (276’291) and Glaser Family Foundation (44’030). The following grant are on approval: IREX ProMedia (406’850), OSI-MNP (250’000), Dutch Foreign Ministry (122’574), NPA (50’000) and SHC (45’000). Grant requested: 170’000 CHF (approx. 100’200 US$). Precise purpose of the grant given within the project.

ANEM Training Center is specially treated. It is a part of the regional project SEENMP. Around 50 courses and seminars for journalists (beginners and advanced), digital editing, technicians, Internet radio and TV operation, and management will be realised in 2001. Total project budget is 250’000 DEM. Grant requested: 50’000 CHF (approx. 62’500 DEM). The project will be supported by FOS, EC and IREX ProMedia.

RTV B92 (Belgrade) (Projektcode MH2001-SER02-RTVB92) – Radio B92 certainly belongs to leading independent media organisations in SEE when it comes to level of professionalism and quality of programming. In the eve of the September elections in 2000, TV B92 was launched. It broadcasts around a clock, with 2 hours of own production and 1 hour of those provided by independent production organisations in Serbia. B92’s project aims at establishing of radio and radio and TV station with a national licence and frequency. Having a national broadcaster which is out of control of the government is one of the most important strategic point for future developments of the media scene in Serbia, as well as for real democratisation of the country.

RTV KRAGUJEVAC (Kragujevac) (Projektcode MH2001-SER03-RTVKG) – This ANEM member covers with its signal 300’000 potential audience. RTV Kragujevac applied with two projects for TV production. The first one is the daily news broadcast in Roma language. The project represents continuation of TV production launched during the campaign for September elections (supported by EDA PAIIIb, through MH), in a co-operation with local Roma NGOs. The broadcasts were met with a great success, both by Roma community (around 15% of the population) and viewers of Serb origin. The second project refers to TV serial of 6 broadcasts entitled “Zastava – Yesterady, Today, Tomorrow”. There is almost no family in Kragujevac and surrounding which did not have someone working in Zastava auto company, once one of the biggest enterprises in former Yugoslavia. And now not operational. This caused real social catastrophe in Kragujevac (over 40% of citizens are living on social assistance), which is nowadays called “city of hunger”. The serial will explore various plans and possibilities for Zastava’s eventual revival as well as for alternative economic development strategies – the issue which is essentially linked to perspectives of the town’s entire population.

TV GRK (Prokuplje) (Projektcode MH2001-SER04-TVGRK) – The station is among a few ANEM members situated in the south of Serba, the area lacking professional independent media. More over, Prokuplje is bordering with Kosov@ and Presevo valley, which gives TV Grk a specially important role. The station’s signal reaches 100’000 potential audience. The submitted project relates to production of two TV serials on issues that are striking the area the most - DPs from Kosov@ and environment pollution - and aims at rising public awareness about and civic enagement on these problems.

RADIO OK (Vranje) (Projektcode MH2001-SER05-RADIOK) – Radio OK has enormous strategic importance as it is the only independent broadcaster in Pcinja district where Presevo valley belongs to. Balanced and professional reporting is extremely important tool in peaceful settlement of the current conflict. With own programming and strengthened by ANEM (whose membership it applied for and whose informative programme it already broadcasts), Radio OK can play this role.

ARCHITEL (Belgrade) (Projektcode MH2001-SER06-ARCH) – Architel is the independent TV production with a very special profile. It deals with issues related to short memory syndrome, especially related to nationalist policy in Serbia during the last 13 years as well as to issues of war crimes, responsibility and guilt. It combines archive footage (mainly RTS) with live shooting, interviews, or actors playing according to specially prepared screenplay. The broadcasts are excellently done, very dynamic and go straight to the point. Architel applied with five projects for the year 2001: four production projects and the project for equipment upgrade (most of production equipment is currently rented). The productions deal with 1) the role of Serbian Academy of Science and Art in war preparation, 2) consequences of wars on etnically-mixed families, 3) reasons and consequences of brain-drain in 90s, mostly referring to war deserters’ issue and 4) interview serial with prominent public personalities. All Architel production is broadcast on ANEM stations, as well as on some other independent stations in Serbia and Montenegro.

MREZA (Belgrade) (Projektcode MH2001-SER07-MREZA) – This independent TV production group was established by a group of leading journalist of Studio B, after being forced to leave the station. It functions as private joined stuck company with 9 stuck holders, all are journalists and none has majority in invested capital. Mreza produces around 3 hours TV programme a week, within five broadcasts: 1) TV Network (60 minutes political magazine), 2) My Corner (15 minutes interview on the top issue of the week), 3) Days in a Week (30 minutes news review of the week), 4) Link (30 minutes weekly story focused on actual event, phenomena or person in almost all the fields of the social, cultural, economical and political life) and 5) Debate (60 minutes debate among studio guests on important issues). The repertoire of Mreza is actually a classical current affairs production, which is backbone of information programming of each TV station. Mreza’s production is broadcast on ANEM stations, as well as other stations that have information programme.

FROLI TV PRODUCTION (Nis) (Projektcode MH2001-SER08-FROLI) – Froli TV Production was the first TV production in Roma language in Serbia. Thanks to support provided by FOS, Froli had possibility to train its staff and now has a small but quite professional team. Froli.s production consist of the weekly 60-minutes TV broadcast “AKAJ RAT SI ROMANI“ (“This is Roma Night”), which is broadcast on NTV (city station). The indicator of the importance of Frol’s work is the fact that Nis and its surrounding have around 50’000 Roma inhabitants, while the entire southern Serbia has around 300’000 Roma population (half of entire Roma population in Serbia). The broadcasts has information, education (with special focus on children and youth), and entertainment character. It regularly promotes work of Roma NGOs (only in Nis there are 14 of them) and opens the most important problems Roma community faces with. Froli has no offices, it is situated in the home of its editor-in-chief. It has very poor and outdated production equipment. There is no possibility that Froli earns income through advertisements as it broadcasts free of charge on NTV. Therefore it often faces lack of finances to pay running and production costs, in which cases the staff works without any payments. Froli was very active in election campaigns in 2000 (also supported by EDA PAIIIb) and produced a number of TV spots and radio jingles broadcast on all ANEM stations in cities where Roma live.

RADIO NISAVA (Nis) (Projektcode MH2001-SER09-NISAVA) – Radio Nisava is the station in a process of establishment. It is already operational, but has only simple music programme. However, as te ambitions are much higher: to make Radio Nisava the first independent radio in Roma language, which would have serious programming and will cover with the signal the whole area of the southern Serbia. Roma NGOs in Nis already expressed interest and will to co-operate and contribute to a good education and community programming. Based on the assessment done during our visit to the station in December 2000, there are two priority areas. First, to provide them decent studio and transmission equipment, and second, to provide funds for staff’s education and training.

RROMINTERPRESS (Belgrade) (Projektcode MH2001-SER10-RROM) – Rrominterpress is the first established Roma media house in Serbia (established 1995). There are 37 high educated part-time employees in five editorial offices, majority of them women (25). Every employee is computer literate and speaks at least one foreign language. Rrominterpress has a number of projects: newspaper (“Romano lil”), intellectual magazine (“Roma Studies”), children magazine (“Chavrikano lil”), Roma news service (in co-operation with BETA), three bilingual radio broadcasts of 1.5 hours a week (in co-operation with B92 and ANEM) and contributes to TV prodaction projects in Roma language (see project for RTV Kragujevac). The radio shows has so far made the gratest impact on Roma public and thus Rrominterpress wants to start a radio station “Khrlo e Romengo” (“Voice of Roma”). The project was initiated already in 1997, but there were no chances to realize it during the rule of the former regime.

LOCAL PRESS (Projektcode MH2001-SER11-PRESS) – The Association of Local Independent Media was established in 1995 and currently gathers 21 independent local newspapers throughout Serbia (including Vojvodina and Sandzak), ranging from dailies to monthly magazines. The total monthly circulation of the papers is around 300’000 copies. Local Press membership criteria encompass reporting in accordance to professional journalist standards as well as promotion of democratic values and civil society. The papers have combination of coverage of country-wide issues and concrete economic, social, political and other problems in their respective communities and surrounding areas. They play very important role in community-building and contributing to a concept of a good governance by influencing accountability of local authorities. The Association members gave a significant contribution to democratic changes in Serbia, especially condensed and intensively last year during the election campaigns (several projects of Local Press were also supported by EDA PAIIIb).

MALE NOVINE (Belgrade) (Projektcode MH2001-SER12-MALE) – At present there is NO decent specialised children magazine in Serbia. Male novine was launched in 1997 and was issued as weekly in 10’000 copies till mid 1998. Due to very poor financial conditions of the publisher, it turned in December 1998 into a monthly and seized to exist in 1999. With the support from SHC (EC funds), the paper was revived in the end of 2000. Male novine seeks donors support for their annual costs in 2001 and is sure that with development of market economy can be self sustainable (as in other countries children consumers will hopefully be attractive for companies). The magazine has a high quality and has strong education concept presented on creative way attractive for 8-14 years old children. Its special aim is to create tolerance, introduce cultures around the world, develop children’s reading habit as addition to their compulsory education as well as to create consciousness regarding children’s rights and introduce the basic of democracy.

JEHONA (Bujanovac) (Projektcode MH2001-SER13-JEHONA) – Jehona is the only independent media in Albanian language in the area of Bujanovac, Medvedja and Presevo, where around 100’000 Albanian minority lives. It is bi-weekly for information politics and culture. Due to limited financial resources and to grave political situation which was quite unfavourable for media development, it is quite small media organisation. The paper currently appears in 3’000 copies. Its editorial policy is oriented towards providing readership accurate and balanced information as well as towards promoting inter-ethnic understanding (Albanian-Serb). The paper applied with the project of its annual needs for 2001, including equipment upgrade, office furnishing as well as production and operational costs.

BETA (Belgrade) (Projektcode MH2001-SER14-BETA) – Beta is the oldest and the biggest independent news agency in the SEE region. It produces around 250 news items a day, disseminated in a several services. All independent media who have informative coverage in Serbia and Montenegro are BETA’s users and also many media in other countries of the region. The agency has a good co-operation with other independent agencies, like ONASA, STINA and establishing of co-operation with KosoaLive is on the way. BETA’s biggest problem is inability of large majority of its clients to pay for services. Besides, BETA will need re-structuring in order to adapt to new-created conditions and develop into a self-sustainable media organisation.. It strategy consists of strengthening of existing but poorly developed or starting new services that were not interesting for clients in the past, but will get important in next future: economic, culture and sports service, as well as photo service and audio service for broadcast media.

RADIO 021 (Novi Sad) (Projektcode MH2001-SER15-R021) – Radio 021 is the most popular station in Vojvodina and one of the best ANEM memebers. It has excellent, modern, urban programming encompassing variety of information, culture, education, youth, children, and music broadcasts. The station has a number of broadcasts promoting civil society groups (e.g. special women broadcasts during the election campaign, the project which was supported by EDA PAIIIb), as well as those aimed at education on human and minority rights. It is also known for its openness for cross-border co-operation and is member of a number of regional networking projects. 021 has quite large team of well-trained professionals which make it one of the stations with the biggest development potential. The station submitted two strategically important projects which will determine its future long-term development. The first one consists of development of the second channel (frequency obtained), which will broadcast in all relevant minority languages in Vojvodina. The second one relates to launching of Vojvodina-wide daily central informative broadcast, which will be done within a network of independent local stations.

RADIO VK and VK TV (Kikinda and Senta) (Projektcode MH2001-SER16-RTVK) – The media organisation Info Jet includes four particular media outlets: VKTVJET, VK & VK2 Radio in Kikinda and City Radio Senta. Both cities (Kikinda and Senta) are situated in north-east part of Vojvodina, where strong Hungarian community lives. All stations broadcast bi-lingual and have ethnically mixed editorial staff. These stations play important role in development of these two communities and significantly contribute to preservation of good inter-ethnic relations. We expect to get the project in next days.

URBANS (Novi Sad) (Projektcode MH2001-SER17-URBANS) – UrbaNS is the only independent TV production in Vojvodina and the only one able to do high-quality professional broadcasts. It consists of 20 young very educated and talented media professionals, which make modern, dynamic broadcasts with lot of excellent footage. Both state TV Novi Sad and ANEM TV Network rely on its information programming on Vojvodina-related issues. The productions are especially aimed at promoting inter-ethnic and cross-cultural dialogue and understanding and is available in Serbian and Hungarian language. It strongly stands for Vojvodina’s traditionally good practice of multiculturalism, which was very much destroyed during the last decade. UrbaNS applied with projects for production of three TV weekly broadcasts and with the separate project for equipment upgrade.

VOJVODINA (Novi Sad) (Projektcode MH2001-SER18-VOJVO) – The paper switched from a weekly into a daily during the campaign for the September elections, which was strongly supported by donors co-ordination (also given grant by EDA PAIIIb). It is the only independent daily in Serbian language in Vojvodina and, due to the fact that it gathers the best journalists, provides significantly better coverage than state daily Dnevnik. However, the paper needs further support till it stands on its feet. Equipment upgrading and especially development of management skills and marketing will be the essential development points for the year 2001.

ESTABLISHING INDEPENDENT RADIO STATION (Novi Pazar) (Projektcode MH2001-SER19-PAZAR) – Currently there is no independent broadcast media with information programming in Sandzak. Local public broadcasters are under direct control of the local authorities, while private broadcasters have only commercial and entertainment programming. The project for establishing local independent radio station in Novi Pazar was initiated last year. It was supposed to be carried out in a co-operation with two independent Montenegrin stations and the programme would be actually broadcast from Montenegrin territory into Sandzak, as there were no chances to get license for broadcasting from the former authorities. However, the project is now re-designined and consist of founding a station which will perform normal and fully legal operation in Sandzak itself.

* In this chapter, only aims and strategy which are specific for Serbia will be elaborated. Those referring to the whole area of the former Yugoslavia are of course relevant for Serbia, but will not be here repeated.

Medienhilfe Ex-Jugoslawien

Professionelle Solidarität gegen Nationalismus und Chauvinismus
Professional solidarity against nationalism and chauvinism

SUPPORT PROGRAMME FOR INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN SERBIA IN 2001

Content:

I MEDIA SITUATION

II MAIN PROBLEMS AND NEEDS

III OBJECTIVES, PRIORITIES AND STRATEGY

IV PROJECTS TO BE SUPPORTED

I MEDIA SITUATION

II MAIN PROBLEMS AND NEEDS

III OBJECTIVES, PRIORITIES AND STRATEGY*

IV PROJECTS TO BE SUPPORTED

CENTRAL SERBIA (without Vojvodina and Sandzak)

VOJVODINA

SANDZAK

on MHxJU

News & Updates

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suchen / search

Medienhilfe Ex-Jugoslawien

Professionelle Solidarität gegen Nationalismus und Chauvinismus Professional solidarity against nationalism and chauvinism

SUPPORT PROGRAMME FOR INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN SERBIA IN 2001

Content:

III OBJECTIVES, PRIORITIES AND STRATEGY

CENTRAL SERBIA (without Vojvodina and Sandzak)

VOJVODINA

SANDZAK

Professionelle Solidarität gegen Nationalismus und Chauvinismus
Professional solidarity against nationalism and chauvinism