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ANALYSIS OF NEWS AGENCY ONASA SERVICE

Zija Dizdarevic, Tarik Jusic and MPI Analytic Team

INTRODUCTION

On commission by Press Now, Amsterdam-based independent media support organization, Media Plan Institute (MPI) performed a systematic analysis of the news service published by the independent news agency ONASA from Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The aim of the project was primarily one of a practical nature - to collect data on the character of the ONASA service (topical coverage, regional coverage, etc.), to produce a qualitative analysis of the news items themselves from the viewpoint of journalistic work, and to survey how much and when the ONASA service is used by Bosnian-Herzegovinian media.

ONASA Service Analysis Levels

In the framework of this research, the MPI research team performed analysis on four levels, of which three are of a quantitative nature, and one of a qualitative nature.

The first analysis step is examining the very character of the ONASA service, which was done using several basic parameters:

·         Analysis of the participation of the three main ONASA services (Electoral, General and Business) in its overall news production.

·         Analysis of sources of information used in ONASA news items - whether it used its own correspondent and journalist network, or carried news items from other sources.

·         Analysis of regional coverage in ONASA services - which countries and regions are covered by ONASA services.

·         Analysis of topical coverage in ONASA services.

·         How much attention was given to some of the top-ranking political figures in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The second level of quantitative analysis deals with coverage of the most important events of the day in ONASA services. In this segment of analysis, we tried to determine to what degree ONASA covers the most important events of the day, and how many important events are not covered.

The third level of quantitative analysis examines the use of ONASA news items by five daily newspapers in Bosnia-Herzegovina in a one-month period. Attention was focused on the following parameters of analysis:

·         What media use ONASA services and to what extent?

·         How much are ONASA news items used by the given media - comparison between the number of news items offered in the ONASA service and the number of items carried in next day's editions of daily newspapers?

This quantitative analytical part is actually an introduction to the main, fourth level of analysis, which has a qualitative character and analyzes the quality of journalistic work in the ONASA service production. This segment of analysis deals with the informative quality of ONASA news items, structure of news items (the five W questions), consistency and logic of news items, principles of using different sources of news information, etc.

Methodological Approach and Sample

As we have already said, this analytical project integrates a quantitative and a qualitative methodological approach in order to obtain objectively founded data on the character of ONASA news items.

In this context, we analyzed all news items published by ONASA in its services in the period from August 24 to September 22. A total of 2,070 news items were coded, which were then entered into the SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Scientists) and statistically processed.

In analyzing the usage of ONASA services on the part of other media in the period from August 25 to September 23, 2000, we analyzed five daily newspapers in Bosnia-Herzegovina (Dnevni Avaz, Oslobodjenje, Vecernje novine, Nezavisne novine and Glas srpski), in which we coded all news items carried from the ONASA service, and then processed them in the SPSS.

In analyzing coverage of top events in newscasts of TV news programs produced by three TV stations (OBN, RTRS and RTVBH) and the radio station Radio BiH, lists were made of top events of the day for 10 days in the given period (Aug. 24 - Sept. 22), selected in line with the principle of an expanded constructed week. After doing that, we analyzed which of these events were covered, and which were not.

In the qualitative analysis of the informative and journalistic character of ONASA's news items, we singled out top events in the 10-day sample, and then carried out qualitative analysis of ONASA's news items covering these events.

We must emphasize that we received ONASA services by e-mail, so it cannot be ruled out that we did not receive certain parts of the services. However, the total number of 2,070 analyzed news items is certainly sufficient for reliable analysis of the structure and quality of the ONASA service.

Structure of Report

Pursuant to the above mentioned research aims, and the analytical and methodological approach, this report consists of three analytical parts. Part 1 deals with the quantitative analysis, which gives introductory data and a foundation for the qualitative analysis in Part 2. The report concludes with a third part that sums up the main research aims and results, and points to additional problems that future similar research projects should deal with.

1. CHARACTER, STRUCTURE AND USE OF ONASA SERVICE

As we have already explained in the introduction, this part of the report offers a quantitative analysis of the character and structure of the ONASA service, and analysis of use of the ONASA service on the part of daily press in Bosnia-Herzegovina. In addition, here we also offer data on coverage of top events of the day on the part of ONASA.

1. Character and Structure of ONASA Service

In this part of the analysis, we analyzed all news items put out by ONASA in the period from Aug. 24 to Sept. 22, 2000. Due to technical problems, we did not receive complete services from ONASA for September 19. The total sample of analyzed news items for this period is 2,070 individual items. All news items were coded according to the analysis parameters (type of service, topics, figures, region, sources, etc.), after which the obtained data was analyzed using the SPSS.

ONASA divides its service structurally, i.e. by the character of news, into a General Service, Business Service and Electoral Service. As the first analysis step, we determined the participation of each of the three services in ONASA's overall production. It was found that the General Service is convincingly dominant with 1,477 news items, while the Electoral and Business Services have far less new items: the Business Service has 355 and the Electoral Service 238 news items.

Table 1.1-1: Participation of Different Services in Overall ONASA News Production

Type of Service                  Number of Items            Percentage

General Service                       1,477                             71.4%

Business Service                         355                             17.1%

Electoral Service                         238                             11.5%

Total                                        2,070                            100.0%

The next aim of analysis was to determine the structure of sources used in the services produce by this news agency. The analysis results are presented in the next table.

 Table 1.1-2: Sources used in ONASA services

Source                         Number of News Items     Percentage

ONASA                                  1,239                              59.8%

Official press releases                 317                             15.3%

REUTERS                                  140                               6.8%

HINA                                         106                               5.1%

Other media                                105                               5.1%

BETA                                          71                               3.4%

Other agencies                             50                               2.5%

ONASA + other agencies              20                               1.0%

HABENA                                    20                               1.0%

SENSE                                           2                               0.1%

Total                                        2,070                            100.0%

As the above tables show, the majority of news items (1,239 or 59.8%) are produced by the agency's own sources, and an additional one percent (20 news items) are produced by a combination of the agency's own sources and other sources. Second place is convincingly held by news items that contain or are based on press releases issued by different institutions and organizations, which make up 15.3% of total news production. Among other substantially used sources, we should underline REUTERS with 140 news items (6.8%), and HINA Agency, which was listed as the source of 106 news items, or 5.1% items published in ONASA services in the analyzed period.

In line with the set aims, we also analyzed regional coverage in ONASA news items. We found that the agency's news items mostly deal with Bosnia-Herzegovina, with a total of 1,437 items, or 69.4% of total news production in the analyzed period. Yugoslavia is in second place with 218 items, or 10.5% of total production, followed by Croatia with 108 items, or 5.2%. We also registered another 40 items (1.9%) dealing with two or more countries of the former Yugoslavia, as well as four items  (0.2%) on Slovenia and two items on Macedonia (0.1%). A total of 1,809 news items deal with countries of the former Yugoslavia, which is 87.3% of the agency's news production. This indicates ONASA's primarily regional orientation, as it dedicates only 12% of its services to events in countries outside the region of the former Yugoslavia. How much ONASA is regionally oriented is also shown by the fact that 85.1% of all items deal with Bosnia-Herzegovina, Yugoslavia and Croatia. ONASA services' regional orientation is transparently shown in the next table.

Table 1.1-3: Regional coverage in ONASA services

Region and Countries                Number of Items              Percentage

BiH                                                     1,439                              69.4%

Croatia                                                   108                               5.2%

Yugoslavia                                              218                             10.5%

Macedonia                                                  2                               0.1%

Russia                                                      20                               1.0%

United States and Canada                          35                               1.7%

Slovenia                                                      4                               0.2%

European Union                                        31                               1.5%

Asia                                                         21                               1.0%

Africa                                                        9                               0.4%

South and Central America                          3                               0.1%

Middle East                                              19                               0.9%

Southeast Europe (Stability Pact

countries in general)                                  24                               1.2%

Former Yugoslav republics (2 or more)      40                               1.9%

Other                                                       97                               4.8%

Total                                                   2,070                            100.0%

If we focus only on coverage of events in Bosnia-Herzegovina, we come upon a very interesting fact. Namely, out of the total number of news items dedicated to Bosnia-Herzegovina, which is 1,439, as many as 702 items deal with issues related to the BiH Federation, 430 items deal with events and issues related to common BiH institutions and the state of Bosnia-Herzegovina as a whole, while only 307 items refer to events in the Republika Srpska. This certainly indicates insufficient coverage of events in the Republika Srpska, which are given half the attention given to events in the Federation. It is certainly understandable that ONASA has less news items from the Republika Srpska, but twice as little can hardly be justified with an undeveloped correspondent network or insufficient activity on their part five years after the end of the war, because, after all, there are other sources of information that can be used to cover this Bosnian-Herzegovinian entity. This problem does not only indicate that there is still very strong communication segregation between the two BiH entities and ethnic groups, but it also shows that media, including this agency, often ignore or are prevented from accessing markets in the 'other entity.'

Table 1.1-4: Coverage of events in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Issues from BiH                  News Items                 Percentage

BiH as a whole                           430                             29.9%

BiH Federation                            702                             48.7%

Republika Srpska                         307                             21.4%

Total                                        1,439                            100.0%

At this point of analysis, it is certainly interesting to compare regional coverage with the sources of information used in order to determine which sources are used to collect information from certain countries and regions.

Table 1.1-5: Sources of information and regional coverage in ONASA services

Region             Sources of Information and Regional Coverage

Onasa   Sense   Reuters   Habena   Hina   Beta   Other   Other    Official press   Onasa +   Total

                                                                                              media    releases            others

BiH                   1,100        1                         18           9         1         4         22             277                   7      1,439

Croatia                   21        1                                      62         1         6           9                 6                   2         108

Yugoslavia            78        1            12                       13       55      10          35                 6                   8         218

Macedonia                                         2                                                                                                                   2

Russia                                              11                                    4        5                                                                 20

USA and Canada     7                        3                         3         3                     6               13                                 35

Slovenia                   1                                                   3                                                                                       4

EU                            2                     15                          1         2       1            5                 4                    1          31

Asia                          1                     15                          1                  1            3                                                   21

Africa                                                5                                              3            1                                                     9

South & Central

America                                             1                          1                  1                                                                   3

Middle East                                       9                           1                 5            3                                       1          19

Southeast Europe      6                       5                          2        6                     4                  1                               24

Ex-Yu Republics    20                                      1            6       3        1            3                 6                                40

Other                         3                     62                           4              14             9                 4                   1          97

Total                  1,239       2           140          20        106     71     50         105             317                  20     2,070

 y analyzing the topical character of ONASA's news services, we reached results that truly reflect the character of the general processes that Bosnia-Herzegovina and even the neighboring countries are in. The predominant topic is politics and authorities, which 738 items were about. This means that politics and authorities make up 29% of the total number of topics, which is 2,546. This means that 35.7% of news items deal with this issue. The second most dominant topic is economy, which is treated in 414 news items, which makes up 20% of the total number of items or 16% of the treated topics. The third dominant category is political party activities, which 279 news items were about (13.5% of the total number of items, or 11% of the total number of topics). It is also certainly indicatory that issues of science and ecology are mentioned in only two news items, or 0.1% of the total number of items, while problems related to public morale, such as, for example, pornography, child molestation, etc. are not mentioned in a single news item.

Table 1.1-5: Topical character of ONASA news service

Topics                          Number of Topics         Percentage in Total Number     Percentage in Total

Covered in Items          of 2,546 Covered Topics           Number of 2,070 News Items

Accidents and

catastrophes                                  79                             3.1%                                       3.8%

Crime                                         110                             4.3%                                       5.3%

Economic activities                      414                           16.0%                                      20.0%

Political party activities                279                           11.0%                                      13.5%

Weather forecast                          47                             1.8%                                       2.3%

Popular entertainment                    18                             0.7%                                       0.9%

Education and art                          84                             3.2%                                       4.1%

Politics and authorities                 738                           29.0%                                      35.7%

Sports                                           33                             1.2%                                       1.6%

Social and health issues                145                             5.7%                                       7.0%

Problems of public morale              -                               0.0%                                       0.0%

Science and ecology                        2                             0.1%                                       0.1%

War and defense                         147                             5.8%                                       7.1%

Social trends and

special events                                48                             1.9%                                       2.3%

Religion                                        27                             1.1%                                       1.3%

Refugees and

Displaced Persons                       116                             4.6%                                       5.6%

Inter-ethnic and

racial relations                               27                             1.1%                                       1.3%

International community

activities in BiH                           213                             8.7%                                     10.3%

Stability Pact                                 19                             0.7%                                       0.9%

Total topics covered                 2,546

Note: The number of topics covered in news items is higher than the total number of news items because in coding we allowed that one news item can cover two topics. That is why percentages in the total number of news items (column 4) cannot be added because their sum would be more than 100%.

After this general analysis of sources, regional coverage and topical character of the ONASA news service, we will now analyze coverage of individual topics. As Bosnia-Herzegovina is now in a pre-election period, it is certainly interesting to see which political parties are featured in ONASA's news items and to what degree. The next table will give us this information.

Table 1.1.-6: Political party representation in ONASA news service

Parties                                                                Frequency                                Percentage

Political party activities in general                                     1                                             0.4%

SDA - Party of Democratic Action                                 33                                            11.8%

SDS - Serb Democratic Party                                          1                                             0.4%

HDZ - Croat Democratic Union                                     50                                            17.9%

SDP - Social-Democratic Party                                      34                                            12.2%

SZBIH - Party for BiH                                                  24                                              8.6%

SNSD - Party of Independent Social-Democrats             10                                              3.6%

SNS - Serb People's Union                                              7                                             2.5%

PDP - Party of Democratic Prosperity                              8                                             2.9%

SPRS -Socialist Party RS                                                 6                                             2.2%

Other                                                                          105                                            37.6%

Total                                                                           279                                          100.0%

As the above data shows, political party activities were the topic of 279 news items, which makes up 13.5% of the total number of items published in the analyzed period. Out of these 279 items, most dealt with HDZ activities - a total of 50 items, or 17.9% of the total number of items dedicated to party activities. The HDZ's leading position is certainly a result of the party's very dynamic activities during the analyzed period and it does not indicate by any means partiality on the part of ONASA. Three other parties from the BiH Federation enjoyed more or less equal treatment: SDA (33 items or 11.8%), SDP (34 items or 12.2%) and SZBiH (24 items or 8.6%).

Republika Srpska-based political parties received less coverage in ONASA services, but the scope of their presentation is proportionate to the total number of news items dealing with the Republika Srpska, which is half the number of news items dealing with the Federation. More or less equal attention was given to SNSD (10 news items or 3.6%), SNS (seven items or 2.5%), PDP (eight items or 2.9%) and SPRS (six items or 2.2%). The most neglected party in the Republika Srpska, which is at the same time the strongest party by the number of received votes in this entity's parliament, is the SDS, which appeared in only one news item, thus taking up only 0.4% of space dedicated to political parties in ONASA services. It is to be assumed that the obvious neglect of this political party is a result of a negative stand towards it, which the majority of media in the Federation have, and which is a result of the party's wartime engagement.

It is also interesting to find out to what degree international community activities in Bosnia-Herzegovina are covered, which the next tables shows us.

Table 1.1-7: International community activities in BiH in ONASA news service

International organizations                                            Frequency                    Percentage

In general on international community activities                           40                                18.8%

OSCE                                                                                       45                                21.1%

OHR                                                                                        45                                21.1%

UN                                                                                           34                                16.0%

SFOR/NATO                                                                           21                                  9.9%

IMC                                                                                           7                                  3.3%

UNHCR                                                                                     8                                  3.8%

European Commission                                                                 5                                  2.3%

European Union                                                                          3                                  1.4%

Other                                                                                          5                                  2.3%

Total                                                                                       213                              100.0%

Of the total 2,070 news items, 213 dealt with activities of the international community in Bosnia-Herzegovina. It is clear from the table that the three main international factors operating in Bosnia-Herzegovina enjoyed completely identical treatment: OSCE (45 news items or 21.1%), OHR  (45 news items or 21.1%) and UN + UNHCR (42 items or 19.8%). Along with them, SFOR/NATO also had a big presence with 21 news items (9.9%), which is a faithful indication of these organizations' significance for life in Bosnia-Herzegovina at the given time.

We also focused attention on the presentation of key political figures in Bosnia-Herzegovina in ONASA news items and found that the most important figures were relatively equally featured in the analyzed period. Detailed results are shown in the next table.

Table 1.1-8: Appearance of important political figures in ONASA news service

Figure                                                  Number of Appearances           Percentage

Wolfgang Petritch                                              37                                  4.9%

Robert Barry                                                       5                                  0.7%

Jacques Klein                                                    12                                  1.6%

Thomas Miller                                                   24                                  3.2%

Alija Izetbegovic                                                18                                  2.4%

Zivko Radisic                                                       6                                  0.8%

Ante Jelavic                                                      20                                  2.6%

Edhem Bicakcic                                                 41                                  5.4%

Milorad Dodik                                                    38                                  5.0%

Ejup Ganic                                                           3                                  0.4%

Mirko Sarovic                                                      8                                  1.1%

Jadranko Prlic                                                    28                                  3.7%

Spasoje Tusevljak                                              29                                  3.8%

Others                                                             487                                64.4%

Total                                                               756                              100.0%

The results show that figures with the biggest presence are the prime ministers of the two Bosnian-Herzegovinian entities. Federation Prime Minister Edhem Bicakcic appeared in 41 news items (or 5.4% of the total 756 news items featuring key figures), followed immediately by Milorad Dodik, prime minister of the Republika Srpska, with 38 appearances (5.0%). Third position was taken by High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch with 37 appearances, or 4.9%. BiH Council of Ministers Chair Spasoje Tusevljak holds fourth place with 29 appearances (3.8%), followed by BiH Foreign Minister Jadranko Prlic with 28 appearances (3.7%). Right behind him is US Ambassador to BiH Thomas Miller, who appeared in 24 news items (3.2%).

After this overview of the character of ONASA news service, we will give a short analysis of ONASA's coverage of top events of the day.

2. Coverage of Top Events of the Day

As we have already said, we analyzed to what degree ONASA covers important events of the day. We wanted to determine to what degree ONASA covers important events of the day, and on average how many news items are dedicated to these events in services sent out on the day of the events.

In order to perform this analysis, using the principle of an expanded constructed week we first selected 10 days from the monitored period (Aug. 25 and 28, and Sept. 01, 04, 05, 09, 13, 17, 20 and 21, 2000). For each day we made lists of events on the basis of which we analyzed whether, and to what degree, ONASA covered the given events. Lists of events were made on the basis of newscasts on primetime TV news programs produced by RTVBH, OBN and RTRS, and Radio BiH's evening news program on the given days.

Of the total 143 events registered in this way, ONASA covered 106 of them, while 37 were not covered. This means that in the 10 mentioned days, ONASA covered 74% of events that made front pages of daily papers and newscasts on primetime news programs, while 26% of events remained uncovered. In other words, out of an average of 14 important events of the day, ONASA covered 11 of them on average, while three events remained uncovered. Hence, practically every fourth event was not covered the day it happened. The next table offers a list of all events we registered in the 10 mentioned days, which were not covered.

Table 1.1-9: Events not covered by ONASA in 10 selected days

No.      Date     Event                                                                                                             Medium

1          25.08    Palestinians announce extension of deadline for proclaiming their state               RTRS

2          25.08    Is there a solution in sight (hunger strike in Bihac Trgovina co.)                         TVBH

3          25.08    What is contained in the Defense Ministry Chief Auditor's report                       TVBH

4          28.08    Senator Bobe Dole visits Tuzla today                                                               Radio BiH

5          28.08    Foreign citizens from Bocinja to move to Srebrenica and Branunac, stated.         OBN

6          28.08    Border insurance to be abolished in 48 hours                                                     OBN   

7          28.08    Religious leaders in New York to attend Millennium Summit                              RTRS

8          01.09    School year starts in BiH Federation                                                                OBN, TVBH

9          01.09    Montenegrin authorities to allow elections in their territory                                 OBN

10        01.09    Association of Commercial Bank Tuzla Savers defines protection program .       OBN

11        01.09    Drought in BiH destroys 50% of harvest                                                          OBN

12        01.09    Concord will not fly any more                                                                          TVBH

13        01.09    Prices of oil and oil derivatives go up                                                                TVBH

14        01.09    Import of cars older than seven years restricted                                                RTRS

15        04.09    Bihac Trgovina co. workers continue hunger strike                                           TVBH

16        04.09    Serbian Patriarch Pavle appeals for peaceful elections in Yugoslavia                  RTRS

17        04.09    Putin refuses to change status of Kuril Islands                                                  RTRS

18        05.09.   USAID lifts suspension                                                                                   TVBH

19        05.09.   Import duties-related crime damages Federal Budget by three million DEM        OBN

20        09.09.   New reactions to dismissal of Republika Srpska Government                             Radio BiH

21        09.09.   Forty-four Bosniak bodies killed in 1992 found in Sokolac                                  OBN

22        09.09.   Strike in Bihac Trgovina ends                                                                          TVBH

23        09.09.   RS Constitutional Court did not give any statements on RS Government vote      RTRS

24        09.09.   RS opposition condemns dismissal of Dodik                                                      RTRS

25        13.09.   Yugoslav Minister Natic accuses RS of having scenario for overthrowing Milosevic  RTRS

26        13.09.   EU lifts Austria sanctions                                                                                RTRS

27        13.09.   Protests over oil prices continue throughout Europe                                           OBN

28        17.09.   Prince Salman wraps up visit                                                                           TVBH

29        17.09.   Three world and three Olympic records broken in Sydney                                 OBN, Radio BiH

30        17.09.   Zivko Radisic criticizes BiH delegation for denying Yugoslavia's UN membership  Radio BiH

31        20.09.   April pensions to be paid out in five days                                                          RTRS

32        20.09.   Authorities and opposition end election rallies in Belgrade                                  RTRS

33        20.09.   Rise in oil prices stopped - EU talks in Luxembourg                                          RTRS

34        21.09.   Federal Government accuses OHR of impeding return to RS                             TVBH

35        21.09.   Hepatitis epidemic spreading in Tesanj                                                             Radio BiH

36        21.09.   State Presidency session announced for next day                                              Radio BiH

37        21.09.   Bisera Turkovic Minister for European Integrations                                           OBN

 3. Use of ONASA Services by BiH Daily Press

The third analytical issue we dealt with is how much ONASA services are used by daily press in Bosnia-Herzegovina. For the period from Aug. 25 to Sept. 23, 2000, we analyzed five daily newspapers in the country (Oslobodjenje, Dnevni avaz, Vecernje novine, Glas srpski, Nezavisne novine) to find out how much these media use the ONASA service.

Analysis showed that in this period Oslobodjenje published a total of 155 ONASA news items, which is the biggest number of items published in a BiH daily paper. Second place is held by Dnevni avaz, which published 97 news items carried from ONASA services, while Vecernje novine carried 67 items. It is noticeable that Republika Srpska dailies carried far less items from ONASA services - Nezavisne novine published 34, and Glas srpski only six news items. On average, hence, Oslobodjenje carries 5.1 items a day, Dnevni avaz publishes 3.2 items, and Vecernje novine 2.2 items from ONASA services. Republika Srpska-based Nezavisne novine publish 1.1 items a day, while Glas srpski publishes only an average of 0.2 ONASA items a day. If we take into account that ONASA put out an average of 69 items a day in the given period, usage of its services ranges from 2% to 9%, depending on the daily in question.

As this analysis does not encompass broadcasters, other press and various institutions, it may be concluded that total usage of ONASA services is certainly higher than the results of this analysis indicate. However, this data clearly shows the fact that ONASA is used much more in the BiH Federation than in the Republika Srpska, which is a good guideline for the agency's business strategy. This becomes all the more noticeable if we take into account the correlation between low interest of Republika Srpska media in ONASA services and the relatively low participation of news from the Republika Srpska in the agency's services.

2. QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF ONASA SERVICE:

JOURNALISTIC EXAMINATION

This segment of systematic analysis of ONASA news agency production was based on samples of news items produced by its service in the 10 monitored days in August and September of 2000, and news items on the same topics published by the Sarajevo dailies Oslobodjenje, Dnevni avaz and Vecernje novine. The first part is a chronologically presented primary sample analysis, and the second part contains closing remarks and evaluation of this monitoring section.

1. Primary Sample Analysis

FLOODS IN INDIA (August 25) - A news item written following all the rules based on a Reuters news item. On this issue Dnevni avaz publishes an item without any indication of the source, with an element of an encephalitis epidemic which the ONASA item does not have, although its item is more complete.

BUS IN RAVINE (August 25) - A news item on a traffic accident near Banja Luka from an ONASA correspondent; correct formally looking. However, it lacks more detail on the condition, treatment and hospitalization of the casualties, which a BHP Agency item contains. Both items lack the names of the injured and the drivers.

FIRES IN BiH (August 25) - ONASA items offered for analysis on fires in the Doboj and Trebinje Municipalities filed by the Agency's correspondent, which meet primary journalistic criteria. However, concerning the situation in the Doboj region, a Dnevni avaz correspondent sent a more comprehensive item, specifying the concrete threats posed by the fires, helplessness of firefighters and disorder in their ranks. Dnevni avaz and Vecernje novine also have a compiled item on fires in the BiH Federation (FBiH), but they do not have news on the fire in the Trebinje Municipality.

BONO VOX IN SARAJEVO (August 25) - On the visit to Sarajevo of U2 leader Bono Vox, the ONASA service restricted itself to a news item based on a press release from the office of BiH Presidency Chair Alija Izetbegovic on Izetbegovic's meeting with Vox, with the note that the famous musician is a guest of the Sixth Sarajevo Film Festival as the screenwriter and author of music for the movie "Million Dollar Hotel." Oslobodjenje carried a Reuters photo-item showing Bono Vox on a picture with his family holding his Bosnian-Herzegovinian passport in hand. Vecernje novine published a compiled item on the U2 leader's visit. This was also an opportunity for ONASA to recall Bono Vox's engagement in finding out the truth about the tragedy of Bosnia-Herzegovina, his previous visits to Sarajevo, and in particular a big concert held in September of 1997, as well as the fact that Bono was given a Bosnian-Herzegovinian passport for his engagement.

PENSIONERS AND DODIK (August 25) - A professionally written item by ONASA's correspondent on the Party of Pensioners' reactions to claims made by Republika Srpska (RS) Prime Minister Milorad Dodik. What is good is that, among other things, it point out the fact that the Party of Pensioners will run on its own in the November elections with 50 candidates for office. Dnevni avaz carried most of this news item, specifying its source. For comparison, it also carried an item by the BHP Agency on pensioners' problems in FBiH (carried by Oslobodjenje, Dnevni avaz and Vecernje novine), but it did not carry an ONASA item on this issue.

BANK ROBBERY IN MOSTAR (August 25) - A news item written for the most part on the basis of a Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Ministry of Interior press release with all relevant elements, with a note that this is the second bank robbery in Mostar in the past month. Oslobodjenje carried this news item in full. Dnevni avaz had its own more developed piece with certain details on the robbery and the police action, and telephone numbers that citizens can call if they have any information on the robbery. Vecernje novine in its own piece, among other things, quotes a source from the bank who says no one was injured during the robbery. It would have been good if the ONASA news item had had this fact, although this goes without saying unless stated differently.

SPECIAL RS PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY SESSION (August 25) - ONASA on this occasion on August 25 put out three professionally written reports with all the elements. The event was covered much more comprehensively by the Agency, than by Oslobodjenje. There are more elements in the ONASA service than in Dnevni avaz, but this paper reported that a budget revision for this year was adopted late in the evening, while the ONASA correspondent concludes with a sentence that discussion on this issue is underway.

INSTITUTE FOR MISSING PERSONS (August 28) - A very solid report published by the ONASA service on the opening of the Institute for Missing Persons in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The only remark is that a quote from Bob Dole at the beginning of the item "It is clear that this issue." seems a little clumsy in the context, because it does not say explicitly what issue he is talking about. Dnevni avaz has its own report, and Vecernje novine has its own piece.

DECLARATION OF SUPPORT TO THE INSTITUTE (August 28) - In writing the piece on the signing of a Declaration of Support to the Institute of Missing Persons BiH, the ONASA service quotes a statement by the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), recalls the act and reasons of opening the Institute, and the fact that ICMP was formed by the G7 Group in 1996. Dnevni avaz carried a BHP Agency item on the signing of the Declaration of Support, quoting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Unlike the ONASA news item, the BHP Agency item lists the document's signatories by name and position (which is important in light of the three commissions for missing persons in Bosnia-Herzegovina), it contains information on a US donation to the Institute and the amount of resources required for the Institute's functioning, and says that the Institute will have offices in Banja Luka, Mostar and Bihac.

D. ILIJASEVIC ARRESTED (August 28) - The ONASA service put out two news items on the arrest of Dominik Ilijasevic that day. The first one is based on a BiH Federation Ministry of Interior  (MUP) press release and the Agency's unofficial source on the reasons for the arrest. The second item is based on a press release by the Zenica Cantonal Court and again the Agency's unofficial source, with a detail that a street was blockaded in Zenica during Ilijasevic's apprehension. Both pieces are correctly written. Dnevni avaz followed up on the FBiH MUP press release and formed its own piece revolving around a correspondent's report from Kiseljak. Vecernje novine featured the arrest by presenting a series of elements and writing in the headline that Ilijasevic's arrest may have something to do with the assassination of Jozo Leutar, quoting a senior police official. It obviously had a good source.

USA - $5.1 MILLION FOR RETURN (August 28) - A correctly written ONASA news item based on a USAID Sarajevo Office press release. We have a remark concerning the first sentence which says at the beginning "The United States government announced." and in the end "announced the USAID office." Dnevni avaz published a bigger item carried from BHP Agency, which says among other things that Brcko District is one of the return investment areas, and gives more elements on how the resources will be used.

BiH CENTRAL BANK IN BRCKO (August 28) - A correct item filed by ONASA's Brcko correspondent on the opening of a BiH Central Bank branch. A Dnevni avaz piece on this event contains also information that Mirzeta Arnautovic was appointed director of this institution in May of this year.

MOSCOW TOWER ON FIRE (August 28) - The ONASA service, carrying Reuters Agency, put out two news items on the Moscow TV tower fire. The first one contains a statement by Putin with some information on the fire and its consequences, and the second one speaks about bodies found in the blazing tower. However, Dnevni avaz used a wider Reuters analysis with the above elements, as well as some other elements.

MASSACRE ANNIVERSARY (August 28) - A correctly written ONASA news item on the massacre at Sarajevo's Markale Market five years ago, with information on the laying of flowers at the Memorial Plaque, number of casualties, and saying that the projectile was fired "from Serb positions" and that two days after the massacre air strikes started "against Serb military positions around Sarajevo." The Vecernje novine news item uses the term "from enemy positions," and "killed," while ONASA and Dnevni avaz use the term "died." The Dnevni avaz piece contains the names of the victims, a reporter's retrospection on the tragedy, and a witness account.

BICAKCIC IN SREBRENICA (September 1) - A basically correct item filed by ONASA's correspondent. Vecernje novine carried the main part of the item, leaving out an important fact that Bicakcic and Garib talked with the (Bosniak) president of the municipality and the (Serb) president of the municipal board, Milislav Marjanovic.

MILLER IN BUGOJNO, LIVNO, DRVAR (September 1) - This item sent by ONASA's correspondent was not carried by Oslobodjenje, which had its own piece, or Dnevni avaz and Vecernje novine (shorter version) who carried a BHP Agency item. ONASA's and BHP's pieces only contain news from Bugojno (well developed) and Livno, while Oslobodjenje also has news from Drvar. ONASA's item is written correctly, with the same elements as the BHP Agency one, but also with some additional ones (mine fields, water and electricity in Bojmunte settlement). Oslobodjenje also reported on Serb returnees in the settlement.

MESIC - IZETBEGOVIC (September 1) - An ONASA news item on talks between Mesic and Izetbegovic in Dubrovnik was based on a press release from Izetbegovic's office in Sarajevo. Dnevni avaz carried a BHP Agency item, which was also based on the same press release. However, Dnevni avaz also had information on Mesic's press conference in Zagreb on the forthcoming meeting with Izetbegovic with a number of interesting details (agreement on special relations, allegations of ABiH Fifth Corps crimes in Croatia, Fikret Abdic). Vecernje novine carried a Reuters photo-item on the meeting saying that the talks focused on regional issues related to elections in FRY.

FRY ARMY WRAPS UP MILITARY EXERCISE (September 1) - ONASA carried a professionally written piece put out by Beta Agency. Dnevni avaz published a Reuters item on this event which does not offer anything more.

SPAIN - BiH (September 1) - A correct news item by ONASA on the arrival of Spain's football team to play Bosnia-Herzegovina, with a statement by Spanish selector Kamacho in the focus of attention. Dnevni avaz has its own piece, which features a statement by Kamacho that differs somewhat from the one in the ONASA item ("we have come to win" in ONASA, and "we would be satisfied even with one point" in Dnevni avaz). Both versions are possible.

PETRITSCH ANNULS THREE LAWS (September 1) - A professionally made item put out by ONASA on a press conference regarding a decision made by the International Community's High Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina Wolfgang Petritsch with all the important elements. Oslobodjenje and Dnevni avaz had their own reporters.

TRIALS IN THE HAGUE (September 4) - ONASA's item on resumption of trials in The Hague  (Dario Kordic, Mario Cerkez, and five Serbs) without stating the source, with basic details on the content of the indictments. Instead of a legal formulation on the character of the crimes committed (war crimes against.), the item says the indictees are indicted for "ethnic cleansing." Vecernje novine carried a SENSE item from The Hague, which contains a legal formulation of the crimes and quotes witness statements in the Kordic and Cerkez case.

NEW TELEPHONE AREA CODES (September 4) - An ONASA news item carried by Oslobodjenje. The first part of the first sentence creates confusion: "As of today, old numbers will be in use in the area of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and a new system of area codes goes into effect for cantons in the BiH Federation, that is for network groups in the area of the Republika Srpska (RS)." Had the old numbers stopped being used, and are now in use again, and what are they, or is this something else? Also, there was no reason to put (RS) in parentheses after "Republika Srpska."

ANNOUNCEMENT OF BiH PARLIAMENT SESSION (September 4) - A correct announcement made by ONASA on a FBiH Parliament session with emphasis on pensioners' issues, which were in the center of attention. Dnevni avaz has its own piece with an announcement of some other issues as well.

POLICE IN "OTPOR" PREMISES (September 4) - ONASA carried a Beta Agency piece on a police raid on "Otpor" premises in Belgrade. In the first and second sentence, the wording "a large quantity of material" is repeated. A report by a Vecernje novine correspondent does not contain a single element more than the ONASA/Beta piece.

BACAK RESIGNATION (September 4) - ONASA carried a HABENA Agency piece in which FBiH Deputy Interior Minister Ivan Bacak confirms he had resigned irrevocably. The piece, along with Bacak's statement, states the reasons for the resignation (arrest of Ilijasevic, etc.), and the views of Jacque Klein, which Bacak then comments on. The arrest of Buzuk is also mentioned, with some information on where and why he was arrested. This very professionally written news item was carried by Oslobodjenje, while Dnevni avaz carried a BHP Agency item, which had also carried the HABENA item. ONASA's piece is more complete and better professionally written.

MILLER IN MOSTAR (September 4) - ONASA published two news items on US Ambassador Thomas Miller's meetings with Orucevic and Tomic in an interval of a little more than two hours (in the afternoon - from 16.07 to 18.11), with the same content but slightly modified. Dnevni avaz had its own report, and Oslobodjenje (longer version) and Vecernje novine (shorter version) carried a news item credited to HABENA/BHP. There is no essential difference in the content of these pieces. The reason for choosing one agency over the other may be based on the time when they put out their services.

CHANCELLOR TADIC DISMISSED (September 4) - ONASA published an item sent by its Mostar correspondent, according to which the Mostar University Senate dismissed Chancellor Marko Tadic, with a note that Tadic had declined to comment on this decision for the agency. US Ambassador Miller was quoted as commenting on the decision during his visit to Mostar, and some information was given on events that took place the previous day. ONASA's piece does not explain why Tadic was dismissed and in what political context. Oslobodjenje published a version credited to BHP/HABENA based on two press releases issued by the Mostar University Office of Chancellor which states that Tadic had resigned. Once again, there is no background on the situation. Dnevni avaz had its own piece relying more on the Office of Chancellor press release, but it featured a statement by Tadic. Despite the above remark, ONASA's piece, compared to the other two, is the most comprehensive one.

ELECTIONS IN FRY (September 4) - ONASA carried a correct Beta Agency piece on the expiry of the deadline for registering FRY presidential candidates and giving basic details on the registered candidates. Dnevni avaz, quoting "agencies," had a piece compiled by its news staff on the same issue, with a combination of news from FRY and EU views on the elections.

FBiH PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WRAPS UP SESSION  (September 5) - ONASA put out two correctly written reports (around noon and in the evening) on a session of the FBiH Parliament House of Representatives, in which the second one gave an overview of decisions and reported on an initiative of the Croat Democratic Union for the forthcoming special session of the House to discuss an information report by the FBiH Interior Ministry on the arrest of Dominik Ilijasevic. Vecernje novine singled out from the session a decision on the appointment of Faruk Mekic for minister of agriculture, water management and forestry to replace Ahmed Smajic, who was removed by Wolfgang Petritsch, without saying that Smajic was removed, or why and by whom. Oslobodjenje carried an ONASA item (which was not taken for analysis) which rightly focuses on Mekic's appointment. Dnevni avaz has its own report which does not bring any new elements compared to the ONASA piece.

CAR BLOWN UP IN BIHAC (September 5) - ONASA carried a correct concise item by its correspondent on the explosion of a car belonging to Hamdija Abdic Tigar. Oslobodjenje, Vecernje novine and Dnevni avaz published pieces by their own correspondents on this event, without giving any particularly significant details, except that Dnevni avaz featured a statement by Abdic, which also did not contain any new elements.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO RETURNEES (September 5) - An ONASA item on a press conference with serious flaws. Namely, the journalist only singled out information that the European Commission had signed four contracts on assistance in the process of spontaneous returns in the amount of 7,749,000 Euro, while Oslobodjenje and Dnevni avaz put in the foreground information that the EU was investing 35 million Euro in 17 projects. ONASA and Dnevni avaz also reported that the contracts were signed as part of the European Commission BiH Project worth 50.1 million Euro. The ONASA piece writes about reconstruction of 259 houses and mentions a number of municipalities; Oslobodjenje, on the other hand, singles out investments in some other municipalities; while Dnevni avaz has a third list. In any case the list of investments is far more complete in Oslobodjenje and Dnevni avaz, than in the ONASA service.

PRLIC LEAVING HDZ? (September 5) - The exclusivity of the item announcing that Jadranko Prlic will leave the Croat Democratic Union (HDZ) was reflected in its reception by dailies. Oslobodjenje and Dnevni avaz credited the item to ONASA, while Vecernje novine failed to show this, although it is noticeable that this paper also followed up on the item. None of the three papers made much progress in learning anything new on the issue than what was offered by ONASA, which reported on Prlic's letter to HDZ President Ante Jelavic and gave the reasons for his move.

OHR SINGLE PASSPORT (September 5) - ONASA put out a news item on refusal on the part of the RS to accept amendments to a law establishing a single Bosnian-Herzegovinian passport in compliance with the international community' request. The item was based on a statement by BiH Presidency member Zivko Radisic, sent by the Agency's Banja Luka correspondent. The item gives background information on activities and obstruction so far in introducing a single passport. Dnevni avaz does not carry ONASA's item on this occasion, but it does have a statement given to the paper by OHR spokesman Oleg Milisic who announced the possibility of Wolfgang Petritsch imposing a single passport.

PETKOVIC IN THE HAGUE (September 5) - ONASA wrote two news items on Croatian Government confirmation that it had received a subpoena requesting Croatian General Milivoje Petkovic to testify in The Hague. ONASA offered complete information in the first item, without stating the source, with the background and significance of Petkovic's testimony in the Kordic-Cerkez trial. The next item was based on a long statement given by Petkovic to HINA Agency. In one place the term "commander of Military District Ston" is mentioned, without linking this position with Petkovic, which may confuse uninformed readers. Oslobodjenje did not carry the ONASA piece because it had a detailed report filed by its own correspondent. In any case, ONASA reacted in accordance to the significance and attractiveness of the issue.

BiH DELEGATION IN NEW YORK (September 5) - ONASA published a longer correctly written piece on a press conference regarding the BiH delegation departure for the Millennium Summit in New York (OUN). The ONASA and Dnevni avaz pieces on the press conference do not differ essentially.

LJUBUSKI - BROTNJO (September 5) - An ONASA news item in two sentences on the results of the first game of the fifth round of the BiH Premier League with an announcement of the remaining games. Dnevni avaz, according to the logical needs of a daily newspaper, had a piece on the Ljubuski-Brotnjo match.

HIGHER PRICES OF CENTRAL HEATING IN SARAJEVO (September 5) - A broad ONASA item written on the basis of a statement issued following a Sarajevo Canton Government session. ONASA's piece is complete and professionally made. However, Oslobodjenje and Dnevni avaz published articles written by their own journalists.

TRUCK EXPLOSION IN CHINA (September 9) - An ONASA item based on a HINA Agency item. Dnevni avaz reported on the explosion quoting "agencies." The ONASA piece is correct and differs from the one published in Dnevni avaz only in that the paper says it is a military truck.

MASS IN GRABOVICA (September 9) - An item written by ONASA's Mostar correspondent on a holy mass served for Croat civilians killed in Grabovica, which Oslobodjenje carried in full. Dnevni avaz has its own report, in which it quoted more precisely Jelavic as speaking about abolition for "small people," which drew public attention. ONASA stated that Jelavic was not thinking of "abolition for war crimes and violations of customs of war," while Dnevni avaz quoted Jelavic as underlining that he means "small people who are allegedly suspected of committing war crimes," and "I am not referring to serious crimes and grave violations of customs of war." With such delicate political statements, quotes must be entirely accurate.

BLOCKADE OF OIL REFINARIES AND GAS STATIONS IN FRANCE REMOVED  (September 9) - An ONASA news item made on the basis of information from Radio Deutsche Welle and correctly written. Dnevni avaz has a piece on the same issue quoting "agencies."

PETRITSCH IN KOPACI (September 9) - Basically a correct piece by ONASA's correspondent on the High Representative's visit to Kopaci in Srpsko Gorazde Municipality, as BHP called in accurately (the ONASA item calls in the "Serb part of Gorazde," which is inaccurate. How can it be only a "Serb part" if Bosniaks are returning? Dnevni avaz uses the term "srpsko Gorazde"). Oslobodjenje carried the BHP Agency item, although ONASA's piece is entirely satisfactory. Dnevni avaz has its own report.

SIXTH ROUND OF PREMIER LEAGUE (September 9) - ONASA put out an item on the results achieved so far and the remaining matches of the Sixth Round of the BiH Premier League in football. Oslobodjenje had its own reporters watching the matches.

ELECTION LAW IS CONDITION FOR EUROPE (September 13) - ONASA published a correct item on a press conference held by Council of Europe Secretary General Sonja Mozer - Starac. Oslobodjenje and Dnevni avaz had their reporters who emphasized the same key positions of Mozer.

ZAGREB DECLARATION (September 13) - ONASA's special correspondent wrote a professional report on the final paper of the Southeast Europe Stability Pact Parliament Conference. Dnevni avaz has its own report of similar quality.

OSCE CENTER IN VISEGRAD (September 13) - An item filed by ONASA's Gorazde correspondent on the opening of an OSCE Political Resources Center in Visegrad contains all the relevant elements. Oslobodjenje and Dnevni avaz published pieces written by their own journalists.

MIHAJLOVIC RESIGNATION (September 13) - An ONASA news item on the resignation of Svetozar Mihajlovic from the position of director of the RS Public Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance based on confirmation of the spokesman for the party that Mihajlovic belongs to. The item contains all the important elements, but Dnevni avaz and Oslobodjenje published an item received from BHP Agency. Perhaps they received it before they got ONASA's service.

PRINCE SALMAN IN BiH (September 13) - The ONASA news item on the arrival of the Saudi prince (the item only says prince, without saying Saudi) to Bosnia-Herzegovina contains almost all the important details, except that it does not list the names and positions of the members of the delegation that greeted Prince Salman (Ganic, Zivalj, ef. Ceric). Reports published by Oslobodjenje and Dnevni avaz contain these facts.

ARRESTS IN CROATIA (September 13) - ONASA's service brought an item from HINA Agency on the arrests of five persons (only initials are given) in the Republic of Croatia, stating that they are suspected of committing war crimes against civilians. Dnevni avaz had a report that focused on Ivan Andabak and Ignac Kostroman and an item from BHP Agency from The Hague saying that the ICTY did not issue indictments against these persons. Dnevni avaz also had a separate piece on a Croatian Government decision to enable suspects in the Ahmici crimes to be tried in The Hague. Oslobodjenje published an article by its own correspondent with a series of details on the arrests of 15 people in Croatia, and an item by SENSE Agency on reactions from The Hague. It is noticeable that the ONASA service was in an inferior position regarding these arrests.

SOLDO SURRENDERS (September 13) - An ONASA correspondent wrote two correct items on the surrender of war crimes suspect Zoran Soldo. The items were based on a statement by UN spokesman in Mostar and a press release of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Ministry of Interior. The item recalls that Soldo is a member of the so-called "Mostar Five" and it explains the fate of the remaining suspects. Oslobodjenje carried the first item on the arrest.

RESTAURANT DEMOLISHED (September 17) - ONASA carried a Habena Agency piece on an attack on a restaurant and its Bosniak owner in Modrica. The item was published in full by Oslobodjenje and Dnevni avaz.

THREATS MADE BY HVIDRA (September 17) - A correctly written item on a special session of the Central Bosnia HVIDRA association, attended by Ante Jelavic - without stating the source. This version credited to ONASA was published in full by Oslobodjenje. In an identical article Dnevni avaz published a version that it credited to BHP Agency.

MILOSEVIC IN BERANI (September 20) - On a visit by FRY President Slobodan Milosevic to Berane, Montenegro, ONASA put out three professionally written pieces. In the first, quoting the Podgorica daily "Vijesti," it quoted the position of the Berane mayor that Milosevic will not be received by the local authorities. The second and third pieces in the form of reports sent by ONASA's correspondent gave all the important elements of the visit, with some background information on Milosevic's previous visits to Montenegro. Vecernje novine carried a concise BHP Agency item, while Dnevni avaz had an article by its Belgrade correspondent.

RS GOVERNMENT AND BRCKO (September 20) - ONASA's Brcko correspondent sent a correct news item on a statement by RS Minister Ostoja Kremenovic on the RS undertaking commitments towards Brcko District and reminding of the event that preceded this. Dnevni avaz featured an item on this issue without stating the source, while Oslobodjenje had a report on the preceding event. Namely, a Memorandum was signed in Brcko the previous day on the implementation of final decisions on Brcko District, in which the governments of the two entities undertook specific commitments. The ONASA news item, as well as the "anonymous" item in Dnevni avaz, confirmed, unlike the one in Oslobodjenje, that commitments regarding the RS were accepted.

ANDABAK ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES (September 20) - ONASA formed a correct news item based on HINA Agency which quoted a statement by the Croatian Ministry of Interior on the arrest of Ivan Andabak, whom UN Special Envoy Jacques Klein specified as the first suspect in the murder of FBiH Deputy Interior Minister Jozo Leutar. Oslobodjenje featured a report by its Zagreb correspondent which presented an important element - Croatia does not extradite suspects to other countries, only to the ICTY.

OHR AND LEUTAR MURDER INVESTIGATION (September 20) - A professional written item based on an OHR press release with editing interventions to recall the context of the arrests of suspects. Oslobodjenje only carried the OHR press release (or an excerpt). ONASA's version is a better solution.

BICAKCIC AND CAVIC IN HERZEGOVINA (September 20) - An item sent by ONASA's Mostar correspondent on a visit of Edhem Bicakcic and Dragan Cavic to Ravno, Grude and Capljina Municipalities. Oslobodjenje published a BHP Agency item which differs from the above item in that it gives some background information on the fate of Ravno at the beginning of the aggression against Bosnia-Herzegovina and on returns to the municipality. It also had more precise details on the Ravno-Cepikuce road (ONASA - "road communication towards Slano in Croatia," BHP - "whose one end will link with Slano, and the other with Mostar.") Due to political delicacy of the area, it is important to give precise details on the routes.

TRIAL IN BELGRADE (September 21) - ONASA based its item on the trial of western leaders in Belgrade on a Reuters item, with all the interesting details of this bizarre case and emphasis on the defense council's request for death penalty for Clinton, etc., and announcement that the verdict will be pronounced at the end of the week. The item was carried in full by Dnevni avaz. However, Oslobodjenje published an item credited to BHP/AFP which speaks about the already announced verdict and gives some background information.

LUZANSKI TO KLEIN (September 21) - ONASA carried all the important elements from a letter written by BiH Federation Vice-President Ivo Andric Luzanski to UN Special Envoy Jacques Klein on the arrests of Croats suspected of committing war crimes, and recalled Klein's position on this issue. Oslobodjenje published its version of the letter sent to all relevant news organizations, without background information as in the ONASA version.

BiH WRITERS ASSOCIATION AWARD (September 21) - Quoting a press release by the BiH Association of Writers, ONASA put out a correct news item on the winners of this annual award. Oslobodjenje published an almost identical article signed by initials K.R. (probably Kulturna Rubrika - Culture Pages).

ELECTIONS IN FRY (September 21) - Two ONASA items on the start of election blackout in FRY with the basic elements. Oslobodjenje has a report by its permanent correspondent on final election rallies, and so does Dnevni avaz, which also published a special feature on another page, without stating the source, on the West's attitude towards the elections.

2. CLOSING REMARKS AND EVALUATION

Generally looking, ONASA news item are structured pursuant to the principal journalistic standards (the 5 W questions - who, when, where, how, why). Before each item, the Agency gives the name of the place from which the item is sent (not the place of event, but the place from which it is sent), as well as the day and month. It always puts ONASA in parentheses. In some news items (on fires) the time is not given (today, last night, etc.). We will list examples of deviation from the 5 Ws rule or its inconsistent implementation.

The item on a traffic accident near Banja Luka does not give the full names of the injured, or where they were hospitalized. In items of this type, especially accidents befalling citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina, it is important to give names. It is people who matter, not numbers.

In the item on the Declaration of Support to the Institute on Missing Persons of Bosnia-Herzegovina, it would have been good if precise positions and full names had been given for the members of the three commissions on missing persons in BiH, because that in itself speaks about the situation in the country and attitude towards this issue. The item on the arrival of Saudi Prince Salman does not say "Saudi" as it should. Another omission is that the full names and positions of the members of the BiH reception delegation were not given (BiH Federation President Ejup Ganic, Deputy Foreign Minister Husein Zivalj, and head of the Bosnian Islamic Community Reisu-l-ulema Mustafa ef. Ceric). The item also failed to say that foreign diplomats accredited in this country attended the reception. In the news item on the arrest of Croatian General Milivoj Petkovic, the name of a position is used, "Commander of Ston Military District," without a name to go with it, so it is unclear whether this is Petkovic or someone else.

In the item on the resumption of the Kordic and Cerkez trial in The Hague, it is unclear what source the item was based on, and ONASA does not have its own correspondents there. Also, the source is not given for the news item on a special session of the HVIDRA association in Travnik. The lead in the item on telephone area codes causes confusion: "As of today, old numbers will be in use in the area of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and a new system of area codes goes into effect for cantons in the BiH Federation, that is to say for network groups in the area of the Republika Srpska (RS)." Old numbers cannot be in effect as of today.

The item on return projects financed by the European Commission has serious flaws. While other media stress the amount of 35 million Euro for 17 return projects, ONASA reports only four projects and mentions the sum of around 7.8 million Euro. Also, unlike Oslobodjenje and Dnevni avaz, ONASA mentions only several municipalities in which returnee housing will be invested in and neglects other very important projects.

The item on the Kordic and Cerkez trial, instead of the legal formulation "war crimes against humanity," uses the political-media term "ethnic cleansing," which is incorrect in items of this type. The Mostar correspondent was also not precise in quoting a politically very delicate part of a speech given by BiH Presidency members and Croat Democratic Union President Ante Jelavic on abolition for "small people" (see September 9 news analysis), which is a professional mistake. Another item filed from Mostar lacks precision. This item is about financial support by the Federal Government for the Ravno-Cepikuce road, whose one branch should go towards Slano in Croatia, and the other towards Mostar. ONASA only mentions the Slano branch. In Bosnia-Herzegovina even things like this have a political dimension.

We will also list some examples of other media having more information than the ONASA service. With regards to fires around Doboj, the ONASA correspondent failed to give the elements given by the Dnevni avaz correspondent regarding areas particularly threatened by fires, helplessness of firefighters, and disorder in their ranks. In this case the ONASA correspondent displayed a bureaucratic approach to the event. On another note, it would have been good if ONASA had had more information on fires in Bosnia-Herzegovina in this period. The work of its Banja Luka correspondent is noticeably good. However, an item on a Republika Srpska National Assembly session said a discussion on budget revision is underway, and Dnevni avaz had information the next day that the budget had been adopted. Perhaps this problem has to do with the Agency's working hours (nighttime). In reporting on US assistance through USAID of $5.1 million, BHP, unlike the ONASA service, gives more elements on how the funds will be used, which of course is of particular interest to the areas the funds are allocated to. BHP also had information that the US donated half a million dollars to the Institute for Missing Persons. The ONASA service was in an inferior position regarding information on a series of arrests in Croatia, which are of interest to the domestic public. A similar thing happened with the meeting of BiH Presidency Chairman Alija Izetbegovic with the president of the Republic of Croatia who hosted him in Dubrovnik. Namely, among other things, ONASA did not have information on Mesic's press conference in which a number of very important Croatian stands regarding relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina were presented. The problem is probably that the Agency does not have correspondents in this neighboring country.

We will also point out two cases of wording clumsy in style which does not carry much weight. In the item based on a Beta Agency piece on a police raid on the "Otpor" seat in Belgrade, in the first and second sentences we have the identical wording, "a large quantity of material." In the item on US (USAID) assistance to refugees, in the first sentence we have "The United States government announced." and in the end "announced the USAID office."

Media in Bosnia-Herzegovina have a problem with a number of towns in the Republika Srpska, where it is historically and demographically unjustified to add the prefix Srpski, Srpska, Srpsko (Serb) before the name of town. In the item on the visit of High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch to Kopaci, the ONASA correspondent uses the term "Serb part of Gorazde," which is incorrect because Bosniaks are returning there, so it cannot be only a Serb part. Actually, it is more correct to use the newly-coined official name Srpsko Gorazde. However, this issue deserves to be standardized, as this is not solely the responsibility of media in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

One of ONASA's qualities that should be spotted and pointed out is that it gives particular attention to background, and recalls relevant details regarding the subject of the item and political context of the event in question. Numerous examples of this are given in the primary analysis. However, we will also draw attention to situations when the chance to do this was missed. It would have been good, for example, if this had been done with regard to the latest visit of U2 leader Bono Vox and his meeting with BiH Presidency Chairman Alija Izetbegovic. Bono Vox has done a lot to enable the truth about the Bosnian-Herzegovinian tragedy to come out and to help its people. In addition, he visited Bosnia-Herzegovina on several occasions and held the first big post-war concert in Sarajevo attended by young people from all over Bosnia-Herzegovina and surrounding countries. The U2 leader carries a BiH passport. Further, in the item on the opening of a BiH Central Bank branch in Brcko District, Dnevni avaz, unlike the ONASA service, wrote that Mirzeta Arnautovic was appointed branch director in May of this year. In the item on the dismissal (resignation) of Mostar University Chancellor Marko Tadic, in addition to failing to make a clear distinction between resignation and dismissal (actually acceptance of resignation, although in an illegal way), this event was not developed from a political aspect, nor did the item say why Tadic resigned.

The effect of an exclusive item is noticeable concerning the item announcing that Jadranko Prlic would leave the Croat Democratic Union. The main dailies in Sarajevo carried the item and/or followed up on it, but no paper made much progress in learning anything new on the issue more than the elements offered by ONASA.

ONASA tends to use a number of sources and its practice is to present opposing positions. It does not mix commentary with information. On this point, the Agency does not feature its own commentaries, nor does it carry them from other media.

The ONASA service does not publish information that incites ethnic or any other kind of discrimination, nor does it use inflammatory language. In the monitored period the only delicate news item in this regard is a piece on the commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the Sarajevo Markale Market massacre. In defining the perpetrators of the crime, ONASA wrote that the projectile was fired "from Serb positions." As for the victims, it said they "died," although the wording "were killed" is completely justified. It is not easy to give precise definition of the perpetrators of the crime, without prejudicing and inciting hatred. For example, Vecernje novine used on this occasion the terms "were killed" and "enemy positions." However, in this case it would have been most acceptable to say these were positions manned by the such and such Corps of the Republika Srpska Army and to remind readers that the Corps commander is on trial in The Hague for killing civilians in Sarajevo.

Despite the above remarks, which strive for professionalism perfectionism, the general assessment of the ONASA service in the monitored period and in general is beyond doubt positive. The essential professional norms are adhered to, and therefore the listed deviations do not harm the basic impression of insistence on professionalism. Information is consistent and in logical order. The lead and the developed part of the item  (explanations, background, context) are recognizable.

ONASA is a developing news agency that has acquired a good reputation in Bosnia-Herzegovina, neighboring countries and wider. It is used, among others, by diplomatic and other international missions to BiH. ONASA is the only news agency in Bosnia-Herzegovina which, in light of its legal and professional status, may aspire to become, conditionally saying, a national agency at Bosnian-Herzegovinian level (here the term "national" stands for - general, at country level). However, it is obvious that in the coming period investments in ONASA Agency must primarily be directed into its staff - reinforcing the correspondent network in the country and abroad, strengthening the editorial and journalist core in the newsroom, professional training and upgrading of staff, stimulating inventive journalism, high professionalism and exclusivity.

3. CONCLUSION

 The aim of the research was to give an objective evaluation of the structure, character and quality of services produced by News Agency ONASA from Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Analysis was performed through a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods, in the period from August 24 to September 22, 2000. The following results were obtained: 

1. Of the total number of news items produced by ONASA Agency, 71.4% (1,477 items) fall in the General Service, 17.1% (355 items) fall in the Business Service, and 11.5% (238 items) fall in the Electoral Service. With regards to the monitored period of 30 days, one may say that the quantity and percentage of news items from the General and Electoral Services are certainly too low, which is significant in view of the fact that these two services are paid separately. ONASA should put more effort in this regard and advance these two services to maintain its position on the information market. 

2. Of the total number of sources used, in 59.8% of cases (1,239 news items) ONASA produced the items itself. These news items mostly deal with the region of the former Yugoslavia, which may be part of a media and market strategy. The second source by frequency of use in ONASA news items is Reuters, whose items ONASA usually carries when it gives information on world events. 

3. In covering events in Bosnia-Herzegovina, it is noticeable that ONASA gives the BiH Federation twice as much attention as it gives the Republika Srpska. Namely, out of a total of 1,439 items dealing with issues from Bosnia-Herzegovina, 702 items or 48.7% refer to the BiH Federation, and only 307 items or 21.4% deal with issues from the Republika Srpska. Issues dealing with Bosnia-Herzegovina as a whole are the topic of 430 items or 29.9%. As we have said earlier, this problem indicates that there is still strong communication segregation within Bosnia-Herzegovina which prevents cooperation and opening of media, but also points to a weakness in ONASA's business strategy, which is depriving itself of a potential market by insufficiently covering events in the Republika Srpska. 

4. In analyzing the topical character of news items, it was found that priority is given to those aspects of life which are of key significance for Bosnia-Herzegovina: the issue of politics and authorities, political party activities, international community activities, refugees, etc. The situation is similar regarding the presence of important political figures operating in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Biggest coverage is given to the entity prime ministers, Bicakcic and Dodik, US Ambassador Miller, BiH Foreign Affairs Minister Prlic, and BiH Council of Ministers Chairman Tusevljak. In analyzing news items on international community activities in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the results reflect the significance of certain organizations for life in Bosnia-Herzegovina: biggest coverage by far is given to the activities of the OSCE, OHR, UN, and SFOR/NATO. In other words, the topical character of ONASA news items is a faithful reflection of Bosnia-Herzegovina's reality and the engagement of political figures and their institutions with regards to media.  

5. In analyzing daily events, it was found that ONASA covers around 74% of important events of the day. This means that out of an average of 14 events of the day, ONASA covers 11 of them, while three remain without coverage. As this is a young developing agency, we can say that ONASA has satisfactory coverage of events, but this balance can certainly improve. 

6. Analysis of how much ONASA services are used only dealt with daily press. It was found that usage of ONASA by BiH daily press (Oslobodjenje, Dnevni avaz, Vecernje novine, Glas srpski and Nezavisne novine) ranged from 2% to 9% depending on the media in question. As we could have predicted, BiH Federation dailies carry three times more ONASA news items than papers from the Republika Srpska. As the analysis did not encompass broadcasters, other press and various institutions, it may be concluded that overall use of ONASA services is far bigger than our analysis shows. It is also clear that ONASA is used far more in the BiH Federation than in the Republika Srpska, which is a good guideline for further development of the Agency's business strategy. 

7. Quantitative analysis, along with all the above remarks, also showed that the journalistic quality of ONASA services certainly deserves a positive evaluation. As we have already said, the fundamental standards of professional journalism are applied, and the listed deviations do not hurt the principal impression of quality of journalistic work carried out by this agency. Information is consistent and logical, and the very structure of news items is in accordance with the defined standards. However, the registered flaws certainly show that there is need for further education of the Agency's staff. 

All in all, the analysis showed that ONASA has considerable potential to become the first news agency covering the entire territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and to take significant part in covering news from the region of the former Yugoslavia. It is precisely this regional orientation that may prove to be a good long-term development strategy for the Agency. However, in its further development, priority should be given to developing the correspondent network in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in particular in the Republika Srpska, which would then be a precondition for further development of the Agency. In addition to developing the correspondent network in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the rest of the world, particular attention should also be given to additional training of staff and stimulating professionalism, inventive journalism and exclusivity.

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