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NAME OF THE APPLICANT ORGANISATION:
VIZIJA d.o.o.
BUMERANG, Democratically engaged biweekly periodical
ADDRESS:
 16, Vijenac A. Cesarca, 31000 Osijek,
Republic of Croatia
TELEPHONE/FAX:
phone/fax: ++ 385 31 127 677
E-mail: BUMERANG_OS@ZAMIR-ZG.ztn.apc.org
PERSON IN CHARGE:
Mr. Goran Flauder, Editor in chief/director
SUMMARY:
The "Bumerang" is the only regional periodical published east of Zagreb. It is
under influence of no political parties and for that reason it is under pressure of
national and local public bodies.
The "Bumerang" is the only media informing about events that authorities try to
present differently or not to present at all by the means of their media or other media
they control over.
The "Bumerang" is the only periodical in Slavonia that breaks the leading party
monopoly over media. In this way the parties in opposition can inform the public about
their own actions or react on leading parties policy: complete information reach the
readers and enables them to view subjects in various ways, both from the regional and
national point of view. Although the "Bumerang" is read primarily in urban
areas, there are some subjects discussing problems of the people living in the country
(e.g. "Travelling through Slavonia").
BACKGROUND:
The first issue of the "Bumerang" appeared in April 1994. The periodical was
founded by the private-owned company VIZIJA d.o.o. and presently is existing as a part of
its activities as well.
The "Bumerang" is a periodical published twice a month, with an average
circulation of 5.000 copies (circulation varies in a range of 4.500-5.500 copies). It
writes about problems concerning political, economic, cultural and social life in the
Republic of Croatia, especially in its eastern part. The "Bumerang" promotes a
critical way of writing in the connection with the described events. It puts emphasis on
the evident disregard of democratic values and legal rights. Any repression or unfair
discrimination or violation of human rights (based on nationalism and religious
differences), the misuse of political power and privilege will certainly find its place in
the "Bumerang". Whenever possible, every topic is documented by facsimiles of
documents or photographs and eye-witnesses' accounts.
Subjects are discussed in forms comments, reports, interviews with respected and competent
persons (the most of the interviewed are not members of the leading party for they are not
fond of talking to the independent media).
In the "Bumerang" topics concerning the Eastern part of the Republic of Croatia
are primarily discussed. The global subjects that are of global interest to the population
of Eastern Slavonia are discussed, too. The "Bumerang" contributors report from
various Slavonian towns (\akovo, Valpovo, Donji Miholjac, Vinkovci, Slatina, Po`ega,
Slavonski Brod, Nova Gradi{ka), but there are contributors who write articles from Zagreb
and Split. In its every issue there can be found articles on the current events in the
republics formerly part of Yugoslavia (with emphasis on Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and
Herzegovina): information are given by AIM. The "Bumerang" is also engaged in
controversy on various subjects that cannot be discussed in other media.
For its political point of view, the "Bumerang" was forced to change the
printing-house: the "Bumerang" was previously printed in "Glas
Slavonije", Osijek (owned by HDZ - the leading party), but now we have to print it in
a private printing-house in Samobor.
The "Bumerang" has steady cooperation with AIM, STINA (the independent press
agency from Split, Croatia), and a certain number of free-lance journalists. It has a
cooperation in marketing activities - mutual publishing/broadcasting of advertisements for
free - with the "Feral Tribune" (the independent weekly from Split, Croatia),
"Gradski radio" (the city radio in Osijek, Croatia), and "Radio Donji
Miholjac" (the radio station in Donji Miholjac, Croatia).
The "Bumerang" is a member of the Croatian Journalist Association (HND) and the
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
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