DEVELOPMENT OF STINA
INTO AN ALTERNATIVE REGIONAL AGENCY

I SIGNIFICANCE OF STRENGTHENING THE STINA PROJECTOrganization, development and strengthening of one alternative journalistic agency in Croatia have a multiple meaning. Considering that in Croatia there is only one more agency, the state agency HINA, an increased development of STINA would create a competition from independent sources. State agency information is often incomplete and subjective when it is given to state media which write about the problems of protection of human rights, refugee returns, multi-ethnic relations, the minority positions, media freedom, freedom of speech, polemics in respect to privatization and corruption, and problems generally connected to the democratic process and the development of a civil society. Strengthening of STINA as an alternative agency also has a special significance for the parliamentary elections in Croatia this year. It is well known that the opposition parties and the democratic control of the elections do not have the proper representation in the state-controlled media. STINA as an alternative agency in the local media may contribute to the more balanced media treatment of all election actors and to the strengthening of democratic processes.

As an alternative agency STINA is ready to offer its services at lower cost which enables smaller and local media to use agency services, which was not the case to now.

Finally, STINA is a Croatian media with the most developed collaboration with independent media in all states of former Yugoslavia and further strengthening of STINA will aid in the development of this collaboration. Exchange of quality and objective information among the independent media in the states of the former Yugoslavia is an important factor of normalization in these regions.

II BACKGROUND

STINA in the passed period had a very successful and extensive growth. From a media house which could be defined by its work as "an agency which offers journalistic services" STINA is progressively developing into a classic news agency with a well defined offer of its media services (daily service, weekly service, phono-service), a correspondence network and a profiled policy of its editors.

An increasing number of new clients seeks STINAs services but also a systematic and qualitative following of events in Croatia and its vicinity with background analysis and information which are not available in the so-called state media. Such demands require STINA to increase and improve the level of its information, further develop its correspondence network and that it equips itself technically in order to satisfy those demands.

STINA is also met with demands from potential clients from abroad who are seeking information in the English language which with key information would have analytical background which would allow foreign clients to have an adequate insight as to the situation and processes in these regions.

In order to satisfy those requests STINA has to profile itself completely as a classical agency of a medium size, which in that framework could satisfy with key parameters of an on time, objective and analytical agency work.

In this situation STINAs priority is that its extensive development channels into a new phase which would primarily be directed completely and qualitatively in covering Croatian regions and in adequate covering of main events and processes in the Croatian area and areas of her concern. This would allow STINA in a gradual development to become an alternative, relevant and competitive informational source for Croatia and wider.

• Development of STINA agency into a media organisation of a medium size and a regional significance.
• Improve informing from regions of Croatia and relevant vicinity which with its quality, timely and alternative contents and sources would be able to compete with state media in the media market.
• Increase the number of clients in Croatia, but also abroad in order to secure an objective media picture in regards to happenings in these regions, and gradually take over the media air.
• Increase the number of clients which over a long determined period would enable a full commercial activity.

1. Establishing and development an adequate correspondence net in Croatia, with a larger number of co-workers in the field in major correspondence centres
2. Improvement of the staff numbers in the central headquarters, which would allow full time work in shifts and quality editorial coverage of individual sectors
3. Improvement of the correspondence network outside of Croatia, more precisely, development of proper exchange with similar independent agencies in order to cover relevant informational spheres qualitatively
4. Establishing the archive-documentation segment - The strengthening of this segment also has multiple significance. Primarily, this is for creating the right conditions for the more successful analytical and research oriented work which is more frequently demanded from our clients, thus making STINA more competitive in the media market. STINA will also offer the use of this documentation to other media which due to expense of services or monopolistic relationships have problems in getting to archive sources. A special significance in the development of this segment is that it will allow the realization of individual press-clippings and thematic publications on different problems (refugee problems, corruption, privatization, elections, etc) which are more frequently sought and especially by the international organizations.
5. Development of a phono-service for independent radio stations - Primarily the word is about greater collaboration with local radio stations with our strengthened sound service and radio adaptable news service. This segment will have a special place in the context of the pre-election campaign in Croatia. STINA is preparing a special election service whose goal is to follow up on the democratic control of the elections and to enable a fair game between the parties. In this context the radio stations with adequate informational editions may serve as a balance beam for establishing a stable media relationship.
6. Development of a special economic news section - It is generally believed that in the exchange of information among the independent media in the states of former Yugoslavia there is no sufficient information in regards to economic movements or economic information. Especially the information that is in the function of developing more normal conditions for an economic collaboration among the states.
7. Technical equipping of the agency to meet new development plans
8. Establishing of a web page on Internet

Finances to be provided by Medienhilfe Ex-Jugoslawien: 41,670 CHF

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