The (new) Media Project – RTV21

SUMMARY

Prior to being shut down and having its staff forcibly deported from Kosovo, Radio-TV 21 in Pristina was one of only three independent electronic media outlets in Kosovo. On 24 March 1999, Serb forces destroyed the Radio-TV 21 studio, production facilities and all its equipment, including its Internet-delivered independent radio service (Statement by Aferdita Kelmendi (Albanian language, 36''). Aferdita Kelmendi, the founder and director of Radio-TV 21, has served as a reporter for Radio Pristina, Radio France, and for five years contributed to the Voice of America. Throughout the past year, she maintained a network of independent journalists throughout Kosovo, many of whom are still in hiding or have already been executed. Ms. Kelmendi also founded the Media Project, an investigative journalism program for young women, following her participation in the Fourth World Conference on Women 1995. The brand of professional, independent journalism practiced by Ms. Kelmendi and Radio-TV 21 is progressive in its attention to conflict resolution, and inclusive of multiple points of view on every issue.

Radio-TV 21 Objective: Under the leadership of Ms. Kelmendi, Radio-TV 21 plans to reconstitute its staff in Macedonia and re-establish its network of correspondents within Kosovo, Albania and Macedonia to begin production of news and information programming for the growing Kosovar refugee population in the countries surrounding Kosovo, as well as for those Kosovars remaining within the province.

In order to restart Radio-TV 21 production and transmission, financial and technical assistance is necessary to allow the station to establish an office and studio in Macedonia, to provide salaries and communication infrastructure to Radio-TV 21 staff and correspondents, and to purchase the equipment needed to produce radio and television programming for broadcast over internet, satellite and terrestrial broadcast mechanisms. Radio 21 plans to resume internet-based broadcasts immediately, followed by terrestrial transmission of Radio 21 programming through local broadcast entities in Macedonia and Albania. TV 21 will also act as a television production house, initiating production of television news reports and documentary features once its staff can begin work and the technical equipment is acquired. When permissive conditions allow, Radio-TV 21 will move its entire operation back to Pristina, returning to its position as one of the leading independent media organizations in Kosovo.

PHASE ONE (BEGINNING IMMEDIATELY): RADIO-TV 21 RE-CONSTITUTION

During this initial phase, to begin immediately, Radio-TV 21 core staff will re-establish contact with the Radio 21 network of correspondents in Macedonia, Albania and within Kosovo itself. Financial assistance from donors will be used for support (in the form of staff salaries and advances) for the RTV 21 core staff and correspondents.

RTV 21 staff will identify a specific location for establishing a Macedonia central office – to be used as an administration and production base while conditions restrict the return of RTV 21 to Pristina. From the RTV 21 office, the staff will begin to take steps regarding compliance with all legal and registration requirements – including payment of respective fees – necessary for production of programming from within Macedonia.

During this period, RTV 21 staff will also compile the technical specifications for equipment needed to produce news and information programming for broadcast over Internet systems, terrestrial transmitters, and direct-to-home satellite. The staff will also identify where equipment may be purchased on the local Macedonian market.

Categories for Support during Phase One:

Staff Salaries, Registration Fees, Legal Fees, Rent of Office Space and Communication, Infrastructure, Office Equipment and Furniture, Communication Equipment, Computers, Vehicle

PHASE TWO (BEGINNING IN MAY 1999): PROGRAM PRODUCTION AND INITIATION OF BROADCASTS

During Phase Two, RTV 21 will purchase the equipment needed for program production and office administration. With newly-purchased computer equipment, using terrestrial telecommunication lines and an eventual ISDN connection, the Radio 21 staff will bring the Radio 21 website –www.radio21.net – up to date. Reports from Macedonia have been posted on the site by Radio 21 correspondents since 7 April. With its correspondent network re-established, Radio 21 will resume its complete slate of daily Albanian and English-language news reports. This Internet-based audio transmission can begin immediately upon installation of computer equipment at the RTV 21 office in Macedonia. Part of this effort may include joint production of radio programming with local Macedonian radio stations, utilizing existing facilities at a local station prior to purchase and operation of RTV 21 production equipment. RTV 21 has begun to discuss possibilities for cooperation (in both radio and television production and broadcasting) with Radio-TV ERA in Skopje, Radio-TV ART in Struga and one station in Tetova. Consultations with these stations and others will continue throughout the coming weeks.

Also during this second phase, RTV 21 will seek legal assistance to determine the legal environment in which RTV 21 can produce programming – both in cooperation with local Macedonian radio and television organizations, and as an independent entity. RTV 21 will need to establish the conditions under which such RTV 21 produced reports can be broadcast – again, both as part of local Macedonian station broadcasts, and possibly as an independent entity within Macedonia.

At this time, RTV 21 will re-establish contacts with news agencies, regional broadcast entities and international media organizations to begin purchase of newswire services, and initiate exchanges with media stations and networks.

Categories for Support during Phase Two:

Staff Salaries, Legal Fees, Rent of Office Space and Communication Infrastructure, Computers, Radio Production Equipment, Radio Production Supplies, News Service Fees

PHASE THREE (BEGINNING MID-MAY 1999): BROADCAST OPTIONS

By Phase Three, Radio 21 should have fully resumed Internet-based broadcasting, utilizing RealAudio files, several times each day. At this time, RTV 21 will investigate possibilities for broadcast of locally-produced programming:

Terrestrial Broadcast Capability – RTV 21 will determine what alternatives exist for transmission of its radio programs, within the Macedonian legal and operational broadcast environments. Such options may include Radio 21 programs rebroadcast within local Macedonian radio program schedules, joint Radio 21-local station program broadcasts, Radio 21 programs incorporated into Voice of America and/or Radio Free Europe broadcasts, or as an fully independent entity.

Part of this effort will entail collection of information on terrestrial transmitter possibilities in Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, and elsewhere throughout the region. RTV-21 will work with IREX and other organizations in reviewing existing transmitter options, including re-broadcast of Radio 21 programs over local station transmissions in Albania and Montenegro.

RTV 21 will also work with ANEM representatives in Europe to investigate possibilities through Radio Netherlands or the BBC to resume the direct-to-home satellite broadcasts (previously transmitted over the BBC World – Hot Bird frequencies) that can reach endangered groups within Kosovo as well as communities throughout the region. Radio 21 produced 15-minute programs broadcast via satellite from January to March, and will investigate the possibility of expanding program length during this period of crisis.

During this phase, RTV 21 will begin to re-establish its television production activities. After television production equipment is purchased, TV 21 will have the ability to create locally reported news features for television news media throughout the region, as well as for international news network programs (such as CNN World Report). TV 21 will also begin production of documentary features that focus on the humanitarian and human rights emergency created by the forced deportation of Kosovars to Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro.

Categories for Support during Phase Three:

Staff Salaries, Legal Fees, Rent of Office Space and Communication Infrastructure, News Service Fees, Radio and Television Production Supplies, Television Production Equipment, Second Vehicle Purchase

TRAINING

In order to accelerate the initial start-up period, Radio-TV 21 will examine possibilities for working in conjunction with IREX and other organizations specializing in media training to place an on-site advisor at Radio-TV 21. The majority of the RTV 21 journalists and correspondents have extensive journalism experience in print media, but expertise must be developed to expand on the existing electronic media skills of the core staff. The on-site advisor would conduct an intensive training program, building upon the expertise that currently exists at RTV 21, to maximize the station’s efforts to disseminate news and information to the Kosovar Albanian community living in refugee camps and in guest homes throughout Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro. IREX will help to identify appropriate trainer(s) that can quickly establish a presence on the ground at Radio-TV 21.

RTV 21 PROGRAM CONTENT

During the past year, Radio 21 has aired locally reported and produced news and information programs from Kosovo for its Kosovar audience – both through the internet-based broadcasts and, in 1999, through the twice per day direct-to-home satellite program. Radio-TV 21 will maintain its editorial policy of providing its Kosovar and international audience with balanced reporting on all aspects of the Kosovo crisis, including information on Albanian and Serb political forces, as well as reports on all the ethnic communities affected by the conflict.

Radio-TV 21 programming also reflects the needs of its audience, focusing on the issues of primary concern to Kosovar women and children. RTV 21 will target the needs of Kosovars forced to live in Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro by providing news and information for refugee communities, specifically regarding humanitarian aid and medical care available to Kosovars in camps and in guest homes. RTV 21 will also contribute to efforts to reunify families and civic communities that were divided during the deportation to neighboring countries. RTV 21 staff will travel to the various deportee camps and local communities to gather information and create a presence for Kosovar electronic media among the displaced population.

As its programming develops with the needs of the deported population in Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro, RTV 21 will expand its editorial content to include issues of broad interest to the target audience. Programs focusing on political actors and events, cultural and community development, education and health issues will be produced in accordance with RTV 21 plans formulated prior to its forced relocation to Macedonia.

RTV 21 PROFESSIONAL STAFF

The Radio-TV 21 organization is made up of a core staff of journalists with many years of experience in independent radio journalism working in tandem with younger media professionals to maintain age and gender balance throughout the team. In its re-constituted form, Radio-TV 21 will utilize the talents of 16 radio and television journalists and 10 field correspondents working with the production and administrative staffs (all Kosovar) to broadcast news and information programming. Radio-TV 21 will also act as a mobilizing force for younger journalists seeking to return to their former occupations, by including young media professionals in training programs.

go to top

P.O. Box, CH-8031 Zürich, Switzerland
Phone +41-1-272 46 37,  Fax +41-1-272 46 82, email: info@MEDIENHILFE.ch