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RADIO CONTACT PLUS Mitrovica – 101.9 MHz FM

Pro-active …radio Contact  Plus…radio for Community…Radio which brings people together…  

Kurzfassung deutsch: Radio KONTAKT und Radio KONTAKT PLUS - Multiethnisches Radio für alle Bevölkerungsgruppen in Kosovo

• Background

The implementation of a peace deal for Kosovo has been slowed down and burdened with myriad problems. What makes it particularly difficult is the absolute lack of will on the part of ethnic groups living in Kosovo to build a multi-ethnic, sustainable community in the province. NATO intervened to protect Kosovo Albanians against the ex-Belgrade regime’s terror, but the prosecution of Kosovo Serbs and other non-Albanians seems to be the major problem at the moment. The highest-ranking international officials made it perfectly clear that they would respect the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244, and insist that Kosovo should be built as a multi-ethnic, democratic community. Also, they pledged their support and protection to all inhabitants of Kosovo, regardless of their ethnicity, and promised to back the return of displaced persons to the province.

In such circumstances in April 2000, the “Contact Plus” radio station started to operate in Northern part of Mitrovica as a branch office of Pristina-based Contact radio, with chief goal to provide accurate and professional information for Kosovo’s citizens living in the areas of Kosovska Mitrovica, Zvecan, Leposavic and Zubin Potok. The radio was to promote coexistence in completely divided Mitrovica. During this period the radio had basic equipment, and 10 young students from Kosovska Mitrovica succeed to develop 24-hour radio program. In August USAID/IOM granted Contact Plus with professional equipment, and after installment and premises reconstruction (building the studio), the radio started with new program scheduled and new more professional staff.

Pre-elections period in Yugoslavia initiated many problems and tensions in this Serbian enclave, as far as many radical pro-Milosevic Serbs decided to fight against democratization. The Contact plus radio was treated in that time like enemy, traitor and our journalist had threatened, because of their objective and professional journalism. Despite all problems Contact plus became the most popular radio station in that area, thanks to programme schedule which covers all relevant topics. Also, the Contac Plus became real informative center for other colleges journalist working in Kosovo.

The permanent working licence Contact plus got in December 2000 and new frequency - 101.9 MHz FM. The Contact Plus radio is member of ANEM, CONTACT Network, and ONEWORLD Radio southeast Europe.

• Description

The “Contact Plus” has completed broadcasting studio and aerial/ transmission system, so there are good technical possibilities for emitting the programme; coverage area is 50 km; 100.000 people.

The “Contact Plus” radio station broadcasts its own programme by 7 a.m, flesh news each half hour, re-broadcasts the Belgrade-based B-92 programmes (morning and daily informative radio shows), BBC, DW, RFE news services, and daily central Contact Plus informative programme – 16,00 p.m. The Contact plus cooperate with news agencies BETA, SENSE, FoNET, KosovoLive.

The programme is aired in Serbian language, with broadcasting special radio shows produced by and for minorities –Kosovar Roma and Turkish (to be prepared). The “Contact Plus” tries to be a bridge to convey messages between Albanian and Kosovo’s minorities, and to call for dialogue and coexistence. The radio also participate in joint radio shows such as the “Most” (Bridge), together with radio stations of Banja Luka, Novi Sad and Pristina. This radio show is for and about refugees and IDPs in Kosovo, FRY, and broader in whole ex-YU region. All programe is divided in three sectors:

1/ Informative programme: Interview – daily; Contra angle; 028 Circle (news from Mitrovica region); Open studio;

2/ Educational programme: NGO Messenger (twice a week), Civil Society Glossary (daily);  From the women point of view (daily); Folk stories (daily); Mitrovica – hind sight;

3/ Community (city) programme: City hall stories; People talk; City info; Info 028 (daily)

On Sundays and Saturdays, the radio station broadcasts special radio shows (by) for: children, women initiatives, civic initiatives, refugees and IDPs, and open communication in the region in collaborations with partners in Belgrade, Novi Sad (Vojvodina), Macedonia and Banja Luka (BiH).

The Editor in Chief and Director is Nikola Tomic, who developed program schedule and worked as a coach in several radio stations from Contact Network (Contact Pristina, Radio 021 Novi Sad, Contact Banja Luka). Contact Plus staff comprises young, open-minded journalist (mostly young women) prepared for cooperation with Albanian colleagues and Albanian radio station in Mitrovica. Some cooperation realized in last year with GLOBI radio station and Radio Mitrovica. although both sides consider that too dangerous. We plan to start conflict resolution project with Albanian colleagues as soon as tensions in Mitrovica decrease.

• Target Group And Expected Results

To secure the flow of objective information is to secure oxygen for democracy. It is impossible to build a sustainable community, particularly a multi-ethnic one where ethnic differences are to be accepted as advantages, without free media. The “Contact Plus” target group encompasses all citizens living in the above-mentioned areas, while an emphasis will be put on the education of Kosovo’s youth. It is necessary to build and develop confidence between international representatives now active in Kosovo and the local population. Our activity is to produce positive results and generate positive processes. The radio will support civic initiatives and non-governmental organisations, particularly those advocating the processes of social reconstruction, reconciliation and trust building.

• In year 2001. we plan:

1/ To initiate networking of radio stations broadcasting in Serbian language in Kosovo; In March 2001, the Contact Plus in cooperation with OSCE Media Department will organize networking meeting in Srtpce (Brezovica) for 19 radio station, plus 5 local radio station which still have no license (from Serbian enclaves); the main goals of networking are improving (standardization) of informative programme, sharing special radio shows for DPs and vulnerable group, producing human rights programming; production of joint radio shows – reports from enclaves; production of joint radio shows for Kosovar Roma. By networking we will try to achieve higher quality of radio programme with less waste of effort.

2/ To established KOSOV@ NEWS AGENCY (in Serbian language) as a part of radio Contact Plus project, as far as radio already provides with information colleges on voluntary basis as a part of professional solidarity.

3/ to organize training courses (basic) for journalist beginners; Roma journalists; children journalist who can prepare their own radio-shows. During last two months Contact plus broadcasted children radio show “Little People in Radio” prepared by 5-8 talented children from 8-12 years old.

Now radio works without land telephone lines, with luck of electricity and limited possibilities for movement and local travel as far as we have no car. 

• Program Schedule: Monday-Friday

6.45         BBC news service in Serbian

7.00         Identification

7.01         Morning over the city

7.10         Weather forecast

7.20         Daily review (short review of last day news)

7.30         Folk stories (religious legends)

7.45         From the women point of view

8.00         City hall story

8.20         INFO 028 (Mitrovica region news - Leposavic, Zubin Potok, Zvecan, Southern Mitrovica )

8.30         Morning Concert Contact Plus

9.00         B-92 Morning info radio show

9.30         City INFO (servise information from Mitrovica)

10.00       News – Contact Plus        

10.05       Hit of day (classic r’n’r, or pop hit, after news all day)

10.10       Weather forecast

10.20       People talk (interview, interesting stories…)

10.30       Flash news - Contact Plus

10.35       Press club (press review)

11.00       News – Contact Plus

11.10       City INFO

11.30       Deutsche welle – news service in Serbian

12.15       Review sight (culture)

12.30       Flash news – Contact Plus

12.35       People talk ®

12.45       City hall story ®

13.00       News – Contact Plus

13.10       Open studio – Guests, debates, discussions (open lines)

14.00       News – Contact Plus

14.15       Info 028

14.30       Flash news – Contact Plus

14.35       NGO Messenger (promotion of third sector, education for civil society)

15.00       News – Contact Plus

15.15       Civil society Glossary

15.30       Afternoon concert – Contact Plus

16.00       Centre 028 – Daily informative bulletin Contact Plus

16.45       From the women point of view ®

17.00       B-92 Daily informative Bulletin

17.45       Review sight (culture) ®

18.00       BBC news service in Serbian

18.35       NGO Messenger ®

19.00       News – Contact Plus

19.10       DJ hour, sport, music, film

20.00       News – Contact Plus

20.10       Open studio ®

21.00       News – Contact Plus

21.05       Contact Plus Programme – Open telephone lines for listeners, light topics

22.00       News – Contact Plus

22.05       Night programme – Music, Let’s talk about…..

• Weekend Programme schedule Saturday

Regular informative programme

Special Programme:

9.00         Katarza (B92 production)

11.10       Little People in Radio –Radio show by and for children

• Sunday

Regular informative programme

Special programme:

8.00         Po Laco Drom – radio show for Roma which promotes Romano culture and music

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