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BIWEEKLY REPUBLIKA
NAME OF THE APPLICANT ORGANISATION:
REPUBLIKA: The Newspaper of Civic Self-liberation
PERSON RESPONSIBLE (MR/MRS/MS):
Dr. Neboj{a Popov
POSITION HELD IN THE ORGANISATION:
Editor-in-Chief
ADDRESS:
Zahumska 7, 11 000 Belgrade
mailing address:
 Media Center, Knez Mihajlova 25/I,
11 000 Belgrade
TELEPHONE/FAX.:
+ 381 11 628 767Republika: http://www.yurope.com/zines/republika
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PROJECT SUMMARY:
The main objective of Republika is to enable citizens to express their views and opinions
on public issues, facilitate communication among them and support actions and initiatives
to reform the society and the state, all with the ultimate goal of creating a society
based on respect of human rights; market-oriented economy and parliamentary democracy;
sexual, religious and ethnic tolerance; and cooperation among individuals, nations and
states. At the same time, in view of the fact that the war started in this region, the
paper offers an opportunity for all citizens and their associations and organizations to
publicly oppose all elements of fear, hatred and violence in our society. For this reason
the heading of the paper always contains two declarations that have by now become
inseparably linked to the name of Republika: „The Newspaper of Civic
Self-liberation", and „Against the Elements of Fear, Hatred and Violence".
The paper was founded in 1989 by the Society for Yugoslav Democratic Initiative whose goal
was to promote normative and institutional conditions for nonviolent resolution of crisis
in former Yugoslavia through legalization of the freedom of the media, organization of
political parties, and institution of parliamentary democracy. The regime was not
favorably inclined towards either the Society or the paper. Thus, they had to move several
times: from Zagreb, via Podgorica, to Belgrade, where the paper was finally registered in
March 1991. Until then Republika was published only occasionally (thanks to the personal
contributions of the editors and associates) - a total of 14 issues in all. After its
registration it was published regularly (bimonthly) - 137 regular and 16 special issues up
to date - with circulation of 5000 (occasionally 10 000 and once even 15000). In addition,
some ten books were published, between 1000 and 2000 copies each.
Within Republika the first issues of What do You Want? (a high school paper), Voice (of
the Center for Antiwar Action) and Right to Pictures and Words were published. Our
articles are often reprinted by the daily Nasa Borba), occasionally by the weeklies Vreme
and Monitor (Podgorica), Puls (Skopje), Republika and Slobodna Bosna (Sarajevo), Front
Slobode (Tuzla), Novi Prelom (Banja Luka), Feral Tribune (Split), Arkzin (Zagreb), and
Perspektive (Frankfurt), and English language translations appear in Belgrade’s TOD
Newsletter. Paper’s texts are often quoted in newspapers, magazines and books, both
domestically and abroad. Of course, the paper also reproduces texts from other sources.
The circle of Republika’s permanent and periodic associates numbers some 200
journalists, scholars, and citizens from a variety of professions and viewpoints, who are
willing to write even without receiving the customary fee. There is no permanent, let
alone abundant, source of financing. The main sources of incomes are subscriptions, reader
contributions and occasional gifts and donations. Republika is regularly delivered to
close to 3.000 subscribers, most of them in Serbia, then in Croatia, Montenegro,
Macedonia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with an increasing number of addresses in
Western Europe, America and Australia. According to our records, individual copies are
read by several people.
The paper being a bimonthly, more space is dedicated to analytical and research texts and
less to reports on current events. In the last year alone, the paper included more than 20
„serialized books" resulting from the three-year research project „Trauma
and Catharsis in Recollection of History" (in collaboration with the New Serbian
Forum and the Center for Antiwar Action). Special attention was dedicated to the
„alternative scene" - the anti-war groups and their actions, peace initiatives,
and promotions of human rights, civil society and parliamentary democracy - something that
in other media, especially those controlled by the regime, receives insufficient (and
sometimes none or very negative) coverage. In the regular section „Events"
ongoing processes in the society are analyzed, while „Everyday Events" covers
more important happenings between two issues. Also reports on books and magazines
dedicated to human rights, anti-war and peace initiatives are regularly published. The
last page is reserved to human rights commentary of present times.
BACKGROUND:
The first issue of Republika was published in March 1989. The paper was founded by the
Society for Yugoslav Democratic Initiative (UJDI) whose goal was to promote normative and
institutional conditions for nonviolent resolution of crisis of our common state,
Yugoslavia, and its member republics, through legalization of the freedom of the media,
organization of political parties, and institution of parliamentary democracy. The regime
was not favorably inclined towards either the Society or the paper. Thus, they had to move
several times: from Zagreb, via Podgorica, to Belgrade, where the paper was finally
registered in March 1991. The founder (UJDI) had transferred all right to the Council and
Editorial Board of the paper itself. Until then Republika was published only occasionally
(thanks to the personal contributions of the editors and associates) - a total of 14
issues in all. After its registration it was published regularly (bimonthly) - 137 regular
and 16 special issues up to date - with circulation of 5000 (occasionally 10 000 and once
even 15000). In addition, some ten books were published, between 1000 and 2000 copies
each.
While the nonviolent conflict resolution had still seemed possible, our main objective was
to create the climate for modern economy and parliamentary democracy. Initiatives were
started and supported for appropriate legislation, free elections in the Federation and
the republics, for organization into societies and political parties. Some 30 associations
and parties from the whole country were organized into „Pre-parliament of
Yugoslavia". Special attention was dedicated to the „neuralgic" issues
within our crisis, such as the problem of Kosovo to which three round table discussions
were dedicated in 1990, resulting in numerous publications including one book by a group
of authors (Kosovo Knot - Unravel or Cut?). When the war broke out, we initiated the round
table of the regime and the opposition, based in Sarajevo, which between July 1991 and
February 1992 held numerous discussions on „Prevention of Total War". Republika
covered this in great detail and even published a special issue under that title which
was, in the form of a pamphlet, translated into English language. The editors and
associates of the paper participated in founding of antiwar institutions (the first being
the Belgrade Center for Antiwar Action in July 1991), organized protests against the war
(with 2000 to 5000 participants) with continuous coverage of these activities in the
newspaper itself. The editors and associates also participated in founding and activities
of the group „Living in Sarajevo", within which, since the beginning of 1993 and
throughout the war years, members of different associations and political parties organize
protests against the killing of citizens and destruction of cities and provide
humanitarian aid and communication for citizens of Bosnia. The group organized several
visits to Sarajevo and Tuzla and return visits of the citizens of those cities to
Belgrade. Republika covered the preparations, the visits themselves and their results in
great deal.
Throughout the war years Republika supported new independent media and was among the
founders of their organizations (the Association of Independent Media, the Independent
Journalist Association of Serbia, Media Center, Local Press). We announced their start,
wrote about their work and difficulties they encountered, and published four supplements
dedicated to this subject.
Within Republika the first issues of What do You Want? (a high school paper), Voice (of
the Center for Antiwar Action) and Right to Pictures and Words were published. Our
articles are often reprinted by the daily Borba (presently called Na{a Borba),
occasionally by the weeklies Vreme and Monitor (Podgorica), Puls (Skopje), Republika and
Slobodna Bosna (Sarajevo), Front Slobode (Tuzla), Novi Prelom (Banja Luka), Feral Tribune
(Split), Arkzin (Zagreb), and Perspektive (Frankfurt), and English language translations
appear in Belgrade’s TOD Newsletter. Our texts are often quoted in newspapers,
magazines and books, both domestically and abroad. Of course, we also reproduce texts from
other sources.
The circle of Republika’s permanent and periodic associates numbers some 200
journalists, scholars, and citizens from a variety of professions and viewpoints, who are
willing to write even without receiving the customary fee. There is no permanent, let
alone abundant, source of financing. The main sources of income are subscriptions, reader
contributions and occasional gifts (primarily in the form of paper). Republika is
regularly delivered to close to 3.000, most of them in Serbia, then in Croatia,
Montenegro, Macedonia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with an increasing number of
addresses in Western Europe, America and Australia. According to our records, individual
copies are read by several people.
The paper being a bimonthly, more space is dedicated to analytical and research texts and
less to reports on current events. In the last year alone, we published more than 20
„serialized books" resulting from the three-year research project „Trauma
and Catharsis in Recollection of History" (in collaboration with the New Serbian
Forum and the Center for Antiwar Action). Special attention was dedicated to the
„alternative scene" - the anti-war groups and their actions, peace initiatives,
and promotions of human rights, civil society and parliamentary democracy - something that
in other media, especially those controlled by the regime, receives insufficient (and
sometimes none or very negative) coverage. In our regular section „Events" we
analyze ongoing processes in our society, while „Everyday Events" covers more
important happenings between two issues. We also publish reports on books and magazines
dedicated to human rights, anti-war and peace initiatives. The last page is reserved to
human rights commentary of our times (‘umor u glavi).
The editorial concept is simple. General ideas were defined in the early issues of the
paper. The basic principles are established by the Council (which meets every six months),
with practical aspects determined by the Editorial Board (meets twice a week). Every issue
is subjected to critical analysis by the entire staff. While respecting the norms of
professional journalism, we dedicate special attention to those phenomena, processes and
persons ignored by many other media and which makes Republika part of the anti-war
democratic movement rather than a neutral observer.
Within our struggle for freedom of the press, we are working on establishing a joint
printing facility for independent print media and an alternative distribution network. At
present time, the financial means at our disposal, including all outside support (which is
on the level of humanitarian aid), are not sufficient for such investment. However, the
necessity for long-term investments is becoming increasingly recognized, which gives us
hope that this project will become feasible in the near future.
We cooperate with international institutions through local institutions and organizations
(Media Center, Independent Journalist Association of Serbia, Center for Antiwar Action)
and in direct personal contacts.
CURRENT PROJECTS AND THEIR OBJECTIVES:
The end of the war - forced from the outside rather than by defeat of the warlords and
victory of the anti war movement - despite the various contradictions (legalized violence
in destruction and formation of states, unspoken acceptance of the results of „ethnic
cleansing" (euphemism for genocide), still may provide a chance for a fresh start for
democratic process. With our well-analyzed experience from the war years and willingness
to learn from our mistakes, we still strive towards the same goals that we had seven years
ago (human rights, economic and social reforms, parliamentary democracy). The only thing
that is new is our strategy. With assumption that many people had had the most immediate
experience of the war and that this had forced them to reevaluate their support for, or
acceptance (active or passive) of militant nationalism, we see a new opening for objective
analysis of the causes and consequences of the war and for new initiatives for changing
such political regime which generates crises, conflicts, and war. This may be the deciding
year, especially with the forthcoming elections, not only in Serbia, but in
Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Croatia as well.
In this we will complete the publication of the research essays („serialized
book") from the „Trauma and Catharsis in Recollection of History" project.
These deal with causes and contributing factors of the war, especially on this side (thus
the title of the collected works: Serb Side of the War). When „other sides"
complete similar tasks, we can expect considerable degree of cooperation in the region.
The project „The City and the Citizen" is even more closely associated with this
war to peace transition. The project was started last fall and it will be fully developed
during this year. Its objective is to determine the causes, modalities, and perpetrators
of the destruction of cities both directly by force (Vukovar, Mostar, Sarajevo, etc.) and
indirectly by various policies and practices (Kragujevac, Valjevo, Ni{, Zrenjanin, Sombor,
Subotica, Novi Sad, Beograd, etc.) and to identify and encourage initiatives for
„regentrification" of these cities.
Some of the issues that we occasionally discussed in the previous years are now becoming
subject of special projects. They are the following:
- Health, War and Peace,
- The Renewal of the Economy, Culture and Society,
- Young People and Social Changes;
- Cooperation Among Citizens, Nations, and States in the Balkans and Europe,
- Freedom of the Press.
To our regular columns (The World and Us, Events, The Alternative Scene, Peace/War, What
Are You Reading, Read It Again, Dialogue, Chronicle, etc.) we plan to devote appropriate
attention in order to improve the quality of their contents, presentation, and print
production.
Another project is the international (English language) edition of the paper which we plan
to publish on quarterly basis. Two issues were published already - the first (on two
pages) in March 1995 and the second (32 pages) this year.
We also plan to publish five books, most of which were already published entirely or in
part within the newspaper itself.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES:
While continuing our existing communication and cooperation with various associations and
media, we are now planning to devote special attention to closer ties with local media. A
series of debates on the „serialized books" has been planned in smaller towns,
while supplements resulting from the project „The City and the Citizens" will be
reprinted for local media in the format of their paper and numbers corresponding to their
circulation. For example, an additional 5500 reprints of the supplement on Kragujevac was
already distributed with Nezavisna Svetlost, the independent weekly from Kragujevac. This
will be done in a similar fashion with Valjevo’s review Kolubara and publication
Crta. Publication of each thematic block will be followed by meetings and discussions in
the city in question, the results of each debate being published in all of the papers that
participate in this project.
Our seven-year experience leads us to give preference to methodical convergence of
different initiatives with one common aim (human rights, civil society, democracy) as
opposed to schematic ideas of „networking" outside of concrete actions and with
tendencies to transform each coordination into subordination (resulting in frequent
misunderstanding and even conflicts).
At this time we are expecting a successful conclusion of long negotiations for purchase of
a used van which would be the first vehicle used for independent newspaper distribution
network.
EVALUATION PLAN:
In addition to the regular meetings of the Editorial Board and council at which current
production is being analyzed and evaluated, we also pay attention to other reactions -
those of associates, readers, and sympathizers, but also of our critics and opponents.
These give us fairly complete picture of the value of our projects and the results of
their implementation.
With our new initiatives, especially outside of Belgrade, we will establish new
communications, which will also provide helpful feedback of our activities.
In the past we had yearly analyses of our results (and finances), but now we have decided
to produce detailed reports every six months (these will be also sent to our sponsors). We
consider our yearly annotated bibliographies (with their English translations) to be the
most objective and complete report of our activities.
ORGANISATIONAL BACKGROUND (and working conditions):
Due to the strained financial circumstances, the paper is still based at the home of the
Editor-in-Chief. In this way we avoid the expense of renting offices and the inconvenience
of having to notify all correspondents of our frequent changes of address. The equipment
used for typing and typesetting of the paper is private property of the person in charge
of those tasks.
The employment in Republika is neither permanent nor regularly paid. The workload is
carried by: President of the Council and Editor-in-chief (unpaid), secretary, treasurer,
bookkeeper, administrator, messenger (most of them refugees from Croatia and
Bosnia-Herzegovina). The Editorial Board is not quite „established", but it
consists of the most regular associates, authors of the „leading" texts, and
their work is usually not paid, other than in exceptional cases when there is something
left over from the production costs.
This year we plan to form a corporation („Javna stvar", d.d.) which would take
over the responsibility of controlling and running the paper.
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