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Medienhilfe Ex-JugoslawienProfessionelle
Solidarität gegen Nationalismus und Chauvinismus
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VK Radio - VK2 Radio - City Radio Senta -
VKTVJET - TV Senta
In last ten years media were one
of the most important (and most powerful) means in service of repression which
ruling coalition conducted over democratic forces and all citizens of Serbia. Through media activities and RTV
VK and RTV Senta programs in 2001 we want to include all public domains in
processes of humanisation, Europeisation, demilitarisation and “debarbarisation”. Thus this concept got its
natural name JOININ’. We defined it as a basis for
activities of RTV VK and RTV Senta in this year in which we expect and want to
support by media, announced changes of social and political ambience. The result
of these changes must be a final exit from “social autism”, accepting human
and prosperous models of state organising and also local communities’ and
regions’ ones. Global (and regretfully most
influential) media in Serbia, by tendentious manipulation for ten years have
been building a false picture of reality in people’s minds, “making –up”
events and all that was happening in all spheres of life. We estimate that effects of such
concept and fatal results that it left, we can lessen by placing true and
unbiased information, through well-conceptualised programs of our radio and TV
productions. Though the situation in the
state media got better during last few months, they still haven’t managed to
bring back citizens’ trust. On the other hand, process of
legal, technical-technological and cadre consolidation in these media houses is
not finished yet – which reflects directly on the quality and quantity of
programs. Mass – media remain the most
important instruments of political (and potentially any other) manipulation. That is why the work of
independent media of democratic orientation is a minimal guarantee of protection
of one of the most important human rights – right on information. We stress that, in spite of
political changes achieved on October 5th, alternative informing is more
important than it ever was. RTV VK and RTV Senta were and in
2001 remain a space for affirmation and protection of anything citizen,
democratic, civil, individual and most of all – authentic.
Last but not
least – breaking the stereotype by which adopting values of western culture
means loss of national identity, cultural identity or entering a “faceless
uniformity”.
Vojvodina, area of realization
of our project, is accented multiethnic and multicultural region, with a rich
inheritance of middleeuropean tradition. Kikinda and Senta were among the
first “freed cities” at 1996 elections. Since then local authorities are
consisted of forces of former coalitions “Zajedno” and “Vojvodina” and
after elections in September 2000 power in these regions is in hands of DOS. “Red – black coalition”
was obstructing influence and actions of democratic forces for ten years,
constantly provoking citizens’ fears of ethnic clashes and clashes of natives
and newcomers. Fears are justified even
today. All previous crisis points (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo…) were
made by intensive propaganda campaign of state mass-media. Soon, propaganda became bloody
reality. Evidently insufficient quality
of work of local self-government after taking over the power, in period
1996-2000 (there are several reasons which we cannot discuss here) and also the
first 100 days from September 2000, could dangerously (as already seen in some
countries in transition) result in citizens giving votes, on some future
elections, to those who were already a past in local communities (SPS,SRS,JUL or
“clone” parties which appeared after October happenings). Because of that, program concept,
RTV VK and RTV Senta give continuous insight of work of local self-government,
individuals and institutions from political, juridical, economical, police and
army spheres. A pressure can be made that way and also lessening of possible
violations of Constitution, Laws and also statute. By language of urban, citizen
culture, through author programs, presentation of political and social programs,
music and complete engaging (organising or participating in social actions of
local community and region) we affirm values of a new concept of open and
co-operative democratic community. By
educating the youngest co-citizens and media attention that we gave to the
parties of citizen-democratic orientation, and also to all positive processes,
significantly were lessened the effect of xenophobia and fear of helplesness in
front of now ex-regime. Today’s authorities are better, more open and more
able but are also authorities. We want to provide intensive
presence and succesful presentation of liberal individuals, political
organisations fo democratic orientation and NGOs, which are striving for
protection of human rights and freedoms, for preservation of trust and tolerance
among ethnic and confessional communities of Vojvodina. We want to influence a faster
development, social and entire progress!
In private firm Jet Company,
encouraged by victory of democratically oriented forces on local elections in
1996 an irrevocable decision was made, radio equipment was obtained, young
people with fresh ideas and opened eyes came… The result – on June13th 1997,
on a frequency 102,3 MHz FM stereo, broadcasting of first program of VK Radio
started, first of its kind in Vojvodina. Team which made their first
media steps believed that the biggest problems of a new radio would be a
professional one – lack of experienced people, lack of necessary technical,
author, journalist and reporting knowledge and skills. When Federal Ministry of
Communications (FMC) started “attacking” independent electronic media,
professional problems didn’t look so big. Determination of the team –
that VK radio be a place for spreading the truth, space for all “political,
ethnic and life styles” became more than editorial policy – a question of
survival of citizens’ conscience and that little free spirit spreading through
Serbia. Each of the three radio stations
consisting business unit Info Jet – VK, City Radio Senta and VK 2, applied to
FMC for a frequency in terms and ways regulated by laws. FMC had been sending
certificates that all the terms were fulfilled, bills for frequency renting but
it never sent a final decision of assigning a frequency. That document wasn’t available
for independent media in Serbia. Of course inspectors and police
came every time when it was ordered – SHUT IT DOWN! It was like this: VK radio – banned 3
times: 25.06 1997 (reopened 25.07.1997), 02.04.1999 (reopened 13.06.1999),
22.06.1999 (reopened 28.06.1999) City Radio Senta –
banned 2 times: 09.10.1998 (reopened 24.12.1998), 03.04.1999 (reopened
13.07.2000) VK2 – banned 02.04.1999
(reopened 13.06.2000) VK radio broadcasts today
on frequency of 102,3 MHz and signal is spreading in the area Kikinda – Novi
Becej – Becej – Senta – Ada – Mol - Novi Knezevac - Zrenjanin. This
audibility we reached (again) at the beginning of May last year, when we put up
more qualitative and stronger broadcasting equipment (500 W transmitter). Since
last reopening on June 28th, after another seizing of broadcasting equipment
programs of VK Radio were broadcast with a small transmitter. It was heard only
in Kikinda Municipality area. Editorial concept during three years, in spite of
pressure from different “centres of power), hasn’t changed. In informative
programs rules of objective informing are obeyed: trusty information, checking
several sources, views of (at least) two sides on any actual topic or event,
quick reacting to events and in due time informing. In local informing domain
– we opened space for all organizations, political options, people of
different orientations and styles. We critically follow the work of local
self-government (as well as higher authorities). In informative and specialised
programs we open local “taboo themes”, speak about problems and occurrences
which weren’t talked about for years. During three years on VK radio guests
were many people from public, political and cultural life in Serbia, foreign
diplomats and businessmen, media representatives, NGOs, donation firms, domestic
and foreign experts, artists, musicians but also “little people” of our town
and region. And, of course (inevitably) all those who mean something on YU rock
scene (most of them appeared at NO WAR NO MORE concert)… VK TV started on April
30th 2000. This TV broadcasts on 54th channel. The signal covers region of North
Banat. During experimental work on 54th channel the most attractive satellite
programs are broadcast, re-broadcast are programs of TV Montenegro and OBN (Open
Broadcasting Network) and also independent productions: VIN, ANEM, Mreza, Media
Center, UrbaNS. In July 2000 TV studio was finished and continuous production
started. TV Senta started broadcasting on 39th channel at the
end of September 2000. From the beginning it rebroadcasts VK TV programs and
plans to equip and start its own production and studio before 01.06.2001. City Radio Senta - After “war confiscating” of
broadcasting equipment, City Radio Senta was off the air for more than a year.
The team is together again, technical terms are achieved for work on frequency
of 91,1 MHz FM stereo. July 13th 2000 was a day for new start for team in Senta. In first few months of
broadcasting (1998) VK 2 reached incredible number of listeners. This channel is
intended for younger audience broadcasts on 93,7 MHz. Well conceptualised music
programs, hit lists, short info, flash news and contact programs – that was a
formula for getting success with young audience. |
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P.O. Box, CH-8031
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