»Vojvodina«
The Daily Newspaper
21000 Novi Sad, Laze Nancica 43
+ 381 21/ 365-855
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Description of the project
Short description of the current political situation in our country: After
victory of democratic opposition of Serbia it is evident that the previous
regime supporters had quickly turned into the new authorities’ followers. The
editorial policy of all media controlled by the previous regime turned over
night to support new governmental political parties and their leaders.
Description of the project: The daily
publishing of newspaper “Vojvodina” during the year 2001 is direct
continuation of the current project. It is based on former experience and
achieved results of the publisher and the editorial. The newspaper was started
in October 1999 aiming to objectively inform citizens of Vojvodina Province
about current events in Vojvodina, Serbia and world. Despite of media repression
set by regime of Slobodan Milosevic, the newspaper had preserved its
independence and had kept to support the efforts for democratization of
Vojvodina, Serbia and Yugoslavia.
Editorial policy: From its beginning in autumn 1999, the
editor-in-chief of the newspaper »Vojvodina« is Mr. Mihajlo Ramac. Editorial
policy promotes democratization of Serbia and Yugoslavia, revitalization of
constitutional and legal identity of Vojvodina Province within Serbia and its
real autonomy, co-operation with Middle-European countries, cultivation of
traditional achievements of Vojvodina and harmonious mutual life of different
nationalities. It also promotes protection of environment and production of
healthy food. The Newspaper Assembly consists of independent intellectuals,
respectable university professors, lawyers, politics' experts and doctors.
Frequency of appearance: The newspaper »Vojvodina« was issued on
weekly basis. When elections date in FR Yugoslavia was set it joined with
democratic opposition to support its efforts. That situation demanded to
increase the frequency of appearance. The support for the new publishing
conditions was given by group of donors, political parties in Vojvodina and the
readers of the weekly (readers' demand for daily edition existed even earlier).
After demanding preparations and great efforts the newspaper was started with
the daily frequency of appearance from September, the 5th.
Content of the newspaper: The newspaper has the following structure on
16-page issue:
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news and information from
Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), 3 pages
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reports from Vojvodina, 3
pages
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news from abroad, 2 pages
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news from culture, 2
pages
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current sport’s events,
2 pages
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feuilleton, 1 page
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analysis, 1 page
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TV program, 1 page.
The front page always introduces
the content and the main subjects of the issue. In analysis and comments an
interest of Vojvodina and its habitants is emphasized. In feuilletons the past
and mutual life of different nationalities in this region are presented.
Circulation-printed/sold: Circulation of
the weekly edition reached the number of 6.000 copies per issue, on 1624 pages
average in usual newspaper C3 size (32cm x 46cm). When the frequency of
appearance increased, preliminary circulation of the daily edition varied from
8.000-10.000 copies. Shortly before elections and in postelectoral period the
circulation increased and varied from 10.000-14.000 copies per issue.
Calculations have shown that during the first 30 days of its daily appearance
average circulation of “Vojvodina” was 12.000 copies per 16-page issue.
Remitted average number of copies was between 25-30% in percentage terms. Such a
high percentage was result of a very weak marketing strategy.
Distribution: Distribution is solely dealt trough
two private distribution houses and the daily faced many difficulties. The main
problem occurs regard to the printing and the takeover time. Distribution covers
now about 70% of Vojvodina region.
The purpose of the project: The newspaper enables
the readers every day to be objectively informed about important current events.
It contributes to the development of democratic consciousness, European
affiliation of the readers and mutual tolerance. It also contributes to
education and awareness of the position and the responsibility of each
individual within society. The newspaper aims specially to break up with the
previous way of thinking connected with “history of Balcan” which caused a
high level of intolerance in this region before. In regard to the newly
developed political situation and new editorial policy of all media as mentioned,
it is still indispensable to publish newspaper which is oriented in a direction
as “Vojvodina”. It is the first and the only independent, nonparty and
uncensored daily newspaper in this region after 60 years of existence
exclusively regime affiliated newspapers. Similar projects do not exist here.
Goals of the project: The basic goal of this
project is to keep the daily publishing of "Vojvodina". In order to
meet this requirement it is necessary to take other activities such as solving
the problem of distribution and strengthening the marketing strategy. These
activities should enable the project to achieve an economic level, until a level
of self-financing. The other goal of the project is to reach the income through
other undertakings, specially through advertisements, higher than in the
previous period. It is planned to use these funds for increasing the salaries of
employees and authors’ royalties of contributors. The utmost goal of the
project is to complete it in a way that a printing-house would be founded. This
printing-house would print the newspaper “Vojvodina” and offer its services
to other beneficiaries. This investment should take the whole project on a level
of profitability.
Target group: The target group of population
covered by this project is very wide and includes every citizen of Vojvodina,
that means different age groups and ethnic minorities. When the distribution
would cover the whole province, the number of potential readers would count
nearly 2,5 millions. The newspaper pays special attention to the youth. It also
pays attention to the information concerning economic and cultural life in the
province, so it expects to have the great number of its readers among these
professionals.
Size and composition of the staff: When the
frequency from weekly was changed to daily appearance, it was necessary to
increase the number of permanent employed staff and the number of contributors.
There are 5 permanent employed editors, 7 journalists in the editorial, 3
designers for the prepress and layout in the graphic department and 4 support
operators at the moment. The newspaper has developed wide network of
contributors from almost whole territory of the province and there are about 75
associates. Composition of the staff including number of men and women employed
is 55% vs 45% in benefit of male sex.
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P.O. Box, CH-8031
Zürich, Switzerland