The first internet-based press agency with fresh content-rich
uploads from Bosnia daily (the updates at that site actually stopped after the war in Bosnia was
kind of over following the Dayton): Berserkistan.
The first internet-based press agency with fresh content-rich
uploads from Bosnia daily (the updates at that site actually stopped after the war in Bosnia was
kind of over following the Dayton): Berserkistan.
Digest of daily TV news about Bosnia and Croatia
Feral
Tribune
On September 20, 1996, the New York based group Neither East Nor West staged demonstrations in front of Croatian Consulate in support of Feral
Tribune. The trial resumed on September 25, 1996, and the judge acquitted Feral editors of all charges. However, in May 1997, the case
was arbitrarily re-opened.
Committee to Protect Journalists awarded Viktor Ivancic with an award for independent
journalism in October 1997. When I lost track of his unending legal process somewhere around
December 1997, he and Feral faced 34 lawsuits by the majority of Croatian government asking
for a total of dm 4.5 millions - if this would be shown in theaters, people would think it is some
hommage to Kafka, but then, again, there everything is for real.
Other freedom of the press cases in Croatia as compiled by the
Committee to Protect Journalists.
Radio 101
On 20 November 1996, the Croatian
Telecommunications Council refused a licence to Radio 101, the last independent radio station in
Croatia. The Council's decision will force Radio 101 to stop transmitting at the end of November.
The Council cited "financial reasons" for the refusal; however, Ivic Pasalic, an advisor
to President Franjo Tudjman, added that "Radio 101 was too political."
Thousands of people joined the demonstrations organized
by Bad Blue Boys later that day. American ambassador Peter
Galbraith came to the 101 two hours after the decision. Life coverage and archive of
demonstartions and interviews are available at Radio 101 News. For additional info check Reporters Sans Frontiers. Their top list of 25 countries
enemies of press may include Croatia in the future. So far the only European state there is Serbia. To add your name to a
petition to save 101 click here and write your
name, city and country in the Subject: line. The latest news: Canjuga, Zagreb city HDZ official, who spoke in favor of
Radio 101, said he wouldn't do it without being given a green light by President Tudjman... Tides
may be changing for right wing radicals in Croatia, and derogatory comics against the
infamous Telecommunications Council are published in regime media.
Radio 101
won a temporary license until January 22 when a new vote, and perhaps a new battle, should have
been expected. Radio 101 was
granted the permanent license at that session. For the latest news check The Aktualni 101 and, also, HRT Vijesti (in English). In September 1997 an
opportunity presented itself for some disgustingly yugo-nostalgic experience: Silvije Vrbanac, the
station manager of Radio 101 and Veran Matic, the station manager of Radio B92, happened to
be in New York city at the same time, so I got them together. Radio
101, after a yearlong struggle, got its permanent broadcast license on October 31, 1997.
However, then it became a victim of the free market like many similar endeavors in Eastern
Europe. Once it was the only independent electronic media in Croatia, so it had all the
advertisement. With the establishment of many more indepedent radio stations, advertisers went
elsewhere looking for new profiles. Radio 101 management both failed to modernize radio
technologically and to generate enough income to pay its staff the salaries they were promised.
Moreover, neither the management, nor the staff did come up with an idea how to keep Radio
101 on the selling edge, facing the competition. Instead, they were all being busy quarelling over
how to divide the shrinking pie. The station manager and the program director were both recently
dismissed and not replaced. The staff in on strike. But there virtually is no management to strike
against any more. So, it's not clear with whom the staff should hope to negotiate settlement...
Radio
Zid
RADIO B92
In addition, the Yugoslav
Federal Inspector for Traffic and Communications yesterday banned
five radio stations (Radio Ozon, Radio Soliter, Dzoker Radio, Radio
96 and Star FM) in Cacak, one of the cities in Serbia where the
opposition carried the recent local elections. Serbian government finally banned Radio Index
and Radio B92. British ambassador came to B92 in show of support. Bowing to domestic and
international pressure, Serbia withdrew the ban, and Aleksandar Tijanic, Minister of Information,
offered to resign. Click here for the
interview he gave to Belgrade magazine Duga (Rainbow). For more information check:
Radio B92 was shut down the day before NATO started air strikes against Yugoslav Army. Officialy it was because B92 broadcasted at a higher power than licensed for. In reality it was because B92 called on people to dodge draft. Veran Matic was briefly arrested. B92 is still alive and well on the Net. B92 digital program is re-broadcasted by ORF over medium wave and by BBC Hot Bird sattelite. Join the efforts to get it back on the air in Serbia:Help B92.
Albania
