March 2000 / Issue 6

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Circom Report

CIRCOM Regional Newsmonthly CR is the European Association of 380 Public Regional TV Stations March 2000 / Issue 6

A fruitful meeting of the CR Ex- (Chef d’unite, Direction des traveaux ecutive Meeting in Brussels was consulatifs), Niels Jorgen Thogersen hosted generously by Tele Bruxelles CR presentation (Directeur Communication), Franck Bi- General Director Michel Huisman. ancheri (president of Prometheus The meeting was held in the prem- well received Europe). A cooperation with the Com- ises of Tele Bruxelles, and lasted al- mittee of Regions was decided and will most five hours. Right after that Mr. in Bruxelles proceed with mutual interest. Huisman invited CR EC members at A reception was also given by CR at the Les Halles de Schaerbeek for a preparations for the Potsdam conference, the EBU premises for representatives of performance of the “spectacle sans pa- the agreement on the activities in south- the European Union, the European Com- roles” “Visa pour l’amour” by the “Vis eastern Europe, the Prix Circom, Euromu- mission and other authorities. A video a vis” company from Toulouse, which sica and, among others, the current copro- presentation of theCR activities and a was an exceptional show. Dinner fol- ductions “Violence against women” and short speech by CR president R. Allerdt lowed at the beautiful “L’Huitriere” “The forests of Europe”. In the headquar- preceded. Both events were well re- restaurant offered by Tele Bruxelles. ters of the European Union in Brussels CR ceived by more than 60 persons. Full re- CR EC meeting agenda included infor- EC members had meetings with Steen Ille- port on Page 2. mation on the borg of the Comite des Regions

several international companies as sponsors. Deadline for the The scope of the festival was broadened and it Euromusica 2000 became a rather successful event in the last training couple of years.This year - TV World 2000 in the Adriatic incorporates many different events, including workshop several TV festivals: the well known TV sea resort Opatija festival for entertainment programs which is CR National Coordinators are reminded now called "The Golden Albena", the new TV that applications for the Potsdam Journal- news festival "The Silver Satellite", a TV Euromusica keeps moving around. Last ism Workshop, to be held before and dur- advertising festival, a press media festival and year in Umbria in Italy was hosted by ing the annual conference, must be sent to exhibition, an exhibition of TV equipment, RAI. This year Euromusica will be hosted Rick Thompson by March 31st . Already by live jazz and rock music festival etc. There is and produced by Croatian TV. The plans the beginning of March, 20 applications a web site (presently under repair, but still are to have Euromusica in the town of from nine different countries had been re- working) with the following address: www. Opatija by the Adriatic sea. Opatija is tvworld.bg. ceived. The Executive Committee has situated at the root of the Istrian peninsula agreed that, as in previous years, every ap- close to the city of Rijeka. Euromusica plying country should get at least one place will be held in the latter half of Septem- on the workshop. Other places will be as- sessed on the needs of the stations and indi- Int’l Documentary ber, according to Vladimir Spicer. During viduals applying. The application form is this year Johan Forssblad will leave the on the website – or contact Rick. Tel: +44 Festival in coordinating duties to Eszter Farkas of 1564 785080 Fax: +44 1564 785321 Hungarian TV. Eszter is a Euromusica Thessaloniki veteran as she produced the festival 1996 in Székesfehérvár. The role as a coordina- Black Sea resort The promotion and introduction of the most tor will be the same as before, that is to important documentary productions, world- work as a consultant and an adviser for hosts several wide, and the creation of an int’l forum for the producing stations, helping to estab- the presentation and discussion of emerging lish continuity from one year/one place to TV festivals media and information technologies are the aims of the Thessaloniki Documentary Festi- the next. All the production will still be “TV world events 2000” takes place val “Images of the 21st Century” to be held made by the hosting station. Eszter and (immediately after the CIRCOM in Thessaloniki, March 26-31. This interna- Johan plan to go to Opatija before the conference) in Albena - one of Bulgaria’s tional festival of film and videos is organized summer to meet Vladimir Spicer and dis- best Black Sea resorts-in early June. under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of cuss this year’s festival and the coordina- Several years ago when BNT was no longer Culture with the support of the public TV tion of future Euromusicas. If possible this willing to support "The Golden Antenna" network, NET and is administered by the meeting will take place in time that per- TV festival, it had become an independent Int’l Thessaloniki Film Festival. Contact: mits a report on the Potsdam Conference. initiative strongly supported by the Phone (3031) 287269, Fax: (3031) 285759, Bulgarian TV World foundation and E-mail: [email protected] -2- At the Tele Bruxelles premises

A Circom Regional Executive Committee meeting was being held at the premises of the Tele Bruxelles in Brussels, February 21, from 14.30-19.30h. Present were the members of the EC Reimar Allerdt, Boris Bergant, Marie- Paule Urban, Gerry Reynolds, Grethe Haaland, Barbara Lewandowska, Sergei Erofeev, Roel Dijkhuis, Lefty Kongalides. Also present were the invited guests David Lowen, Jürgen Has- sel, Rick Thompson, Maria Nemèiè, Tim John- son, Brigitte Wauer. A full report of this meeting, according to the minutes by Marjana Rupnik of the CR General Secretarial follows: The preparations for the Prix CR 2000. David Lowen presented a detailed written report on the preparations to the Prix CR. As far as the rights of the winning programmes are The CR EC meeting concerned, the EC once again stressed that according to the decision of the EB they have to be available to the CR members free of rights. As responsible were appointed: Day 1 – Exceptions have to be discussed and approved Gerry Reynolds and Tim Johnson, Day by the EB. Furthermore, David Lowen re- in Brussels 2 – Roel Dijkhuis, Day 3 – Maria Nem- quested that the judges nominated by the sta- èiè, Day 4 – Boris Bergant, Trip to Ber- tions for the jury meeting in Carinthia get di- negotiations with Sony are concerned, Rei- lin – Brigitte Wauer, Reimar Allerdt. rectly in touch with him and he also requested mar Allerdt explained that Sony wishes him The group decided to meet the next day the present EC members to think of two more and the Secretary General to attend a meet- in order to discuss the details of the candidates for the jury. Concerning the pro- ing with the Sony Europe directors in schedule including possible guest speak- posed BBC Trophy, the EC decided to study March. However, Mr. Rick Thompson was ers, etc. The deadline for the delivery of the proposal more thoroughly and to put it for given green light to negotiate the technical the final schedule shall be April 1, 2000 discussion before the EB. Mr. Lowen was re- equipment provided by Sony for the needs The social events accompanying the con- quested to inform the BBC World Service of the training seminar. The offers of the ference are the responsibility of the about CR's interest for the trophy in 2001. Brandenburg region, the Jena company etc. President. He pointed out that he is still The prize-giving ceremony in Potsdam has to to have some films made by the participants looking for happy hour sponsors from be either a professional staging with all ele- of the seminar are optional and to be de- different countries. Furthermore, the ini- ments required for the staging of such an cided upon by the training co-ordinator. tially planned art exhibition of painters event; if due to the circumstances such a stag- The Deputy Secretary General and sculptors from different countries ing (in organisation of the German hosting sta- proved impossible. The exhibition in the tion together with CR) will not be possible, the responsibility of Sergei Erofeev (assisted EC agreed that the Prix CR prize-giving shall by Karen Schmidt) will now present an take place within a social event and formal Italian and some Slovenian painters and dinner. As far as the ISPO award proclaimed the sculptors of Bulgarian sculptor Aper. already in '99 is concerned, explained the Sec- informed the EC that the autumn training The Secretary General requested Mr. retary General, there has been a terrible delay session in Strasbourg will be held during Erofeev to consider the Eutelsat stand in funding due to the renewal of all procedures the plenary session of the European Parlia- that needs to be set up in the lobby as by the EC. The prize will therefore be awarded ment from November 13 to 18, 2000. well. The organiser of the exhibition at the 2000 prize-giving. Euromusica 2000: The Secretary General shall be provided an exact plan of the The training seminar: After discussion, the reported tat he has contacted Mrs. Ester premises and deliver the final set up of members of the EC agreed on the following Farkasz from MTV Budapest and that she the exhibition by the end of March 2000. points: Mr. Rick Thompson's budget draft for declared herself willing to take over the Eu- Proposals for workshop topics have to be the Potsdam training seminar was accepted romusica co-ordination from Johan Forss- submitted to Mrs. Valerie Joyeaux in and sole responsibility for the budget and the blad bythe end of 2000. The location of the Munich. selection of trainees goes to Mr. Thompson. Euromusica 2000 hosted by the HRT will Approval of minutes: The President re- Some of the subsidies for the seminar are de- be Opatija in Istria (Croatia) in September. quested to add that the partnership for pending on the choice of trainees, since they Mrs. Farkasz, Mrs. Nemèiè and Mr. Špicer south-eastern Europe was discussed in- are targeting only participants from certain will meet on location and inform the EC tensively, which is not clear from the countries. The selection will as much as possi- about the details. All event details will also minutes. The minutes from the EC meet- ble serve the rule to have one participant from be available on CR's website and the na- ing in Potsdam, on November 26, 1999 every applying country, yet there ought to be a tional co-ordinators should encourage their were approved without further remarks. certain flexibility to it. The trainees will have music groups to participate. South-eastern Europe: Reimar Allerdt to pay their travel expenses, everything else The Potsdam conference: In a short in- reported that the basic idea of the project will be covered by CR. Concerning the offer troductory discussion, the EC worked out is to promote public service broadcasting of the ARD school to support the seminar with some principles on the conference sched- for south-eastern Europe. Since the coun- some people and equipment, it is up to CR to ule. The schedule represents a merely skele- tries in SE Europe still lack the legal negotiate it. The offer needs to be studied and ton to be further discussed and decided framework necessary in order to establish discussed with them, since it should fit the upon by the organising committee and per- public service networks, interested west- needs of the CR seminar and not vice versa. sons responsible for the single days (shape, ern European stations are called upon to As far as the sponsorship panel guests, etc.) of the conference. produce programmes to be transmitted by Page 3 -3- The CR EC meeting in Brussels European broadcasters establish From page 2 § for the project and the actual work will night and then selected and broadcast by the start after an initial meeting to be held at programming alliance SE stations during the day. It will certainly be France 3 in Bordeaux. As far as the project a very comprehensive project that might in- Eurojobs is concerned, the EC agreed that clude some 350 journalists going through the it is merely a multi-lateral production and Seven European broadcasters have process of learning by doing, yet it will cer- has nothing to do with CR, since there was announced the creation of a television tainly not be possible without the financial no application for funds, etc. from CR’s programming alliance ''dedicated to support from the Stability Pact, maybe also side. IT could be discussed only if pre- promoting cultural diversity'' by offering the EU and Council of Europe. In case that sented in Potsdam to CR members (contact what they anticipate will be ''innovative the project will be initiated, the role of CR Mrs. Valerie Joyeaux). All CR coproduc- non-commercial'' programming. Calling might be to work out a feasibility study, etc., tion proposals ought to appear on the web- the project ''Night Trade,'', the alliance yet the actual implementation would be up to site, which would make them accessible to aims to establish regular late-night slots in a separate legal entity. all members. the schedules of its participating Current coproductions: “Violence against § Balkan Sports Magazine. Lefty Kongalides broadcasters for programmes that would Women”:The project has been restricted only reported that in the framework of the Bal- otherwise be unable to find airtime to EU member countries and supported by a kans TV Magazine the Balkans Sports because of ''content, style or length''. subvention of 185.000 Euro. 10.000 Euro Magazine will be relaunched due to the Initial members of the alliance are have been allocated to the participating Olympic Games in Greece in 2004. In this ZDF (Germany), YLE (Finland), ERT stations from France, Germany, Italy, UK regard the idea has been launched to invite (Greece), MTV (Hungary), TG4 (Ireland), respectively. They delivered 30-minute all CR sports editors to Greece, which NOS (Netherlands), SVT (Sweden) and documentaries, which will be merged into a might be set up as a CR event under the the Geneva, Switzerland-based European summary in Ljubljana. The project ought to auspices of the Olympic Committee. The Broadcasting Union, which will be finished by June, but will probably be EC agreed to pursue this idea. coordinate the initiative. Other interested concluded even earlier. The SG reported that stations may join. '''Night Trade' wants to Publications: The CR website and on-line surprise audiences from Italy to Finland, the subsidy for this project will allow CR to services have been corrected and adjusted invite some participants to the conference. from Ireland to Poland, with programmes Mrs. Lewandowska expressed her regret according to the EC decision, reported the they would not normally see, and to give regarding the fact that project has been SG. A first test chatroom meeting of the them the chance to get to view limited to the EU members countries, since EC was concluded successfully and therefore programmes from other European the topic is highly relevant also in transition the EC agreed. The EC expressed its apprecia- countries and beyond,'' said Eckat Stein of countries. tion for Mr. Kongalides’ work on the CR News- ZDF, a prime mover behind the initiative. § “The Forests of Europe”: Mrs. Urban report. The members furthermore agreed that 8 reported that this successful project is pages are a suitable volume; Mr. Kongalides now running for the 5th year. This year pointed out that he urgently needs contributions it focuses on the forests of southern for his monthly and the members obliged them- Greek penalties for Europe. The European Commission has selves to be more active in this regard. The daily al ready signed the letter of agrement newsletter to be issued during the conference TV sensationalism days shall be issued the very same day on 4 pages in English (possible translated versions BBC launches new may be issued later on) and shall reflect the dis- Programmers who allow scurrilous cussions and ongoing of the day. The chairper- innuendo and sexual allegations onto television programme code sons of the single sessions will have the obliga- news programming in Greece have been placed tion to deliver Mr. Kongalides a short summary. on notice: Tone it down or we'll turn it off. The BBC has issued its programme- Financial issues: The SG pointed out that all Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas makers with new guidelines following a discrepancies in accounting between Ljubljana outlined a presidential decree February 18 that says private channels could be forced to wide-ranging review. Director-general Greg and Strasbourg have been cleared. The report suspend programmes, pay fines of as much as (see attached file) will be passed on to the inter- Dyke launched the code, which sets out the $1.5 million and lose their operating licenses if BBC's editorial and ethical standards. It nal auditors and after their approval it will be they fail to temper their sensationalism, a follows last year's controversy over The send into external auditing. The General Secre- staple on popular shows such as ''Jungle'' and Vanessa Show, which caused embarrassment tariat is always at disposal to answer possible ''Yellow Press''. when it emerged that guests had been questions. Katarina Novak reported that so far The measures represent the latest attempt to recruited from an agency. Now the new only 19 stations have paid the membership fee bring some order to the brash frontier of the guidelines bring the corporation's online for 200, yet the experience from previous years Greek airwaves, where five main private services into stepwith its TV and radio shows that the majority settles the fee before the stations and 15 or more smaller channels increasingly dedicate news programmes and operations. The document, which weighs in annual conference. talk shows to any topic—no matter how flimsy at over 350 pages, sets out the BBC's Miscellaneous: Reimar Allerdt reported that the or scathing the accusations. But some critics principles on issues such as secret filming, Circorama project had to be dropped for 2000, believe the crusade could stifle investigative stereotyping, privacy, taste, decency and yet that the idea might be pursued for one of the journalism in a nation that has seen its share of fairness. Following the Vanessa controversy, following conferences. He also expressed his corruption and major foul-ups, including the new guidelines emphasise the importance resentment and reservations regarding the fact allegations of police protection to mobsters and of checking that guests are genuine. The that the Euro TV Regio label has been regis- last year's bungled attempt to give sanctuary to guidelines also say nothing should be put on tered and protected for France 3 and CR, which Kurdish rebel leader bdullah Ocalan. the Internet which the BBC would not be has the juridical implication that France 3 is free The government ax dropped after the host to use the title without seeking consent of CR of the popular investigative show ''Jungle'' said prepared to broadcast. For example, pages he had evidence of a sex scandal involving a aimed at children should not be linked to and in such a case CR has no right to use the ti- Greek politician and handed a public sites aimed at adults. Mr Dyke added the tle anymore. The EC agreed that as a matter of prosecutor the material. The penalties for the BBC remained committed to innovative and principle a CR project, for which CR obtains the stations are not new, but the presidential decree creative programming, saying that ''risk- funds, has to be registered exclusively under the adds unprecedented clout and could lead to the taking is and must remain an essential part of name of CR. first big crackdowns on the reporting of the creative process at the BBC''. sexually tinged rumours called ''pink scandals''. Such televised rumours threatened to -4- A brief report on TV in Serbia

BELGRADE — Party. men dashed into NTV Montena studio during the It is not easy to understand the situation in TV stations like that operate in Nis, Kra- interview with Stjepan Mesic (now President of television media in Serbia, because it is completely gujevac, Kraljevo, but the most transmitters (on Croatia, but at that moment not even a candidate unique, just like the regime that had decisive Lovcen covering Adriatic coast and Cetinje and for the post) only because public TV Montenegro influence in its creation. During the past ten years on Bjelasica covering north part of Montenegro) financed his stay in Podgorica. Two editors cut off the regime did everything in its power to transform as “high points” the interview in a rough manner and a big scandal state TV Radio Television Serbia (RTS) into the reserved only for public Radio Montenegro, and occurred. This example illustrates monopolistic “speaker’s platform” of the ruling party, and to denied Radio Elmag right to use them. By this act behavior of public TV Montenegro with the sup- make every attempt of forming an alternative “new government” legalized, as far as media is port of actual government. network impossible. In the early 90s the regime concerned, legal insecurity of investments, which ZORAN PREDIC, started to use the state media, which had thus far resembles very much monopolistic behavior of Editor in chief, TV Elmag reported in a professionally correct manner, for its Serbian government. The second example has, Correspondent of Belgrade independent daily pa- propaganda-first for political and then for war pur- poses also. Radio and Television Belgrade incor- porated all RTV centers into a system called Radio Television Serbia (RTS) and laid off fifteen hundred The media situation people who did not submit their profession to the political interests of the ruling nomenclature. It was only the beginning of a process of destruction for a serious institution with a long history, which played in Montenegro today an important role in the society and had its place in the familly of European public Televisions. Other functions of a public television (education, art, en- BELGRADE – tertainment etc.) were constantly neglected, and the TV Elmag is “family” television and it broadcast programs of all categories-from children, mu- news program degenerated so much, that it became sic, movies, sport and documentaries-to news programs. Blue Moon has the same concept, but the widely known, not only in Serbia, as “Virtual reality emphasis is laid on movies and serials. NTV Montena places an emphasis on political talk shows, of RTS”. The process of destruction was sealed with and the similar concept has Sky Sat. Sky Sat is a member of Belgrade Assciationof Independent the NATO bombing of RTS in April 1999. Ironi- Electronic Media (ANEM) and they transmit ANEM programs also. For all TV stations mentioned cally enough, not only that innocent people were can be said that they are independent. There are also private local TV stations in Niksic and killed and equipment worth millions destroyed, but Budva. Currently there is a process of founding progovernmental city TV in Bar. Ethinic groups it also opened the space for censorship never seen and national minorities do not have their TV stations, but there is Albanian radio station “Radio before, even on RTS! The only news program that Miri” which operates in Tuzi. Communication between Ministry of Information and independent can be seen on the whole territory of Serbia defi- media is mostly correct, but there are also examples of giving advantage in a monopolist way to nitely lost any connection both with reality and profession. In the meantime, large number of private and so-called “independent” TV stations was cre- TV stations closest to real professional and ated. Making a survey of number, present state and journalistic independence in Serbia are members structure of ownership of the so-called independent of the Association of Independent Electronic TV stations in Serbia is not a simple task. The main Media (ANEM). This Association gathers 19 difficulty derives from the fact that most of them are member stations. They represent an embryo of working without necessary permissions. It means future independent, alternative TV network. that beside the permanent threat from the Serbian Members of ANEM are co-ordinated by Belgrade Information Law, their position is insecure also be- independent radio statin B2 92. They are financed cause most of them are functioning practically ille- mostly by donations from foreign foundations and only partly from their own marketing.All TV gally. Milosevic’s regime tolerates their status be- The most drastic example of non- stations form ANEM network broadcast daily their cause of at least two visible reasons: democratic behavior on the part of own new program. They also broadcast programs 1. The greatest number of so-called independent government towards independent media is the produced by independent producers, such as or private TV stations is owned by case of Radio Elmag, and in smaller amount “VIN”, “Mreza”, “Media centar”, “TVB2 92” ete. “businessmen” close to the regime-men that that on NTV Montena. Radio Elmag was the Cooperation with independent producers and are more or less eminent members of the ruling first independent radio station in Montenegro their aptitude towards independent informing party or members of their family (That’s the founded six years ago. Its owner, private create all kinds of problems for ANEM members way big business is dealt with in the system of businessman, invested great deal of money towards the government. On the other hand, the government like this one in Serbia). into transmitters with the written consent of regime did not decide to close independent TV 2. These TV stations broadcast mostly domestic actual government. stations. and However, when separation of two ex- The most probable reason for this is that all foreign music, movies and sports events with- closest co-operates (Momir Bulatovic and these stations have small range and limited out Milo Djukanovic) took place, some of yielded influence (for instance, not one ANEM member buying TV rightslow quality light entertain- frequencies, already publicly agreed and station can be seen in Belgrade). Instead of closing ment signed, came into question. “New them, Milosevic’s regime can always use them as programs and similar. They don’t have their government” pronounced some of important evidence that there are democracy, freedom of own news program, and a number of them re and the most famous one is ex-independent speech and public word in Serbia. transmit the main news program of RTS “TV Belgrade TV station Studio B. Today, this TV Despite all of that, Anem member stations and Dnevnik”. station is under complete control of Serbian their work in creating a network of independent It is almost impossible to find out the exact number Renewal Movement, its news program is TV stations are the most serious process taking of such TV stations. Two ministries in charge under direct supervision of that party and place in the field of electronic media in Serbia (Ministry of Information and Ministry of traffic and there is no possibility for political contents today. In the future period Anem network is circuits) and their inaccurate documents are quoting other than those approved by Belgrade City planning to buy TV rights for several foreign TV the names of just few of them. Association of pri- Government to be seen. With this kind of serials and basketball NBA league to enlarge the vate TV stations “Spektar” (with headquarters in attitude, Studio B lost a lot of its quality and number of viewers. Belgrade and Nis) have109 members, but they can even more of its credibility. Viewers are Out of 19 member stations of Anem the most not tell for sure how many TV stations operate with- looking upon this station now as “the other important are: RTV Bajina Basta, RTV out being members of the Association. For instance, side of the medal”, and quote this example as Kragujevac, RTV Pancevo, RTV Nis and RTV in Aleksinac, little mining town in South Serbia an illustration what would really happen if the Pirot. They have their own production and their there are two private TV stations, and in Nis, third regime in Serbia were miraculously changed. -5- Marked by two factors: persecution by the regime and war damages

The present situation in independent media in Ser- bia has been marked by two important factors: persecution by the regime and war damages. Persecution: The history of independent media in Ser- bia is at the same time the history of their persecution by the regime. In the late eighties the regime started to turn media houses into its propaganda offices. Great number of journalists and other professionals were dis- missed, forced to leave, or chose to go on their own. Therefore the process of forming independent and alternative media started to take place. It was also the beginning of the process of persecution. It took various forms, from media take-over and seizure of their property, to all kinds of harassment, including pressures, blackmail, threats, public accusations…Numerous independent media were closed or illegally taken over on the part of the regime. Representatives of independent media grew accustomed to temporary arrests by the police, rigged trials, prison sentences seizure of their private property… In 1998 a new surge of persecution started with an unprecedented force. The regime invented various in- struments, both direct and indirect, t close or punish independent media: 1. Bidding of the Assignment of RTV Frequencies. The Federal Telecommunications Ministry announced a competition for the assignment of frequencies in Feb- ruary 1998, using this opportunity to reject the independent radio and TV stations, although they had required documentation. This way a number of these sta- The situation tions were closed down while some others continued operating under the threat of immediate closure by the state authorities. 2. Serbian information law.Under the NATO threats in in independent October 1998, the Serbian Information Ministry passed a Decree enabling it to close down or punish the media of its choice, which resulted in closure of several newspapers. After the validity of the Decree had Serbian TV Media expired, the most rigorous of the provisions were translated into a legislation introducing impossible They, by contrast from the state media, are not had. The general feeling of the wrong effect of the sentences for arbitrarily defined offences. Serbian relieved of the enormous taxes and dues and they bombing has also placed the representatives of Information Law is contrary not only to International also do not have access to credits or privileged op- democratic systems resembling those of the west Conventions dealing with human rights but to Serbian erations on foreign exchange accounts. The strong- into the worst possible position. Bearing in mind Constitution also. For instance, one of the provisions est economic firms in the country, being under re- that the independent media are among the most enables judges to punish media for quoting the gime control, cannot cooperate with these media. important elements of democratic structures, their statement of the third party. The fines set by this law The regime also pressures and blackmails the im- general position has thus substantially are so high that certain media had to lose down or portant privately owned firms not to advertise in deteriorated. The attempt to respond to move out of Serbia, while others sustained severe independent media. To this we should add an un- propaganda with propaganda via the programs in financial losses. It is interesting that the biggest vic- usually vigilant eye of the inspectors who make the Serbian language broadcast by foreign stations tims of this law are mostly printed media. The reason work of these media difficult or impose drastic and the available satellite programs, where a wide for this lies probably in realization that other methods, punishment for the slightest offences these media audience had the opportunity to convince like disrupting of signal, or removal of transmitting are literally forced to make under circumstances. themselves of a high degree of unprofessional and equipment, are more successful with electronic media. Asa very special form of economic pressure the propagandist work, has also aggravated the The newest example is that of Belgrade TV Studio B. authorities demand from the free electronic media position of the independent media. The result of Their signal has been disrupted for months, and to pay enormous fees and taxes for the use of fre- all that was even more persecution by the regime. when they found the way to avoid interference, their quencies, while the taxes are not collected from Conclusion: The surviving independent media transmitting equipment was stolen from the transmit- the RTV stations under their control. and journalists of independent media who are out ter on Kosmat on January 13, 2000. Two million peo- War damage: The NATO bombing heavily of work need all sorts of assistance. They are fac- ple in Serbia lost the possibility to view their program, affected the status of independent media, both ing all sorts of financial problems. All the surviv- not to mention great financial loss.. directly and indirectly. Direct damage came from ing media had to reduce drastically the salaries or 3. War laws. The state of war was accompanied by destruction of transmitters and infrastructure. else dismiss a large number of reporters. They do the passage of a series of special decrees issuing unof- Numerous transmitters of radio and TV stations not have money for telephone bills, electricity, ficial but meticulous censorship. An instruction issued were destroyed along with those of the state RTV, rent…Any form of indirect assistance is wel- by the Serbian Information Ministry on March 24, while the state come – from computers to other technical equip- 1999, when NATO strike on the FRY started, intro- RTV took over the frequencies of numerous ment, supplies and help in the payment of rent and duced substantial limitations for the work of journal- independent stations, once its own went out of use. other operating costs. In order to help the inde- ists. Authorities have shown great readiness to use As for infrastructure, there is no need to explain pendent media on a lasting basis and enable them most brutal forms of repression against journalists in without power supply no medium can work, to live of their own work in would be necessary to case they fail to observe the letter of instruction and without telephones no information may be create a system wherein this would be possible. It daily guidelines for reporting given by the same obtained, without bridges…Indirect consequences will be necessary to secure such conditions for the authorities. A large number of radio and TV stations of NATO bombing for the independent media are development of the media that would allow them have been closed down their work was prohibited or enormous primarily because of the air strike on to become economically stable and to exercise de- they were taken over by the state. There were also a RTS and the killing of 16 of its employees, and the cisive influence in order to improve the situation number of arrests including Veran Matic, editor in bombing of the Usce business center, that housed in the society in support of its democratization and chief of Radio B 92, Stevan Niksic, editor in chief of 7 media offices. Regardless of the objections to incorporation into the international community. the weakly NIN, Nebojsa Ristic, director of TV Soko their editorial policy the bombing of media offices LJILJANA BREBERINA who was sentenced to serve a year in prison ofr dis- may not be justified as a form of democratic * Report made with the help of Media Center, Bel- palying a poster calling for press freedom in his own -6- Launched by the European University on Environment

In the framework of its "Media and Sustainable Development" programme, the European University on Environment and its partners have The 2nd Audio-visual news report launched the second edition of the European young journalists audio-visual news report competition for young journalists competition (the Sustainable Development in the News Award) on the theme Health and the Environment. N.B. : Each European school of journalism European University on Environment and the 1.General Competition Presentation participating can be represented by several author of the project (or their school). 1.1 - Objectives individuals and/or teams. Production of the news reports - To raise awareness among future news The written project must include the following The reports must be produced in Beta format. professionals of the importance of the elements : - They can be produced in any language but environmental question, - a description of the proposed news report (no two versions have to be sent to the organizers : - To encourage and develop new journalistic more than one page), defining the subject to - an original version (language chosen by skills in handling everyday TV news topics be treated, what it will show and key the candidates) from the perspective of sustainable production details (premises, contacts, - a version dubbed entirely either in development, organisation resources), the length selected French or in English (the version must - To show that there is a place for this new (less than 2'30, between 5'-8'), be dubbed and not subtitled, interviews approach in daily news reporting. - a short list of points (no more than 1/2 page) included). 1.2 - Who can participate? on the interest of the report with respect to The reports must come with a written version Participation is open to students of journalism the objectives and criteria of the competition, of the commentary and the interviews in schools and young journalists (who have been - the identity of the producers, French or in English (on PC disk or by e- working for less than 18 months) from the member - the coordinates (address, telephone, fax and mail). countries of the European Union, Switzerland, e-mail) of the school they represent. The deadlline for return of the news reports to Norway and the countries of Central and Eastern the European University on Envrironment : is Europe. over They can participate as individuals or as Projection of the news reports and selection of representantives of their journalism school / the winners by the jury. The official screening media. of the news reports in the presence of their 1.3 - The Theme of the 1999-2000 edition authors and the selection of the competition The general theme for the 1999-2000 Sustainable winners by the jury will take place in Paris, in Development in the News competition is health May 2000 (exact date to be precised). The and the environment.It will be a matter of handling competition jury, composed of 5 to 8 high- news subjects and/or leading new investigations level people drawn from the world of media related to this theme, in the form of a news report and sustainable development will designate : produced within Europe (or, if desired outside - the three best news reports in Category 1 Europe). Reports that employ an original approach (less than 2’30’’), to the theme Health and the Environment which go - the best news report in Category beyond the medical and ecological dimensions to (between 5’ and 8’). include the economic and socio-political aspects 3- PRIZES of the subject will be marked highly. The winners’ will see their news reports 1.4 - Selection criteria of the news reports broadcast : Besides the previous recommendations, the criteria - by European television stations, that will be taken into account for the pre-selection - by multimedia, of the news reports, (as well as for the selection of - at European festivals. the competition winners), will be the following:- They will be awarded with a prize of :- - the relevance of the manner of treating the 1000 EUROS for the winner in Category 1 information to the principles of sustainable N.B : In the case where a project is selected, the (less than 2'30"),500 EUROS for the two development*; consideration of the European University on Environment reserve the runners-up, 1000 EUROS for the winner in ecological, economic and social demands; right to use the document as it sees fit for the Category 2 (5'-8'). the links between the local and global levels; duration of the programme "The media and 4- PROGRAMME PARTNERS expression of solidarity with future sustainable development" with acknowledgement European Commission generations, given to the authors. French Ministry of the Environment and - the capacity to raise the awareness of the - The projects received will be examined by a Regions, public and relate to its concerns, Selection Committee drawn from ADEME - French Agency of the Environment - journalistic and technical qualities. the partners of the "Media and Sustainable and Energy Management *Sustainable development was first defined in the Development" programme which will select 20 EPE - Businesses for the Environment 1987 Brundtland Report as:-Development which entries to be produced. IFEJ - International Federation of meets the needs of the present without - fifteen projects will be selected Environmental Journalists compromising the ability of future generations to - in the first category (less than 2’30), Fondation Journalistes en Europe meet their own needs. World Commission on - five projects in the second category (between France Télévision Environment and Development. Our Common 5’- 8’) Télévision Ouest France Future. New York, Oxford University Press, 1987. The deadline is over Televisio de Catalunya 2. United Nations Environment Programme. All applicants will be informed of the result of National Swedish Television Global Environment Outlook 2000. 1999, 398 p. their apolication. Süddeutsche Zeitung 3. European Environment Agency. Environment in 2.2- The final stage Le Monde the European Union at the turn of the century. The news reports chosen by the Selection Courrier International 1999. Committee will receive production expenses to a Centre d’Estudis D’Informacio Ambiental 1.5 - Length of news reports maximum level of 500 EUROS and their authors Friends of the Earth Europe There are two categories according to the length of will be invited (transport and accomodation costs Cold Center the reports: included) to the official projection preview in May 5- CONTACT-INFORMATION - Category 1 : less than 2'30" 2000 in Paris. The conditions of this production Monique MARC - Douglas McMILLAN - Category 2 : between 5'-8' support, as well as the technical and legal Université Européenne de l’Environnement - HOW TO PARTICIPATE? conditions of the production and the broad-casting 6 rue de Chantilly, 75009 Paris - France There are two stages to the competition. of the reports will be fixed by agreement between Tel : +33 1 45 26 46 25 - Fax : +33 1 42 81 2.1- The pre-selection stage the ormed of the result of their application. 25 78 - E-mail : [email protected] The candidates must produce a written account of -7- th Around Europe Golden Prague: the 37 Festivals, Workshops Int’l Television Festival and More March 20: CR EC conference through Internet The 37th edition of the Golden Prague International Television Festival 20-21: Promax & BDA Europe (Berlin) 20-23: Sportel America (Miami) will be held in Zlata Praha, Chech Republic, June 4-7, with the support of 24-31: 2nd Int’l Documentary Festival EBU. Over the years Golden Prague has profiled itself as a unique interna- (Thessaloniki) tional cultural event hosting a competition of classical music, jazz, world April music and dance television programs. Golden Prague intends to be more 5-8: EBU Conference (Dubrovnik) than just a showcase. In the future, the festival would also like to focus on 6-10: Prix Circom Jury (Klagenfurt, Austria) 8-9: MipDoc (Cannes) supporting production and distribution of music and dance projects from all 8-13: NAB (Las Vegas) continents and various world cultures. Last year Golden Prague hosted rep- 10-15 April: MipTV (Cannes) resentatives from 28 countries. 14-18: 3rd Meeting of the Balkan TV Sports Department Directors (Iasi, Romania) 25-29: COPEAM Conference (Casablanca) This year the organizers would May like to further enhance the potential 10-14: 3rd Meeting of Balkan TV Presidents/ General Directors (Antalya, Turkey) of the event, namely make it more 11-12: Interactive TV Advertising 2000-Europe attractive for program buyers and (Paris) producers. As the first step on this 14-17: 2nd Int’l Contest of Young Singers way, they are planning to extend the “Mladi Upi-The Young Hopes” (Radenci, Slo- venia) services of Golden Prague videoli- Television Market Coordinator or Mrs. Lenka Rybackova-Head of the 30 May-2 June: CIRCOM Regional Conference brary. (Potsdam) Festival Office, tel. (+420)-2-6113 Besides the Official competition June 7454, (+420)-2-6113 7055, fax: 1-5: World Television Forum (Montreux) programs which will again be avail- (+420)-2-6121 2891 or e-mail: 4-7: 37th Int’l Television Festival Golden Pra- able on video, the library will in- [email protected]. gue (Prague) clude all projects which will not be a 28 June-2 July: Atlantic Television Festival- part of the festival program-the in- MAT 2000 (Sao Miguel, Azores). “TV Acquaintance”: September formative section. 4-8: Le Rendez-Vous 2000. French TV The videolibrary and video a new MPT show with Screenings (Saint-Tropez). booths, both located in the main fes- 8-12: Widescreen Festival (Amsterdam) foreign contributions October tival center, will be open throughout 3-7: 11th Rassegna Internazionale del Cinema the festival from 9:00 to 19:00 to all MPT, the Macedonian Radio & Archeologico (Rovereto, Italy)

accredited participants. Television, is currently planning to in- troduce a new program on a monthly All important European TV buy- basis, titled “TV Acquaintance”. The Circom Report ers specialized in music and art pro- aim of the show is to present programs will be informed about the The "CIRCOM Report" is a monthly publication grams from television networks and new perspectives of Golden Prague of CIRCOM Regional, the European Association stations which have an agreement for and will be invited to be a part of the of Public Regional TV Stations - available on the co-operation with the FYRO Macedo- CR Internet site and coming to CR member sta- event. tions and personnel either through E-mail or as an nian public TV station. A-4 size printed newsletter, through the CR Gen- Interested parties are invited to Shows up to 240m of duration in- eral Secretariat from Ljubljana. The CR is also use this opportunity and send pro- clude all genres, drama or TV feature available on the Strasbourg site. Director of publications is Marie-Paule Urban, grams according to their choice for programs, documentaries on various CR Deputy Secretary General (Strasbourg). Editor both, the competition and informa- topics, prominent artists, scientists, is Lefty Kongalides, member of the CR Executive Committee (Thessaloniki). The "CIRCOM Re- tive sections. urban settlement issues, monuments, port" is planned and edited in ERT 3, Thessalo- The videolibrary will provide all music from folk heritage origin, popu- niki, Greece. Phone (3031) 299611-610 fax (3031) lar and classic music, etc. 299 655. E-mail : [email protected] necessary information and play an All member stations are considered as potential active role in promoting the pro- “TV Acquaintance” will be broad- contributors for this publication, with stories about cast every Saturday, 9-11pm, on new and innovative ideas, co-productions, ex- grams to the buyers. Channel 2. Contact person is Stalin changes, modern technologies, etc. Especially wel- come are short stories and one-liners. For further questions do not hesi- Lozanovski. tate to contact Ms. Zuzana Lanska- *Sony and Eutelsat are the official CIRCOM -8- Whispers CIRCOM Regional thanks Tele Bruxelles The National Basketball Association The Russian government will spend more for hosting the Executive Committee meet- (NBA) has signed new international TV than three million dollars to rebuild media ing. Director General Michel Huisman did agreements with NTK in Kazakhstan, organizations in areas of Chechnya under his best in a friendly and generous way...All Melita Sports Channel in Malta, Anem TV its control…Programs from Timisoara the details of the CR conference program in Network in Serbia and RTVM in Montene- (Romania), FYRO Macedonia and Bulgaria Potsdam will be available on CR’s homepage gro…Fox Êids Europe continues its expan- on the theme of the “world at 50” are to be in the beginning of April...Conference post- sion with the launch of a local channel in telecast in June by CBC, the Canadian ers in English are available at the CIRCOM Italy on April 1…Nickelodeon has Broadcasting Corporation…The Swedish Regional office in Munich (C/O Bayerischer launched a localized version of its channel parliament is scheduled to debate rules on Rundfunk, Florain Smuhlstr. 60, 80939 of UPC’s cable systems in Hungary as well pornography, following widespread con- Munchen, tel 08998066035, 089-38065468, as a 12-hour block on Zone Vision’s Fan- cern about the increased amount of hard fax: 089-3806762, e-mail: real.cirom@gmx. tastic Channel in Poland…3 Ring Circus porn on cable television… de has completed a major on-air rebranding * * * * * * * * for Greece’s Mega Channel… Interactive TV Advertising 2000-Europe is The CIRCOM Regional partnership project * * * * the theme of a conference to be held May “Southeastern Europe Television” will be Spain’s leading digital satellite platform, 11-12 at the CNIT Conference & Exhibi- presented by the coordinator of the stability Canal Satellite Digital, in now present in tion Center in Paris…Privately owned tele- pact to the stability pact financing conference more than 800.000 households across vision channels are expected to start which will take place on March 28 in Brus- Spain…The new law on TV is to be voted sels...A clearing-office has been established by the new Croatian government which will with BR Munich which collects and distrib- transform HRT as an autonomous and mod- utes all available information on media ac- ern public TV. The whole procedure might tivities in Southeastern Europe. More about take another two or more months. A this office and its activities: www.br-online. new TV management and consequently de/suedosteuropa… Parallel to the confer- program policy is also expected…Media ence in Potsdam CIRCOM Regional plans to Market Monitor offer updated financial in- soon in military-controlled Paki- have an art exhibition in the conference- formation on each one of 300 world leading stan…“Who wants to be a millionaire”, the center (five artists, painters and sculptor, media corporations. Information is being Godzilla of quiz show formats is stomping from five different European regions)… supplied in Microsoft Excel format in e- its way into Japan. Fuji Television has * * * * mail, diskette or CD-ROM… bought the rights to produce a Japanese A conference TV program will be available * * * * version. The top prize will be $90.000… at Potsdam for the first time in the history of “Who wants to be a millionaire” has been * * * * CR conferences...The Expo 2000 will start the television sensation of the year in the A hard-line Bosnian Croat television sta- in Hannover, Germany, on June 1 and last US, frequently pulling in 30 million view- tion in the southern town of Mostar was until the end of September. If conference ers a night and propelling ABC to the top shut down under the watchful eyes of the participants would like to visit the Expo after of the ratings…The Yahoo site is among international military force SFOR. TV the conference they should not forget that the most robust on the Internet, delivering Erotel, had refused to cease broadcasting there is nearly no chance to get accommoda- an average of 465 million web pages to following a ruling by the Independent Me- tion in Hannover. This is why Lufthansa and consumers each day…The Associated dia Commission and occupied illegally German Railways offer daily special tours to Press and Real Networks Inc. are launching some 147 transmitters across the federa- and from Berlin… a real-time audio and video news service tion…The Israeli Supreme Court has ruled for member website called AP Streaming that the nation’s lottery must pay damages News. The project gives AP’s newspaper after violating the copyright of Charlie and broadcast members easy-to-use, cost Chaplin’s heirs in a series of television effective audio and video to enhance their ads…Private channels in Greece could be website… forced to suspend programs, pay fines of as * * * * much as $1.5 million and lose their operat- Astra claims now to reach around 74% of ing licenses if they fail to temper their sen- the world’s population with its signals. sationalism, a staple on popular shows such Things are not completely clear for the fre- Viewers from Ireland, Europe, India, Rus- as “Jungle” and “Yellow Press”-according quency of Bulgaria’s Channel 2 of BNT. sia, China and South-East Asia can tune to government spokesman Dimitris Rep- Murdock’s Balkan news corporation, an- into either Astra or Asia Sat signals. Since pas… nounced as the winner of the tender, faced a December Asia Sat’s 50% belongs to As- protest at the supreme court and still noone tra…Topics of the 1999 “Balkan TV appeared to receive the license… Magazine” coproduction were: 1) Natural * * * * wonders, 2) Aids in the Balkans, 3) Foreign Thessaloniki will host the 3rd World Con- students in the Balkans, 4) Models agen- ference for Children and Audiovisual to be cies, 5) One day in the life of a journalist, held March 11-15, 2001...The 2nd Int’l Con- 6) Ecological problems in the Balkans, 7) test of Young Singers “Mladi Upi-The Young talents…Playboy Enterprises Young Hopes” will be held in Radenci, the launched erotic television in conservative spa resort of Slovenia, May 14-17... Chile despite protests that it would corrupt traditional values in the predominately Ro- man Catholic country… * * * *