Independent Media? Ownership & Editorial Freedom in South-Eastern Europe

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“Public is waking up” Country Focus Croatia

Media Reports on all SEE countries

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Independent Media? Ownership & Editorial Freedom in South-Eastern Europe

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Contact o h p deScripto, Thomas A. Bauer First of all we are thank- The hardest job is n i

Department of Media and Communi- a t i l decationM edia inSouth Scripto aScience,Estern uErope University of Vienna ful that there has been so behind us: we have already o p Schopenhauerstrasse 32, o m s r o A-1180 Vienna, Austria much international interest e published and distributed C u

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+43 1 4277 49336 B e . v i A the first issue of deScripto. [email protected] in deScripto, and we are t s c a e

www.deScripto.info p m s r also grateful for the feed- o The first letters from rea- e h P T : Editor in Chief : o o t t o Thomas A. Bauer, back, of which there has o ders have now come to our h h P Professor, University of Vienna P Managing Editor been a lot, both supportive SEEMO office in Vienna, Axel Maireder and from what we see, deScripto was positively Tutor, University of Vienna and critical. Above all, we have learned that this [email protected] magazine can (and will) become a forum for media- accepted by media professionals, politicians, and Editorial Assistance Daniela Süssenbacher, Assistent, related issues in South East Europe, and among and regional experts, as well as by other, so-called “ordi- Univ. of Applied Sciences, Vienna Kristina Benkotic, SEEMO between the countries of that area, if we give voice to nary” readers in South Eastern Europe and outside Editorial Consultant the experts who live and work there. We have also of the region. Some of the letters provided useful Dardis McNamee Professor, Webster University Vienna discovered that a description (sic: deScripto!) of a general comments and feedback, as well as very use- Contributing Writers Stefan Apfl Wolfgang Luef complex media landscape needs a complex appro- ful remarks about concrete articles and book reviews Karla Bavoljak Ardalan Mahler Mazin Elfehaid Izvor Moralic ach, in order to know what and how to research. Last published in the first issue. For this I would like to Endri Fuga Roman thank those who took the time to send something Hannes Goegele Prysiazhniuk but not least, we have learned to trust in the analyti- Baki Haliti Petya Sabinova in. It helped us a lot in producing this second issue Mathias Huter Ana Simundza cal competence of professionals at hand. There is no Bronko Jovanovski Nillas Werklund need to neglect critical self-reflection. In that sense, of deScripto that you have in your hands now. Solmaz Khorsand Christoph Zotter Michael Ledl Ana Znidar we have learned to count even more on the experts Personally, I found two letters very important. Guest Writers Dimitris Charalambis and witnesses from the regions we are discussing as Not only because I received them from friends, but Correspondents partners in our mission. because they are from two people who know the Media Plan - Media Online, Sarajevo Graphic Design The Winter 2004/05 edition takes a deeper look situation in South Eastern Europe very well, but Axel Maireder, Art Direction have “a distance from the region”. The first is from Wolfgang Luef at the question of media ownership. Ownership Mathias Huter structures in South East European countries are – Dr. Gisela Rheker, former German Ambassador to Stefan Apfl Photos mostly due to the transition of media systems – in Belgrade and the second from Dr. Wolfgang Cover: Lisa-Marie Gotsche Other: If not stated otherwise, vigorous motion, though foreign investments also Petritsch, former Austrian Ambassador to Belgrade by the editors and later part of the EU Special Envoy for Kosovo, Proof Reading play a big role in this dynamism. These foreign Maureen MacNeill investors force national and regional markets to con- EU chief negotiator at the Kosovo peace talks in Advertising Contact Thomas A. Bauer front new options and market possibilities, with new Rambouillet and Paris, and High Representative for [email protected] +43 1 4277 49 336 trends in media concentration a certain outcome. Bosnia and Herzegovina. Why are these letters so Publisher This will have different and sometimes hard conse- important? Both ambassadors have spent a part of SEEMO - South East Europe Media Organisation, Oliver Vujovic quences for small and big national players alike. their life in South East Europe. And both are now Spiegelgasse 2, 1010 Vienna, Austria [email protected]; +431 5133940 The country focus of this edition concentrates on outside the region. Dr. Rheker is in Germany and SEEMO is as an affiliate of the Croatia, which is – since being invited to start nego- still very active in varying institutions, while Dr. IPI - The International Press Institute Spiegelgasse 2, 1010 Vienna, Austria tiations leading to European integration – as a whole Petritsch is Austria's ambassador to the United Nat- Publisher’s Board Remzi Lani - Tirana very much in motion. There are big challenges to ions in Geneva. However, both are still interested in Radomir Licina - Belgrade Samra Luckin - Sarajevo overcome during this partnership transition between South East European developments. They have not Stjepan Malovic - Zagreb forgotten the region. That gives me optimism that Georgios Papadakis - Athens politics, media, public institutions, and organisa- Risto Popovski - Skopje South East Europe has not been forgotten in gene- Ognian Zlatev - Sofia tions of civil society. It gives an overview of what is Printed by going on in Croatia’s media landscape. I hope you ral. That's important not only for the future of the Dan Graf d.o.o., Belgrade in cooperation with Standard 2, Belgrade will gain further insight with this issue, and that it region, but for the future of Europe as a whole! Subscription encourages even more interest in media-related Herewith, I would like to express my sincere gra- Standard: e 24,- /year Students: e 12,- /year discourse. With best wishes, titude to all readers of deScripto who sent us letters order by • email: [email protected] and again encourage further feedback, comments • Fax: +43 1 4277 48344 Thomas A. Bauer, Editor-in-Chief and suggestions. They should be sent to our Mission Statement deScripto is committed to the enhance- University of Vienna SEEMO office in Vienna (by e-mail to: ment of a climate of critical reflection on media culture and communication, [email protected] or to SEEMO-IPI, Spiegel- in and among the SEE countries. Published quarterly as a joint project of gasse 2/29, 1010 Vienna, Austria). Your remarks will the University of Vienna, the University of Applied Sciences Vienna and the be of assistance in preparing the next issue of Webster University Vienna under the deScripto. auspices of the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), deScripto is an independent journal of analysis and opinion dedicated to the democrat- Oliver Vujovic, Publisher isation of the media and the development of civic society in the SEE Region. South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) The views expressed in deScripto are entirely those of the authors and do not represent the positions of SEEMO/IPI.

2 deScripto Winter 2005 deScripto Winter 2005

Table of Contents

Dossier Ownership & (In)dependence 4 South-Eastern Europe Media Reports 27 Two Schools of Thought 4 “Think Negative” or Panic Journalism 27 Ownership & (In)dependence Media Report Albania by Thomas A. Bauer Closer to the Truth 28 Young Markets, Old Problems 5 by Stefan Apfl and Mathias Huter Media Report Bosnia and Herzegovina

Aqiring a Mind-Blowing Market 8 Archaic Laws Tamper 29 The german Media Company WAZ and their domi- With Press Freedom nant Role in South-Eastern Europe Media Report Bulgaria by Wolfgang Luef Foreign Ownership in SEE Region 11 2000 Years in Prison? 30 Money makes the World go round! An Overview Media Report Cyprus Dossier Ownership from page 5 by Daniela Süssenbacher Fighting for Fainess 31 The Step Back to Etatism 12 Media Report Greece Media Ownership in Greece by Dimitris Charalmbis Big Players in a Small Market 33 Media Report Hungary Optional Accessory 14 Just a Footnote in the Media Jungle: Media concumption decreasing 34 Editorial Independence Media Report Kosovo by Solmaz Khorsand

Corporate Pressure 15 Struggle for Survival 35 Non-Media Corporations Media Report Macedonia Owning Media in Albania by Endri Fuga Problems to be Solved 36 Media Report Moldova Aquiring a mind-blowing market, WAZ A Question of Transparency 16 Group expands to SEE. page 8 Public Broadcasting in Transition - Waiting for the Last Man Standing 37 Editorial Independence in Romanian Media Report Montenegro and Slovenian Public Channels by Hannes Goegele Dissensions in a Battlesome Paper 38 Media Report Romania Country Focus Croatia 18 A Question of Honour 39 Challenged Monopoly 18 Media Report Serbia Croatia Marks the Start of a New Television Era With the Surfacing of RTL 40 by Karla Bavoljak and Izvor Moralic Journalists’ Silence marks the National Parliamentary Election Day 22 “Public is waking up” Media Report Slovenia Professor Stepjan Malovic on the Croatian Media Market an it’s Problems A Means to an End: Press Law as 41 by Thomas A. Bauer the Golden Key to Open EU Doors Country Focus Croatia from page 18 Media Report Turkey A Loss of Respect 24 Media Education in Croatia by Karla Bavoljak SEEMO Reports 42 New Willingness Required 25 Protest Letters 43 Pending EU Membership Brings International Activity Report 44 Media Standrds by Karla Bavoljak deScripto’s Review 46 Literature, Edu Programmes deScripto’s Preview 50 Upcoming Events

deScripto Winter 2005 3 Dossier Ownership & (In)dependence

deScripto Dossier: Ownership & (In)Depencence Two Schools of Thought Europeanisation brings new dynamics into the media landscape of young democracies in South East Europe. Developments, options and hopes have become mixed with overwhelming challenges and problematic effects.

by Thomas A. Bauer

So it may (and often does) When one considers the question of editorial tion). In the second, different types of print media happen that journalists or/and media independence, one always comes back amalgamate (newspapers and magazines, for exam- are challenged to research to – among other contextual topics - the analysis of ple) and become a press concern. The third type is subjects that may not be ownership structures. The media serves both a cultu- usually characterised by an amalgamation among dif- in the best interests of ral and economic higher good. Since we are living in ferent media types and constitutes a multimedia con- people or organisations, societies in which cultural goods - such as open cern. Communication concerns are the fourth type; which are stake or share- discourse – are distributed through economic they are enterprises that join together media and holders in the media. (media) organisations, it is plausible for us that media-related industries. This systematic description ownership of media includes some right to define is not only a theoretical system; it shows the threat of publicity conditions. That position conflicts, howe- growing limitations on opinion plurality. ver, with the democratic requirements of editorial Communications research reveals two different freedom and media plurality. Since the media requi- schools of thought. One assumes that media concen- res two markets to survive economically (audience tration has an effect contrary to the plurality of and advertising), it has to be interested in financial- public opinion, which is the fundament of democra- ly successful management, but at the same time it cy. Included in this is also an assumption that big must irritate the economic status quo because of its media concerns try to maintain the best relations duty to research such themes as part of investigative possible to political systems and use their position (as journalism. So it may (and often does) happen that public opinion monopolizers) in order to maintain journalists are challenged to research subjects that their market interests. may not be in the best interests of people or organi- The other way of thinking is that media compa- sations, which are stake or shareholders in the media. nies are that much freer in their reporting the greater Ownership is the position Economically speaking, media ownership is not an their economic independence is. The institution that at which economy, quality, easy position. On one hand, media entrepreneurship is not dependent on the commercial market or spon- money, quota and public is encouraged in a very difficult and complex market, sors is free to research, report and deliver opinions. communication values and on the other hand, it is the source of indepen- As well, a strong concern is able to pay higher sala- meet and where all those dence problems, often negatively impacting free- ries for better-educated journalists, to employ corre- factors come into a diffi- dom, the open media market, and above all, media spondents and to subscribe to news agencies. US cult crux in a democratic culture. Ownership is the position at which econo- American researchers support this assumption with culture my, quality, money, quota and public communica- empirical numbers: the fewer owners a newspaper tion values meet and where all those factors come has, the more subjects it deals with. into a difficult crux in a democratic culture. The The differences between these two schools of most difficult issue of them all is media concentra- thought are enormous. Nevertheless, all the legislati- tion. ve basics regarding ownership (cartel, press subsidy) Communication research has shown that concen- are related – due to historical tradition – to the first tration processes have at least four variations in all school of thought. The discourse is changing in the market economy systems: In the first type, the same face of globalisation. The second school of thought sorts of media, e.g. several newspapers, join forces to will be confronted by the need to prove societal become a newspaper concern (horizontal concentra- advantages that justify economic profit strategies. I

4 deScripto Winter 2005 Dossier Ownership & (In)dependence Young Markets, Old Problems What would happen in a world of stories, if there was only one storyteller left? Would there be just one version of all stories? Who would decide what to tell and how to tell it?

by Stefan Apfl and Mathias Huter

It is clear the media landscape profits from a diver- results in high entry barriers for new competitors and Different kinds of sity of topics, views and especially owners; it is equal- turns the free market into a closed market bit by bit. investors have varying ly clear that it suffers from analogue. According to There are many examples of investments in SEE main interests for media theory, in a free and deregulated market, countries in which not only newspapers and magazi- their exposure media outlets tend to concentrate. nes but also printing houses have been acquired, such in media outlets. The media story of Western Europe is also a story as the Austrian Styria company in Croatia. of elevated concentration. But what happens to We speak of diagonal or cross-media concentration young incompletely developed markets, which in when a supplier - a publisher or a broadcaster - also addition are flooded by foreign capital? What hap- moves into the field of other media types. In pens to the South-East European (SEE) countries? In most of these countries, young democracies are confronted by old problems. The phenomenon of concentration is particularly observable in the media market. That is because the media industry is an economy of scale, meaning a reduction in the cost per item (unit costs) results from large-scale production, which is realised through operational efficiencies. The high costs of machinery, factories and distribution are spread across a greater number of units as more are produced. The causes and effects of various kinds of concentrated media ownership slightly differ: Horizontal concentration (or horizontal integration) is a term used to describe a media group that has two or more media outlets operating in the same field. An outstanding example is Macedonia, where Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (WAZ) owns the three major daily newspapers with a huge market share (read more about WAZ’s engagements in the SEE countries; page 8). The power that rests in one hand endangers pluralism of opinions and diversity. Wide segments of the market are covered, making it difficult for other competitors to be successful in this market. Vertical media concentration occurs when a media enterprise controls more than one area in the production and distribution of media products. This

deScripto Winter 2005 Dossier Ownership & (In)dependence

“Media concentration Romania, two persons hold shares in a TV station, a “The less a market is developed, the bigger it’s often leads to recycling of radio network and weekly magazines, as well as in a potential is on the one hand, but on the other, the journalistic articles and news agency and national press distributor. Similar bigger the risk,” explains Horst Pirker, CEO of the other materials, as well as examples are in other countries. In cases of cross- Austrian Styria Media Group, which is intensively a worsening of journalistic media ownership, owners have the indisputable expanding in Slovenia and Croatia. working conditions”, potential of controlling and influencing published The media market often attracts investors with a says Beata Klimkiewicz content and therewith a major possibility of setting political affiliation; because of the power they gain to agendas. transmit their views through the ownership of media Different kinds of investors have varying main outlets. interests for their exposure in media outlets. On the Zeljko Mitrovic, owner of the highly profitable one hand, the media industry is interesting for inves- Pink radio and television network was associated tors who own major companies in industries other some six years ago with the party led by Slobodan than the media industry. They are attracted by the Milosevic’s wife Mira Markovic. possibility of presenting themselves and their companies in a positive way, and above all, by big profits The effects of media concentration that can be made, especially in under-developed “Media concentration often leads to recycling of media markets. journalistic articles and other materials, as well as a worsening of journalistic working conditions”, says Beata Klimkiewicz, assistant professor at the Institute of Journalism and Social Communication in Krakow. But she also points out good effects “connected with a strengthened position of publishers or broadcasters against pressure from politicians.” Advertisement Another problem regarding media concentration is unknown ownership. The specific challenge that researchers encounter in various SEE countries is Austrian Institute of East and obtaining exact data on ownership; data on second- level ownership relations is extremely hard to obtain. Southeast European Studies Hidden concentration because of sleeping partners is Österreichisches Ost- und even more dangerous, as it is essential in journalism to know about the owner interest of each media out- Südosteuropa-Institut/OSI let. “There might be hidden ownership relations across the media sector that we do not know of,” says A-1010 Vienna, Josefsplatz 6 tel. +43-1/512 18 95, fax: +43-1/512 18 95/53 Tarik Jusic, executive director of the Media Center e-mail: [email protected], internet: www.osi.ac.at Sarajevo. On the long term, multiple SEE countries are ten- ding towards joining the European Union (EU), which still has its own problems with media concen- Founded 1958; research and information centre; educational and cultural politics, ecology, geography, history, nationality tration. and minority studies; Article 11 of the EU Charter of Fundamental library of 47,000 vols and 2,400 periodicals and documents; Rights says: “The freedom and pluralism of the media shall be respected.” Dir. PhD, Assoc.prof. Peter Jordan; A look into the EU’s media market suffices to publications: OSI-Aktuell (newsletter), Österreichische show how reality beyond well-formulated charter Osthefte (quarterly), Schriftenreihe des Österreichischen Ost- und Südosteuropa-Instituts, Wiener Osteuropastudien, Atlas phrases actually works. Countries like Italy and of Eastern and Southeastern Europe. Austria suffer from a highly concentrated media landscape. In fact, the SEE countries are even more endange- red as their (media) markets are young, and as yet only partially developed and engaged. In these cases, there is even more need for strict market rules and regulations. Otherwise, a free media market gradual- ly becomes a closed one, with little chance for new competitors to enter. Horst Pirker is convinced, “concentrated ownership is a hazard to pluralism and democracy. On the

6 deScripto Winter 2005 Interview other hand, it is better to have a few companies involved in media concentration than only one.” In an interview with deScripto, Pirker argues for a retroactive legal limitation: ”In my opinion, de-con- Looking for centration laws, if they are valid for everyone, are not a bad idea from the point of democracy and society.” Foreign Money Big Change It was a big change for SEE countries when politi- SEEMO’s Oliver Vujovic on the Role cal systems of the late 1980s and early 1990s were of Western Investors in South Eastern Europe displaced by democratic governments. Previously, many media outlets had been under the control of deScripto: What do you see as development of the countries totalitarian states, whose main interest was having the advantages and disadvanta- they put their money in. That is control over published content. Not because of ges of foreign capital investment why it would be important to financial interests, but because of propaganda. As a in the media sector in South support those voices that are result, in most of the SEE countries, private people Eastern Europe? helping democratisation to go Vujovic: The big investors forward. were legally prevented from founding media outlets. coming from abroad There are examples When the political system changed, the process of play, first of all, a of the important adopting new media legislation turned out to be very positive role. role critical media long and complex. Legislators lacked vision (and They come with Without money have played in push- experience) in their development of useful media money, technology ing democratic de- and knowledge. from outside, a lot velopement all over regulation and media ownership laws. Second, and also of media companies SEE. Unfortunately, “As a result, the opinion that the newly acquired important, is that would not be able most of Western freedom of expression should not be limited by they bring the West to survive. Europe's media restrictive media legislation prevailed in most of European way of groups do not look these countries. Public debates were based on the thinking, which is further than the also very positive. next day. assumption that media legislation was not necessary One of the problems is that the at all,” says Sandra Basic Hrvatin, author of the book investors are buying in particu- Aren't you concerned about the Media-Ownership, of the earlier situation. lar yellow press, or, let's say, ongoing concentration in the Consequently, most countries did not intervene in papers that often lack a certain region through investment by the media sphere until the effects of an unregulated level of journalistic quality. foreign companies. Couldn't that lead to a decrease in media diver- market became manifest. SEE media companies are looking sity? “Unfortunately, this intervention came too late,” for Western investors, is that Well, that is an international Hrvatin states. what you say? tendency, so it is nothing special Since there was little help from the European Of course. The SEE economy is for South Eastern Europe. still very weak and the price of a One of the problems we expe- Community at that time, many South East newspaper is quite high in com- rience is that when a couple of European (SEE) Countries enhanced legislation parison to the people's level of newspapers are in the hands of based on that existing in West European countries, income. Advertising, on the con- a single company, they start to without adapting it adequately to fit their specific trary, is cheap, so there is little get closer and closer in style and situations. Permanent reforms of media legislation in money coming in, but the level content. of the production costs is quite Each owner will have it's own those countries were the result. the same as in Western Europe. standards, and it seems quite To improve the current situation of concentrated Without money from outside, a clear that all the media belon- ownership in SEE countries, Hrvatin and her co- lot of media companies would ging to a certain group have the authors make recommendations: media legislation not be able to survive. But same standard of journalism. should include provisions stipulating restrictions on owners could play a more important role, supporting also Talking of standards. Did new concentration and media ownership data should be more quality papers. owners bring in some kind of made publicly accessible. The recommendations also “Western” standards for journa- include active intervention by the state with the aim Why should foreign investors be lism. of ensuring media pluralism as well as regulatory and interested in low-circulation, Some West European publishers self-regulatory mechanisms to ensure editorial inde- high-quality papers? They are set up westernised standards interested in earning money... for reporting, editorial manage- pendence and prevent the abuse of journalism by Yes, but think in the long-term. ment etc., while others leave it media owners who only want to advance their poli- In the long-term, it is very the way it was; the specific tical and economical interests. important for investors to ensu- regional way of journalism and Governments that are expected to anticipate such re the democratic and economic media management. I problematic phenomena are usually addicted to major media companies. Yet it is up to them to con- struct the public media sphere. I

deScripto Winter 2005 7 Dossier Ownership & (In)dependence Acquiring a Mind-blowing Market In Germany everyone is talking about the economic recession and the crisis of the media market. Advertising revenue and circulation are decreasing and many papers have to tighten their belts. Meanwhile, the series of legal battles with the Competition Media Group Westdeutsche Allgemeine Protection Commission (CPC) of Bulgaria. But as in Zeitung (WAZ) is constantly growing. Macedonia, WAZ managed to emerge as winner. WAZ has a share of more than 63 percent of the total advertising revenue in Bulgaria, according to the “In Macedonia, they run a They are acquiring South Eastern Europe (SEE) CPC. virtual monopoly.” and investing billions. How does that work? And Aidan White, IFJ. why the Balkans? The ultimate WAZ-model of “First, it is an enormous growth region,” says becoming market-leader Markus Beermann, who is in charge of WAZ’s ope- How can one company have a leading position in rations outside Germany, “and second, it is just a so many press markets? Branislava Opranovic, jour- mind-blowing market there. It’s full of enthusiasm, nalist at the Serbian daily Dnevnik from Novi Sad, pioneer spirit and a lot of ideas.” which is also owned by WAZ, says: “For many papers Today, WAZ owns several print media in Serbia, foreign investment is the only chance to survive, due Croatia, and Hungary, as well as one daily in Mon- to the very difficult market situation.” tenegro and one in Romania. But why can foreign capital ensure growth where In Macedonia and Bulgaria they are already in a regional owners fail? It has to do with the so called leading market position. Many observers criticise the “WAZ-model”: they buy several print-media pro- dominant market position of the WAZ in SEE. The ducts in the same region that have diverse editorial International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), for policies and political approaches. Often, they buy or example, has stated that pluralism of voices is endan- build printing houses also. The papers’ editorial gered when a majority of daily press publications are departments stay independent and separate, but the owned by one single company. management, including distribution and advertising for all of the titles, is done by one single company. So WAZ plays monopoly they can offer relatively cheap joint-advertising pak- “In Macedonia, they run a virtual monopoly,” says kages with great coverage for all their regional papers. Aidan White from the IFJ. The WAZ owns control- “That has the effect,” says Beermann, “that adver- ling interests in three daily newspapers of the coun- tisers only deal with one professional representative try: Dnevnik, Utrinski Vesnik and Vest. Together, instead of many.” This strategy was first applied in these three newspapers had a market share of almost the Ruhrgebiet, a region of Germany, in the 1970s. 90 percent in 2003, according to the Macedonian It has also been very successful in Austria for more Monopoly Authority, which had researched the than ten years, and recently WAZ has practiced that WAZ-entrance into the Macedonian market in strategy in Serbia, Bulgaria and Macedonia. 2004, and approved it. However, many experts, like the Slovenian A similiar market situation can be seen in Bulgaria, Mirovni Institut, see one danger in the WAZ’s enga- where the WAZ entered the market in 1996. The gement in Macedonia: that the WAZ will attract two largest dailies, Trud and 24 Casa, and the largest most of the advertising money and slowly starve all weekly, 168 Casa, are part of the WAZ family. the other print media. In past years the group has been involved in a Indeed, the market share of WAZ’s daily competi-

8 deScripto Winter 2005 The German Media Company WAZ and their dominant role in South Eastern Europe by Wolfgang Luef g Market

tors in Macedonia plunged from 16 percent in 2002 al influences of the WAZ. Journalists that claim “If any competitor to 11 percent in the first six months of 2003. influence often want to stay anonymous. So the cri- can do it better, Beerman does not regard that as a problem: “Indeed, ticism is expressed by NGOs and even from compe- he will still hold his own we have a strong market position in Macedonia, but titive papers. in the market.” only because our journalists do the best work – inde- Many journalists working for the WAZ’s papers Marcus Beermann, WAZ pendently. If any competitor can do it better, he will contradict: “Nothing has changed since the WAZ still hold his own in the market.” In 2004 the situation has changed since new daily newspaper Vreme, which is not owed by WAZ, appeared on the market.

Business interests vs. editorial independence The WAZ claims to be more interested in circulation and advertising revenue than in editorial policy. In fact, there are constant accusations about editori- Dossier Ownership & (In)dependence

“We published articles has interests in our paper,” says Zana Bozinovska not practicing good journalism. “Articles have to be about it, and the WAZ from Dnevnik. Goran Mihajlovski, Editor-in-Chief double-checked and re-checked. Sometimes, journa- did not care.” at Vest, also reports: “The WAZ does not influence lists in SEE just write what they hear, or even worse: us in any kind.” what they get bribed for by someone. We do not tole- However, some international organisations see edi- rate that.” torial influence especially in cases where WAZ’s busi- Opranovic thinks that along with the WAZ-invest- ness intentions may be affected. IFJs Schroeder ment came more professionalism into their paper: reports that Macedonian journalists claimed that “We have increased our circulation and our number of pages. WAZ also promotes young journalists in Serbia.” Schroeder puts this into perspective: “Indeed, they have helped developing journalistic standards. But on the whole, much more would be necessary.” The WAZ replies that they are the only major player in SEE that has commited to the OSCE-standards for freedom of press. Roland Brunner from the Swiss organisation medienhilfe discounts these standards cynically as “the Sunday sermon that heralds another week full of sins.”

It’s all about the money Another matter that is often criticised is the personnel policy of the WAZ. In Macedonia they selected Srgjan Kerim, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, as the executive manager. Bodo Hombach, an executive Board Member, is also a former politici- an and former head of Stability Pact for SEE. Observers fear that politicians as media managers would get in the way of editorial independence, or just would not have comprehensive understanding of the media and how they work. Schroeder from the IFJ adds: “They have even installed bankers as media-managers. Is this a sensitive personnel policy?” “It’s certainly the criticism that helps us on,” says Beermann, “but we pay the journalists adequately and we inform the people well.” For him, success means primarily market shares and circulation: “Critique aside, one thing is clear: The best will be the market-leader.” The IFJ strongly criticises this attitude. They fear a “sacrifice of journalistic standards to maximise revenue,” says White. But maximising revenue does not have to mean strict belt-tightening for the concerned papers. Mihajlovski reports, that their infrastructure has been generally modernised since WAZ’s accusation. Bozinovska tells that many journalists felt apprehen- Top: WAZ Building, Essen, Germany. sions about rationalisation of jobs. “But everyone Bottom: Entrance of WAZ Building. they were not allowed to write articles about the rese- stayed.” Photo: deScripto arch of the Macedonian Monopoly Authority con- And what about the role of the WAZ in SEE in the cerning the WAZ. According to Mihajlovski, this is future? “In some countries our growth is inhibited by not true. “We published articles about it, and the monopoly laws, but in others we want to make furt- WAZ did not care.” her investments,” says Beermann. “We do not aim to become monopolists in every country. But we aim to Advancing journalistic standards: Less than constantly provide good media products everywhere necessary? we can.”I Beermann admits that the WAZ may interfere when the perception exists that their journalists are

10 deScripto Winter 2005 Dossier Ownership & (In)dependence

Foreign Ownership in SEE Region An Overview by Daniela Süssenbacher

Countries-Focus: To sum up OR/L: Radio and Television Act, (Sanoma), Swiss (Ringier owns MOLDOVA leader), Germany (WAZ, the SEE media situation is quite Council for Electronic Media one of the three biggest Springer and Burda), French A media landscape divided in difficult. It is extremely varia- (CEM), Bulgarian Media Coa- dailies 100 per cent) owners. (Lagardère Group), Finnish sub-markets but far from plu- ble according to each special lition (BMC), Union of National channels owned by (Sanoma) and US-American ralism. Sudden appearance cultural setting. It is not very Bulgarian Journalists (Pod- Scandinavian Broadcasting (Viacom, Walt Disney, Time and fall of media outlets. A easy to get actual information, krepa). System (SBS) and Bertels- Warner, UPC, CME, SBS) market without economic although different studies mann. Ownership shares bet- owners. Ownership shares bet- orientation. have been written during the CROATIA ween 50 per cent - 100 per ween 40 per cent and 80 per FO: Traditional links with last few years. Most countries Media ownership information cent by title. cent by titles. eastern (post-Soviet) partners. lack transparency of ownership is one of the most hidden OR/L: Anti-Concentration OR/L: Audiovisual Law, Media Mainly Rumanian and Russian shares.The SEE media market is types of data. Germany is a big Provisions and Special Monitoring Agency (MMA). media organisations. characterised by transition and player although there is no Ownership Rules in the change, so the text below is an foreign concentration. Broadcasting Act of 1996 as OR/L: Press Law, Audio-visual SERBIA attempt to map some actual well as in the Competition Act Law. information. The big European FO: German (WAZ, Burda, RTL), Media ownership is continu- Finnish (Sanoma Magazines of 1996 - no effective laws to ously changing but concentra- media concerns are mainly tar- regulate foreign ownership. MONTENEGRO geting the print media sector, International) and Austrian tion is highest in the big media A media landscape characteri- while American media organi- (Styria Media Group) owners. (Blic, Politika, Dnevnik). KOSOVO sed by concentration, cross- sations focus on the electronic Europa Press Holding Com- FO: German (WAZ, Bertels- media ownership and mono- media sector. pany (50 per cent owned by Media pluralism with tenden- mann), Swiss (Ringier) and US- WAZ) and RTL (bought one of cy to overstock. The media poly (six major media groups). Important foreign owners (FO) American (Media development the official channels - HRT.) market is still missing econo- FO: German (WAZ - 50 per cent Loan Fund Inc MDLF) owners. Ownership regulation by Ownership shares between 20 mic orientation. of the Daily Press Company Ownership shares between 49 organisations and/or special per cent - 65 per cent by title. FO: NGOs and one daily, Vijesti) and per cent and 100 per cent (Blic) law (OR/L) Serbian owner (Pink TV). OR/L: The Law on the Media, OR/L: New Law on Broad- by title. Ownership shares about 50 Council for Radio and Tele- casting, Independent Media OR/L: Broadcasting Law, Public ALBANIA per cent by title. vision (regulation and supervi- Commission. Information Law and Law on A growing media market sion), Trade Union of Croatian Telecommunications. under the law of media self- Journalists (TUCJ). regulation. SLOVENIA CYPRUS FO: Italian ownership in print Foreign ownership is present media and TV (Edisud JSC). Parallel existing media mar- under the control of strong Ownership shares between 15 kets caused by linguistic and local players. The foreign focus and 45 per cent on titles. cultural diversity. A distinct is on magazines. lack of media development. OR/L: National Council of FO: German (Burda, Motor- Radio and Television (NCRT). International satellite television plays an important role. presse), Swedish (Bonnier) and No limitation at all regarding Austrian (Styria Verlag) foreign ownership. FO: As a centre for internatio- owners. Ownership shares nal media agencies it is diffi- range between 49 per cent and BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA cult to draw a distinction. 80 per cent by title. The media market is extreme- OR/L: Law on Print Press, Radio OR/L: Mass Media Act adopted ly over-saturated but still and Television Stations Law. in 1994 (stakes in a media underdeveloped. Neither sig- enterprise cannot exceed 33 nificant cases of foreign GREECE per cent). Ownership amoun- investment nor cases of media Television is dominating the ting to 20 per cent must be concentration. press. Print media sector is reported. Restrictions only OR/L:The problem is very little highly concentrated. exist in the area of cross- interst in BH market. FO: Actual information not ownership. available BULGARIA MACEDONIA OR/L: Association of Young TURKEY OR/L: Greek Constitution, Journalists, Media Law, There is a lack of transparency Parallel media markets caused FO: Actual information not National Council for Radio and Broadcasting Law, Law on the in licensing of broadcast by linguistic and cultural available Television (NCRTV), legal limits Transformation of State Tele- media and allegations of cor- diversity. Electronic media still to concentration of owners- vision into Public Service Tele- OR/L: Türkiye Gazeteciler ruption. German-originated hip. play an important role. Sendikasi (TGS); Television and media domination. vision - no effective laws to re- FO: Strong position in print gulate foreign ownership. Radio Law 4756. Restrictions on FO: Foreign corporate mono- HUNGARY media market by German ownership (Turkish or foreign) poly composed of German Foreign ownership is a big fac- WAZ (three dailies). Owner- ROMANIA but not less than 51 per cent print (WAZ - bTV, Eurocom) as ship shares between 50 per equity by Turkish citizens. tor in the whole media lands- Extensive liberation and priva- well as American (News cape. The focus is on the print cent - 100 per cent by title. Corporation - Murdoch) and tisation tendencies in the media sector (the national OR/L: Law on Broadcasting Greek TV broadcasters (anten- media sector. Media concen- newspaper market stood in Activity but still no law on na Group - Nova TV). Owner- tration a clear tendency. For- 2001 at 83 per cent). mass media. eign ownership across the ent- ship shares between 60 per Problematic media situation. Sources: Adrien Collin / Granville cent and 100 per cent, most ire media landscape. Williams: Eastern Empires – Foreign FO: German (Bertelsmann, Ownership in Central and Eastern titles close to 100 per cent FO: Swiss (Ringier as leading European Media: Ownership, Policy foreign-owned. Axel Springer, WAZ), Finnish foreign publisher and market Issues and Strategies

deScripto Winter 2005 Dossier Ownership & (In)dependence A Step Back to Statism Dimitris Charalambis, Vice President of the Greek National ad personam Council of Radio and Television on Media Ownerhip in Greece

In Greece recently is running a huge debate on in the Attika region, where 35 stations are licensed. ownership transparancy. The government decided for a The law will nevertheless to a large extent be applied legislation which provokes strong contradiction at the to all other stations considered legal today (defined as side of European minded experts. One of them is in the those that were operational on 1 November 1999). same time the most prominent one, Professor Dimitris However, the precarious situation at the moment Charalamis, Vice president of the National Council of may be seen as contributing to the creation of a cli- Radio and Television. In almost mate characterised by 'non- all relevant Greek media the regular' developments in the public could follow the debate market. going on since a couple of mon- Encrypted radio and televi- ths. Beyond a popular discus- The precarious situation at the sion services have a legal frame- sion the academic discourse on moment may be seen as contributing work for market organisation Dimitris Charalambis media ownership has to argue to the creation of a climate charact- through law no. 2644/1998, is Professor of Political on a more sophisticated level. erised by 'non-regular' developments but in actuality only a few digi- Science at the University of That is why deScripto invi- in the market. tal satellite services have been Athens, Department of ted Prof. Charalambis to deli- legally licensed. Communication and Mass Media ver an outline on the discussion In the broadcasting sector, and out of a political-scientific point legislation dealing with media Vice President of the of view: ownership aggregation (parti- National Council of Radio The emergence of private cularly new legislation) can and Television radio and television stations during a period when sometimes have an impact on the market definition Recent publications: special legislation was not yet in existence (1989) has of the media. Democracy and Globali- created an unusual situation in the development of Article 14 Paragraph 9 of Greek Constitution sation. Human rights and the media market, with a great number of stations (1975/1986/2001) states that ownership of more Modernity: Real Abstraction operating at the national, regional and local levels. than one electronic information media of the same and Reason, Athens, 1998 State radio and television still broadcasts over three type is prohibited. (ed.) Recent Social Trends in Greece 1960-2000, McGills- TV stations and five radio stations. There are no This rather strict regulation follows an approach Queens, Montreal Canada, cable operators in Greece and the penetration of digi- different to that taken by other European countries 2004 tal television is still restricted. (the legislation of which often focuses on the 'real' The 1975/1986 Greek Constitution contains two power in the market of each media), and contributes articles concerning the media, added during its to what is already considered a negative climate by modification in April 2001: Article 14 deals with the many media companies. freedom of expression and is related especially to the The Greek legislation bans companies from press, while Paragraph 9 focuses on the promotion of owning, for example, more than one television or transparency and pluralism in the media sector (press radio station. and broadcasting). In Greece, the main media operators use free-to- air, terrestrial television. The size of the area to be What Law Says covered has led to three categories of broadcasters: Article 15 Paragraph 2 says that radio and televi- the national broadcaster, the regional broadcaster sion shall be under the direct control of the state and (covering in general an area comprised of more than defines both the competent authority (ESR) and the two regions) and the local broadcaster (maximum of purpose of this control. two regions). In the radio sector, the licensing procedure fore- Private radio stations exist in only one category: seen by law no. 2328/1995 has only been completed local (one region) radio stations, which can distribu-

12 deScripto Winter 2005 k to Statism

ad ESR te programming from other stations for a maximum it. Under this law, for example, a main shareholder of only five hours a day. can either be active in a state construction business or Ethniko Symvoulio in the media, but not both (the same for his or her Radiotileorasis To Overcome a Discrepancy spouse and all relatives). (ESR = National Council of Radio and Television). In the name of transparency and clean relations According to the new law, spouses and relatives are between politics and economy, Article 14 Paragraph automatically “front men” (a view which goes against Established in 1989 as an 9 forbids main shareholders of media companies the fundamental rights of personal autonomy, self- independent authority, the ESR has changed its legal (according to the Media Law 3021/2002, a main determination and human dignity). status three times. Only shareholder is a person or a company that owns at In addition to this, a main shareholder, according recently, following the publi- least five per cent of total sha- to the new law, is anyone cation of law no. 2863/2000, res) from being main sharehol- owning even one per cent of has the ESR been attributed ders (also set at five per cent) the shares or more. the power to grant licences of companies that are active in and impose sanctions on public construction or public These developments are a step back Freedom That is broadcasters infringing the towards traditional Greek statism: Less Valid? legislation in force (adverti- services (using public tenders). sing, production rules etc). This includes not only the the old relationship between the A crucial argument present- shareholder in question (the market and the state, in which the ed by the conservative govern- Since 2001, the ESR has been law requires shareholders to be state tries to control the market. ment is that freedom of expres- recognised as the only competent body with regard to sion and freedom of informa- named), but also his or her the preservation of the follo- spouse and relatives. With tion are less valid for television wing: pluralism, respect for Media Law 3021/2002, the and radio. the value of the human PASOK government (1993 – According to this argument, being, protection of children 2004) has tried to overcome discrepancies between frequencies are a public good; so broadcasting is and youths, and transparen- this article of the constitution and a) human and nothing more than a public service that the state for- cy of the economic elements civil rights guaranteed in the Greek Constitution wards to private companies. of media companies, as sti- pulated by the constitution. itself and b) the European Treaty, the European Thus the state remains the regulator (through the Its decisions are no longer Directives and the Decisions of the European Court ESR) and the controller of the broadcasting sector. subject to supervision rela- (fundamental rights and provisions for the free This is viewed as being similar to the privatisation of ting to compliance with movement of people, capital, goods and services). other services, such as public transportation or garba- legislation, as was the case According to the old law, if a spouse or a relative ge collection. until 2000 (the minister of could prove his or her financial independence, then The government has tried with this law to frag- the Press and the Mass Media was in charge). this person could have shares in the media, or in a ment big private enterprises and companies (con- company active in public construction or public ser- struction is the main industrial sector in Greece) and The independent authority vice. to ensure the power of the media (both written and enjoys a particular legal sta- But according to the new law, which was approved broadcast) will be limited, so that the entire media tus attributed to it by the Greek Constitution, and con- sector will become more dependant on the state. by a parliamentary majority on 24 January, with sists of seven members who supporting votes from the ruling party (the conser- A law on media concentration is still expected perform their duties with vative New Democracy Party – ND, which won the (concentration is already much lower in Greece than personal and functional March 2004 elections) the main shareholder of a in other European countries), and it is believed the independence. media company and his or her spouse and relatives intention of government will be to create even more are banned from cross-ownership in companies acti- dependency. ve in public construction or public service or other These developments are a step back towards tradi- media companies (the ban applies not only to Greek tional Greek statism: the old relationship between the companies, but also to foreign and European com- market and the state, in which the state tries to con- panies!). trol the market. That was generally the goal of Greek The European Commission reacted negatively to conservatives and also seems to be the main intent of the new law, and Greek academics publicly criticised right and left populist politics in Greece. I

deScripto Winter 2005 13 Dossier Ownership & (In)dependence

Optional Accessory Just a Footnote in Media Jungle: Editorial Independence

By Solmaz Khorsand

Publishers know very well Many newspapers claim one particular word on companies as the WAZ or the Swiss group Ringier. It about the miserable security their head: “independent”. But in the fewest cases works after the “triangle”- pattern: media channel - of the working conditions this word accords to the editorial reality. In many public authority - other business. “The media owner for journalists and the SEE countries – a general overview is difficult becau- offers “friendly coverage” to the (politically control- unilateral dependence se of their heterogeneity – the economic situation, led) public authority which grants access to public relation the weakness of the Trade Unions and the lack procurement contract to the other business of the respect of basic rights is a perfect hotbed for owners media owner,” says Ioana Avadani, secretary of the to meddle in the editorial content. Publishers know Centre of Independent Journalism in Romania. She very well about the miserable security of the working guesses that the main difference between foreign and conditions for journalists and the unilateral depen- locally owned publications was that people working dence relation. “They(journalists) think first about if for the foreign-owned ones dare to protest publicly. they gonna have a job the next day before they gonna “I am not aware of such protest from publications have an argument with the publisher about the con- owned by Romanians. But the recent scandals at the tent in the particular article”, substantiates Oliver newspapers owned by Ringier and WAZ proved that Money-Kyrle from International Federation of nobody is invulnerable to pressure.” Journalists to deScripto. Although experts concede multinational compa- In 2003 the Trade Union of Croatian Journalists nies advantages like a higher credibility, stability and (SNH) organised an anonymous polling among also independence, there have been in the last time 1200 journalists – just 234 dared to answer the pol- some cases of editorial interference, like in the case of ling question on how free Croatian journalists feel. the Romanian broadsheet Evenimentul Zilei (EvZ). In reply to the question who exerts the most influen- Since the takeover of the government critical EvZ in ce 45 per cent of the editors answered the owner, 27 2003 by Ringier, the editorial staff has had problems per cent stated politicians. As a method of influence with the owner on the editorial line of the newspa- the main part (44 per cent) described bad working per. “We have different views of journalistic quality conditions, financial pressure and as a consequence and the organisational order in the editorial office,” self censorship. “What strikes us the most is the fact says Silvia Lepiarczyk, responsible for the South that polling questions touch issues which journalists European Countries in Ringier. In December 2004 in civilised countries and civilised media discuss Ringier replaced the editor-in-chief Dan Tuturica. “I openly in line with the provisions of the editorial sta- think Ringier drop away Dan Tuturica, because they tutes. Journalists in Croatia do not dare to talk about want to change the editorial line of the newspaper, these issues even with a piece of polling paper, afraid they probably want to make a tabloid or a semi- Despite different that editors would recognise them by handwriting,“ tabloid of Evenimentul Zilei,” worries Dan Tapalaga, nationalities, political complains the SNH Secretary Marinka Boljkovac- the head of the political department of the newspa- ideologies and economical Borkovic. After Money-Kyrle’s estimations the worst per. Tapalaga – who left the newspaper voluntarily interest, media owners conditions concerning editorial interference and just some days after Ringier’s decision – does not around the world pressure in the Balkan region tend to be local media, want to put the controversial action in a political seem to have where local newspapers and radio stations are quite context but he estimates that the former ruling party one strategy in common: heavily controlled by local government or used to be still has power to impose such changes in EvZ. Le- Editorial interference. owned by it. But also the local media owned by weal- piarczyk justifies the replacement of Tuturica by ag- thy businessmen with political ambitions potentially reed measures, which have not been fulfilled by him endanger the press freedom. The problem is media or even communicated to the editors. Despite diffe- are seen “as a tool of influence, helping the owner to rent nationalities, political ideologies and economi- accomplish other commercial or even political inte- cal interest, media owners around the world seem to rest,” explains Manuela Preoteasa from online media have one strategy in common: Editorial interference. EurActiv in Romania the situation in her country. Their motives are various, the consequences are the This (mis)use of media is a general practice among same: journalists lose direct or indirect their jobs and many media owners, even among multinational media products their reliability and quality. I

14 deScripto Winter 2005 Dossier Ownership & (In)dependence

Corporate Pressure Albanian Newspapers Controlled by Business Interests

By Endri Fuga

While Albanians may lack many things, they cer- function was regarded by many in the media as dan- It appears that this news tainly do not have any shortage of political parties, gerous. In fact, newspapers have changed their goal industry is not market or of newspapers, which are in abundance. In a from informing the public to pressuring the govern- driven, but rather influenced country of only three million people, there are more ment, in effect taking the role of lobbyists. Thus a by interests, which than 70 parties and 20 dailies. new phenomenon has been invented: newspapers usually means One might think that Albanians simply read too have become a “stick and carrot” tool. corporate interests. much, which would explain everything. But the figures show something different. Out of the four Obliged to Company Goals most popular newspapers, only top-ranked Shekulli Big corporations own newspapers. In most cases claims a significant circulation, selling around those owned by such large companies sell very well 24,000 copies per day. The other three, namely because they are cheap, the cheapest in the market. Panorama, Korrieri and Gazeta Shqiptare sell closer Clearly, these newspapers and their owners are not to 15,000 a day. interested in the true purpose of journalism, but rat- Considering this very low circulation, one won- her in serving their own interests by running a media ders perhaps if all the papers exist due to high profit. business at a profit. Whenever the parent corporation Maybe though not so many people buy newspapers, needs something from government, its medium wri- those who do pay a lot. But again, this turns out not tes nice editorials and carries extensive coverage of to be true. Out of the 10 most popular dailies, half the executive’s activities. And of course, the opposite, of them cost only 15 cents per copy. whenever the corporate body needs to pressure the The two most popular ones, Shekulli and government, its medium reflects the same spirit. Panorama, cost this much, while most intellectuals Nikolle Lesi, owner of Koha Jone, one of the hig- A new phenomenon agree that the more expensive Korrieri and Gazeta her-priced Albanian dailies, feels pessimistic about has been invented: Shqiptare, at 30 cents per copy, are the most reliable the current media situation in the country, and belie- newspapers have become a newspapers. ves that the below-cost dailies have ruined the whole “stick and carrot” tool. Advertising does not really help since the rates are newspaper industry. “The competition is simply too low, far below those elsewhere in the region. unfair,” he said in an interview for Gazeta Shqiptare. Most newspaper publishers admit their publications’ “As long as corporate interests are mixed with those monthly balance is negative. of the pure newspapers, media will never be a fourth So the question is, how do the dailies survive? independent power.” Most media analysts are concerned about this But those businessmen who also own media think unexplained boom in daily newspapers. To most of differently. Most of them regard the new law as a them, it appears that this news industry is not mar- further limitation to freedom of media. ket driven, but rather influenced by interests, which Koco Kokedhima, owner of Shekulli, the lowest- usually means corporate interests. priced and best selling daily in Albania, believes that The fact is that behind most of these daily newspa- the introduction of the new law allows the Albanian pers, that cost so little and are bought by so few, prime minister to influence and possibly shut down there are big corporations. That is how these “below those media that are considered truly independent. cost” dailies are financed and how they survive. “It’s only a trick,” Kokedhima argues, “a trick to con- Does it matter? Two main problems arise: unfair trol public opinion, and it is all done just months competition and corporate dependence. before the coming general elections.” In the spring of 2004, when the Albanian The parliamentarian debate will continue for seve- Legislature started formulating a special law dealing ral months, according to the head of the Parlia- with print media, two MPs asked parliament to mentary Commission on the Media, Musa Ulqini, introduce an amendment that would end once and while round tables with interest groups will be held for all newspapers’ dependence on business interests. in February. International partners such as the OSCE The amendment would set a floor price for dailies and the Council of Europe have been asked to assist and new rules for those owning media. This shift in during this important process.” I

deScripto Winter 2005 15 Dossier Ownership & (In)dependence A Question of Transparency

Public Broadcasting in transition - Editorial independence in Romanian and Slovenian public television

by Hannes Goegele

Since European audio-visual policy has highlighted editorial independence as a crucial contribution to freedom of the media, access to public information and transparency has improved. But still both EU applicants and member states face significant problems, evident in the cases of Romania and Slovenia.

On a European level, Only a few days prior to the release of Romanian sises: “Media are not independent; but as a result of audio-visual media policy presidential polls in December 2004, Romanian history and social traditions, journalists in Eastern is generally based on Television (TVR1) reporter Alexandru Costache Europe do not miss a broader freedom.” common values: media took it upon himself to expose public editorial inter- Romanian Media Monitoring Agency (MMA) sta- pluralism, freedom of ference at the station. In a letter to the daily ted in a recent press release that “lack of debate about expression, the protection of Evenimentul zilei, Costache stated that TVR1 is the election is worrying, since television is the main minors and the connected by “an umbilical cord, not just to the news source of news for 73 per cent of Romanians.” promotion of a multi- and ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), but also to According to “Media Ownership and its Impact intercultural identity. Prime Minister Adrian Nastase”. on Media Independence and Pluralism”, published On a European level, audio-visual media policy is by Slovenian Peace Institute in 2004, Romanian generally based on common values: media pluralism, public TV channels reach 99 per cent of the Ro- freedom of expression, the protection of minors and manian population. the promotion of a multi- and intercultural identity. The unnamed Romanian journalist calls this fatal In the realm of public broadcasting, the European connection between an insufficiency of critical and Union’s (EU) key ideology is the commitment of investigative reports on government activities, and governments to their citizens to safeguard journali- the broad reach of public broadcasting an “elegant stic independence and plurality. manipulation: on paper, government officials respect Romania is due to join the EU in 2007. The coun- the law, but they use every public event for their own try’s Audio-visual Law was adopted in 2002 and is propaganda, and as long as their media presence is mostly in harmony with EU regulations. But, still below two minutes, it does not count as such.” some problems are in the practice. It results in great difficulty in closing this back Manuela Preoteasa from EurActiv Romania door: “There are a few heroes in our working field, reports: “Public television has internal codes, which but most of us need to follow the rules of superficial have been used against journalists: for instance, jour- journalism in order to survive in a competitive and nalists are obliged to first address station manage- corrupt labour market,” the Romanian journalist sta- ment before speaking publicly about issues concer- tes. ning the institution. According to a recent change, Slovenia acceded to the EU in May 2004. One employees who speak to the press will be fired imme- year before accession, the country adjusted and coor- diately.” dinated its Mass Media Act in order to address con- Another experienced TVR1 journalist*, who troversial issues such as ownership and high media wants to remain anonymous due to a binding confi- concentration and “fulfil European directories, such dentiality contract imposed by the employer, empha- as Television Without Frontiers”, states Marko

* Name is known to the Editor

16 deScripto Winter 2005 Public Broadcasting in South East Europe Milosavljevic from the Department of Journalism at Ljubljana University. Nevertheless, political pressure and self-censorship Albania Kosovo persist due to libel legislation and journalistic inex- Albanian Radio and Television (RTSH); Radio Television Kosova (RTK) perience. The social status of journalists, although Radio: Radio Tirana; TV: TVSH http://www.rtklive.com http://rtsh.sil.at granted in collective agreements, is not fully respec- Macedonia ted in practice. According to SEEMO in the IPI Bosnia & Herzegovina Makedonska Radio Televizija (MRT) “World Press Freedom Review 2003,” not even the Sarajevo: http://www.mr.com.mk law on employment, which took effect in 2003, Public Broadcasting Service of Bosnia Moldova brought the expected results. and Herzegovina (PBS BiH) http://www.pbsbih.ba Teleradio Moldova (TRM) “Journalists work under same circumstances as Federal Television http://www.trm.md public servants. In the public broadcasting sector http://www.rtvfbih.ba they need to negotiate their salary with the Council Banja Luka: Montenegro of Radio and Television. But this does not interfere Radiotelevizija Republike Srpske (RTRS) Radio Televizija Crne Gore (RTV CG) http://www.rtcg.org in the independence of reporting,“ Milosavljevic http://www.rtrs.tv says. Bulgaria Romania The problems undermining editorial independen- Bulgarian National Television (BNT) Societatea Romana de ce are on a higher level. Milosavljevic explains to http://www.bnt.bg Radiodifuziune (SRR) deScripto: “Political demands in Slovenia have an Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) http://www.srr.ro http://www.bnr.bg Televiziunea Romana economic character. Broadcasting is expensive and http://www.tvr.ro financial aid is often related to the naming of editors Croatia Serbia and editors-in-chief, as their designation remains the Croatian Radio Television (HRT) http://www.hrt.hr Radio Televizija Srbije (RTS) duty of the government.” http://www.rts.co.yu In April 2005, the contract of the public radio’s Cyprus Slovenia general manager expires and needs to be renewed. Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) Since Slovenia’s government recently changed, media http://www.cybc.com.cy Radio Televizija Slovenija (RTV) experts fear an observable change in the duties and http://www.rtvslo.si Greece hierarchy of the newly named chief. Turkey Hellenic Radio and Television (ERT) Today, it is hoped young journalists will be strong http://www.ert.gr Türkiye Radyo Televizyon (TRT) enough to fight deficiencies in editorial independen- http://www.trt.net.tr ce. Ljubljana’s journalism department does not offer Hungary classes on editorial independence as such, but does Magyar Televizió (MTV) teach students to report as independently as possible. http://www.mtv.hu Magyar Radio (MR) “Young colleagues are aware of communication http://www.radio.hu theories,” the Romanian journalist confirms, “but often they do not know about journalism practices. Consequently, editors are obliged to read and control their contributions. This situation turns out the same as in former times, except that now foreign Advertisement experts call it control and not censorship anymore.” This story alone proves that in both member and applicant EU countries editorial independence in public broadcasting needs to be continuously moni- tored and guaranteed, since “the solution lays in a fair application of the existing law,” says the Romanian journalist. Both Slovenia and Romania are on their way; while the Trade Union of Slovenian journalists organised a four-day strike in October 2004 (see Media Report Slovenia on page 40), in order to move negotiations forward for better social status, in Romania, newly elected President Traian Basescu set the rein- stallation of media freedom at the top of his priorities, because editorial independence is an indication of a democratic and free European society, and because the transition of public broadcasting is not yet complete. I

deScripto Winter 2005 17 Country Focus Croatia

Country Focus Croatia New Player New Game Croatia marks the start of a new television era with the launching of RTL By Izvor Moralic and Karla Bavoljak

Due to the entrance of German media giant RTL, Croatia's television community is facing serious reconstruction.

Likewise, it is possible for The historic surfacing of RTL occurred on 30 intrusion of RTL into the market. Its programming RTL to lose its license for April 2004. Prior to this, RTL had acquired HTV 3, started to resemble a commercial TV station in reac- the show because of the third channel of HTV which mainly featured tion to the production of reality and talk shows, gratuitous scenes of sex, sports, and challenged HTV's domination by produ- which are more typical of private media than of a inappropriate language cing domestic talk shows and soaps. Its greatest asset public broadcasting network. Furthermore, HTV and alcohol while on air. though, was the introduction of the reality show has been neglecting its duty as a public service and monstrosity “Big Brother.” has diminished its educational and informative pro- RTL managed to break through HTV-dominated gramming which, being a public medium, it has to viewing habits, proven by viewer-rating reports include according to Croatian law. This is important published in the Globus and Nacional weeklies. because HTV receives 60 per cent of its income from RTL's above-mentioned reality behemoth “Big subscriptions, which it could lose if it continues to Brother” finished in second place with a popularity neglect its duties. of (31.1 per cent), right after HTV's daily news (41.4 per cent) in December 2004. Nova TV - The first competitor Despite that, RTL is facing problems due to the RTL is not the first to attempt to start a commer- fact that interest in “Big Brother” is far lower then cial television network in Croatia. The first rumours expected. According to a Nacional article published of a privately owned television station started to sur- on 2 November, a large portion of the six million face in 1999, after former HTV staff members talked Euros invested in the project will likely be lost. about the possibility of founding a competitive tele- Likewise, it is possible for RTL to lose its license for vision outlet. The main advantages of Nova TV (the the show because of gratuitous sex scenes, inappro- resulting station) was the introduction of new sit- priate language and alcohol being displayed while on coms and an informal and friendly presentation of air. information to the audience, which provided a refreshing alternative to people, who had lived for 10 Public Broadcaster HRT challenged years with the bland structure of state-owned media, HTV, the oldest TV network in Croatia, has adapted from former Yugoslavian media. responded unlike any other public TV station to the The owners of Nova TV chose just the right time

18 deScripto Winter 2005 to launch the new station. The end of the Tudjman Lauder himself said that era coincided with its emergence, and at the same Nova will probably need time HTV began to undergo the slow and delicate “six months to a year to transformation from a state-owned to a public catch up” with HRT and RTL. medium, being forced to clean its board of executives from strong HDZ party influence in the process. Although it possessed all the attributes required to become the leading TV station in the country, Nova failed to do so. This was partially due to the fast action taken by HTV, which performed its executive A Short History of HRT - Timeline reconstruction with remarkable speed and competence. The new directors added some new sitcoms to its repertoire and introduced the game show hit “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”. Another reason for Nova's failure was because of the private medium's dwindling variety in programming and lack of informative content. 2001. Law on Croatian Radio Nova TV was also struggling with legislative chan- Television transformed it into ges behind the scenes, which played a large part in a public institution the depleting popularity of the station. These chan- 1994. HRT launched experimental internet service, providing ges occurred, to put it mildly, under peculiar circum- information for those abroad stances. Ivan Caleta, former head of the channel, bought most of the shares of Nova TV. Later he sold 1993. HRT becomes equal the station, and today's owner is American media member of European 1990 Broadcasting Union (EBU) 1990. The Parliament of the conglomerate Central European Media Enterprise Croatian Republic legally rena- (CME). med Radio Television Zagreb to According to a Nacional article from 31 August, Croatian Radio Television (HRT) Caleta is planning to sell his other TV acquisitions - Bosnian channel OBN and TV3 of Slovenia - to RTL, which would give the German media group a large piece of the South European pie and bring it 1970 closer to fulfilling its conquest of the Balkans. 1958. Radio Television Zagreb 1956. Radio Zagreb renamed The Transition of HTV joined the mutual programme into Radio Television Zagreb. of the Yugoslav Radio Television HTV was previously accused of being controlled TV Zagreb started transmitting by the Tudjman regime. However, the network has performed a highly skilful transition from a polarised government medium to an independent public ser- 1945. Radio Zagreb began 1950 vice. Recently, many foreign media monitors have operating as a state company conducted investigations on programming and the 1940. Radio Zagreb reporting of news and politics by Croatian Television nationalized by NDH (HTV). The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights states that HTV “has generally freed itself of political bias, but retains a strong bias in terms of topics covered”. They state there is still a lack of attention 1924. Radio Club Zagreb esta- 1930 given to post-war issues (such as refugee return, blished, which laid foundaitions for radio diffusion in Croatia respect of human rights, etc.). To fill the gap, the 1926. Radio Station Zagreb OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation founded, privately owned by in Europe) stepped in by financing an independent the Cooperation Radio Zagreb documentary series aired in March 2004. “Somebody's Land” was produced by the Serbian

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20 deScripto Winter 2005 Country Focus Croatia

Television Companies & Market Shares in Croatia Democratic Forum, and it focuses on war-affected areas and the lives of people living there. The competition created by new TV channels, such as Nova NATIONAL BROADCASTERS TV, the regional Croatian Commercial Network HRT - The Croatian Radio owned by the German conglomerate (CCN) and RTL, has also pushed HRT to improve Television Network Bertelsmann AG, which owns an overw- its economics and content. is a hybrid of the Zagreb Radio, founded helming 90.4 per cent of the shares. The Ever since the Croatian Democratic Union in 1926, and Zagreb Television, founded remaining 9.6 per cent are publicly (HDZ) has returned to power in Croatia, legislation in 1956. The network is legally owned by owned. RTL is planning to rethink its has been marked by constant clashes with the media. the Republic of Croatia and consists of strategy and rely less on advertising as a two television channels and three radio source of revenue. In the future it plans The party has been extremely sensitive to media channels. A former third HRT television to expand further into Eastern and scrutiny since the end of the Tudjman period; befo- channel was acquired by the German- Southeastern Europe, as indicated by its re there were extremely harsh media regulations ban- owned network RTL. HRT-TV 1 carries all presence in Croatia and Hungary. ning any reports critical of the government, part of the public programming required under Nova TV the regime's efforts to keep a tight grip on the flow Croatian law, including the educational, news, science and culture programmes. Croatia’s first privately owned Television of information. After the end of this era, previously The second channel features entertain- station was launched in late 2000, rea- withheld information saw the light of day, making ment and sports programmes. The sta- ching 75 per cent of Croatia. In June 2004 HDZ's reformation even more strenuous and tion is directed by Marija Nemcic, and is was sold to the Central European Media 60 per cent funded by subscription fees. Enterprise (CME), headed by Ronald costing the party even more public support. The Lauder, for 24 million Euro. CME adds party has ever since been extremely critical of the The network reaches 99 per cent of the country. Nova TV to its media holdings in media, not leaving much space for positive coopera- Romania (PRO TV, Acasa), Slovakia tion. RTL (Markiza TV), Slovenia (POP TV, Kanal A) and the Ukraine (Studio 1+1). CME’s stra- A case illustrating how tense this relationship is Broadcasting in Croatia since 30 April 2004. RTL programming is present in tegy is simple: the goal is to produce occurred in September, when the HDZ attacked approximately 40 countries worldwide; local versions of prominent internatio- HRT in the name of veterans of the 111th brigade. in Europe the network operates 30 TV nal entertainment shows and assemble The reason: HRT did not send a team to film the stations in ten countries. The Luxem- programming according to regional pre- presentation of a monument in Drenov Klanac, a bourg-based RTL group was founded in ferences. the spring of 2000 and is primarily village in Croatia's little-populated Lika region. As Nacional claims, HDZ's agenda can be followed back to earlier protests by Vladimir Seks, head of the REGIONAL BROADCASTERS parliament, who claimed that, “HRT is not paying enough attention to the work of the parliament”. OTV Zagreb, launched 1998 Pro-Media Cakovec, launched 1996 Seks continued by stating that the national televi- STV Osijek, launched 1992 Televizija Moslavina, launched 1995 sion network “cannot be freer than other public ser- ATV Split, launched 1996 Gradska TV Zadar, launched 1992 vices”. However, Seks claim has absolutely no judici- al basis according to Croatian expert on media law, VTV Varazdin, launched 1998 Vinkovacka TV, launched 1994 Vesna Alaburic, who pointed out in Globus' 1 NIT Pazin, launched 1998 Kanal RI Rijeka, launched 1998 October 2004 issue that Croatian law states that the RI TV Rijeka, launched 1998 Korak Split, launched 2002 public broadcasting service “is financially autonomous in respect to the government and protected TV Nova Pula, launched 1996 from all political pressure exerted upon it.” I AUDIANCE SHARES, Adults +15, all day Source: AGB Plus, 2004, statistics still exclude RTL

OTHER 12,8%

NOVA TV 14,3%

HTV1 43,8%

HTV3 9,8%

HTV2 19,3%

deScripto Winter 2005 21 Country Focus Croatia “Public Is Wak ing Up” Professor Stjepan Malovic on the Croatian Media Market and it’s Problems Interview by Thomas A. Bauer ad personam deScripto: Recently, Croatia has entered into preli- been dealt with in the Croatian media - and to what minary negotiations with the European Commission extent does the media engage in self-reflective reporting concerning Croatia’s membership in the European about public media culture? Union (EU). It seems that political institutions in Not very much. The media covered very well the Croatia and Croatians themselves political and diplomatic are willing to accelerate this pro- aspects of the EU process, but cess and, at the same time, to not the real topic: European accept the European values values. In some media one can required for joining the EU. Euroscepticism of the Croatian even find a very negative This will have severe consequen- public was unpleasantly expressed approach: they ask why we ces for Croatian media systems just before the EU decision on preli- have to join Europe; we were and also for the political culture minary negotiations. It was a clear Europe in the 7th century. Or, of public opinion. In your opi- alert to the government, but also to they fear we shall be limited in nion, which media issues will be all involved in political subjects. our national identity now, affected most by these European after fighting for it. The media Stjepan Malovic requirements? did not explain what the EU is Doctor of Communication Stjepan Malovic: really is and what European Science and Vice Dean of Euroscepticism of the Croatian public was unplea- values are. The reason for this is that the coverage has Faculty of Political Science Zagreb University, responsi- santly expressed just before the EU decision on pre- been limited mostly to the foreign section (in the ble for international relation- liminary negotiations. It was a clear alert to the Croatian media). ship and scientific projects government, but also to all involved in political The media are not informing us on what is happe- and subjects. EU membership is ning in Europe, journalists Director of the International now the key issue and a con- are not travelling enough and Center for Education of sensus is a must. HDZ are not reporting on real life Journalists (ICEJ) (Croatian Democratic Union), achievements. and the ruling party, is ready to We are facing a new phase of media We are not properly infor- SEEMO Board Member cooperate with the opposition transition in Croatia. med about what is happening Recent publications: and Miomir ?u?ul, the foreign in two neighbouring coun- The People, Press and Politics of Croatia, Praeger minister, was the first victim of tries, Hungary and Slovenia, Publishers, Westport, the new policy. Prime Minister which became EU members, Connecticut, London, 2001; Ivo Sanader is trying to get public support, stressing and how it influenced their everyday life. What an A Long Way to Freedom, how EU membership is a victory for each Croatian average Croat knows about EU is that prices are published in Exit from party and each citizen and that there is no place for going up and salaries are staying the same. Censorship, European standard political fights and debates about this Journalism Training Association, Council of issue. The role of the media became extremely Since the political system changed, it appears the Europe and Albanian Media important in creating a positive environment. Croatian media, particularly the print media, has been Institute, Tirana 2001; Unfortunately, up until now, media decision- in a difficult and uncertain transitional state. In this Internet: New Interactive makers leave this topic in the foreign section only state, considering the high rate of foreign investment, Communication Channel for (thus away from the public eye). Only journalists two major problems can be identified. First, the appa- Civil Society, published in and foreign experts are really well-informed about rent high rate of “tabloidisation”, and second, the lack Communication Culture in Transition, publisher the EU accession process. In the future, it should of development of a distinct media identity which is Akademiai kiado, become an issue for all media and all journalists. relevant to the nation. Budapest, 2000. Otherwise, Euroscepticim will continue to grow. How do you assess the situation? Tabloidisation is new in Croatia. We are facing a To what extent has discourse about European values new phase of media transition in Croatia. Three

22 deScripto Winter 2005 k ing Up”

on ICEJ major players in the field of print media are foreign using much more sensitive methods, such as having companies: WAZ, Styria and Sanoma. Styria is star- secret connections with owners and media managers. The International Center for ting a new tabloid in May. WAZ is buying a daily Journalists are aware of their situation, so they are Education of Journalists in newspaper, and publishing and printing company trying to develop better self-regulation and legal Opatija, Croatia, was founded in the summer of 1998 Slobodna Dalmacija. At the same time, WAZ sold regulation. The Croatian Journalists Association as a self-supporting, non- Dnevnik, a serious daily economic newspaper, to a (HND) has a good Code of Ethics and very active governmental and non-pro- local media company! So, two Ethical Council. But it is not fit organization. Its main international companies are enough, because media owners objective is the education making the decisions about the are excluded from any responsi- and improvement of professional skills of the journa- print media. Unfortunately, they bility. The media community is lists. are not implementing their stan- Now the main problem is indepen- discussing a new model, based ICEJ has been dealing, and dards. Profit is the main interest. dent journalism. The journalists’ on international experience. expects to continue in the Journalism values are of great position is fragile. The latest developments are same manner, with issues, interest to worried local journa- They have no real working rights, more optimistic. The public is which vary from the ethical questions, from biased and lists and media experts, but not no national collective agreement, waking up and starting to open- unbalanced reporting to to the publishers. Even the tradi- and no sufficient social and ly ask questions of and expect computer based reporting tionally high-quality daily new- work security. responsibility from politicians and the new media. As a spaper Vjesnik is renewing its and government. The media non-profit organization, ICEJ layout, changing its format to A3 investigated several huge scan- is welcomed by many international institutions as an and adding a family supplement dals, and due to that influential excellent venue to deal with in the hopes it will attract buyers. politicians and governmental officials resigned or the complex questions as TV is still the most influential media. Three natio- were replaced. Such media coverage was characterised independent journalism con- nal TV stations are fighting for the same audience: as aggressive, and officials were seen as “victims” of a tinues to develop in the Eastern and Central Europe. HTV, (the state TV, which is transforming into a media lynch, but the results are encouraging. public station), and two commercial, international (from ICEJ promotion) TV channels: Nova TV and RTL. All three channels The transitional mode of the Croatian media system have similar entertainment-based programmes. demands new education and curricular approaches to, Such developments are not encouraging quality jour- and addressees for journalism. Which particular appro- nalism. European nations utilise a number of diverse aches do you plan to engage in? systems and instruments to aid in the development and Education is crucial for a better image of the maintenance of journalistic quality, the securing of edi- Croatian media. Existing journalism schools are torial independence and, for example, the development changing their curriculum and adopting the Bologna of a journalistic code of ethics. Which developments are standard for university education. Vocational trai- under way as far as media politics and media rights are ning is present. The EU has recognised the need for concerned? quality education; thus the TEMPUS programme Croatian journalists were seriously and successful- accepted project JETiC, proposed by the Vienna ly engaged in a media freedom fight. We can say the University, the International Centre for Education of media is no longer as controlled as it was a few years Journalists (ICEJ), the High School of Journalism in ago. Now the main problem is independent journa- Lille, part of Zagreb University, and the lism. The journalists’ position is fragile. They have Kaltenbrunner Media Institute. The aim of the pro- no real working rights, no national collective agree- gramme is to raise awareness of the role of the media ment, and no sufficient social and work security. and improve the quality of media training. Such Journalists who are dependent on media owners and initiatives, when supported by the EU, can make all managers cannot be free. Politicians are still manipu- the difference.I lating the media, but not directly. Now, they are (Editor’s note: for details on JETiC see page 47)

deScripto Winter 2005 23 Country Focus Croatia A Loss of Respect? Media Education in Croatia By Karla Bavoljak

On 26 October 2004, members of the Croatian Recently, new educational opportunities and semi- country-defense league physically and verbally attak- nars for media workers have been expanded. The ked photo reporters and journalists. The attack Society of Croatian Journalists, together with the occurred during the church ceremony honoring International Center for Education of Journalists Ante Pavelic (one of the leaders of Ustasha Regime (ICEJ), has organised various workshops and semi- during WWII), and according to the Croatian nars for media professionals ever since 1998. These Journalists’ Association (HND), it marked one more activities have been established in order to promote in chain of similar attacks on journalists, and there- journalism as a profession, and aim to raise the stan- fore on the freedom of the media and the right of dards of the professionalism, in order to lower vio- free assembly. lence and loss of respect for the profession. The ranking of the journalistic professions has fal- Similarly, the Helsinki Committee on Human len on the social scale since the Croatian-Serb con- Rights recently announced a seminar on investigati- flict, and has not really changed since. During the ve journalism for journalists from Croatia, Bosnia & era of Tudjman and his government, media providers Herzegovina, and Serbia & Montenegro. The lack of were considered second grade journalists, and if they experience in investigative stories, they felt, has lowe- worked for the opposition, they were often accused red the quality of Croatian journalism. If investigati- by government of being traitors. Then President of ve stories do emerge, they are usually not handled at the Croatian Supreme Court, Milan Vukovic, high professional and ethical standards. The 5- reports that five cases of criminal charges for libel or month seminar is held in Sarajevo, and all 10-15 par- slander were brought ex-officio against journalists in ticipants are granted scholarships. October 1998. The journalists were allegedly threa- In March 2005, two of the Croatian media profes- tened with 1-3 year prison terms. Some 70 procee- sionals will be sent to the United States, and become dings were initiated against the satiric weekly Feral the scholars of the Eastern European Professional Tribune on more than 40 different occasions by top Media Exchange and Training. Program held by government officials, the President of the Republic, IREX (International Research & Exchange Board) and his family. The independent weekly Nacional for Cultural Affairs Bureau of State Department will faced 73 charges and had to pay compensation of 10 gather 17 media professionals from Eastern Europe million Deutsch Mark (DM). Some 170 trials in order to spend 4 practical weeks among US media against the weekly Globus brought fines of about 12 houses. million DM for various cases of emotional anguish. The loss of respect for the profession, however, These and many more large suits for emotional also requires the education of society itself. The anguish and libel during the first and second public needs to recognise that, in general, journalists Croatian governments brought a very visible decline are not the enemy bent on exploiting their privacy, in the respect for journalistic profession in Croatia at but rather the watchdogs of government, working for the end of the 20th century. Since the beginning of public itself. Government here has taken some recent the new century, many steps have been conducted to steps to bring about such a transformation of public- prevent such cases occurring again. In addition to opinion. Government initiations in organising semi- new laws, the further education of journalists and nars for teachers and professors in public schools, media professionals seems to play an important role like those held in Castle Trakoscan, are leading in the progress towards higher standards. Freshly towards better mutual understanding between socie- minted journalists just graduating from the 3-4 year ty and media. The media, in turn, still needs to fol- journalism programmes at the University of Zagreb low certain codes of conduct. However, the educa- are already familiar with the international journali- tion of the public about the media also plays an stic standards, and means of reporting – the five Ws important role in the process. Education here is thus (what, when, why, who, & where) and when to ask a key factor, which will help future generations of them, how to accurately record the answers, and how journalists to master violence in the region, and to to report eye-witness events. The biggest problem gain social respect. Hopefully the Croatian govern- lies with established journalists without the benefit ment will also contribute to the process that is to of professional education in the field. bring Croatia closer to democracy. I

24 deScripto Winter 2005 Country Focus Croatia New Willingness Pending E.U. Membership Brings Required International Media Standards By Karla Bavoljak

As top European diplomats and Croatian government officials continue to discuss the reporting of media market earnings to the the start date of negotiations for Croatia's audience. entry into the European Union, European The law also delivered controversial articles concerning the right to privacy and protection of sources' media standards are playing an increasingly identities. Privacy, one of the most controversial larger role in shaping Croatian media law. discussions in today's media, was regulated according On 24 February 2004, a group of European media to 'public interest'. experts arrived in Croatia to advise Croatian lawma- The new Media Law states that the right to priva- kers, government officials and community represen- cy is not at issue if there is clear evidence the infor- tatives on media legislation, including how to align mation is in the public interest. Croatian media legislation with European standards. Long recommended by international institutions Amandement Weakens Journalists’ Right to like the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the Protect Their Sources European Commission, it looks as if the four new A long-debated amendment to the Criminal Code, laws proposed in 2003 (and later passed) will still passed in July 2003, delivered a regulation obliging have to go through various changes and amend- journalists to reveal a source if called on by the court ments. An expert mission sent to Croatia to help to do so, which violates international standards. with legal changes, formed at the request of the State secretary in the foreign ministry, Jadran Croatian government, was a sign of increasing coo- Antolovic, justified the regulation as a tool in the peration to bring about quality legislation. fight against international antiterrorist activity, and Thus 2003 marked a year of legal change for the not as an attempt to impede investigative journalism. Croatian media. The new laws authorise better legal Amendments to the Criminal Code on libel were security of the media, and better access to govern- invalidated by the Croatian Constitutional Court in ment sources of information. The Electronic Media November 2003, because they did not receive an Law, the Law on Croatian Radio-Television, a gene- absolute parliamentary majority. ral Media Law, and new provisions of the Criminal The OSCE Mission to Croatia and the Council of Code were drafted with the involvement of non- Europe disagree with some elements of the new governmental organisations, specifically the Helsinki Media Law. They believe the law unnecessarily regu- Committee on Human Rights and the Croatian lates the work and ownership of Croatian media, Journalists' Association (HND); it is the first time while “the previous Law on Public Information, such a cooperation has taken place. which it replaced, was generally in line with international media standards.” Regulating Ownership The OSCE Mission and other media watchdog Among other important issues, these laws address organisations also expressed concern about the July the issues of media ownership and monopoly. The libel amendments to the Criminal Code, arguing Law on Media, for instance, restricts an owner to they remove safeguards from prosecution which jour- posses no more than a third of any media in a speci- nalists had previously enjoyed if their intention to fic category. This same law prevented the selling of commit libel could not be proven. daily newspaper Slobodna Dalmacija to Europa As new media legislation in Croatia is emerging, Press Holding (a dominant media group), because the international community has also expressed con- with this transaction the company would have gai- cern that it is not always compatible with “the stan- ned control of more than 40 per cent of Croatia's dards”. However, the Croatian government's desire to media. enter the European Union as soon as possible is brin- On 1 October 2004, the new Media Law came ging about a new willingness to cooperate with into effect, regulating ownership, author rights, and foreign experts. I

deScripto Winter 2005 25

Media Report: Albania by Endri Fuga

in Short Prime Minister Albania:“Think Negative” Dialogues with Journalists or Panic Journalism According to the Albanian Media Institute (AMI), The power of public opinion in Albania has rea- should be offered the goods he is looking for. Albanian Prime Minister ched such a level that it can transform a worthless So now we have a wider and wider variety of new- Fatos Nano met with news report into a scoop, or the other way around, spapers that offer first-page titles of panic. Even well-known journalists, though an event might not be as tragic as hoped by analysts, and foreign according to one’s interests. The news process has, in media correspondents at a sense, switched from manufacturing to industrial such readers, it is sold as such. the AMI in Tirana on 11 fabrication. “Five minutes of horror in the railway;” “The January 2005 to discuss This did not happen overnight. For 10 years the hours of anxiety before suicide;” “Last will of L.B., the political question of Albanian print media, and later the electronic media, nurse in Librazhd.” ethnic integration - a topic of particular impor- have experienced an era characterised by growing There is an increasingly widespread lack of critical tance for Albania and its pressure by the public. judgement and the coolness needed to view things in future - in anticipation of With the birth of free press, the media market the long term. upcoming elections. The consisted primarily of newspapers that were domina- It is normal in a country the size of Albania, with event was part of a series ted by analytical content, editorials, news articles, 3.4 million inhabitants, that people are occasionally dubbed “Challenge 2005”, which includes monthly and idyllic reports. murdered, that some get beaten up, and that there meetings between impor- But soon enough, a new culture muscled its way are some robberies and rapes. The country has a tant Albanian and inter- in, one of crime reports and topical daily news, crime rate comparable to any other European region national personalities. which have turned newspapers into a medium that with the same population. NCRT Decides to voices the most negative events that occur around The question is not whether the Albanian media Withdraw Shijak TV’s the country. should reveal these ugly incidents, but what leads Licence “Think negative” has thus become a mode of suc- them to be transformed into sensational media epi- The National Council of cessful journalism. It is a kind of permanent pessi- sodes when they are part of the normal ritual of eve- Radio and Television (NCRT) decided on 23 mism and, worst of all, uninterruptedly educates the ryday existence in a society. December 2004 to with- public in a culture of cynicism, thus preparing the The malady of the Albanian press, and one of the draw the license of Shijak ground and planting the seeds for a market that will reasons readership is shrinking daily, is an almost TV because of the stati- be difficult to uproot. total lack of a subscriber system. A newspaper that on's debts to the council In a country like Albania, just now coming out of must always sell itself on a news stand, where rival and its use of pirated programmes, says the Alban- isolation, “yellow journalism” is often especially suc- media products compete with each other in a battle ian Media Institute. cessful because public opinion has not been allowed of bombastic titles, contrasts of colours and horrify- Shijak's owner said it was the necessary space to become acquainted with its ing pictures, has no other way than to act according “a political decision”, dir- own internal processes. to the rules of this jungle. ected at the station after The journalists themselves must make a morally it had already concluded Looking back over 50 years of communism, there new advertising contr- was little or no crime reporting in the media. It high and extraordinarily ethical attempt to save their acts. He called the charge seems that no murders, no crime and nothing shok- press from this disease. of piracy “absurd”, claim- king ever took place. This “peaceful Albania” seemed For now it seems to be a very difficult undertaking ing that Shijak merely bent on building the belief of an established order as because, although there have been attempts to chan- broadcasts free of charge ge the situation by many renowned public figures programmes other sta- the cornerstone of the nation and, as long as it kept tions charged for. In the this aim in its sights, it served it with determination. with press presence, we can see that two extreme meantime, Shijak TV, the Thus it is easy to imagine how astonished and types of journalists are in the first lines of a “cold first private television sta- susceptible an Albanian is to the exaggeration of a war”; the journalists of crime reports, and sensitive tion in the country, which crime report. An Albanian “digests” this kind of journalists. celebrated its ninth anniversary last December, news – say a violent murder in the southern city of In 10 years of Albanian “yellow press,” a great continues to broadcast Korca – with eagerness and fear, intertwined with number of journalists have been produced and bred self-produced program- curiosity. His appetite whet, this reader looks for- within this brand of reporting; journalists who can mes. ward the next day to more such horrifying deeds. only function inside this framework. New Daily in The newspapers satisfy this eagerness, not only Now the battle has moved to higher levels because Albanian Market offering fresh murders in Puka, Lushnja and Durres, some of these journalists have reached the halls of “Ekspres” is the latest ar- (Albanian cities) but also extracts from the murder leadership in different media, and now have deci- rival in the Albanian mar- that occurred the previous day, including interviews sion-making power over the kind of information that ket of daily newspapers, according to the Albanian with eye-witnesses, the parents of the victim, gossip is revealed to the public. This means that the season Media Institute. from sources at the prosecutor’s office, etc. of panic journalism will last for a while because this This kind of reader is a buyer, and as we live in is not a matter of power, this clearly is a question of capitalism, a reader that creates such a demand values gone astray. I

deScripto Winter 2005 27 Media Report: Bosnia and Herzegovina by Ana Simundza in Short The High Bosnia and Herzegovina: Closer to Truth - Representative and Federal TV Clash Paddy Ashdown, the high New Journalists’ Union Launched representative of the international community in BiH, tur- Following two years of negotiations, the new and technical coordination. Journalists on the field ned down an invitation to be Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina ‘BH Journalists’ often lack organised support or available services. interviewed on the federal TV was launched in Sarajevo on 11 December 2004, Legal protection of journalists is still often inefficient show ‘60 Minutes’, saying in an interview on 21 December merging three of the six previously existing journa- and the Free Media Help Line needs much more sup- 2004 with private television lists’ unions in BiH. port to function properly. station ‘Hayat’ that the pro- Calling itself a “non-sectarian, free and voluntary As well, the education of journalists in both profes- gramme “tells lies”. association of journalists,” the union helps BiH jour- sional and ethical aspects should be better standardi- The federal television net- nalists actively embrace internationally established sed and promoted, and better cooperation between work responded with anger at Ashdown’s statement. The standards of human rights and freedoms, ethics and educational institutions established. Public meetings, federal TV station and the “professional standards of journalism in Bosnia and seminars and debates should be made an important editor of the programme ‘60 Herzegovina and the world.” part of civil life, education and the development of Minutes’ have already been The union’s launch was welcomed by numerous democracy. sued a number of times for journalists in BiH and internationally. SEEMO sees defamation. The program- A Step Into the Right Direction ming on ‘60 Minutes’, which the move as “a step forward for better communica- leans toward the opposition, tion between journalists in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and All of these challenges now stand before the newly deals mostly with societal it makes it easier to fight for press freedom and the founded union. They will not make it easy to preser- wrongdoings, and harshly cri- rights of the journalists.” “One institution has more ve this fragile new alliance of journalists from three ticizes politicians and institu- power than three small ones,” says Oliver Vujovic, tions. entities, and they will not be quickly or easily overco- SEEMO Secretary General. me. However, one can say that the union is certainly Petitions Against the a step in the right direction, a beacon of light brighte- RTV Tax Still a Lot To Be Done ning the still gloomy Bosnian media landscape. An independent initiative for civil disobedience was laun- The founding of the union comes at a difficult The three former unions, which joined forces, ched in Olovo in December time for journalism in Bosnia and Herzegovina. include the Independent Union of Professional 2004 to protest the legally Although a great deal of ethnic strife has been put in Journalists of BiH from Sarajevo, The Association of binding RTV tax, according to the past and important improvements have been Journalists (APEL) from Mostar and the In- newspaper Jutarnje Novine. made in reconciliation processes, there is still a lot Petition-signing to quash the dependent Union of Journalists of Republika Srpska obligatory RTV tax is recei- left to be done. Pressured by a background of old from Banja Luka. ving support in other places divisions, economic hardship and infant democracy, Amela Rebac, editor of Radio Studio 88 in Mostar across the federation. It is Bosnia and Herzegovina is struggling not to fall back was elected president, while Antonio Prlenda, a jour- not yet clear who the organi- into chaos and strife. nalist from the Oslobodjenje daily in Sarajevo, and sers are, but it seems their initiative has to do with a Constantly faced with the temptation to indulge Tanja Topic of Vreme from Banja Luka were named protest by the local SDU nationalistic and financial interests, most observers vice presidents. The centre of the BH journalists’ party, which is dissatisfied agree that a free press is one of the most crucial ele- union is Sarajevo, with regional centres in Mostar with television coverage of ments in the struggle for a brighter Bosnian future. and Banja Luka. its activities. The establishment of the new union brings with it The three associations, which refused the invita- Federal TV (the entity public service) has filed over the hope that ethics and professionalism can overco- tion to join the new union, include the Union of 180,000 lawsuits for non- me the forces that over 10 years ago led BiH and its Journalists of Republika Srpska from Banja Luka, the payment of the three Euro journalism into a bloodbath. Union of BiH Journalists from Sarajevo and the tax, and claims it will enforce The union has embarked on serious and difficult Association of Croatian Journalists in BiH from payment by automatic tasks in trying to improve media life in Bosnia and Mostar. It is widely believed that their decision to deductions from salaries, pensions and seizure of pro- Herzegovina. Dedicated to the promotion and pro- abstain from membership was shaped by nationalistic perty. Most Croats in the tection of professional, social and intellectual inter- resentment, allegiance to local national parties and federation refuse to pay the ests of its members, promotion of ethical standards particular financial interests. tax because they believe that and integrity of journalism, and protection of free- However, the new union has left open the possibi- public television does not dom of speech and the press, it seeks to improve the sufficiently protect Croat lity of their joining later, which is stated in the uni- interests. Bosniaks and Serbs working and social conditions of journalists and will on's statute. Negotiations on the possibility of joi- also increasingly refuse to also try to protect the public from abuse at the hands ning and on cooperation in certain projects will con- pay the taxes, both for politi- of the media. tinue between the union and the remaining associa- cal and economic reasons. Efficiency and transparency are still weak spots in tions. Membership is open to all professional journa- the field. Regional activities are not sufficiently deve- lists with acceptable education who work in Bosnia loped, and suffer from problems in communication and Herzegovina. I

28 deScripto Winter 2005 Media Report: Bulgaria by Petya Sabinova

in Short Bulgaria: Archaic Laws Tamper Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) Turns 70 Bulgarian National Radio with Press Freedom was created on 25 January 1935 through a decree by A number of recent events have turned attention “as it criminalizes journalists for carrying out one of King Boris III, which rati- in Bulgaria towards a law that can be considered a their most important functions in the society, which fied an ordinance law direct breach of press freedom. Two cases against is to uncover issues of public interest.” adopted by the government a week earlier. To foreign journalists have already been filed, both for Debates are now underway in Bulgaria over chan- celebrate its anniversary, using concealed cameras to acquire information. ges to the Penal Code, but such a change, though BNR has wrapped the This, according to Article 339a of the Penal Code, is long awaited by journalists, might turn out to be whole building in a huge considered “using tools of espionage to acquire secret uncomfortable for those in power. Media officials in plastic net bearing the station's logo and tied on information,” and when not specifically authorised, Bulgaria and abroad feel that the point of this article it a red ribbon more than is penalised with up to three years in prison. is to “prevent investigative reporting which is always 100 meters long, honou- Charges have been pressed by courts in two diffe- annoying to influential people both from the politi- ring not only the network, rent districts against BBC reporter Justin Rowlatt for cal and business fields,” Trionfi said. A change in the but also Kristo Yavashev - using a concealed camera and for inciting corrup- penal code is urgently needed. According to the new a Bulgarian artist who gained international fame tion, and against Romanian Pro TV journalist Ethical Code of Bulgarian Journalists, journalists with his “wrapping” buil- George Buhnici, again for using a concealed camera “will gather information by fair and lawful means, ding projects. Yavashev, without prior permission. without hiding that [they] are journalists.” also known as “Kristo”,is According to Article 339a of the Bulgarian Penal However, elsewhere the code provides that “tricks, currently working on a Code (1997): “Those who, without a proper permis- concealed cameras and microphones, or other speci- project involving the pla- cement of huge coloured sion as required by law, produce, use, sell or keep al technology [...] can only be used if there is no gates in New York Central special technical means intended for concealed gat- other way to obtain information of exceptional inte- Park. hering of information are punished with up to three rest to the public.” The code further stipulates that New Media Agency years of confinement.“ journalists “indicate in the information that such Created in Bulgaria In the case of Rowlatt, the investigative reporter methods have been used.” The potential contradic- The international compa- used the concealed camera for the BBC programme tion between these articles leaves the area unclear. ny Media Planning Group “Buying the Game”, in which he exposed Ivan So far, everyone is acting cautiously and public will open a branch in Slavkov, head of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee statements have been indefinite, especially those by Bulgaria dealing with media strategies and (BOC) and member of the International Olympic politicians. Minister of Interior Affairs Georgi communications pro- Committee (IOC) discussing the selling of his vote Petkanov, who had told Bulgarian National Radio grammes. The creation of in support of London’s bid for hosting the games in (BNR) that Buhnici was guilty of breaking a current this branch was announ- 2012. After being suspended from both BOC and Bulgarian law, also suggested that a change was pos- ced by Jacques Seguela, IOC, Slavkov decided to take the journalist to court, sible, but added it is a matter for parliament. Though vice-president of advertising company “Havas using archaic Penal Code Article 339a. he acknowledged that journalists might find it Advertising.”The agency Buhnici and his driver were arrested on 16 impossible to acquire certain information without will provide a whole November, at the border between Bulgaria and special technology and that the law seems to be an scope of services in the Romania, for using a concealed camera. According “anachronism,” the minister also claimed ignorance areas of corporate com- to Romanian Pro TV, Buhnici was taping a piece of European practices in this area. munications and public relations. about cigarette trafficking at the border. Charges Nevertheless, the Bulgarian media all agree on the were immediately pressed in the Ruse local court and need for a change in the law, said a representative of the journalist faced up to three years of prison. On 6 the Bulgarian Media Coalition, Georgi Lozanov, to December, he was fined 500 Euro and released. news portal Vseki Den (Every Day). He said he These two cases led to reactions from local and hoped that upcoming elections might trigger politi- international media observers. SEEMO sent a pro- cians to act in a more “populist” way and help speed test letter to officials in Bulgaria. Media organisa- up promulgation of the media amendment. “The tions in Bulgaria began pushing for a change in the Bulgarian Media Coalition will support the proposal law. In light of Bulgaria’s attempt to join the and introduce it to parliament,” Lozanov said. European Union, a law that restricts press freedom Until the law is changed, however, the problem in such a way raises serious concerns about the coun- remains, leaving Bulgaria’s preparedness for EU tries readiness. membership in question. As the European Court of “This article of the Bulgarian Penal Code is defi- Human Rights states: “Freedom of expression has an nitely not in line with internationally accepted stan- essential role to play in a democratic society, helping dards,” says Barbara Trionfi, a Press Freedom Adviser to foster the development of an open, tolerant socie- for the International Press Institute (IPI) in Vienna, ty in which human rights are respected.” I

deScripto Winter 2005 29 Media Report: Cyprus by Michael Ledl

in Short Meeting of European Cyprus: Threats and Attacks Against Press Councils The sixth annual meeting of the Alliance of a Critical Journalist Independent Press Councils of Europe (AIPCE) Shener Levent, a man with rough edges and a cri- dings housing the printing press of Avrupa in took place in Cyprus in tical mind, is somebody who does not keep his Nicosia, without claiming any victims. October 2004, with the thoughts a secret. In general, there are at least occasional threats participation of more than 40 delegates from 20 In addition – as a leading journalist in northern against political personalities, newspapers and parties countries. The creation of Cyprus and editor of the Turkish Cypriot daily in northern Cyprus. Kutlu Adali, a prominent jour- new councils, the handling Africa (formerly known as Avrupa) - he is a person nalist who had also criticised the policies of Denktash of complaints, relevant EU whose opinion is heard. Sometimes, a disadvantage- and Turkey, was murdered in front of his home in laws and regulations, and ous blessing, especially in a divided country. 1996. decisions of the European Court of Human Rights Cyprus has been geographically and ethnically were discussed. divided since 1974, when Turkey occupied more “Returning to Prehistory” Radio Stations in than a third of the island. The occupation happened Levent is still writing his articles and still publis- Cyprus in response to a coup by the military junta in Greece. hing a critical daily now called Africa. But what hap- How many radio stations Cyprus is the only divided country in the pened to Avrupa? are trying to survive in European Union. In fact, only the southern, Greek Levent was accused by local authorities of publis- Cyprus? Nearly 60. Some part of the island joined the EU in May 2004. The hing articles in his daily newspaper, which were of them are holding on to north, under the control of the Turkish military, “insulting and humiliating the dignity and the perso- their podium positions and others are slowly declared itself independent in 1983 and proclaimed nality of the security forces.” In December 2002 disappearing.“The only itself a republic called “Turkish Republic of Avrupa closed down, constrained by court rulings radio stations that are gai- Northern Cyprus” (TRNC). and fines. ning ground are music sta- It has not been recognised by the United Nations But Levent announced that the daily would be tions,” says Yiannis Adilinis, and is considered illegal. Turkish Cypriots, especially reborn under the name Africa, explaining that DJ and editor-in-chief of Time Out magazine. The journalists, have not been allowed to express opi- Cyprus was "no longer heading for Europe, but was number one radio station nions critical of the authority. As far as law and free- returning to prehistory, towards Africa." He added today in Cyprus is Super dom of the press is concerned, the mass media are the change of name is meant to illustrate that the law FM, which plays Greek hits very different in the two communities, with the of the jungle is ruling in northern Cyprus. and uses the secret wea- Turkish Cypriot side being subject to considerable pon used by every radio 2000 Years in Prison? station in the world: play pressure and restraints from the authority, while the lists. Greek Cypriot side is much more open. As Andreas Kannaouros, President of the Union of Can Cyberspace The International Press Institute (IPI) alleged in Cyprus Journalists, informed SEEMO, “with some Break Down the its 2002 World Press Freedom Review that, accor- 100 charges already made against Shener Levent, if Divide? ding to SEEMO statistics, 41 press freedom viola- those were sustained in a Turkish civilian hearing the Advanced technology has tions occurred in the Turkish-controlled part of the total imprisonment term he faces could add up to had a direct affect on brin- island and two in the Republic of Cyprus. 2000 years.” ging Greek Cypriots and “This latest action against Levent is fresh evidence Turkish Cypriots closer A lot of explosives together, making Cyprus a of a profound press freedom crisis in the north of the prototype around the When Levent founded his daily newspaper island,” said Aidan White, IFJ and EFJ General world for conflict resolu- Avrupa, it was particularly critical of Turkey and the Secretary. tion, according to two policies of the republic's authorities. In the context Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General, sees media experts from New York, Professors Gary of the Republic of Cyprus's candidacy for entry into positive aspects also: “I hope, that on the territory Gumpert and Suzan the European Union, it was easy to provoke authori- controlled by the Turkish Cypriot community, which Drucker. Both the ties with tartly written articles. is internationally not recognised, there will be some American specialists are Threats of annexation of the northern sector by changes in 2005, and that local politicians will accept very familiar with Cyprus Turkey and the dialogue between the island's two some basic press freedom standards. There were some and have been following developments in technolo- leaders – Glafkos Clerides and Rauf Denktash – also positive statements from Mehmet Ali Talat, prime gy, media and bi-commu- provided for a lot of explosives. Denktash, leader of minister, who said in 2004 that as a first step his nal relations there for the the TRNC (the party ruling the Turkish Cypriot government will initiate a number of legal changes last 10 years. The results of side), did not tolerate any criticism of his person by that would prevent civilians and journalists from their studies were publis- the opposition daily. being tried by military court.” hed in December 2004. Death threats against Levent – according to him Press freedom is always a parameter for political expressed by paramilitary forces – were not the only conditions and developments in a country. This issue attempts at intimidation he has faced. will surely come up when accession negotiations On 24 May 2001, a bomb exploded in the buil- begin between Turkey and the European Union. I

30 deScripto Winter 2005 Media Report: Greece by Mazin Elfehaid

in Short Sports Editor Attacked Greece: Fighting For Fairness Phillipos Syrigos, sports editor of the Athens daily new- In a country where courts are often all too eager to editors’ union within half an hour of the appeals hea- spaper Eleftherotypia, was penalise reporters for libel, 13 October was widely ring, as they knew Makedonia did not have a sub- attacked and brutally beaten hailed as a landmark date in Greece. On this day, an stantial case against Bikas or its other employees,” in a parking lot after finis- appeals court upheld a decision against Thessaloniki- says Georgios Papadakis. “Moreover, public opinion hing a show at the Super Sport FM radio station on 18 based publisher Makedonia. The publisher, who had was strongly in support of Bikas, which can be an October 2004. One man hit fired journalist Haralambos Bikas, was reprimanded important factor when judges make their decisions Syrigos on the head with a by the court for attempting to infringe on freedom [in Greece].” The Greek media had closely watched metal bar, while the other of speech and the press. the hearing, and the demand for a fair trial was sub- stabbed him in the back with a knife several times. In 2003, Bikas had been covering the war in Iraq stantial. The courts also stated that the management Both attackers escaped, and as a foreign correspondent. “When I returned from of Makedonia did not have the right to change the Syrigos was rushed to the Iraq in late 2003,” Bikas reports, “I noticed that the reports of any journalist, especially if the information hospital, where he received [editorial] director of the paper had changed a part in the report is confirmed by the source. immediate emergency sur- of my story.” When Bikas protested against this Nevertheless, there still remains a lot to be done to gery. He was released from hospital a week later. Syrigos internal censorship to management, he was fired ensure journalistic freedom in Greece. “To be honest, had received threats via tele- from his job. There may have been an additional rea- I do not think the situation will ever be completely phone; unknown people had son for Bikas’ dismissal. OK,” says Papadakis. Greece’s tough libel laws crimi- called the radio station and “He is one of the leaders in the journalists’ move- nalize the publication of direct allegations against a his newspaper about his ment,” says Georgios Papadakis, SEEMO coordina- person. Journalists are threatened by prison terms, continuing coverage of drug use by athletes. Syrigos beca- tor in Greece and editor of the Athens-based finan- fines, and job loss in retaliation for reporting percei- me well known after he cial daily Express. “He had occasionally been a repre- ved to be defamatory. reported on a doping case in sentative of this movement within his newspaper, “Journalists have often been punished for referring the 2004 Olympic games. though he did not hold this position at the time of to somebody as a ‘possible receiver of laundered SEEMO was the first interna- his dismissal.” money,’” Papadakis remarks. tional NGO to react to this case by sending a protest to The Editors Union of Macedonia and Thrace Things are slowly changing, however. In March officials in Athens, and by Daily Newspapers (ESIEMTH) is a group that is 2004, the Ministry of Press and Multimedia was initiating an international actively concerned with applying pressure to various abolished. (see InShort, this page) protest. publishers in order to improve journalists’ working “The problem is,” says Papadakis, “that this law is conditions in Greece; many journalists are not paid not even ready [to be introduced into parliament] Media Ministry on time, are underpaid, and/or forced to work lon- yet. Perhaps we will see it in parliament by this sum- Disolved ger hours than originally agreed upon by their mer. But it seems at the moment, the government In March 2004, the newly employers. has other priorities.” Papadakis thinks that, with elected Greek government dissolved the Ministry of In reaction to Bikas’ dismissal, ESIEMTH imme- constant pressure from journalists, the issue will Press and Mass Media, decla- diately contacted the now-defunct Ministry of Press eventually be given the necessary attention, but ring it “not a modern institu- and Mass Media. The minister personally called the “things take time in Greece”. tion” and stating it appeared director of Makedonia in response to its actions. As for journalist Haralambos Bikas, he was elected undemocratic, because such establishments have been When this proved ineffective, the staff of Ma- representative of the Makedonia union in early known to interfere in media kedonia, with the backing of ESIEMTH, staged a September, and has since gotten his old job back. “It independence, especially in 24-hour strike, in response to which the publisher is a strange climate here… They [the management] the case of regimes that do filed a lawsuit against the union. cannot touch me, because the two court decisions not have international The case, heard on 13 May 2004, was ruled in went in my favour, but they are placing pressure on respect. Greece has assigned the favour of ESIEMTH. This was not, however, the me to leave,” he says, noting that management no Press Ministry’s powers to a end of the legal battle. On 13 October, Bikas and the longer publishes his name in the paper’s Sunday edi- government spokesperson, staff of Makedonia were forced to appear before the tion, and routinely changes his writing assignments. Theodorous Roussopoulos, Court of Appeal. This court upheld the primary He insists that the journalists’ strike was less about who has promised a new ruling that Bikas’ dismissal had been illegal and was him, and more “a strike for the code of ethics”. For multimedia reform law, yet to be introduced into parlia- driven by “reasons of vindictiveness” on the part of this reason, he will stay with his paper, though he is ment. his employers. not quite sure what he is going to do. In what is considered a historically important “I am preparing a civil prosecution against my move, the court also declared that the union had the publisher in May of next year,” says Bikas. “It’s a right to protest against the employer as it was, accor- good fight, and I am very satisfied with the work we ding to Bikas, “defending the collective value of free- have done.” However, Bikas and Papadakis both dom of the press, which is superior to the value of agree there is still much room for improvement in any private interest.” the Greek media landscape. I “The judges unanimously voted in favour of the

deScripto Winter 2005 31 Application Details for the Dr. Erhard Busek – SEEMO Award for Better Understanding in South East Europe 2005

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is pleased to announce the Dr. Erhard Busek – SEEMO Award for Better Understanding in South East Europe 2005.

Sponsored by Erhard Busek, special coordinator for the Stability Pact for South East Europe, the 2,000 Euro award will be given to a journalist, editor, media executive or person educating journalists in South Eastern Europe (SEEMO region), thus using the media to promote a climate of better understanding among people in the region and to work towards ending minority problems, ethnic divisions, racism, xenophobia etc.

In 2002, the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) and its international jury chose Croatian journalist Denis Latin as recipient of the Dr. Erhard Busek - SEEMO Award for Better Understanding in South East Europe 2002, in recognition of his outstanding efforts in journalism, which contributed toward better understanding in South Eastern Europe. In 2003, the award was presented to Kemal Kurspahic, former editor-in-chief of the Sarajevo daily Oslobodjenje.

If you know of anyone who would be a worthy recipient of the Dr. Please send all to: Erhard Busek – SEEMO Award for Better Understanding in South East Europe, please send a letter to SEEMO with basic details about the SEEMO/IPI person you would like to nominate (along with a professional CV, “Busek Award” describing why she / he should receive the award), as well as the Spiegelgasse 2/29 contacts of the person you are nominating (media organisation, 1010 Vienna, Austria address, phone, fax, email). If your nomination is supported by an Tel: +43 1 513 39 40 organisation / media outlet, please send us the name of the contact Fax: +43 1 512 90 15 person supporting your nomination, as well as basic information E-mail: [email protected] about the organisation / media outlet. If your nomination is supported by other individual / individuals, please send us the necessary Material will not be returned, so please always details and contacts of the other supporters. We also need your send copies of documents, CVs, reports, articles, basic details and your contacts (address, phone, fax, email, mobile videos, audiotapes, DVDs or CDs. phone). Any additional material about the nominated person (such as TV The application deadline for the Dr. Erhard reports on video or DVD, audio reports on cassette or CD, or articles Busek – SEEMO Award for Better in newspapers), if possible with a short English translation, are wel- Understanding in South East Europe 2005 come. Please send them with your nomination. is 1 May 2005 Media Report: Hungary by Roman Prysiazhniuk

in Short Hungary: Big Players In a Small Market Interactive TV Coming to Hungary Interactive television produc- A trend that started with the breakup of the Soviet too were bought by foreign companies,” says Kovacs. tion will bring to an end the Union in Hungary is still present in the country Mr. Kovacs believes that foreign ownership of the traditional linear recording of today. More and more media and media-related ser- media has largely improved the media's quality, men- political events of anything vices are being bought up by foreign investors, lea- tioning that, “this is clear from the number of pages happening in the world. iTV ving the country with virtually no media owners of in newspapers, the number of new publications, the will allow the viewers to choose how the story will Hungarian descent. The introduction of the market use of color, superior printing.” He credits the unravel. To demonstrate the economy after the breakup of the Soviet Union mar- foreign owners, who in his view, “have also provided tool’s potential MECiTV sta- ked the beginning of these dramatic changes affec- a lot of technical assistance to improve journalistic ged an iTV Docu Drama cal- ting the media sector and ownership layout. standards, albeit with varying results.” led Vision Europe. Filming Of the 24 local newspapers, Axel Springer owns In Kovacs' opinion the foreign owned media is began on 12 April 2003 in Budapest when Hungarians 10; Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung owns five; doing a good job of catering to Hungarian audiences. voted for EU accession and Funk GmbH owns three; and Associated Newspa- He explains this phenomenon by stating simply, ended 1 May 2004 when pers owns three. There were attempts at creating rival “otherwise they could not stay in business.” Although Hungary finally joined. The local papers, but all were unsuccessful due to lack of many Hungarian-owned newspapers came into exi- project nears completion in February 2005, they are just capital. Swiss company Ringier controls over two- stence after 1991, they quickly “went out of business, adding the final touches to thirds of the national newspaper market, including as they could not win readers away from the foreign- the authoring software’s usa- broadsheet Nepszabadsag, sports daily Nemzeti owned publications.” We see the same type of layout bility. Non linear reporting Sport and tabloid Blikk. Up until November 2004 when we turn to the television market, “the foreign would be useful in the times Ringier also owned Magyar Hirlap. owned TV stations have up to 80 per cent of the of events such as elections or the Olympics. (alphagalileo) Ringier Publishers sold the publishing rights of audience, while the government-owned stations have defunct Hungarian daily Magyar Hírlap to A Pont failed to respond to the needs of the Hungarian MH Kiadói Kft, a company partly owned by the for- audience.” Editorial policy, in his view, remains large- mer staff of Magyar Hírlap. Ringier announced at ly unaffected. This is explained by the fact that the end of October that it would shut down the “…few people in the parent companies speak paper because its losses rose to nearly HUF 2 billion Hungarian, and in any case, all Hungarian political since 2001 and the number of copies sold has gradu- parties have virtually the same position on economic ally declined. Magyar Hírlap, launched in 1968, was policies, and consequently, there is no reason for the last published on 5 November. The daily's chief edi- owners to become involved in editorial policy.” tor Pál Szombathy announced a week later that he When asked whether or not some themes or topics would create a new daily with members of the are being left out due to ownership layout, Kovacs paper's editorial. The new paper, called A Pont was replied, “the main objective for all papers is to incre- first published on 9 November. ase circulation. That may affect content, but not the The trend toward foreign ownership can be explai- nature of ownership.” In Kovacs' view, the Hungar- ned by Hungary's relatively small market of 10 mil- ian public seems to be largely content with the cur- lion, and the ever-present undercapitalization of the rent media ownership layout. He elaborates: “What media sector by Hungarians, which has not changed grumbling there is, is mainly about the preponderan- much since the introduction of a market economy in ce of leftist opinion, and people on the right com- Hungary. For example, today Hungary has 10 natio- plain about the lack of 'balance'. They feel that there nal and 24 local dailies. Western investors own seven should be more papers and TV with a rightist view.” out of the 10 national and all the local dailies. When According to Kovacs, it is a minority view, which is the newspapers came onto the market, there seemed clear when one notes that “rightist papers started by to be no Hungarian interest in or capital for buying Hungarians since 1991 have either failed or have only them, and no restrictions were placed on foreign a very small circulation, in spite of government sup- purchasing of newspapers. port and government advertising during the years To assess the impact of such ownership layout, when a rightist government was in power.” There is deScripto turned to Charles Kovacs, the chairman of one exception however, a newspaper with a circula- the supervisory board of Hit Radio RT, who agreed tion and following that “has been stable for years” - to comment on the trend in a personal capacity. Magyar Nemzet. Kovacs states, “I think the status Apparently the trend began with the fall of com- quo is a matter of quality rather than of ownership.” munism in Hungary. “Under communism, the new- When he was questioned about public trust of spapers were owned by the State. After 1991, they foreign owners, Kovacs retorts, “I am not sure if were sold to the highest bidder and this was usually Hungarians really trust anyone, but foreign compa- a foreign company. Television was not privatised, but nies tend to have higher professional standards, more licenses were auctioned off in the mid-90's and these objective promotion policies, higher pay, etc…”I

deScripto Winter 2005 33 Media Report: Kosovo by Baki Haliti & Daniela Süssenbacher

in Short Cross Border Media Kosovo:* Media Consumption Projects Supported by UNESCO In January 2005, UNESCO deScripto asked Kosovo journalist Baki Haliti, who is thus auditors and readers become more sceptical. As supports cross border and currently working on his dissertation in Vienna, to far as I am concerned, I stopped reading some new- cross culture media project comment on media communication at home: spapers, and there are some TV programmes in in Kosovo. The project is Kosovars interest in media was quite essential in which I am not interested anymore, because of the based on cooperation bet- the past considering the situation in Kosovo. reasons explained above.” One other reason can be ween the news agencies Whereas in Western Europe newspapers are read in the importance the internet has taken on for people KosovaLive in Pristina and Beta in Belgrad. Target:”to the morning with a good coffee, in Kosovo papers in Kosovo since the war has ended. combat ignorance, bias and were treated with great importance and sensitivity. Only in Pristina today there are more than 50 manipulation”. The multilin- Nowadays, the interest of Kosovars in the Kosovo internet cafés open around the clock. There is greater gual information transfer media seems to have changed. Kosovo's auditors and interest in the Internet as a medium than media such and exchange can be found readers were before really sensitive to information as newspapers and TV. Following a survey by BBSS at www.kosovakosovo.com from the media, they felt really involved, and days Gallup International from a sample of 1,120 respon- Settlement were spent talking about newspapers or TV headli- dents, 86.9 per cent of the male population and 91.1 Agreements nes. Often a group of friends gathered in a coffee per cent of the female population were found to pre- In December 2004, the OSCE place to read the newspaper and discuss issues with fer the media of television among traditional media Mission in Kosovo pleased enthusiasm. Moreover, it was impossible to walk choices. The older the people were, the more their the settlement agreements between the broadcasters through Pristina without seeing one or two people tendency toward television grew. The assumed level RTK, TV21 and KTV and the carrying a newspaper. The 7.30 pm Kosovo news on of newspaper readers is less than 10 per cent of the TMC. They had agreed to RTP (Radio Television Pristina) brought every population. take necessary remedial Kosovar in front of its TV screen. Nowadays, there is The survey shows that interest in print media actions in place of fines. less interest in everyday Kosovo news. In Pristina, comes primarily from the 36 to 45 age group. The people are no longer seen wandering around holding importance of the media for auditors and readers in newspapers; the long-awaited news that Kosovo peo- Kosovo is weaker than before; the structure of the ple sought with impatience is today meaningless. media is in need of change, as is the everyday politi- These changes in media interest by Kosovars is regar- cal system in Kosovo. I ded sadly by Sylejman Dermaku, chief editor of the biweekly newspaper Shkendia, printed in Pristina. During an interview in December 2004, he declared: Boom and Implosion “Kosovar readers have become lazier. Obviously, I understand the daily difficulties they face, and finan- Counting 112 broadcasters and dozens of print cial problems are important for our Kosovar readers media products on one side and a related reading and that their income is really small. We also have public of only two million people on the other side, problems printing the newspaper Shkendia for seven the actual Kosovar media market can be described as to nine thousand copies, because readers have less overcrowded. Is this boom a typical post-war pheno- interest in reading our newspaper. This is the result menon or is there still a big bang going to come? of a general lack of interest in reading, states Through focussing on main tendencies of the Dermaku. developing process, the media market and its proble- Even Ibrahim Berisha, writer, journalist and socio- matic situation gets clearer. The Kosova media deve- logist, reckons one of the reasons for diminishing lopment seems to be a quite uncoordinated process. interest in the media is its focus on Kosovo's current Attempt to prevent “vigilante journalism” through a evolutionary and political problems. These issues are media commission or regulatory regime has not been not really interesting for Kosovar listeners and rea- effective till now. ders, who are more concerned about daily social and As Isuf Berisha from the Kosova Foundation for economic problems. Hence a sinking of interest in open Society describes the situation, “outlets that did the Kosovar media. Ramadan Mehmeti, author and not enjoy support from donors disappeared soon journalist, has the same theory. after they were launched.” As donors now tend to He says: “The Kosovars in general are really tired decrease media support, media outlets that could not of their daily problems; they are day by day confron- achieve self-sustainability are affected. In this case it’s ted by electricity, water, and primary infrastructure important to mention that since the war OMIK and problems, social stress, and a lot of other difficulties. NGOs play an important role in the media landsca- The Kosovo media does not discuss these issues, and pe. Media dying can also be seen as a sign for the loss of international attention. I Kosovo is administred under the civil authority of the United Nations *Mission to Kosovo (UNMIK), pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1244 from June 1999;We deal with Kosovo separately and not within Serbia, because the legal status of the two jurisdictions is very different.

34 deScripto Winter 2005 Media Report: Macedonia from SEEMO Media Handbook

in Short Macedonia: Struggle for Survival Experts Say Media Market Oversaturated The Macedonian media In 2004, both print and electronic media in the who ordered people to enter his quarters through a market suffers from too Republic of Macedonia have continued to struggle window, replaced the good head of the province. many publications in too for their very survival and, through no fault of their They had been banned from using the door. The many languages, too few own, have continued on a downward slide that has people objected against the ban, but could do advertisers and too much not yet reached the bottom. Almost nothing positive nothing about it. A new successor, who was even political interference, experts told deScripto in has been taking place in the Macedonian media worse than the previous one, then ordered the people December 2004. scene in 2004. The aftermath of the financial strug- to enter his quarters through the chimney. The peo- According to a survey by gles is much more bitter than anybody expected. The ple begged the „valija“ to let them use the window, the Centre for Media press, daily and weekly newspapers, private radio and which had become a better choice for entry than the Development, over 150 television stations, including Macedonia’s national chimney. Nobody asked anymore for the door. The media, most of them small and unprofessional, broadcaster (which has been undergoing a prolonged question still remains - what will happen when a bad are a small part of a sta- and painful restructuring into a public service provi- head of province takes power? gnant commercial “cake”. der), have ended the year 2004 rather low compared Most journalists work without a contract or on a “I do not know any to 2003. Expenditures are on the rise, while circula- short-term contract. The relationship between autho- European country, which has such a large number tion and revenues have dropped significantly. Some rities and media varied all the way from tolerance to of national concessions,” newspapers no longer exist, and many others have attempts at intrusion and “disciplining” the media. says Roberto Belicanec of hinted at the possibility of having to close down At the end, a reference to the aforementioned anec- the Centre for Media their offices. dote is appropriate. The media in Macedonia have Development in Skopje. In An old anecdote „Nobody waits anymore to enter slipped downward on the transitional seesaw and order to survive, influential media operations hook through the door“, frequently mentioned by local now have no other option but „to enter through the up with political elites, journalists, illustrates the downward momentum chimney“. Nobody can tell whether the media in who then often treat that has snowballed in Macedonia during this transi- Macedonia will manage next year to get back to the them as a means to make tional period. During the Ottoman Empire, the stage of „entering through the window“. The door is public their political and ordinary people, known then as „raja“ used to enter still long way off as far as Macedonia’s media is con- commercial interests,he says. into the quarters of the then head of the province, cerned. “You cannot get any the “valija”, through the door. Then a bad “valija”, advertising anywhere, for example for a new maga- Advertisement zine, or any other medium that is not politically affi- liated. The more independent you are, the less advertising you can get,” says Jovo Ratkovic, a jour- balkan anders nalist at Radio Free Europe. He cited the BALKAN anders/ südosteuropäischer Dialog example of generously BALKAN differently/ South East European Dialogue sponsored Macedonian Television (MTV), which he says provides little The aim of the magazine is to give a differential and detailed picture of public service.“MTV is Balkans, which might lead to a correction of the often negative impression getting lost, serving speci- of the region, based on prejudice and ignorance. Short clippings and quota- al interests and not the tions from already issued publications about politics, culture, science, reli- people,” says Ratkovic. gion, history and current problems, which are easy to read, should mediate a multi-coloured picture of South East European countries.

We do not only want to inform about Balkans, than also directly from Balkans, through help of our editors placed in the capital cities of the region.

Editorial staff: Christine von Kohl (responsible), Vedran Dzihic and contribu- tors in all Balkan regions

The magazine is published 6 times a year

deScripto Winter 2005 35 Media Report: Moldova by Mathias Huter in Short Criticism of a National Moldova: Propaganda & Censorship Register for Printmedia The ruling Communist Party Meanwhile, two Moldavian NGOs, the plans to pass a law that The OCSE Representative for Freedom of the would require all periodicals Media, Miklós Haraszti, visited Moldova in October Independent Journalism Centre (IJC) and the Cen- and news agencies to re- 2004 and talked to politicians, journalists and repre- tre for Sociological, Political and Psychological Ana- register at the Justice sentatives of non-governmental organisations lyses (CIVIS), have started to monitor the content of Ministry’s “Unified National (NGOs), about the current state of media freedom Radio Moldova and TV Moldova 1 on a quantitati- Register”. Another proposed amendment would have in the country. The main reason for the visit was to ve basis, using the so-called stopwatch method. media outlets change their provide recommendations to the government on legal status and become how media freedom could be improved. “Too Much Government, Few Other Voices” non-profit organisations. In his final report, Haraszti gauged estimable According to the IJC, the results show a “discrep- Several NGOs, editors and developments in the situation of the Moldovan ancy between the real concerns of the people and journalists have voiced their concern that these actions media. He praised the fact that the country had issues featured in the broadcasts, a bias towards the might lead to the “weeding decriminalised libel, which few other OSCE partici- authorities, (a) lack of diversity of information sour- out” of critical newspapers. pating states have done. However, the representative ces and sometimes even violations of basic human OSCE representative of remarked, there is no limit on damages in defama- rights” as well as numerous reports containing “open Freedom of the Media, pre-election propaganda.” Miklós Haraszti, warned: tion claims. Thus civil defamation suits remain a “The distinction between problem for privately owned media outlets. Just a few days after the NGOs’ release and the commercial and journalistic Various other points were also criticised by publication of the OSCE report, the supervisory activities is difficult and such Haraszti in his report, which was published in mid- board of TRM restricted reports about certain activi- a move might negatively December. ties of the Moldovan Government during the 2005 affect the economic base of election campaign. a newspaper. Such a move TeleRadio Moldova (TRM) and the problems it might be perceived as politi- has encountered during its legal transformation from The BASA-Press news agency reported that from 1 cally motivated, especially in a state broadcaster into an autonomous public servi- January 2005 campaign information has been limi- a pre-election period.” ce institution, fill many pages in Haraszti’s paper. ted to one minute of airtime per newscast and to 10 New TV Network Several problems related to the transformation are minutes a week. The government attempted to show Founded discussed in detail. Up until now, there has been no with this move that it is implementing some of Four local TV stations monitoring of TeleRadio’s content carried out; despi- Haraszti’s recommendations. (Telecanal 26, Albasat TV,TV te the fact the new law prescribes it. Euronova and TV-Prim) agreed to establish a jointTV production and distribution network in October 2004. The new network, the Euronova Media Group, is Advertisement estimated to cover over 55 per cent of Moldavian territory. Valeriu Saharneanu, president of the Journalists’ Union of Moldova and president of Euronova, expects the network to “save independent TV channels from extinction” and improve the quality of the stations’ reporting.

36 deScripto Winter 2005 Media Report: Montenegro by Niklas Werklund

in Short Montenegro: Internet Usage Expanding Labour Dispute In October 2004, the Waiting for the Telecommunications Agency Negotiations were dismissed in November bet- claimed that Montenegro ween TRM management and the Committee for Last Man Standing could expect an expansion of Protection of Human and Professional Dignity internet services in the near (CADUP). CADUP consists of a group of journa- After almost six months of investigation and spe- future. An agency report sta- lists who were not rehired after the transformation of culation into the background and motives of the ted that 12.5 per cent of Montenegrin citizens were TRM to a public broadcaster. murder of Dusko Jovanovic, director and editor-in- chief of the main Montenegrin opposition daily Dan, using Internet services in The background: In early 2002, protests against 2003, offered by two service alleged censorship at TRM, supported by more than the court trial of main suspect Damir Mandic finally providers, MontSky and 300 TRM employees, started a debate on the need began on 22 November. Internet Montenegro. In for reforms at TRM. After the legal transformation Mandic pleaded not guilty to the charges before 2004, the signals of 13 radio of TRM into a public broadcaster, 190 employees him and accused the police, the prosecution and the stations, all members of the Montenegrin Association of were laid off, while 140 positions remained vacant. magistrate of “dishonourable work”. According to the Asia Africa Intelligence Wire, he was quoted in court Independent Electronic There had been fear among journalists that the selec- Media (UNEM), began live testimony as saying he had been threatened and blak- tion process would penalise employees who had broadcasts over the Internet. campaigned for transformation. kmailed for accusing police inspector Vuk Vulevic of After the announcement by the selection commis- the murder. Vulevic has been arrested in connection with the crime, which is being treated as a political Greek Journalist sion, (that the laid-off employees would not be rehi- Sued for Libel assassination. red), dissatisfied TRM employees started to protest, On 9 November, the main demanding a rerun of the selection process. There has been a great deal of controversy about hearing in a case against In his report, Haraszti criticised the process, sta- how much the government, the police and the secret Greek journalist Andrei ting that “the selection criteria were not clearly defi- service were involved in this tragedy. The Europe Nicolaidis, sued for libel by movie director Emir ned, and the selection itself was not transparent.” He Intelligence Wire reported in July that Mandic had received weapons from the Montenegrin Interior Kusturica, closed before the also suggests the selection commission be recreated. Podgorica Court. Kusturica As of yet, no agreement between TRM management Ministry (MUP). had pressed charges against “I cannot and will not deny that I received auto- and the journalists has been reached.I Nicolaidis and the weekly matic rifles from the Interior Ministry,” Mandic told Monitor, alleging damages to Investigating Judge Radomir Ivanovic, according to his honour and reputation caused by Nicolaidis's April Advertisement Dan. “Some of the rifles I distributed to people I was 2004 Monitor article, entitled told by the police to give them to. They told me: “The Devil's Apprentice”. On ‘Give these to your comrades so there are more of 12 November, the Basic Court us’.” in Podgorica sentenced Other reports confirm that the car used in the Nicolaidis to a fine of 5,000 Euro, or six months in prison. assassination of Dusko Jovanovic belonged to the A group of 17 Montenegrin police. Ekan Jasavic, head of the Podgorica police intellectuals protested crime department, confirmed that the car had been Nicolaidis’ sentence and rai- impounded by police two years ago and admitted sed concerns over the con- that policemen, including himself, had used it several demnation of critical thought, which they called times. an immanent occurrence in With this entire finger pointing it is difficult to tell undemocratic regimes. fact from hearsay. Determining who is telling the truth, or who can prove that the other side is not, will be very complicated. The winner may simply be the last man left standing with his reputation intact. However, no matter how the trial turns out, what remains important is that a fatal attack on a journalist is both an assault on a human being and on freedom of the press itself. Therefore, the case desperate- ly needs to be solved in order to restore the integrity of the political system and to reopen the way toward a stable democracy. I

Montenegro is part of the Federation of Serbia and Montenegro. We deal with* Montenegro separately and not within Serbia and Montenegro, because of the significant autonomy of each of the two Republics.

deScripto Winter 2005 37 Media Report: Romania by Solmaz Khorsand and Wolfgang Luef in Short Romania Injures Romania: Dissensions of a Freedom of Expression, Strasbourg Reacts Late In December 2004, the Battle-bent Paper European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg con- Romania Libera has always been a battle-bent However, the editors have accused WAZ of edito- demned Romania for infrin- newspaper. In the era of Nikolai Ceausescu, there rial influence benefiting the governing socialistic ging on freedom of expression in the case of the two had already been struggles around the conservative party PSD. In fact, the government is one of the big- journalists, Constantin daily over its political coverage. gest advertisers in Romania. It places various com- Cumpana and Radu Mazare. Petre Mihail Bacanu, one of the paper’s founders, muniqués in papers, as well as ads for parties and The editors of the newspa- had most especially been a constant thorn in the eye state-owned companies. per Telegraf uncovered a of the ruling Communist Party. Once Bacanu wrote bribe affair in 1995 involving Did the WAZ Convince Journalists to Report politicians and judges in the a very critical article about the dictator, which was city of Konstanza. In the not allowed to be published. Bacanu was jailed. More Balanced? same year, the editors were Manuela Preoteasa, from the EU media portal convicted of proffering Tales of a German-Romanian Relationship EurActiv, considers this a possible reason for political insults and criminal libel, More than 15 years later a new conflict has arisen interference: “I can imagine that even foreign inves- and sentenced to seven months imprisonment. in the newspaper. Again Bacanu is mainly involved, tors could have been put under high pressure by the Apart from these penalties, but his foe has changed. former Romanian government, and tried to convin- another order prohibited Now he faces a foreign investor, German ce the journalists to be more ‘balanced’.” them from working as jour- Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (WAZ). Klaus Furthermore, she points out the necessity of moder- nalists for one year after their prison sentences were Overbeck was installed as the executive manager of nising Romania Libera. over. In November 1996, the the paper two years ago. Modernising papers is exactly what WAZ claims to Romanian president granted “There were no problems with WAZ before, till do. According to Beermann, WAZ intends to impro- the two journalists a pardon, Mr. Overbeck came. Then the problems started,” ve the paper’s quality by keeping advertising issues releasing them from their said Romulus Cristea, editor and president of the separate from the editorial department: "Ad-raising custodial sentences. It took until December 2004 for the staff association of Romania Libera in an interview by journalists bears the inherent risk that they will European Court of Human with deScripto. try occasionally to benefit from ads they have perso- Rights to attack these acts In particular, journalists reproached WAZ’s nally sold, which also could lead to bribes and unre- against Cumpana and attempts to cut and soften political coverage, and its liable journalism." Mazare as violations of free- giving of daily instructions on whom not to criticise. Preoteasa asserts that the moment of modernisa- dom of expression. The EU- candidate country has often Overbeck was also accused of having opened letters tion was badly chosen. She is sure that modernisa- been criticised for its lack of addressed to the editors’ offices. tion after elections would have facilitated communi- press freedom. Reporters cation and cooperation with the editors. Without Borders also states Mutual Accusations the growing number of Marcus Beermann, in charge of WAZ’s foreign New Partners - Restored Order assaults on investigative journalists is alarming. operations, denies the allegations. He emphasises Three months later, the situation stabilised. that the conflict started when Bacanu announced he Bacanu resigned as editor-in-chief and sold his inter- would sell his interests in the paper to WAZ. ests to his personal friend Dan Adamescu, a well- He wanted nine million Euros, but WAZ refused. known businessman. “All that Overbeck did was criticise the quality of He and former major shareholder WAZ now own certain articles that were badly researched. And not less than 50 per cent, while the rest belongs to small because of their political content,” replies Beermann shareholders. to the accusations. The owners claim great plans for Romania Libera In September 2004, the conflict reached a peak in the future. They want to improve the technical when the majority of editors around Bacanu revol- infrastructure of the paper and publish different ted. They instructed the printing house to change regional variations. I the front page of the paper on several days. As a consequence, the newspaper was published with critical and libellous headlines against WAZ and its representatives. According to Cristea, the reason for these actions was the employment of editors not familiar with the paper who then gave instructions to the regular editors about which articles to write. WAZ insists it did not install any new editors.

38 deScripto Winter 2005 Media Report: Serbia by Christoph Zotter

in Short Serbia: A Question of Honour Helsinki Committee Survey on Media Reporting Defamation lawsuits are daily events in Serbia. teed to journalists, the menace of defamation accusa- Through an analysis of media Despite recommendations by international organisations remains. reporting in Serbia from 26 tions, libel is still prosecuted under the criminal code Reacting to criticism, the current government cal- December 2004, the Helsinki and punished with draconian sentences. led into action a working group that was assigned to Committee has discovered The draft law on Criminal Offences against propose amendments to the existing law. that the reporting matrix in the country has not changed Honour and Reputation is not likely to improve this since the end of the former situation. Conference held in November regime. Ongoing commercia- Milos Vasic has hit the jackpot. The senior writer This draft was the subject of a conference on libel lisation of the media sphere for the weekly Vreme in Belgrade is accused of libel- and defamation held on 11 and 12 November 2004 is resulting in a decrease of educational information pro- ling the prime minister, the justice minister and the at the Media Center in Belgrad. In their conclusion vided by media. Helsinki interior minister. In a series of articles, he brought to the participants, composed of lawyers, journalists and Committee President Sonja light negotiations concerning the delivery of a sus- all types of organisations, demanded amendments to Biserko also stresses that the pect in the murder of Zoran Djindjic, former Ser- the draft before its adoption by parliament. media does not satisfactorily bian Prime Minister. Besides the incremental abolishment of criminali- treat issues from the past. The ministers claim that freedom of media overs- sation of defamation, a central belief is that Articles Draft Law on tepped the boundaries of good intention, while Vasic 172 and 173, dealing with libel and insult, should be Advertising Criticised states freedom of media is under pressure from the contained within the provisions of article 176. Article At a public debate in officials. 176 does not allow punishment “if the statement has December 2004 held in the Belgrade Media Center, law been given within a serious critique in the course of experts commented and cri- Characteristic Progress performing an official duty, journalistic profession” ticised the most recent ver- When it comes to confrontations between journa- etc. Article 19 believes these proposals could be the sion of the Draft Law on lists and politicians, the Vasic story can be seen as compromise needed to quickly bring Serbian defa- Advertising. The working group states that the law characteristic progress. Serbian law has been heavily mation law up to international standards. does not regulate certain criticised by organisations such as the European But Serbian journalists have also failed to develop issues, such as the adverti- Council, Article 19, SEEMO and the Independent a code of ethics. Journalist Vladan Radoslavljevic sing of medicines. According Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS). In fact, points out that “in the large number of tabloids, one to the law, commercial TV Articles 92 to 98 of the Serbian Criminal Code are can write just about everything” and that “everyday stations would have to redu- ce commercial programming immensely problematic. one can find 10 or so articles containing elements of to 20 per cent, while Serbia's According to international standards, defamation defamation or slander in the press.” public broadcaster (RTS) and libel should be treated by civil, rather than penal However, most of the 300 ongoing cases against would have to step down to codes. In a joint declaration promoting freedom of journalists are brought against “serious” media and 10 per cent of such program- expression, UN and OSCE representatives further concern articles over the involvement of politicians ming in its daily schedule. Advertising of products such stress, “defamation laws should reflect the importan- and businessmen in organised crime and corruption. as alcohol and tobacco, ce of open debate about matters of public concern” As Article 19 and NUNS state: “It is a new means of would be prohibited. and “civil sanctions for defamation should not be so punishing the media in the post-censorship period.” Libellous anagrams large as to exert a chilling effect on freedom of In December 2004 Editor-in- expression.” In Serbian legislation, none of these Chief Zeljko Bodrozic and proposals, nor any others made by international Editor Vladislav Vujin of wee- organisations, have been adopted. kly Kikindske have been sued Is it all a major assault on the media by current for publishing several anagrams insulting to local authorities? Criminalisation of defamation is, in fact, lawyer Slavko Kolarski. quite old. The original Federal Crime Act of 1976 According to the newspaper (from the old Socialist Federal Republic of Yugo- Danas, Vujin has been sen- slavia) is, despite some amendments in 1994, still in tenced to pay 20,000 Dinars in damage. force. After the abolishment of the repressive Public Information Law of the year 1998, when new media laws were designed, defamation was left within the penal code. While in the new Public Information Law essential rights, like free access to information, are guaran-

Serbia is part of the Federation of Serbia and Montenegro. We deal with Serbia* separately and not within Serbia and Montengro, because of the significant autonomy of each of the two Republics.

deScripto Winter 2005 39 Media Report: Slovenia by Ana Znidar in Short Slovenia Takes Over Slovenia: Journalists’ Silence Marks The the OSCE Chairmanship On 1 January 2005, Slovenian National Parliamentary Elections Day Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel officially took over the For the duration of four days, between 3 and 7 absence of social, health and pension insurance. chairmanship of the OSCE October 2004, the Trade Union of Slovenian “They are being exploited,” says Iztok Jurancic, the (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe). Journalists organised a general journalists’ strike, and employees’ main negotiator, adding that freelancers According to the OSCE, the Slovenia for the first time in its recent history expe- are paid three times less than employed journalists. priorities of the new chair- rienced a media blackout. Slovenian journalists had been warning of the manship were formally pres- By staging the strike on one of the country’s prime necessity to adopt a renewed national collective con- ented to the OSCE’s 55 parti- news days, journalists in the Slovenian media were tract for the profession - regulating issues from jour- cipating states at a permanent council meeting in demonstrating their anger over the refusal of media nalists’ leave and work hours to libel responsibility Vienna on 13 January. companies, represented by the Chamber of and special protection of journalists - for a long time. Slovenian Media Commerce, to even talk about renewing national The present collective contract, dating back to 1991, Coverage of Violence agreements covering journalists’ working rights. The does not protect the rights journalists require in and Crime intransigence of the employers caused the majority order to openly and independently realise the public Dragan Petrovec is the of media to take part in the strike, which primarily right to information. author of a report, which consisted of their refusal to report on topics related After some key employers had blocked discussions sets out to prove that the to elections and politics. The commercial POP TV on a new national agreement in September, the Slovenian media focuses on the most spectacular aspects and the economic daily Finance, both under foreign Journalists’ Union, representing editorial staff in of violence, out of proportion ownership, were the only strike-breakers. both private and public media across the newspaper with the actual amount of The aim of the strike was “to preserve, supplement and broadcasting landscape, threatened an all-out violent crimes committed. and amend the national collective contract, and to strike across all media, beginning on 3 October – the Petrovec has expressed his make the representative employers’ associations day of national parliamentary elections. concern about this trend. According to his report, avai- respect it,” said the document containing strike In an attempt to avoid the strike, the union drop- lable on Ljubljana’s Peace rules. The main changes demanded were editorial ped all its demands except the request to start nego- Institute web site, sensatio- autonomy, the improvement of freelancers’ status, tiating a renewal of the agreement. However, the nal, violence-related subjects the up-dating of journalists’ authorial rights and Chamber of Commerce, representing the employers, dominate 79 per cent of all adjustments of the collective contract to bring it in refused. banner headlines on the front pages of Slovenian line with the new working law that came into force On 5 October 2004, Slovenian President Janez dailies. According to the in January 2003. Drnovsek received the delegation of the Journalists International Journalists’ According to the Media Plan Institute, the finan- Trade Union, and on 8 October, the first meeting Network, Petrovec believes cial, social and professional position of journalists is between the Trade Union and the Chamber of media self-regulatory bodies are needed to control the especially difficult in smaller media outlets in Commerce was held in Ljubljana. According to the representation of violence. Slovenia, especially where freelance and honorarium SAFAX news agency, the negotiators decided talks Slovenian Journalist work is commonplace. The main problems for these will be held behind closed doors and expect them to Awarded journalists are low and irregular wages, and the last at least a year. I This year’s award for life- long contribution to the development of Slovenian journalism was assigned to Janko Lorenci, acknowled- South East Europe ging his dedication to editorial balance, and his scrupu- lous attempts to uncover all Media Handbook sides of public opinion. 2004/2005 Lorenci is the editor of the ...is a new publication realised by South East Europe Media Organisation “Sobotna priloga” section of (SEEMO). Its aim is to enhance better understanding of the media situa- the daily Delo. tion in South East Europe and to serve as a source of information concerning press freedom violations in 2004. Next to detailed country reports, the publication contains a database of all important media in the region. You can order ”South East Europe Media Handbook 2004/2005“ for a payment of 30 Euro.

Contact: SEEMO - IPI, South East Europe Media Organisation Spiegelgasse 2/29, 1010 Vienna, Austria Tel: +43 1 513 39 40, Fax: +43 1 512 90 15, e-mail: [email protected]

40 deScripto Winter 2005 Media Report: Turkey by Solmaz Khorsand

in Short Turkey: A Means to an End - Press Law IPI Concerned About Situation at Star Newspaper as The Golden Key to Open EU Doors On 8 February 2005, the International Federation of Effects follow efforts, so if the Turkish government bids coverage of ongoing court proceedings. “That Journalists (IFJ) and the decides to improve press laws, the EU will react article may prevent journalists from writing any International Press Institute (IPI) sent a mutual letter of benevolently at first glance. At second glance, one information about police questionnaires or attorney protest to Turkish officials, sees the resulting gaps that journalists might fall in. general investigations rather than only their com- expressing deep concern As part of reform efforts to meet EU entry requi- ments,” explains Ipekci to deScripto. over the situation of the rements, Turkey has made several changes to impro- The main problem, according to his estimation, journalists and other workers ve press freedom standards. Some of the most repres- will be some articles in the new Penal Code, which at Star newspaper. In December 2004, Govern- sive restrictions against journalists and under which will come into force on 1 April 2005. Articles such as ment took control of Star journalists were prosecuted, such as articles in the 305 and 127 maintain some controversial aspects newspaper’s upper manage- Anti-Terror Law and in the Penal Code, have been that complicate journalists' work and may endanger ment, for financial and politi- lifted. A ban on publication and broadcasting in press freedom. Article 127 punishes insult by three cal reasons. Immediately foreign languages has been abolished, allowing the months to three years in prison, with the sentence after the change of management, the new management Kurd minority the possibility to air programmes in increasing if the crime is committed by means of the fired 682 people without any their own language on TV and radio. The power of press. notice or compensation. the High Council for Broadcasting (RTÜK) has Article 305 punishes alleged “threats against funda- Following this action, several been reduced, but nonetheless, it still holds the right mental national interests”, which according to RSF employees took this case to the courts and the new to confiscate TV licences for an “appropriate” reason. targets the freedom of expression, especially on issues management was ordered to Under the new press law, modified in June 2004, like Armenia or Cyprus. Media coverage of Cyprus reinstate fired journalists many imprisonment penalties were removed or was specially censored in February 2004, although and to pay them their changed to very heavy fines. Press freedom has been censorship is prohibited by the constitution. Ipekci respective compensation. further improved via the adoption of a new Press reports: “The prime minister requested from editors- However, the Government ignored the decision of the Law, which abrogates sanctions such as the closure of in-chief of newspapers and TV companies to apply courts and blocked the due publications, the halting of distribution and the con- auto-censorship to news about the Cyprus matter in legal procedure to reinstate fiscation of printing machines. However, “the fre- February 2004.” I these journalists and media quency of prosecutions against journalists is a cause staffers leaving close to 700 of concern,” stated the regular European Star employees jobless. Both organisations called for Commission report on Turkey in October 2004. taking the necessary measu- “Whether the new press law is exercised in practi- res to reinstate over 650 ce depends on which newspaper and in which part of employees and to pay their the country you work,” says Cemal Tartan, corre- compensation. spondent for the German public broadcast group 12 Hours Interrogation ARD in Istanbul. “If you work in Istanbul, you will Reporter without borders have no problems, but the situation will change if reported of the case Sebati you work in the area of Kurdistan,” he adds. He Karakurt of the daily Hurriyet who was held the 15 October emphasises one aspect that will remain difficult for 2004 for 12 hours at the journalists: media coverage of the military. There is headquarters of the anti-ter- almost no coverage of controversial military stories rorist police in Istanbul. and if there is, the editorial office belittles the story Some 10 policemen searched and it is no longer covered in the following days, no his home because of a report published a few days earlier matter whether it was interesting or important. that included an interview Although there have been a lot of amendments to with Murat Karayilan, the press law, which have even been approved by the EU, military chief of the former organisations like Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK), now renamed Kongra-Gel. and the Turkish Trade Union of Journalists (TGS) The report included photos remain sceptical. “The legislative progress that has showing female rebels in undeniably been made should not conceal the fact combat fatigues in a favoura- that the climate remains as harsh as ever for the most ble light, relaxed and smi- outspoken journalists,” wrote RSF in a December ling. Karakurt was released after being interrogated by press release. TGS supports the new press law, which the police and a prosecutor. TGS General Secretary Ercan Ipekci says is more liberal than the older one, but it is concerned, for instance, about Article 19 (inside the law) which for-

deScripto Winter 2005 41 SEEMO Reports

The South East Europe Media Organisation Staff & Board The South East Europe Media Organisation 2002 and 2004, Athens 2003 and 2004, Trieste 2004, SEEMO Secretary General is Oliver (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Sarajevo 2004), a regional conference on investigative Vujovic. SEEMO Board President is Institute (IPI), is a regional non-governmental, non- reporting (2002), a regional conference on minorities Radomir Licina, president of the profit network of editors, media executives and leading (2002), two conferences for editors-in-chief, media exe- board of the daily Danas (Serbia). journalists from newspapers, magazines, radio and TV cutives and leading journalists of Roma media in the SEEMO Board members are: Remzi stations, news agencies and new media in South East region (2003), two conferences of editors-in-chief, Lani, director of the Albanian Europe. With its committees, SEEMO aims to create a media executives and leading journalists of Vlachian – Media Institute (Albania), Samra bridge between international media activities and the Aromanian media in South East Europe (2004), several Luckin, director of Boram Network media developments in the region. conferences on press freedom, the legal situation of (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Stjepan SEEMO was founded in October 2000 in Zagreb, media, relations between media and politicians, the Malovic, director of the Croatia, by a group of leading editors-in-chief, media public role of parliamentarians, access to information, International Center for Education executives and professors of journalism and communi- the right to secrecy of information sources, teaching of Journalists (Croatia), Georgios cations from South East Europe, in the presence of public relations and communications for governmental Papadakis, editor for Express daily representatives of international institutions and with officials, Media and tolerance Conference (2004) etc. (Greece), Risto Popovski, director financial support of the International Press Institute of MakFax News Agency (Republic (IPI). Journalist’s Education of Macedonia - FYROM) and Helping journalists means also furthering their edu- Ognian Zlatev, director of the Protecting Press Freedom Media Development Center cation. Several workshops and seminars were organised (Bulgaria). One of SEEMO’s main activities is protecting press in the field of education, especially for investigative freedom by helping journalists and media outlets in reporters and representatives of minority media. The South East Europe. Over 60 per cent of SEEMO’s press minority media workshops and seminars took place at Contacts releases and letters of protest to governmental and other the SEEMO Media Minority Center (MMC) in SEEMO - IPI, SPIEGELGASSE 2/29, officials have had positive results in the past. Every Opatija, Croatia. A-1010 VIENNA, AUSTRIA SEEMO protest is distributed to leading regional and TEL: +43 1 513 39 40 international media, national and international govern- deScripto - The Journal of Media in SEE FAX: +43 1 512 90 15 mental and non-governmental organisations, politici- SEEMO regularly publishes deScripto, a quarterly E-MAIL: [email protected] ans, and also public persons and institutions. media magazine for South East Europe, and the South WEB: www.seemo.org In the past, SEEMO has provided direct help to jour- East Europe Media Handbook (SMH), an annual nalists in the region by giving them technical equip- publication covering media developments, which inclu- ment and other assistance. SEEMO also provided the des selected media contacts. necessary aid to journalists, who received death threats. SEEMO Awards Our Members SEEMO also gives awards for outstanding achieve- SEEMO has over 400 editors-in-chief, media execu- ments in the field of media. tives and leading journalists from South East Europe as The recipient of the “Dr Erhard Busek SEEMO individual members, and over 100 media outlets and Award for Better Understanding” in 2002 was the institutions as corporate members. Croatian journalist Denis Latin, for his TV-show During the last four years, SEEMO has assembled Latinica (HTV). The 2003 Award was given to Kemal over 3,000 editors-in-chief, media executives, leading Kurspahic, former editor-in-chief of the Bosnian daily journalists and public persons from the region in Oslobodjenje. He and his team managed to publish various meetings. Some of these meetings, like the mee- Oslobodjenje every day in the besieged city of Sarajevo. ting of editors-in-chief and media executives from The SEEMO Human Rights Award “SEEMO Award Belgrade (Serbs) and Pristina (Kosovo-Albanians), were for Mutual Cooperation in South East Europe” is tradi- the first of this kind in history. No one before SEEMO tionally given on 10 December, International Human managed to gather such high-level media representati- Rights Day. In 2002, the Award was given to Christine ves from Belgrade and Pristina in a meeting. Between von Kohl, a fighter for human rights in the Balkan 2002 and 2004 SEEMO organised 14 Dialogue mee- region and editor-in-chief and founder of the Vienna tings between editors-in-chief, media executives and magazine Balkan - Südosteuropäischer Dialog - Balkan leading journalists from South East Europe. anders. In 2003, the Award was given to Nebojsa Popov, one Cooperation of the leading Serbian human rights fighters and foun- SEEMO actively cooperates with international, der of the Belgrade magazine Republika. In 2004, the regional and national governmental and non-govern- Award was given to Fatos Lubonja, one of the leading mental organisations and institutions. SEEMO also Albanian writers, journalists and fighters for human actively cooperates with other international press free- rights. dom and media organisations, and it supports and par- SEEMO also nominated several leading journalists ticipates in joint regional and international projects and from the region for important international awards. activities. With partners, SEEMO has organised semi- Thus, in May 2002, the Bosnian-Herzegovinian journa- nars and conferences promoting European values and list Zeljko Kopanja from Nezavisne Novine, Banja ideas (2003, 2004, 2005), ecological philosophy and Luka, received the Concordia Award, after being nomi- better transport possibilities in the region (Belgrade nated by SEEMO.

42 deScripto Winter 2005 SEEMO Reports Your Excellencies, Recent SEEMO Protests

PROTEST KOSOVO, 6 Sep ‘04 Bender, Moldova, but paramilitary forces close to the To: Lieutenant General Yves De Kermabon, Com- Tiraspol regime stopped him from filming. Mija was mander KFOR and H.E. Bajram Rexhepi, Prime beaten up and his camera destroyed. He was arrested Minister of Kosovo and is now being held in custody. The Vienna-based South East Europe Media We ask the officials in Tiraspol, Chisinau, the Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media Russian Federation and European community to do executives and leading journalists in South East everything in their power to ensure that Mija is freed, Europe and an affiliate of the International Press thus preventing the situation in the region from esca- Institute (IPI), strongly condemns the recent attack lating. SEEMO would like to stress that it is crucial on a photojournalist for the KosovaPress news agen- for journalists to do their job freely and that indepen- cy. dent media are crucial for democratic development According to information before SEEMO, on 30 in any country. August, Jahja Tmava, a photojournalist for KosovaPress, was covering a protest in Pristina led by PROTEST ROMANIA, 9 Sep ‘04 the Association of Kidnapped Persons’ Families when To H.E. Adrian Nastase, Prime Minister of Romania KFOR (Kosovo Force) police started arresting the and H.E. Nicolae Vacaroiu, President of the R. Senate protesters. Members of a Swedish KFOR unit seized The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Tmava’s camera and deleted his pictures on the Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media grounds that he was photographing members of executives and leading journalists from South East KFOR. KosovaPress maintains that he was photogra- Europe, and an affiliate of the International Press phing police as they arrested protesters. Institute (IPI), expresses its deep concern over the In SEEMO's opinion, this is a gross violation of attack on two journalists from Ziua newspaper. everyone’s right to “seek, receive and impart informa- According to information before SEEMO, on 3 tion and ideas through any media and regardless of September, reporter Petre Niteanu and photographer frontiers,” as outlined in the United Nations Laura Dobre from the Bucharest-based daily Ziua Universal Declaration of Human Rights. were attacked by bodyguards and employees of the SEEMO condemns the seizure of the reporter’s companies, VGB and BRONEC. The incident hap- camera and the obstruction of his work by the pened while they were trying to take pictures of VGB KFOR police. We demand an explanation for these headquarters in Stelutei Street in Bucharest. actions and remind you that providing secure wor- SEEMO is further informed that the journalists, king conditions for journalists is one of the basic who presented their ID cards, were on public proper- principles of every democratic society. KFOR, a ty when they were approached and threatened by the NATO-led international force responsible for esta- bodyguards. The journalists immediately called the blishing and maintaining security in Kosovo, should police, who, after arriving on the scene, did nothing be especially careful when respecting international to protect them. After the photographer was physi- standards and communicating with journalists. cally and verbally attacked, the police advised the journalists to leave the scene. PRESS RELEASE MOLDOVA, 8 Sep ‘04 SEEMO strongly condemns the attack on the two The Vienna-based South East Europe Media journalists and urges the Romanian authorities to Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media give their closest attention to the investigation of this executives and leading journalists in South East case and to find the responsible persons. We would Europe and an affiliate of the International Press remind Your Excellencies that a safe working envi- Institute (IPI), is deeply concerned about the recent ronment for journalists is a fundamental principle of attack on a Teleradio Moldova journalist. any democratic society and we hope that the According to information before SEEMO, on 6 Romanian officials will solve this case in a timely September, Dinu Mija, a cameraman for Teleradio manner. Moldova, went with his Moldova 1 studio crew to do a report on the situation at the railway switchpoint in

deScripto Winter 2005 43 SEEMO Reports

PRESS RELEASE: ROMANIA, 15 Sep ‘04 under pressure. Media owners should agree with edi- The Vienna-based South East Europe Media tors and journalists on media policy and managerial Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media matters in internal agreements and media statutes. executives and leading journalists in South East SEEMO acknowledges the owner’s right to define Europe and an affiliate of the International Press the editorial principles of media, but sees a need for Institute (IPI), is deeply concerned about recent internal guidelines, as it is important for journalists developments in the Romanian media. to do their job freely and without day-to-day inter- According to information provided to SEEMO, ference or interpretations. several media owners have been interfering in the Independent media are crucial for democratic editorial policy of Romanian media outlets. development in any country. In SEEMO’s opinion such practices are endange- ring editorial independence and putting journalists PROTEST BULGARIA, 23 Sep ‘04 To H.E. Simeon Saxecoburggotski, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria and H.E. Anton Stankov, Minister of Justice The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists from South East Europe, and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), is deeply concerned about a recent court decision involving the Sofia-based daily newspaper Trud. According to information before SEEMO, the journalist Svetlana Yordanova, editor- in-chief Tosho Toshev and publishing house “Media Holding” were fined 5,000 BGN (approximately 2,500 Euro) following a decision by the Sofia Court of Appeal (SCoA) on 27 July. The decision, which was only published on 7 September, stemmed from two articles from the year 1996 about a court case against the former Ministry of Interior official, Nikolai Todorov. In 1999, Todorov submitted an appeal to the Court asking for damages from Yordanova, Toshev and the publisher. SEEMO would like to recall that the Sofia City Court (SCC) and the Sofia Court of Appeal (SCoA) rejected Todorov’s appeal during the court proceedings (2000-2001), stating that the Trud articles were based on “meticulous investigative journalism.” However, the Supreme Court of Cassation returned the case to the SCoA, which then found the newspaper and the journalists guilty of publishing “non- confirmed information.” SEEMO regards the court’s decision as a clear threat to freedom of expression in Bulgaria, and asks Your Excellencies to do everything in your power to ensure that the decision is reversed. SEEMO would also like to remind Your Excellencies that freedom of expression and a safe working environment for journalists are basic principles of any democratic society.

Justice Minister of Bulgaria’s reaction to the SEEMO protest

44 deScripto Winter 2005 SEEMO Reports

SEEMO Activity Report

SEEMO organised the SEEMO Dialogue members live and highlight their contribution to the Meeting with editors-in chief, media executives, material and intellectual progress of their countries. deputy directors and leading journalists from Well-known Austrian human rights activist Chris- Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Vojvodina (Serbia) tine von Kohl said that in this case we have to learn between 29-31 October 2004 by Palic lake (near how to deal with a peculiar minority, transnational Subotica in Vojvodina, Serbia). Participants discus- in its character and without political claims, which sed the position of minority media and programmes aspires to cultural development. After the conferen- in the public service, together with guests and observers. Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO secretary general, outlined in his opening statement the importance of examining the minority media situation not just in isolation, but in its relationship to the majority press, as well as how the situation differs in varying media spheres, where similarities lie, and how the majority media informs the public about the situation of minorities. Another topic was the privatisation of media in Vojvodina, including the posing of questions such as: “is it possible to privatise the minority media without damaging its existing traditions and how can this be achieved?” and “can a privatised minority media gain governmental support as it did before?” Participants presented problems faced by minority media in Vojvodina during daily work, as well as the successes of some print media in Romania (one positive example was the Jurnalul National). Then there was the story of Magyar Hírlap. Péter Ipper, editor of Magyar Hírlap, and vice-president of the Hungarian Journalists’ Association (MUOSZ), received news on his way to the conference that Ringier Publishing House, a Swiss company which owns several papers, had decided to liquidate the paper without any pervious notice, throwing 80 journalists into unemployment. From 19 to 21 November 2004, a follow up to the ce in Tirana a meeting of the SEEMO board was Top: Samra Luckin, SEEMO SEEMO Dialogue Meeting between Editors-in- organised. Board Member and Boram, Sarajevo, and Rudolf Bohmann, chief, Media Executives and Leading Journalists of SEEMO also prepared in past months a conferen- Bohmann Verlag, Vienna, in Aromanian / Vlachian Media from South Eastern ce called Traffic Cooperation between Vienna and Sarajevo, 8 December 2004 Europe was held in Tirana. Trieste, together with publishing house Bohmann Bottom: Meeting of editors-in- chief, media executives and During the first meeting in Sofia, participants Verlag, TINA and the City of Vienna in Trieste on leading journalists of Vlachian/ discussed many possibilities within a European con- 20 October, and another conference entitled Traffic Aromainian media, Tirana, 19 November 2005 text for preserving and promoting a cultural Cooperation between Vienna and Sarajevo, together Vlachian identity in South Eastern Europe, while the with Bohmann Verlag, TINA and the City of Vienna Photos: Slobodan Polic, SEEMO Photo Team, second meeting came up with some concrete ideas in Sarajevo on 8 December. Belgrade - Vienna on how this could be achieved. The participants The SEEMO office in Vienna has worked in coo- stressed the need to undertake various initiatives to peration with its members in the region since promote Vlachian identity and culture, such as the October on a new edition of the SEEMO Media publication of an Aromanian Balkan newspaper and Handbook, which will be published in English development of an Aromanian internet centre. (2,500 copies) in March 2005. Copies of the 2004 Concrete ideas were also presented to the Council of edition were well-received after being distributed in Europe for the opening of a regional satellite TV. The South Eastern Europe, as well as to some institutions main idea was to bring forward the role of and media outside the region, and SEEMO expects Aromanians as a minority loyal to its roots wherever success with the new 2005 edition as well.

deScripto Winter 2005 45 Review

PUBLICATION REVIEW Review Stjepan Malovic (ed.): PUBLICATION REVIEW Richness of Diversity OSCE’s Internet Cookbook by Thomas A. Bauer & Igor Kanzaj Following several international conferences, by Stefan Apfl workshops and research studies on media representa- It started in Amsterdam, in August 2004. When tion of minorities, Professor Stjepan Malovic from the Second Internet Conference was finished, the Zagreb University initiated the publishing of a book idea to publish a book about freedom of the internet called “Richness of Diversity”. What happens if the was born. Four months later, in December 2004, the public does not understand the issues of ethnic OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, the minorities? What if the public acts out its natural Hungarian Miklos Haraszti, presented the Media tendency to give power to the majority of people, Freedom Internet Cookbook. but ignores its role as an equaliser and succumbs to The 270-paged publication aims to help users and its own interests in a way that is damaging to mino- governments fight “bad content”, for example hate rities? Media pluralism offers the guarantee that one- speech, without jeopardising freedom. Is there yet a sidedness (generally of the majority) will not inflict need for such a guidance? Haraszti seems convinced: damage on ethnic minorities, because it helps correct “Regulatory activism can lead to suppression of free- a collective lack of understanding. Malovic stated in dom regardless of whether this censorship was inten- his article that mass media is one of the key factors ded or came as a consequence of ignorance.” So the in forming a social climate for better understanding surprising feature of the guide may well be the under- of minorities and it is necessary that the media be lying anxiety of the 24 experts contributing essays, liberated from discipline and pressures, which limit that freedom on the Internet does need preservation. or determine editorial policy. It is the only guarantee The cookbook’s conclusion: Regulation of the that minorities will not once again become the Internet should be limited to fields where it is unavo- object of media manipulation. idable. An evaluation of the outcomes of the Media Funded by the OSCE Mission to Croatia and rele- Freedom Internet Cookbook will take place during ased as part of the “Media and Society” project, this the Third Amsterdam Internet Conference in 2005. book provides a sort of a “status report”, revealing The publication can be downloaded from www.osce.org the main problems in Croatian reporting on minorities. A group of scientific researchers (who are also PUBLICATION REVIEW involved with the “Media and Society” project) Danko Plevnik: The Practice together with the International Center for Education of Ethical Journalism of Journalists (ICEJ) investigated the relationship between media and ethnic minorities (especially in by Oliver Vujovic the realm of presentation and media coverage of different aspects of minorities). The main difference This new book by Danko Plevnik is an important between this book and other similar editions lies in guide for every journalist. After publishing several the content structure, as well as in the “diversity” of books on this topic in Croatian, his latest effort is in authors. That is, Malovic managed to bring together English, opening the door for readers outside the scientists, journalists and researchers from different former Yugoslavia region. Interesting headlines, like institutions, enabling him to tackle the issue from 'Journalism as corrupted show business?', 'Watchdog several different perspectives. versus “war dog” journalism', 'Freedom of the media Professor Sinisa Tatalovic, a member of the does not justify all means', 'Do you speak Hostile?' Governmental Council for Minorities, accentuates should make the book interesting enough for a pro- the main problems in minorities’ backgrounds in fessional to open it and read it from end to end. It is Croatia. Summarising the review of achievements in important to focus on ethics in journalism in South rights of ethnic minority members in the Republic of Eastern Europe, as Plevnik has done, because, as he Croatia, Tatalovic stresses that the right to cultural says, “hate speech in the South Slavic political lang- autonomy (even as it is being organised) is best hel- uages (including Albanian) has not dried up, it has ped along by members of ethnic minorities that have only changed form. It is hushed up now and hiding already been through such a process, perhaps even behind old understatements or, as the case may be, a before the establishment of the independent more modern lack of objectivity.” Those who would Republic of Croatia. Citizens of former Yugoslavia like to buy his book can contact Plevnik by email: who live in the Republic of Croatia factually became [email protected]

46 deScripto Winter 2005 Review

members of ethnic minorities by acts of international and unbiased coverage of ethnic minorities are still recognition. They are still in the organising phase, in not satisfactory, yet there are encouraging steps on the sense that they are still seeking complete achieve- the path to fair and full reporting in the majority of ment of their minority rights. National minority sta- eminent national media – including newspapers and tus in the Republic of Croatia is sometimes being electronic media. There are still intentional and acci- developed only within Croatia and sometimes in dental errors, but much less than during the last 10 cooperation with the international community. years. Texts and headlines in newspapers that encou- Among other things, such efforts have resulted in the rage stereotyping and prejudice are still present. passing of constitutional rights for ethnic minorities. However, the acceptance of Croatia as a candidate Professor Thomas Bauer from Vienna University country for the European Union and the importance provides theoretical orientation for the cultural prac- placed on systematic care to ensure the honest treat- tice of social cooperation. He concentrates on the ment of members of all minorities and protection of cultural problems of diversity in reference to identity minority rights increases the responsibility of journa- or ethnocentrism within the framework of a cultural lists reporting on minorities. Monitoring, analyses explanation of communications or a communica- and research of media presentation of minorities so tion-theory-based explanation of culture. far conducted show that although the number of These theoretical fundamentals are followed by mistakes has declined, there are still a considerable the study of real media reports. Particularly useful are examples of articles and texts which are ethically practical experiences and media analysis provided by debatable. people who are both researchers and journalists, such Although “Media and Minority” is primarily direc- as Stojan Obradovic from STINA news agency. As ted at NGO activists, journalists and students, its suggested in “Richness of Diversity”, media coverage popular style also makes it attractive to the wider of returning refugees showed there are serious pro- public. blems in media presentation, especially in the areas of everyday life where problems in communication between the minority and the majority still exist. This trend was easily recognised in journalists’ repor- PUBLICATION REVIEW ting, thanks to a content analysis of Croatian dailies conducted within a three-year period by two young Adrien Collin / Granville researchers, Berto Salaj and Igor Kanizaj, from Williams: Eastern Empires – Zagreb University. Text analyses of five daily newspa- Foreign Ownership in Central pers show that minorities are represented in the political sections of dailies (meaning they are a political and East European Media: subject). Government representatives, minorities Ownership, Policy Issues and themselves and international organisations still Strategies exclusively refer to minorities as a political issue. by D. Süssenbacher However, the problems of minorities go far beyond political negotiations and the fight to vote; the cultu- Recognising the problems that arise in the collec- ral, social and economic aspects of their lives, which tion of detailed information and analyses in a media are a part of reality, have been completely marginali- landscape characterised by permanent transition, the zed. European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) initiated a Professor Alemko Gluhak, a former journalist report illuminating ownership networks in post- himself, followed changes in meaning of the Communist Europe. The report aims to clear away Croatian noun nacija (nation in ethnic sense, people) the opaqueness dominating media policy in many and adjective nacionalan (national, ethnic). Recently, South East European (SEE) countries. The experts they have been influenced by the English words have tried to close an enormous information gap by nation and national, which has changed their mea- highlighting main trends and policy issues, as well as ning somewhat. Finally, using qualitative analysis, their impact on media policy and ownership. The Gordana Vilovic analysed how weeklies report on authors aspire to provide orientation and advance minorities. Her results are illustrated by many provo- awareness for important aspects of global market cative news reports published in Croatia’s two biggest colonisation. Focusing on Central and East weeklies, Globus and Nacional. She attempted with European (CEE) countries, which will later form her study to highlight the most common ethical part of an enlarged European Union, the report pro- traps, which become visible when one monitors the vides an outstanding review of the widespread varia- problems, work, life and events of ethnic minorities tion in “attitudes and policies towards media regula- in Croatia. Attempts to provide correct, balanced tion, ownership, and the status of public service.”

deScripto Winter 2005 47 Advertisement

Media and Journalism in Transition

by Ellen Mickiewicz

At Duke University, in North Carolina, I direct the films, reported for Radio Free Europe, and done a docu- DeWitt Wallace Center, part of the Terry Sanford mentary, Orpheus Through the Ages. Perhaps it’s only fit- Institute of Public Policy. I teach about media and ting that he will come to teach in Greece. national security, media and democracy, and media Last year, the seminar was one of the most exciting and and change in Russia. Others in our Center cover such diverse I’ve taught. Professional journalists, academics questions as Internet and regulation, media concentra- working on their theses, NGO officials came from Greece, tion, social and race issues, the political economy of Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Belgium, Bangladesh, the news, technology, and a great deal more. Our Visiting United States, Bosnia - Herzegovina. They had many diffe- Media Fellows Program for is the largest and most rent ideas and experiences with newspapers and televi- international in the United States. sion—as well as with the suppression of media, the practi- It was a unique pleasure to take these exceedingly ce of censorship and governmental and commercial cons- modern interests to Ancient Olympia, where the traints on the ability of journalists to function in good cons- Kokkalis Foundation runs a seminar on media and cience. The seminars were packed with significant and dra- Southern and Central Europe. Every day was a study matic media questions. They did not have to be hypotheti- in contrasts between the pervasiveness of digital satel- cal. They were essential to making over a large part of lite and cable signals in the media world and in the Europe that had recently regained its own political space. museum world the unchanging, balanced inner life of We bring together many disciplines and the reading Athena’s majesty and Apollo’s inexorable judgment. assignments are demanding. But at the end of the two In July, I shall again direct the seminar, together with weeks, some common media myths have fallen under the two outstanding faculty members: Slavko Splichal, the weight of scholarly scrutiny; the importance of evidence noted expert on media change under socialism and and where to find it has surfaced; and trends in technology public opinion and the public space. Slavko is a distin- and global interdependence have enlarged the scope of guished professor in Slovenia whose work is well the media world—for better or worse—far beyond national known the world over. Jan Culik teaches at the borders. University of Glasgow, transplanted to Scotland from This year promises to be as meaningful and significant. his native Prague, where he earned his doctorate at Thinking rigorously about the press and journalism in all its Charles University. Jan is both an academic scholar forms is vitally important, especially for the leaders of the and a creative force in media. He has made animation future.

Ellen Mickiewicz

Much of Ellen Mickiewicz's work has focused on prospects for media and transition. The Commission on Radio and Television Policy, founded by former U.S. president Jimmy Carter and directed by Dr. Mickiewicz, brought together leading media decision makers from the United States, the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and continues to meet in Vienna under the direction of co-chairs Dr. Mickiewicz and Dr. Erhard Busek. Dr. Mickiewicz continues her collaboration with President Carter on matters of media in transitional countries, particularly Africa and Latin America and works with Mrs. Carter on her advisory board on mental health journalism. Dr. Mickiewicz was the first American to be honored by the 120,000-member Journalists Union of Russia for her contribution to the development of democratic media in the region. She is author or editor of numerous journal articles and of seven books including her most recent Changing Channel: Television and the Struggle for Power in Russia (published by Oxford University Press in 1997 and in an expanded paperback edition by Duke University Press in 1999). An earlier book, Split Signals: Television and Politics in the Soviet Union (Oxford University Press), won the Electronic Media Book of the Year award of the National Association of Broadcasters and the Broadcast Education Association. In 1997 Dr. Mickiewicz was given the Murray Edelman Career Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Political Communication by the American Political Science Association. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and received her doctorate with distinction at Yale University. She held a Guggenheim Fellowship and is currently a trustee of the Wenner-Gren Foundation and a member of the Governing Board of The International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX). She also serves on the editorial boards of the International Journal of Press and Politics (Harvard University) and Political Communication. Advertisement OLYMPIA SUMMER SEMINARS 2005 July 5-18 International Journalism, Communications, and the Media in collaboration with Duke University’s DeWitt Wallace Center for Communications and Journalism and The Interscientific & Intercultural Center of Olympia

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The admission process officially opens on the 28 February 2005. The deadline for all applications is 20 May 2005.

Eligible to apply are graduate students, researchers, media practitioners, journalists, editors, young communications specialists, and NGO representatives who have a demonstrated interest in the topics of the seminar. Applications by outstanding senior undergraduates with relevant professional or internship experience will also be considered. A limited number of full and partial scholarships will be awarded on the basis of merit and need.

For more information about the seminars content, admissions procedures, and scholarships please visit the Kokkalis Foundation website at HYPERLINK "http://www.kokkalisfoundation.gr" www.kokkalisfoundation.gr or contact the program coordinator Kristin Fabbe on +30 210 668 2724 or at HYPERLINK "mailto:[email protected]" kfab@kokkalisfoundation.gr. Review / Preview Review Preview Conferences, Seminars and STRUCTURAL DEVELOPEMENT Courses in the Region JETiC: European Tempus Program for Journalism SEEMO/IPI CONFERENCES by Thomas A. Bauer Info: [email protected] Presentation by Johann Fritz, IPI Director “Tempus“ is a programme through which the 28 April 2004, Hrvatsko novinsko drustvo (HND), European Commission supports societal develop- Zagreb, Croatia ments in South East and East European countries. SEEMO Dialogue Conference Bosnia-Herzegovina Within the TEMPUS framework, JETiC has been Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro established as cooperation between the International June 2005, Opatija, Croatia Center for Education of Journalists (ICEJ) in Opatija, the University of Zagreb, the High School of Journalism in Lille, France, and the University of MEDIA CENTAR Sarajevo Vienna in Austria. It concentrates on sustainable journalism education and professionalism. Info: [email protected] JETiC is initiating sustainable high-quality media Media Management Training staff training. It is a complex institutional building 14 February 2005 - 18 February 2005 project, since it does not only develop a system of Communication Skills Workshop sustainable training, but also prepares the chosen 28 February 2005 - 1 March 2005 environment for an increased quality in media repor- Training for Youth Radio Stations ting (for example, in Croatia). The project uses very 2 March 2005 - 4 March 2005 democratic and decentralised techniques. For exam- Training for Media Managers ple, every “JETiC trainer“ (20 trainees will have cer- 14 March 2005 - 18 March 2005 tificates endowed by the end of the project) can be Media Literacy Workshop 4 April 2005 - 10 April 2005 an institution unto him/herself, but is at the same Investigative Reporting Blended Learning Program time under supervision and (quality) control by exi- 10 April 2005 - 13 April 2005 sting training institutions (ICEJ and the University Media Management Training of Zagreb, as well as other international institutions 18 April 2005 - 22 April 2005 due to finance future upgrading projects). The main Training for Community Radio Stations goal of the project is to establish a name for “JETiC 27 April 2005 - 29 April 2005 Seminars“, so they are equated with quality in media School of Strategic Communication reporting (in Croatia), which in turn should guaran- March 2005 - June 2005 tee lasting and strengthening interest by media staff in education and training beyond the end of the project. To guarantee acceptance of this raised quality in PEACE INSTITUTE Ljubljana media reporting among the general public (the end consumers in the media reporting process), JETiC is Info: [email protected] also providing lectures for the general public (in the Freelance Journalists - Ways out of the grey zone - form of 15 free, accessible meetings). It is also SEENMP media policy conference making special attempts to target politicians and The two-day conference will bring together 30-35 key other public people (who often have input into the stakeholders from SEE - representatives of journalists’ media reporting process). Furthermore, JETiC pro- trade unions and associations, freelance journalists, media analysts, researchers and experts, as well as vides two-day conferences intended to generate policy makers and media managers. The conference state-of-the-art knowledge in the fields of media will be aimed at raising awareness and discussion, and reporting and dissemination among Croatian opi- at encouraging all stakeholders to continue debate, nion-leaders and decision-makers. examination and solving of the freelancers issue in If you are interested, please contact Professor their home countries. 1 - 2 April 2005, Ljubljana, Slovenia Stjepan Malovic, ICEJ Zagreb at: [email protected]

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ICEJ Opatija ANEM Belgrade deScripto No. 3 Info: [email protected] Info: [email protected] Spring 2005 Investigative journalism UNIDEA European media training 14 - 18 February, 7 - 11 March, 11 - 13 April, Belgrade, Serbia 25 - 27 February, Opatija, Croatia Digital editing - students Dossier: UNIDEA European media training 7 - 9 March and 4 - 6 April, Belgrade, Serbia 11 - 13 March, Opatija, Croatia Media Education Course for radio hosts Media Thursday at 19 14 - 18 March and 4 - 8 April, Belgrade, Serbia 17 March, Zagreb, Croatia General course in journalism Country Focus: TEMPUS ToT course 28 March – 1 April Romania 18 - 19 March, Zagreb, Croatia UNIDEA European media training 18 - 20 April, Opatija, Croatia to be published in SEENPM Croatian national parks study trip April 2005 13 - 17 April, Opatija, Croatia Specialized Libraries UNION OF CYPRUS JOURNALISTS Nicosia 21 - 22 April, Opatija, Croatia European Neighborhood Policy - Trade and cooperation Media Thursday at 19 in the South-eastern Mediterranean 21 April, Zagreb, Croatia The aim of the seminar is to introduce the journalists TEMPUS ToT course from EU member- states to the new European 22 - 23 April, Zagreb, Croatia Neighborhood Policy, what it means and especially Microsoft Windays konferencija what it means for Cyprus as the bridge between 24.-29. April Europe and the Middle East. Media Thursday at 19 16-17 March 2005, Nicosia, Cyprus 19 May, Zagreb, Croatia Women Journalists in the EU - Integration Process HRT Workshop Workshop by the European Federation of Journalists 23 - 28 May, Opatija, Croatia Women journalists nominated by the member-Union of the EU region and new EU countries are invited to HRT Workshop participate. Representatives from the other European 30 May - 04 June, Opatija, Croatia countries are very welcome as well. The participants are both journalists and trade-unions. May, 2005, Nicosia, Cyprus ALBANIAN MEDIA INSTITUTE Info: [email protected] Media and Citizens Forum Training course, Balkan Trust for Democracy and OTHER Albanian Media Institute, Korca, February 2005 Media Fair Webmasters’ Course 2-4 March 2005, Novi Sad, Serbia Training course, UNESCO and Albanian Media Institute, Info: [email protected] February 2005, Tirana, Albania Sat TV Show Public Administration and Media April 2005, Belgrade, Serbia Training course with spokespersons of the state police Info: [email protected] in different districts Thessaloniki Documentary Festival February 2005, Tirana, Albania 1-10 April 2005, Thessaloniki, Greece Challenge 2005 Forum Info: [email protected] Meeting of well-known journalists and analysts with Belgrade Documentary and Short Movie Festival key persons in the political sphere, such as Prime Belgrade, Serbia, 20-24 April 2005 Minister, opposition leader, main diplomats, etc. Info: [email protected] every month until summer elections, Tirana, Albania International Festival of Local TV Broadcasters Reporting Terrorism 8-11 June 2005, Slovakia Training course on reporting terrorism, with the parti- Info: [email protected] cipation of journalists from all countries in the region, SEENPM and Albanian Media Institute, March 2005

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