Monitoring Report Opens a Correspondence Column
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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Policy Documentation Center Highlights • While the international community tries to combat convinced that the world is launching a campaign of unprofessionalism in the Republika Srpska media, terrorist violence and chemical warfare against the with sharp critique and warnings of possible jamming, RS RS media fight back with their own version of reality. • Investigative Journalism - The Werewolf Team of Audiences of Srpska Radio-Television, and readers of Slobodna Bosna Glas Srpski, in the past fortnight, could by now be • Monitoring Report Opens A Correspondence Column A review of the B&H media published by Media Plan and the Institute for War & Peace Reporting Volume 3 • Issue 2 Monitoring Report July 26 1997 ′′′DOGS OF WAR′′′ SFOR’s New Image in the RS Media The RS state media responded to unknown kinds of insect… a type of In response to the Office of the High international criticism with a barrage of mosquito that moves sluggishly in bitter Representative’s statement that ‘SRT journalistic excesses. International cold, but still survives.’ creates a paranoid atmosphere with its support for the beleaguered RS president, selection of quotations from RS officials, SRT’s Brcko studio explored the Biljana Plavsic, and SFOR’s ‘Tango’ and its own commentary.’ STV retorted theme on July 15, when reacting to operation in Prijedor fitted neatly into ‘TV statements are not the same as the ‘Tango’: the killing of Simo Drljac, and Srpska Radio-Television’s concept of a killing and arrest of innocent people in a the arrest of Dr Milan Kovacevic. SRT global campaign against Serb nationhood. country and among a nation whose Brcko commentator Nedjo Djurevic, This concept received its most emotive hospitality has been brutally abused’ calling SFOR ‘Al-Capone mobsters’ and colouring from the media of the divided (17/7). ‘dogs of war’ went on to visualise an city of Brcko, already hotly involved with international conspiracy of ‘mobsters Below are samples of SRT journalism the issues of voter registration and return. from Masonic lodges’. ‘Not satisfied with in the monitored period: Events of the last fortnight roused them the NATO bombardment of the Serbs, to war-time levels of animosity, and grenades strengthened with uranium, Selection of Quotations: SRT asked xenophobia and paranoia - currently which are causing people throughout the its own staff to provide comments on the unrivalled in any other town of BiH. RS to suffer radiation sickness’, these station. The result could be heard on the Insect Warfare ‘gangsters’ are now using ‘secret lists and July 16 newscast: a lengthy compliment hysterical killings’ to ‘create a feeling of on the ‘heroism’ and professionalism of SRT journalists. SRT ran, on July 18, a Srpska Television told viewers on July collective guilt among the Serbs, and to selective vox-pop of Prijedor salesmen 17 that chemical warfare was being waged force them to bow their heads in refusing to sell ‘even chewing gum’ to against the RS by the international acceptance of…a united Bosnia.’ internationals ‘who want to destroy us - community. The presenter read out an Srpska TV’s July 15 commentary on so we will never serve them.’ SRT Brcko, article (by Goran Maunaga) titled ‘Tango’ was also picturesque: ‘The crisis on July 14, aired citizens protesting ‘at the ‘Scientific Militarism’, from the June 8 concerning the state leaders of the RS is pursuit of the Serb nation’, (as the issue of Javnosti. (Printed by Glas Srpski, being constantly expanded in the kitchens reporter described ‘Tango’). ‘Why and for this weekly magazine was founded in of the international community, whose what reason are they killing only us, 1992 by ‘the government of the RS’). The chefs are mixing directly in RS internal without trial, without any possibility of article spoke of: ‘Instant danger from affairs, using the conflicts at the head of defence… under the law of force?’ All poisonous materials sprayed from the RS to impose their will on the state quotes matched SRT’s own commentary. aircraft… on a daily basis…a multitude of institutions and..to drown the RS in a beetles and reptiles as well as a variety of unified BiH.’ MONITORING REPORT, JULY 26, 1997 2 Camera Work: During a 75-second Mongolians, and other exemplary silence, STV’s camera panned in on international experts, of spiritual beauty MONITORING REPORT posters of Karadzic being displayed and fascinating education, such as Alex apparently everywhere - ‘like the dawn, in Ivanko, Duncan Bullivant, David Foley Published by the new, picturesque clothing’ as the or Simon Hazelock’ (16/7). Institute for War & Peace Reporting and presenter concluded at the end. (18/7). Media Plan On the other hand, the reporter who SRPSKA RTV , RTV BIH, Project Director: Zlatko Dizdarevic covered a Bijelina rally in support of HRVATSKA RTV HERCEG- Editorial Team: Zlatko Dizdarevic, Biljana Plavsic, and maintained that ‘only BOSNA Aleksandra Scepanovic & Marina Bowder 2% of residents’ were present, was Monitoring Team: MEDIA PLAN refuted by the camera panning over a massed crowd (15/7). Monitors of TV BiH in the past IWPR is an independent conflict- fortnight, unlike those watching Srpska monitoring and media-support charity Terminology: ‘Alleged’ and ‘so- TV, had comparatively little to report in working to inform the international debate called’ are correctly prefixed to the words on conflict and provide a platform and other the way of journalistic slip-ups. However, support for voices of moderation caught in ‘war criminal’ - but only when the TV BIH is not free from Srpska RTV’s conflict. criminal in question is Serb. ‘Professor’, habit of mixing of redundant rather than ‘President’ is now a frequent commentary with news. ‘There is no title for Biljana Plavsic. Attempts in Banja doubt at all that the events in Sandzak Luka to terrorise the international (where Bosnjak locals have been community were apparently spontaneous demonstrating against harassment by the ‘explosions and detonations’. Belgrade regime) were projected in the Media Plan is an independent organisation Sourcing: Ljubisa Savic-Mauzer, cabinet of Slobodan Milosevic’… ‘It monitoring, training and developing the would be an injustice in the eyes of God Bosnian media. president of the Bijelina Democrats, led a group who hurled eggs at SRT’s Bijelina if Slobodan Milosevic does not end in studio (16/7). Three days later STV’s The Hague’ (July 19). MEDIA PLAN presenter read out a list, obtained from Srpska TV followed Momcilo Krajsnik ‘well-informed sources’ of suspected war- devotedly during the monitored period, criminals: Radoslav Brdjanin, Vojo giving him the most favourable camera Kupresanin, Predrag Radic (all Plavsic shots, often ensuring that only his side of Monitoring Report is free of charge, and reprinting with credit is encouraged. IWPR supporters), Ljubisa Savic-Mauzer, and a conversation was heard and only his and Media Plan gratefully acknowledge the Biljana Plavsic. face seen. TV BiH often takes the same support of the Swedish International Creativity: As the crisis sparked off by approach to Co-President of the Council Development and Cooperation Agency of Ministers Haris Silajdzic, citing him at (SIDA) for support for this project. Other Plavsic’s dismissal of RS Minister of Internal Affairs and chief of police every opportunity. In the monitored media training, development and research period he was shown making six lengthy projects carried out by Media Plan and Dragan Kijac, escalated, SRT ran, from a IWPR in Bosnia are supported by the village near Rogatica, the news of ‘a special announcements on various European Union, US Information Agency, Muslim terrorist group prevented in its different topics, which definitely made National Endowment for Democracy and aim of spreading chaos and panic among him TV personality of the fortnight. Winston Foundation for World Peace. householders.’ STV showed Serb police In Monitoring Report’s view, a serious removing a grenade from the pocket of defect of TV BiH’s scheduling is its daily Bosnia: an unidentified body in an unidentified and, from a Bosnjak viewpoint, Obala Kulina bana 4/I, 71000 Sarajevo, tel/fax: place. Viewers were left with a vision of overwhelmingly patriotic, promotive spot (387 71) 667 734/5 Serb police doing their duty and for the BiH army, run before every main E-mail: safeguarding civilians. As far as [email protected] newscast at 7.30 pm. It sets the tone for a [email protected] Monitoring Report can ascertain, the newscast that to some extent justifies entire story was a fabrication. Bosnian Croat complaints that TV BiH fails to cater for the Croat members of UK: White and Spiritually the BiH Federation. Lancaster House, 33 Islington High St., London Beautiful N1 9LH Medzida Buljubasic was the editor and E-mail: [email protected] presenter of ‘God’s Messenger (the Biljana Plavsic’s request to the prophet Muhamad)’s Birthday.’ This international community to impose a festival was top news for 4 days in a row, US: protectorate (6/7) on RS media was seen from July 16 to July 19. Egyptian Box 2617, New York, NY 10185, by SRT to be ‘synchronised immediately tel: (1 212) 688-1451, fax: (1 212) 371-4054 president Mubarak’s congratulations to E-mail: [email protected] an army of enthusiastic racially-correct BiH president Alija Izetbegovic took first Western speakers in Muslim Sarajevo, place on July 16, while Buljubasic told orchestrated by well-known local Muslim viewers on the 18th that ‘Congratulations For back issues and other information, visit trouble-makers, created among our on the occasion of the birth of God’s our Web site: people the fearful impression that, as of http:/www.demon.co.uk/iwpr/iwpr.htm Messenger were sent to the high tomorrow, Srpska Radio-Television will functionaries of the Federation and BiH’.