MEDIA BLACKOUT THREATENS SOUTH SERBIA

13. January 2015.

Bujanovac – The Municipal Assembly of Bujanovac unanimously adopted a report on the work of the public enterprise of RTV Bujanovac in the past year, as well as its work program for the current year, which was submitted by Hajredin Ademi, the Director of the media house that had been founded by the local self-government. The councilmen were also united in their assessment that that electronic medium should be excluded from the upcoming privatization.

„There are a lot of reasons why we are against the privatization of our multi-ethnic medium. We agree that it is time for the state (through local self-governments) to withdraw from the media. However, the specific qualities of our community should be taken into account and we should be exempted from privatization on an indefinite basis", said Hajredin Ademi.

He said that following the events of 2000 and 2001, the "domestic and foreign factors wholeheartedly vowed to create a multi-ethnic medium that would cover all the events in the multiethnic environment and that would objectively report on them", on which there is a signed document.

„We fully met those expectations. That isn't a subjective assessment from the Director's point of view, but from the viewpoint of our listeners and viewers for whom the program is produced. RTV Bujanovac operates on the principle of not missing any events, neither those in the city nor those in rural areas. If we are privatized or shut down, the damage will be irreparable", said Mr. Ademi.

According to him, RTV Bujanovac, which has 41 employees, broadcasts the program proportionally in Serbian and Albanian, and is among the few RTV stations in the region that has a program in the Roma language. Relations between the three newsrooms are very collegial.

“The unity that has been built for almost 15 years should be maintained and preserved. Our optimism is caused by the support of the local self-government, the Coordination Body, the Albanian National Council and our listeners and viewers. Letters on the issue have already been sent to the Government of Serbia, the Ombudsman and tpo the others who may be helpful in our rescue mission", said Mr. Ademi.

If the joint initiative fails, Mr Ademi is afraid that "the media blackout will prevail in this part of Serbia". He has no doubts that "whoever buys them, an Albanian or a Serb, will be in a cheerful mood", and will make a mono-ethnic program.

There are two more media outlets in Bujanovac - RTV Spectrum, which broadcasts in Albanian, and Radio Ema, which broadcasts in the Serbian language. They are both privately owned.

Source: “Politika“ daily and Coordination Body