A Burr in the Eye of the Authorities

The law on the press in the Kingdom of Serbia in 1880, had only one article - "The press is free." This was one of the most liberal laws in Europe. But, a hundred odd years later, the situation in the field of information has changed drastically. Serbian Information Minister Ratomir Vico said in the Assembly during a debate on a Government report - "The press in Serbia is absolutely free."

Therefore, the press is free. This however, only means that all those with financial backing can publish whatever they like. Since the financiers, are, as a rule, persons in municipal authority or their proteges, the papers they publish glorify the existing regime and ignore all that is negative. This has resulted in the fact that we are currently inundated with newspapers, magazines, bulletins and other printed material.

Municipality presidents and party committee comrades have themselves photographed, give orders and write editorials, so that in the local press "zeal can overcome difficulties", "stocks are at a minimum", difficulties are overcome, sanctions are a challenge, they have a genocidal effect on health, drug abuse is ethno-genocidal, freedom is blossoming, the kindergartens are full of singing children, women are an eternal secret, schools are in the 21st century, there are more cows in the cowsheds...

Those who embarked on the adventure of launching so-called independent papers in Cacak in the past few years soon faced practically identical problems. Apart from the financial problem, because it is a well-known fact that newspapers cannot support themselves, there is also the problem of staff. It is rather difficult to find people who know the art of journalism here, and also have the courage to write objectively and risk the anger of local power wielders.

The privately-owned paper "Cacansko ogledalo" (The Cacak Mirror) appeared in 1991 and kept its promise to "make a small step towards human dignity and the right to be different"; it closed down after less than a year, having run out of money and enthusiasm. With the ambition of countering "the lies which have spread", the Cacak branch of DEPOS launched the bulletin "Ogledalo" (Mirror) ahead of the 1992 election, but the paper expired soon after the election results were announced.

The privately-owned paper "Novi glas" (New Voice) also ran out of breath soon, and since it was rather nondescript, soon faded from the readers' memories. This is how it happened that the 63-year-old "Cacanski glas", a weekly which is published by a public firm of the same name, has remained the undisputable master of the information field in Cacak, not so much because of its quality, inasmuch as there is no competition. Led by their editor-in-chief and faithful Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) follower, the journalists work for 300 dinars and do a job which isn't all that easy: they pass on the authorities' messages, spread optimism and patriotism, do a little warmongering or peacemongering -according to need, worry over the birthrate, sing of the glory of cultural-artistic societies which are undergoing a renaissance in the Year of Culture, encourage a provincial spirit and suburban mentality...

The spearhead of journalism in Krusevac, the paper "Pobeda" celebrated its 50th anniversary on 16 November 1994. A special number was printed to mark the occasion, with appropriate reports and a celebratory tone. Viewed objectively, there was no reason for celebration. In the past year, "Pobeda" didn't come out regularly, and its circulation has halved. Faithful readers couldn't find it on the newsstands every Friday anymore. In late 1990 the paper changed its image and started coming out as a magazine with a circulation of 10,000, of which two-thirds were sold.

The picture of an idyllic lethargy in factory journalism in Krusevac is spoiled only by "Sindimko" - the trade union paper of the "14. oktobar" Industry, which until the director banned its printing, used to fire poisoned darts at the factory management.

The following papers are published in Kraljevo: "Glas Srbije" (The Voice of Serbia),"Kraljevacki zavicaj" (The Kraljevo Homeland), "Kraljevacki reporter" (The Kraljevo Reporter), "Cicak" (Burr), "Ibarske novosti" (Ibar News) and occasionally the factory papers of the bigger factories. It is interesting that after several relatively successful attempts, there are currently no party papers in Kraljevo.

The only paper which differs is "Cicak" a satirical paper published for Kraljevo (Kingstown) and the Fatherland as its title says. This paper which comes out every two weeks, belongs to the very best satirical writing in Serbia and is in total contrast to all that has been printed and written in these areas. This is why "Cicak" enjoys a lot of sympathy among readers, while the authorities disapprove, and problems with money make its future uncertain.

Realistic optimists who "want the impossible" believe that it is possible, but very difficult to make a non-regime paper in Nis. This estimate is based on the fact that Nis already has five private TV stations and one private weekly with the name of "Videlo". A further development of the media scene is being hindered by the Nis SPS branch who don't leave anything to chance. The realists believe that this is too mild a qualification. They believe that Nis will be a black hole as far as the independent media are concerned, for a long time to come. Their arguments are based on the following facts: all five TV stations have temporary work permits and they don't touch politics but focus heavily on service, local, entertainment and sports information. The independent weekly "Videlo" is beset by numerous political-business problems which the opposition in Nis say openly is the strangling of the paper and the freedom of information. Of the local media only the daily "Narodne novine" (The People's Paper) stand firm, as the bastion of the regime, followed by a more subtle version embodied by Radio Nis and the RTS Nis correspondent's office.

Timocka Krajina has a newspaper publishing tradition that goes back more than a hundred years. Today, however, there are few heroes in this field. "Timok" from Zajecar, "Majdanpecke novine" (Majdanpek Newspaper), "Knjazevacke novine" and "Kolektiv" from Bor are literally municipality-party bulletins. They have a small circulation, and even though their price is minimal, they are often handed out free. The privately-owned "Borske novine" (Bor Newspaper) comes out twice monthly in Bor, and the monthly "IN 019" is published in Zajecar. Both papers are in color and have a more opposition-oriented editorial policy, they devote more space to opposition leaders and have a more critical approach to topics.

"Vorba noastra" (Our Word) is the most interesting paper in this region. It is published by the Movement of Vlachs and Rumanians in Yugoslavia. All articles are printed in two languages -Rumanian and Serbian - making it easier for the authorities to follow them.