ON THE EVE OF A NEW ERA

Situation in the media in Banjaluka region

AIM Banjaluka, December 31, 1995

When a journalist-national worker from Banjaluka applied a couple of years ago for a post in TV Belgrade, he was turned down with the explanation that for the requirements of the public competition, he was - too great a Serb.

This event, which was told and retold in Banjaluka during the war, perhaps illustrates best the situation in local media. In the beginning of the war there were "Glas" - the Banjaluka daily, Radio and TV Banjaluka, and private Radio 078 from Laktasi. During the war, pursuant the new Statute of RTV of the "Republic of Srpska", all managing functions were taken away from the "local" radio and TV enterprises. Only the program is still made in Banjaluka, while even the posts of the director of local Radio and TV stations were abolished, as well as their drawing accounts. Therefore, journalists in Banjaluka could get all working material, from pencils onwards, only through the headquarters located in Pale, but permits for every written or uttered word as well. Miroslav Toholj, Minister of Information, and Ilija Guzina, Editor-in-Chief of RTV of the "Republic of Srpska" were in charge of issuing such permits. Ekavian variant of Serbo-Croat (common in Serbia, but not in Bosnia) was introduced as compulsory for the employees, daily "Glas" was transformed into "Glas srpski", and RTV Banjaluka into Srpska RTV.

In spring 1992, a private radio station called "Big" was established. Generally following the scheme of the political leadership in its information part of the program (short news five minutes before a full hour), this radio distinguished itself from the state Radio station only by broadcasting songs of ineligible singers from ex-Yugoslavia (Bijelo dugme, Dzoni Stulic, Stijene...). Here and there, Radio "Big" tried to be more neutral in reference to the created image created in the media, but every time it did it, its operation was banned for some time. Last time it happened in October 1995, when Banjaluka found itself at the first frontline, and in a contact program with its listeners, this Radio station allowed everyone say what they felt. The greatest portion of negative emotions spilled in the direction of the political leadership of this part of Bosnia. This Radio station also broadcast declarations of independent deputies from certain opposition parties which were not permitted to be broadcast in the official media.

Along with these events, after the fall of Bosnian Krajina, and after relations between Banjaluka and Pale became strained, Radio "Krajina" also appeared. It operates thanks to one of the channels of Radio "Big". The program was broadcast from the military command and gathered mainly guests who blamed Radovan Karadzic and other leaders from Pale for the new situation in the RS concerning the loss of territories. In the same period, listeners threatened that they would stone RTV Banjaluka because of false information it broadcast. Even after Miroslav Toholj issued an order that all channels should be placed at the disposal of state radio, Radio "Krajina" continued broadcasting its program. Stories about this new radio station can all be brought down to its alleged intention to threaten the already shaken position of the leaders of the Bosnian Serbs.

Then Studio "Albatros" appeared in 1993 and broadcast only advertisements and music.

The Liberal Party founded a journal called "Novi Prelom" which was published from September 1992 until March

1. The journal was the only medium in the course of the entire war which was published with the editorial policy based on principles of a civic society, and it warned against dangers of ethnic cleansing, absurdity of national policies and similar. Because of financial difficulties (its sponsors had problems with the authorities), sending of its editor-in-chief and President of the Liberal Party, Dr Miodrag Zivanovic to the front again, but also because its journalists were repeatedly threatened, the journal was shut down, only to begin operation again in the past few days.

It should be mentioned that towards the end of December, "Nezavisne novine" (Independent journal) appeared in Banjaluka, whose founder is Milorad Dodik, head of independent deputies of the RS. It is characteristic that journalists who have changed their course overnight because of the shaken position of Radovan Karadzic, have appeared in the journal. It is evident that they are aware that the old course is not popular anymore, but everybody still has to get accustomed to the new one.

The media have recently started using the jekavian variant of the language again, and instead of Miroslav Toholj, Dragan Bozanic from TV Pale who is said to be moderate, has become the new Minister of information. And yet, not even this shift in Banjaluka journalism should push back into oblivion all the evil which flowed from many pens and poisoned the citizens with nationalism during the long war years.

(AIM) Radmila Karlas