Curriculum Vitae
Veran Matic
CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of B92
Address: Bulevar Zorana Đinđića 64, Belgrade
Tel: ++ 381 11 301 2000
Fax: ++ 381 11 301 2001
E-mail: veran.matic@b92.net
Web site: www.b92.net
| CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Belgrade’s leading independent radio and television station B92 (RTV B92), Serbia’s sole commercially funded public service broadcaster, managing the company’s radio, TV, online, publishing and cultural services. |
| Born in 1962, in Sabac, Serbia. Studied world literature at the Faculty of Philology, University of Belgrade. |
Career:
Mr Matic has been engaged in journalism since 1984 with alternative and youth media in Belgrade, Zagreb and Ljubljana. He began his career with NTV Studio B, Belgrade's formerly independent television station. In May 1989 he founded Radio B92, the first independent radio station in Serbia.
The station was banned several times, but managed to continue broadcasting until it was illegally taken over by a group close to the government in April 1999. On March 24 1999, just hours before the NATO air strikes against Yugoslavia began, the station was banned and Matic was briefly detained by police. Despite the ban, the station continued to broadcast via the Internet until the take-over.
Under his guidance, Radio B92 had set up and developed its numerous sectors:
| Internet centre - OpenNet, the first Internet provider in the country |
| Samizdat B92 - a publishing division which produced more than 30 titles, including books of research and commentary on the wars in the former Yugoslavia and minority rights, and three magazines |
| REX cultural centre, a venue for the alternative and progressive culture scene |
| Film and video division, the winner of a number of national and international awards |
| CD label which featured young and progressive artists in FR Yugoslavia. |
Radio B92 became a focus of new, young intellectual and urban circles from all over Serbia and Montenegro, and collaborated with independent journalists in Kosovo, as well as organising a number of anti-war activities, social and cultural events and projects in the independent sector.
After the illegal take-over, the employees of the radio refused to co-operate with the new management and were soon thereafter all laid off. They took to the Internet, creating the FreeB92 website (www.freeb92.net) and subsequently to the ether -- as Radio B2-92 -- broadcasting in Belgrade on the 99.1 MHz frequency and also on the Internet.
Radio B92’s news programmes remain the core of the joint ANEM Radio Network programming, which provides independent news to audiences on some sixty per cent of Yugoslav territory. ANEM is an umbrella organisation providing technical, programming, legal and training assistance to its members and seeking to promote democracy through the dissemination of independent information and closer links with other non-governmental organisations in the country and the region. ANEM consists of the ANEM Radio Network of 28 independent local radio stations, the ANEM Television Network of some twenty local television stations, ANEM Internet Media and the ANEM Legal Service, which provides defence for the media and journalists and has tackled a number of local and international actions to support media and journalists under repression.
During 2000, he launches and leads one of surely the biggest projects within regional networking – in order to overcome the banning of B92 in Belgrade, and with the assistance of its partners from Romania and Bosnia & Herzegovina, he founded a network covering largest part of Serbia, which has done its best to help in informing the citizens regarding the big Belgrade march, which brought about silent change of power. In this way, Television B92 has been born, broadcast first via satellite and through regional networks, starting its daily broadcasting in Belgrade as well, on October 5, 2000.
After the democratic changes have taken place, Radio & Television B92 continues to develop its independent professional journalism.
In December 2000, RTV B92 organized the conference about electronic media, in cooperation with the Council of Europe, entitled the "Media for a Democratic Europe" (http://www.b92.net/events/conference/).
In May 2001, RTV B92 organizes conference dealing with the issue of ‘’Truth, Responsibility and Reconciliation’’, entitled “In Search of Truth & Responsibility – Towards A Democratic Future” (http://www.b92.net/trr/eng/).
In February 2002, RTV B92 organized international conference in cooperation with the Centre for Anti-War Action, on the Opening of Secret Police Files, held in Belgrade (http://www.b92.net/konferencije/dosije/index.php).
International Awards
RTV B92’s management and staff have received a number of prestigious international awards for their work over the last ten years. These awards include:
| 1993 - Peace Award by Danish peace movements |
| 1993 - Peace Plume by the Flemish peace organisation |
| 1996 - Radiostation des Jahres [Radio Station of the Year] by Medienhilfe |
| Grand Prix of Prix Europe, the world's largest radio festival, for the Odbrana dostojanstva (Defending Dignity) radio campaign |
| 1998 - Free Media Pioneer by the International Press Institute and the Forum Foundation |
| 1998 - Solidarity Award by AMARC - the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, which gathers over 1000 radio stations throughout the world. |
| 1998 - Free Your Mind award from MTV Europe in recognition of B92's work to promote tolerance and respect for human rights. |
| Robert Schuman Medal from the Group of the European People’s Party and European Democrats in the European Parliament |
| 2000 – Women’s Peacepower Media Award in the Internet Category |
| 2001 – The Belgrade University of Arts gave its highest award to B92 in recognition of the company’s support for the artistic work of students and teaching staff, and its contribution to the development of new programmes. |
| 2003 - B92.net was proclaimed “The best IT product in Local Web Site category” by leading local computing magazine “Mikro-PC World”. |
| 2004 - Journalists Milorad Vesic and Zeljko Perasovic received Reporters without Borders’ award for investigative journalism in Vienna (Freedom of Media - A Sign for Europe 2003) |
| 2004 - Antonela Riha wins the prestigious local journalistic award Jug Grizelj for the “highest achievements in investigative journalism in the service of eliminating borders and developing friendship among nations” (Independent Association of Serbian Journalists (NUNS) |
| 2004 - Jasmina Seferovic - Contribution to Europe of the Year, International European Movement |
| 2004 - Brankica Stankovic - International Film Festival in Bar, Bronze Olive for the documentary “In Search for Ratko Mladic“ |
| 2004 – B92.net - Best PR Management in New Media/Web Sites category, The Public Relations Society of Serbia |
| 2004 – B92.net - Best New Media Promoting Professional Development, Association of Economic Advertising Experts of Serbia |
| 2004 - B92.net - Special Annual Media Prize for the best reporting on children and children's rights, UNICEF |
| 2005 - Brankica Stankovic - 'Dusan Bogavac' award for ethics and courage in journalism, IJAS - Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS) |
| 2005 – Zaharije Trnavcevic - Life Merit Award, B92, RTS, Blic Daily, Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS), Association of Independent Media (ANEM), Serbian Ministry of Agriculture |
| 2005 - B92.net - Best Internet News Portal, PC Press Magazine |
| 2005 - B92.net - Best IT Product in Domestic Web Location category, Micro - PC World Magazine |
| 2006 - Brankica Stankovic - Jug Grizelj Award - For developing friendship among people and removing barriers between nations, Independent Journalists's Association of Serbia (NUNS)/Jug Grizelj Fund |
| 2006 - Marko Vidojkovic - Kocic Feather Award for continuing the heritage of Petar Kocic's profound thought and the beauty of his literary expression, Petar Kocic Memorial |
| 2006 - B92 Creative Team - BiZart 2006 Award for the most successful partnership between design and the business sector, Design Serbia |
| 2006 - Srđan Valjarevic - "Biljana Jovanovic" Award, Serbian Literary Society for best novel in the Serbian language |
| 2006 - Svetlana Lukic & Svetlana Vukovic - Belgrade City Award for Journalism for the radio program The Hourglass for the year 2005 |
| 2006 - Jasna Jankovic - Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia Award for achievements in investigative journalism |
| 2006 - Jasmina Seferovic - First Award for outstanding achievement in investigative journalism in television, IJAS - Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS) |
| 2006 - Jugoslav Cosic - The "Stanislav Staša Marinkovic" award, by Danas daily |
| 2006 - Janko Baljak and Drago Hedl - Human Rights Award at the 12th Sarajevo Film Festival for Best Documentary Film in the Regional Documentary Programme dealing with human rights issues |
| 2006 - Dusan Saponja and Dusan Cavic - Second Prize at the first regional festival of TV miniatures - "Press vitez". |
| 2006 - Darko Arsic - Silver Charter for editing at the first regional festival of TV miniatures - "Press vitez". |
| 2006 - Anja Abramovic - Grand Prix at the first regional festival of TV miniatures - "Press vitez" |
| 2006 - Ana Veljkovic - The award is presented by the Serbian Government EU Integration Office for best extended TV show on Serbia's EU integration in 2006. |
| 2007 - Filip Svarm - Jug Grizelj Award in investigative journalism, for developing friendship among people and removing barriers between nations. |
| 2007 - The Hourglass (B92 Radio) - Reportes Without Borders, Austria |
| 2007 - Television B92 - Grand Superbrand Award in the category "Digital Media and Internet" for distinguished brand quality, distinction and domination on the market |
| 2007 - Filip Svarm - NUNS and US Embassy award in investigative journalism for documentary series The Unit, a co-production of Vreme Film and TV B92 |
| 2007 - Igor Orsolic - "Silver Bra" award for the opening title sequence in the series "Stiklom u vrata" |
| 2007 - B92.net - the Public Relations Society Serbia’s Award for the best and most useful internet portal |
| 2007 - B92 Fund - Award for launching "Safe house" campaign, and for special contribution of promoting and encouraging the culture of corporate philantrophy and socially responsible business dealings. |
Veran Matic received the following awards:
| 1993 - the Annual Award of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) |
| 1998 - As chairman of ANEM and Radio B92's editor-in-chief, he shared the Olof Palme Memorial Fund's prize for professional journalism and promotion of international understanding with Viktor Ivancic, the chief editor of Croatian independent weekly Feral Tribune and Senad Pecanin, the editor-in-chief of Sarajevo's independent weekly Dani |
| 1999 - At the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting, he was proclaimed one of this year's hundred Global Leaders for Tomorrow, along with Veton Surroi, the publisher of Koha Dittore a daily newspaper in Kosovo, and Sasa Vucinic, director of the Prague-based Media Development Loan Fund, as representatives from the Yugoslav Region |
| 1999 - USC Annenberg School for Communication Dean's Award for Courage in Journalism |
| 1999 - the Social Justice Award from the US-based Children Uniting Nations |
| 1999 - The Ilaria Alpi Award, dedicated to the memory of Ilaria Alpi, a reporter of TG3 Rai killed in Mogadiscio under obscure circumstances |
| 2000 - the International Press Institute selected him one of the fifty World Press Freedom Heroes. |
| 2002 - Tolerance Award – by the Yugoslav Ministry of National and Ethnic Minorities, presented for contribution to tolerance in Yugoslavia within the past year. |
| 2004 – the City of Belgrade Award for Journalism in 2003. In the explanation, it is said that Veran Matic has been given the award because, as leader of a large team, he has fundamentally contributed to the preservation of the independent editorial concept of RTV B92. |
| 2009 - The Embassy of France in Serbia announces that the President of the Republic of France has decided on July 8, 2009, at the proposal of the Embassy, to award the highest French decoration, the Knight of the French Legion of Honor medal, to Mr. Veran Matic, the director and editor in chief of B92, in recognition for his persistent and ongoing fight for media freedom. |
Publishing activities:
Veran Matic’s articles have appeared in The New York Times, The New York Book Review, The Wall Street Journal, Index on Censorship, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Le Monde, The Nation, and elsewhere.
Other contributions:
The conferences Veran Matic has addressed include:
| Turbulent Europe: Conflict, Identity and Culture, EFTSC, London, July 1994; |
| Virtual Diplomacy: the Global Communications Revolution and Conflict Management, the US Institute for Peace, Washington, April 1997; |
| Lifeline Media: Protecting Civilians In Conflict, the International Centre for Humanitarian Reporting, Boston, April 1997; |
| News Traditions and Transitions, Freedom Forum European Media Forum, London, May 1997; |
| The Cantigny Conference Series: the Information Revolution and its Impact on the Foundations of National Power, McCormick Tribune Foundation and Center for Strategic & International Studies, September 1997; |
| Broadcasting to People in Conflicts, United States Institute of Peace and Voice of America, Washington, October 1997. |
| Future Architecture of Europe, organized by the Liberal, Democratic and Reformers' Group of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly in Baden Baden, Germany, January 23-24, 1999 |
| 1999 International Studies Association Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., February 1999. |
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