Media in "worrying" state

ZK Have you watched Fox?
That is the example of US style reporting and content in the Serbian context. Its no wonder they are selling up and moving out of the Serbian market. And good riddance to the third class US shows they push upon a Serbian audience. B92 tries to copy the BBC model of reporting and frequently has journalist exchanges with them.

B92 screened the best domestic Serbian series on air since the golden age of 70's and 80's. Vratice se rode. You can pick up a copy at a trafika, its not difficult to understand, has good actors and storyline and is a mixture of urban and country.

Do you have a favourite news station in Serbia and which one is it? Or perhaps I should ask which is the least worst?

Oh and bear in mind that Pink was the TV station that brought US series to Serbia. Even during the 90's there were US series regularly seen on that JUL channel.

Dig a little more...

I tend to agree and I would have hoped the media would be more balanced in Serbia. The reporting that I read during the last demonstrations solidified my opinion where B92 practically only wrote about the violence of demonstrators and not about the content of the speakers or of police brutality. I certainly don't remember anything reported at the time of a demonstrator being killed by the police. Self-censorship at its best I think. We talk about hate speeches but I see this as hate reporting.

Furthermore, since coming to Belgrade and watching the little bit of TV that I do, I have flicked past B92 a number of time and I have concluded that this media outlet is just an American media outlet in the Serbian language. I have either seen an American movie with Serbian subtitles undoubtedly spreading American propaganda or the news in Serbian undoubtedly spreading American propaganda.

It is a very sad state indeed.

bganon, I can only comment on what I have seen and it is not a lot but B92 programming does remind me of growing up in Australia where all of the commercial channels were strongly US based - spreading the typical "US is great" propaganda. After having moved to the UK, the programming there was very different and I cannot see that with B92. It seems to follow the Australian model of US programming.

There are always exceptions to the rule and I glad when more locally produced series get aired. The British seem very proud of that and I would hope Serbia follows that example.

Oh, and I watched Nikolic get interviewed the other day and I was quite impressed with him even though I really don't like the direction he is taking. But compared to Tadic and some others I saw from the government, Nikolic seemed to stand out although he is the only one I have seen from the opposition.

I tend to steer well clear of US-type programs so I haven't watched Fox.

Yes, that interview on Utisak was one of the best I've seen for a long time.

Nikolic put other Serbian politicians to shame with an honesty not usually seen by a politician.

Its quite ironic that Nikolic behaved more democratically than many 'democratic' leaders that have retired or moved from one party to another. Thats something Serbian politicians have to learn - its ok to be honest at least temporarily. People will like you more for honesty although politicians seem to believe they prefer lies and populism.

So for the first time we found out about the inner workings of a political party - miracle of miracles. OK we found out that SRS is run by order of one leader, but most of us knew that. But other 'democratic' political parties are not as different as they should be either. There is very little scope for differences of opinion. Even elder statesmen keep their mouths shut, when they should not.

Anyway, even though I still don't agree with Nikolic's policies, unlike SRS it will be a (relatively) democratically run, normal party.

Back to topic. Take a quick look at Fox and other channels when you have time, otherwise it will be hard to have a yardstick to measure against. I haven't watched Australian news but I've watched plenty of British television and my own opinion is that B92 documentaries and news owes more to the British model than the American one.

Self censorship??

Like...writing Pristina with the Serbian "s" just because SH doesn't exist in your alphabet? :)

Media was not reformed since the 1990's in both Serbia and Bosnia’s Republika Srpska — most of it is still controlled by the old Yugoslav-Serb-Orthodox-Military “deep state” that profited enomoursly during the Milosevic era.

And that's why many people in certain places of tha Balkans still are pretty afraid of talking about a whole Bosnian or a Serbia without Kosovo.

One thing is for sure, Australian media is completely with one voice when it comes to foreign policy. They tow the propaganda line perfectly.

You may be critical of Serbian media and I'm sure there will be some towing of government line but show me a country now where that doesn't happen. Australia is pathetic when it comes to that. All that we are given here is same rubbish being regurgitated over and over.

We had John Pilger here for a few days and he was on one of ABC programs. He was part of a panel of guests taking questions from audience and viewers. It was surprising that he was allowed to go on any show at all. He even said himself how he is not published in Australia. He is published in Europe and even in America but not in his native country. That is disgraceful. This is the extent of censorship we have here and this is a "democratic" country. Yes, you have a democratic right not to be informed.

So bad gorilla especially, before bashing Serbia for lack of diversity take a look at a country which has recognized your puppet state. How about Albanian or even Kosovo media, do they come up smelling good?

I am all for free press, but when Serbia is supposed to be the only country which bashes itself in the media for freedom of information then I say no. We have enough bashing Serbia already and not looking to verify the information if the first place and have the audacity to silence any credible journalist who dares to write differently. Show me a country where there is no bias in the media.

Dunno about other people's experience with our 'european,progressive,ref-ormist and profoundly democratic' media but I'll tell you a bit of my own experience with it.
B92 almost regularly edits my letters in more than an obvious effort to protect its readers from my insiduous diffamation of our Judeo-Anglo-American masters.
"Politika" is even worse. They simply supress any of my attempts to explain Serbs anything of my knowledge about the U.S.A. Having been a U.S. citizen for more than half a century now, must classify me as a subversive (a sort of Al-Queda type you know).The U.S.A. is being venerated in present Serbia just as it was the U.S.S.R. was in its time.
I wasn't permitted ,for exemple, even to have an opinion on Miladin Kovacevic's case. So much for our 'most prestigious publication'.
That is the Democracy the Serbs are allowed to have.
The present Serbia ranks equal with 'Kosova'(might as well recognize it),Karzai's Afganistan or Saudi Arabia.
So,onward to our bright european future, boys.

Self censorship??

Like...writing Pristina with the Serbian "s" just because SH doesn't exist in your alphabet? :)

I tend to agree and I would have hoped the media would be more balanced in Serbia. The reporting that I read during the last demonstrations solidified my opinion where B92 practically only wrote about the violence of demonstrators and not about the content of the speakers or of police brutality. I certainly don't remember anything reported at the time of a demonstrator being killed by the police. Self-censorship at its best I think. We talk about hate speeches but I see this as hate reporting.

Furthermore, since coming to Belgrade and watching the little bit of TV that I do, I have flicked past B92 a number of time and I have concluded that this media outlet is just an American media outlet in the Serbian language. I have either seen an American movie with Serbian subtitles undoubtedly spreading American propaganda or the news in Serbian undoubtedly spreading American propaganda.

It is a very sad state indeed.

Media was not reformed since the 1990's in both Serbia and Bosnia’s Republika Srpska — most of it is still controlled by the old Yugoslav-Serb-Orthodox-Military “deep state” that profited enomoursly during the Milosevic era.

And that's why many people in certain places of tha Balkans still are pretty afraid of talking about a whole Bosnian or a Serbia without Kosovo.

ZK Have you watched Fox?
That is the example of US style reporting and content in the Serbian context. Its no wonder they are selling up and moving out of the Serbian market. And good riddance to the third class US shows they push upon a Serbian audience. B92 tries to copy the BBC model of reporting and frequently has journalist exchanges with them.

B92 screened the best domestic Serbian series on air since the golden age of 70's and 80's. Vratice se rode. You can pick up a copy at a trafika, its not difficult to understand, has good actors and storyline and is a mixture of urban and country.

Do you have a favourite news station in Serbia and which one is it? Or perhaps I should ask which is the least worst?

Oh and bear in mind that Pink was the TV station that brought US series to Serbia. Even during the 90's there were US series regularly seen on that JUL channel.

Dig a little more...

bganon, I can only comment on what I have seen and it is not a lot but B92 programming does remind me of growing up in Australia where all of the commercial channels were strongly US based - spreading the typical "US is great" propaganda. After having moved to the UK, the programming there was very different and I cannot see that with B92. It seems to follow the Australian model of US programming.

There are always exceptions to the rule and I glad when more locally produced series get aired. The British seem very proud of that and I would hope Serbia follows that example.

Oh, and I watched Nikolic get interviewed the other day and I was quite impressed with him even though I really don't like the direction he is taking. But compared to Tadic and some others I saw from the government, Nikolic seemed to stand out although he is the only one I have seen from the opposition.

I tend to steer well clear of US-type programs so I haven't watched Fox.

Yes, that interview on Utisak was one of the best I've seen for a long time.

Nikolic put other Serbian politicians to shame with an honesty not usually seen by a politician.

Its quite ironic that Nikolic behaved more democratically than many 'democratic' leaders that have retired or moved from one party to another. Thats something Serbian politicians have to learn - its ok to be honest at least temporarily. People will like you more for honesty although politicians seem to believe they prefer lies and populism.

So for the first time we found out about the inner workings of a political party - miracle of miracles. OK we found out that SRS is run by order of one leader, but most of us knew that. But other 'democratic' political parties are not as different as they should be either. There is very little scope for differences of opinion. Even elder statesmen keep their mouths shut, when they should not.

Anyway, even though I still don't agree with Nikolic's policies, unlike SRS it will be a (relatively) democratically run, normal party.

Back to topic. Take a quick look at Fox and other channels when you have time, otherwise it will be hard to have a yardstick to measure against. I haven't watched Australian news but I've watched plenty of British television and my own opinion is that B92 documentaries and news owes more to the British model than the American one.

One thing is for sure, Australian media is completely with one voice when it comes to foreign policy. They tow the propaganda line perfectly.

You may be critical of Serbian media and I'm sure there will be some towing of government line but show me a country now where that doesn't happen. Australia is pathetic when it comes to that. All that we are given here is same rubbish being regurgitated over and over.

We had John Pilger here for a few days and he was on one of ABC programs. He was part of a panel of guests taking questions from audience and viewers. It was surprising that he was allowed to go on any show at all. He even said himself how he is not published in Australia. He is published in Europe and even in America but not in his native country. That is disgraceful. This is the extent of censorship we have here and this is a "democratic" country. Yes, you have a democratic right not to be informed.

So bad gorilla especially, before bashing Serbia for lack of diversity take a look at a country which has recognized your puppet state. How about Albanian or even Kosovo media, do they come up smelling good?

I am all for free press, but when Serbia is supposed to be the only country which bashes itself in the media for freedom of information then I say no. We have enough bashing Serbia already and not looking to verify the information if the first place and have the audacity to silence any credible journalist who dares to write differently. Show me a country where there is no bias in the media.

Dunno about other people's experience with our 'european,progressive,ref-ormist and profoundly democratic' media but I'll tell you a bit of my own experience with it.
B92 almost regularly edits my letters in more than an obvious effort to protect its readers from my insiduous diffamation of our Judeo-Anglo-American masters.
"Politika" is even worse. They simply supress any of my attempts to explain Serbs anything of my knowledge about the U.S.A. Having been a U.S. citizen for more than half a century now, must classify me as a subversive (a sort of Al-Queda type you know).The U.S.A. is being venerated in present Serbia just as it was the U.S.S.R. was in its time.
I wasn't permitted ,for exemple, even to have an opinion on Miladin Kovacevic's case. So much for our 'most prestigious publication'.
That is the Democracy the Serbs are allowed to have.
The present Serbia ranks equal with 'Kosova'(might as well recognize it),Karzai's Afganistan or Saudi Arabia.
So,onward to our bright european future, boys.