Serbia is "partially free" on media front

Congratulations to B92 for helping to foster a free media in Serbia!

We know the price of the freedom of maas media. Each time there's a war where the yankees are somehow involved ( this happens every year )they start to sing as the most syncronized chorus. Later when the business is done they can afford other than Secretary of State points of view.

The only time this "freedom" machine failed to impose their own vision was in S.Ossetia where Russia proved to be strong , smart and persisting enough to unmask the West and it's puppet.

So who are they to judje us !

If by "free" they mean owned by foreign agents such as George Soros, NED & Co, then Serbia is heaven on earth of the "free word"....

(lobbyst, 2 May 2009 15:12)"Serbia is behind Kosovo. Wouldnt hurt b92 to mention that."

Hey 'Lobbyst' it wouldn't hurt for you to mention that Kosovo is not even on the list. I just checked the list and their isn't even a mention of Kosovo. So how did you come to that conclusion that press freedom was greater in Kosovo than in the rest of Serbia?

Congratulations to B92 for helping to foster a free media in Serbia!
(kate, 2 May 2009 13:26)

Kudos B92!!! It's ironical that "Freedom House", apparently based in Washington, is only giving Serbia a "partially free" media status. And yet, the press in America is NOT FREE- mainstream media here goes out of it's way to follow government direction and policy. For the past 20 years, many of us diaspora Serbs have been trying to bring a "fairness" and balance to all the negative reporting and opinions towards Serbia- and mostly it's been ignored. Yes, technically, we have the "freedom" of saying it, or writing it....but not the "freedom" of getting it published in our mainstream media so as to be heard by the general public. The general public here in America is being "kept in the dark" regarding the ICJ, K-Albanians provocations against Serbs in Kosovo, and so much more- because it's information that the US doesn't want many of it's citizens to know about because it's NOT Washington's direction. Most media here simply follow Washington's official path- which silently speaks volumes of our "true" freedom of speech. I wonder where the US is in Freedom House's ranking??? Again...congratulations and thank you to B92!!!

So what does freedom of the press mean? Freedom to spin as much rubbish as possible?

"The independent broadcaster B92 and its journalists were frequently harassed, and its offices were vandalized throughout the year. On several occasions, nationalist political parties interrupted B92 broadcasts and staged demonstrations outside its offices, protesting its content."

http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=251&year=2008

Great job B92! There is much more work to be done to improve the freedom of media but you can't change everything in 10 years.

The freedom of press in Kosovo is another story:

"As a result, editorial independence remains a weakness in Kosovo, with media adhering to business interests. Public broadcaster Radio Television Kosovo is particularly at the whim of political and economic interests."

This is somewhat surprising since the province is run by EULEX. Or does it just show that the Western countries incharge of administrating Kosovo are not as free and democratic as they say they are.

Serbia is behind Kosovo. Wouldnt hurt b92 to mention that.

Serbia is behind Kosovo. Wouldnt hurt b92 to mention that.
lobbyst

Serbia is Kosovo!
Besides, didn't you read my comment. Check the link out and see what your american friends say about Kosovo. Albanians can't even spell the word "freedom of press".

and that from a government that puts you in jail if you just film their slums.

or that sends music-tracks and even hollywood-schund through censorship.

i repeat: hollywood-shund!!!

is pathetic still the correct word for this?

How non-governmental is this NGO, Freedom House, really?
Is it just another bogus U.S. outfit like Human Rights Watch that breaks wind annually?

FH ranks my country as free at no. 15. Yet, I can't get a word in here in the media regarding my simple quest for the truth surrrounding events leading up to the Srebrenica and Racak incidents.
When I got close, I was made to feel like some sort of holocaust refuter.

MB,Ireland

I am surprised at Italy's "not free." Maybe because of Berlusconi owning everything?

Here is a good story :

A Chinese man gets his news papers one morning. He opens them and reads them and thinks:
''I KNOW that every aspect of my life and the media of my country is controled in its entirety by the government. Therefore, I will take what I just read with a pinch of salt. It probably isn't all true''.

At the same time in America, American man picks up the news paper and reads it, then he thinks:
''I live in a free world, greatest country on earth. Noone lies here, therefore everything that is written MUST be true''.

Just something to think about.

Only very naive people who do not know who finances this good for nothing organization take these scores seriously.

I guess America is way donwn this list since most tv-stations and other media is privatly owned. CNN is run by Ted Turner. That tv-station would report anything negative about its boss. By not doing that is difficult for it to have credibility.

Rick

It is not that they can't publish what they want about Serbia; it is just that they are not that interested in a little place so far away - that does tend to make their analysis rather lazy.

What makes the US press free is that the government won't interfere with what is said. However, it puts no obligation on anyone to publish either.

Maybe there is scope for a new newspaper that might tap into some unknown strand of interest that is not being addressed by the current proprietors.

Alban, Berlusconi doesn't own much, let alone everything.

Things are more complicated than that.

Anyways, I don't know about "freedom" of Italia press, but the quality is by far lower than those of N,NW countries.

"It is not that they can't publish what they want about Serbia; it is just that they are not that interested in a little place so far away - that does tend to make their analysis rather lazy."

Bob- I must disagree with you. Yes, Serbia is rather small- but not unimportant. In fact, Serbia is so much connected to events that are critical to international law and order (ICJ, sovereign and territorial integrity issues, etc), that it makes Serbia much more newsworthy than 95% of what is being broadcast or printed in America's media. Serbia is constantly being marginalized because, believe me, the US government HAS a commanding influence on what we hear and read. Please read the book, "Suppressed Serbian Voice" by Bill Dorich.

it is true that in the west you have right to say whatever you wish, especially in the us. the right to get heard is connected to your economic status and political influence, though. you need access to major media outlets and it makes perfect sense that people with dissident opinions will have difficulties getting there. and i would agree that people in the west tend to be very naive about their own media, more so than people from countries where the government influence is obvious.

the best book about the subject is still "manufacturing consent".

Serbia is behind Kosovo. Wouldnt hurt b92 to mention that.

If by "free" they mean owned by foreign agents such as George Soros, NED & Co, then Serbia is heaven on earth of the "free word"....

We know the price of the freedom of maas media. Each time there's a war where the yankees are somehow involved ( this happens every year )they start to sing as the most syncronized chorus. Later when the business is done they can afford other than Secretary of State points of view.

The only time this "freedom" machine failed to impose their own vision was in S.Ossetia where Russia proved to be strong , smart and persisting enough to unmask the West and it's puppet.

So who are they to judje us !

and that from a government that puts you in jail if you just film their slums.

or that sends music-tracks and even hollywood-schund through censorship.

i repeat: hollywood-shund!!!

is pathetic still the correct word for this?

How non-governmental is this NGO, Freedom House, really?
Is it just another bogus U.S. outfit like Human Rights Watch that breaks wind annually?

FH ranks my country as free at no. 15. Yet, I can't get a word in here in the media regarding my simple quest for the truth surrrounding events leading up to the Srebrenica and Racak incidents.
When I got close, I was made to feel like some sort of holocaust refuter.

MB,Ireland

Congratulations to B92 for helping to foster a free media in Serbia!

"It is not that they can't publish what they want about Serbia; it is just that they are not that interested in a little place so far away - that does tend to make their analysis rather lazy."

Bob- I must disagree with you. Yes, Serbia is rather small- but not unimportant. In fact, Serbia is so much connected to events that are critical to international law and order (ICJ, sovereign and territorial integrity issues, etc), that it makes Serbia much more newsworthy than 95% of what is being broadcast or printed in America's media. Serbia is constantly being marginalized because, believe me, the US government HAS a commanding influence on what we hear and read. Please read the book, "Suppressed Serbian Voice" by Bill Dorich.

Congratulations to B92 for helping to foster a free media in Serbia!
(kate, 2 May 2009 13:26)

Kudos B92!!! It's ironical that "Freedom House", apparently based in Washington, is only giving Serbia a "partially free" media status. And yet, the press in America is NOT FREE- mainstream media here goes out of it's way to follow government direction and policy. For the past 20 years, many of us diaspora Serbs have been trying to bring a "fairness" and balance to all the negative reporting and opinions towards Serbia- and mostly it's been ignored. Yes, technically, we have the "freedom" of saying it, or writing it....but not the "freedom" of getting it published in our mainstream media so as to be heard by the general public. The general public here in America is being "kept in the dark" regarding the ICJ, K-Albanians provocations against Serbs in Kosovo, and so much more- because it's information that the US doesn't want many of it's citizens to know about because it's NOT Washington's direction. Most media here simply follow Washington's official path- which silently speaks volumes of our "true" freedom of speech. I wonder where the US is in Freedom House's ranking??? Again...congratulations and thank you to B92!!!

Only very naive people who do not know who finances this good for nothing organization take these scores seriously.

So what does freedom of the press mean? Freedom to spin as much rubbish as possible?

I am surprised at Italy's "not free." Maybe because of Berlusconi owning everything?

I guess America is way donwn this list since most tv-stations and other media is privatly owned. CNN is run by Ted Turner. That tv-station would report anything negative about its boss. By not doing that is difficult for it to have credibility.

"The independent broadcaster B92 and its journalists were frequently harassed, and its offices were vandalized throughout the year. On several occasions, nationalist political parties interrupted B92 broadcasts and staged demonstrations outside its offices, protesting its content."

http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=251&year=2008

Great job B92! There is much more work to be done to improve the freedom of media but you can't change everything in 10 years.

The freedom of press in Kosovo is another story:

"As a result, editorial independence remains a weakness in Kosovo, with media adhering to business interests. Public broadcaster Radio Television Kosovo is particularly at the whim of political and economic interests."

This is somewhat surprising since the province is run by EULEX. Or does it just show that the Western countries incharge of administrating Kosovo are not as free and democratic as they say they are.

(lobbyst, 2 May 2009 15:12)"Serbia is behind Kosovo. Wouldnt hurt b92 to mention that."

Hey 'Lobbyst' it wouldn't hurt for you to mention that Kosovo is not even on the list. I just checked the list and their isn't even a mention of Kosovo. So how did you come to that conclusion that press freedom was greater in Kosovo than in the rest of Serbia?

Serbia is behind Kosovo. Wouldnt hurt b92 to mention that.
lobbyst

Serbia is Kosovo!
Besides, didn't you read my comment. Check the link out and see what your american friends say about Kosovo. Albanians can't even spell the word "freedom of press".

Alban, Berlusconi doesn't own much, let alone everything.

Things are more complicated than that.

Anyways, I don't know about "freedom" of Italia press, but the quality is by far lower than those of N,NW countries.

Rick

It is not that they can't publish what they want about Serbia; it is just that they are not that interested in a little place so far away - that does tend to make their analysis rather lazy.

What makes the US press free is that the government won't interfere with what is said. However, it puts no obligation on anyone to publish either.

Maybe there is scope for a new newspaper that might tap into some unknown strand of interest that is not being addressed by the current proprietors.

Here is a good story :

A Chinese man gets his news papers one morning. He opens them and reads them and thinks:
''I KNOW that every aspect of my life and the media of my country is controled in its entirety by the government. Therefore, I will take what I just read with a pinch of salt. It probably isn't all true''.

At the same time in America, American man picks up the news paper and reads it, then he thinks:
''I live in a free world, greatest country on earth. Noone lies here, therefore everything that is written MUST be true''.

Just something to think about.

it is true that in the west you have right to say whatever you wish, especially in the us. the right to get heard is connected to your economic status and political influence, though. you need access to major media outlets and it makes perfect sense that people with dissident opinions will have difficulties getting there. and i would agree that people in the west tend to be very naive about their own media, more so than people from countries where the government influence is obvious.

the best book about the subject is still "manufacturing consent".