Independence is not cliché

Independence is not cliché Q: How would you define B92 today? Matic: B92 is a house which changes its facade in order to preserve its spirit, which questions its own spirit in order to make it stronger. Because if you cannot confront yourself, you cannot confront others either. Q: Which three shows on local television stations would you like to see on B92 TV? Matic: Honestly, I cannot think of such a show. What I would like to see on B92 TV are primarily certain films and television series, as well as coverage of cultural and sporting events. Q: Can a local television station be truly independent from political structures? Matic: It can, and it's not a cliché. Simply, if you make it clear to everyone from the start that you won't tolerate any interference in the programming from the outside, political structures will learn to live with that eventually. That, of course, does not mean they are still not trying to interfere. Q: Are you immune to criticism that you represent the "non-patriotic" forces? Matic: I got used to it, which does not mean I don't care what people think about me. It's highly repulsive behaviour, mostly typical of people who have sold their patriotism over and over in the past. Q: How and when did you realize that you have become important in the society? Matic: I still do not think that I am someone truly important. There were situations and meetings with various people when I was aware of the importance of what we were doing. For example, when I was attending the World Economic Forum in Davos as a representative of the leaders of the future. A world leader would ask my opinion, advice or something like that. And, of course, at times when I constantly felt that I was a possible target of the repressive Milosevic regime. Q: Is it true that the money has no colour? Matic: The value of money is in what you can do with it, not in how much of it you have. Q: What are the best aspects of being a journalist in Serbia? Matic: You are never bored. That may be the only good thing about journalism –large quantity of challenges. Q: What could disappoint you so much to compel you to immediately hand in your resignation? Matic: If people were obliged by law to watch B92. Or professional or business failure of the outlet I am heading. Q: According to you, who are the five most important people in Serbia today? Matic: There are more than five and they certainly do not come only from politics and economy. I’m afraid that I would forget too many of them if I name anyone. Q: What is not for sale here? Matic: I don't know the answer to that question. Q: What would it take for B92 TV to threaten Pink TV’s ratings and when could that happen? Matic: In its development strategy, B92 is not oriented towards the goal of threatening Pink’s position. We are advancing our programs and media systematically. We are unique because of the interaction of three media: radio, television and internet. If you mean the programming, having a huge audience does not depend solely on the media. More than by our program, it is influenced by general education and standard of living. Also, by having enough time. I would like the concept of being a competition to ourselves to take root at B92 and thus bring us one step ahead from everyone else, just like what Sony is. Q: Other stations as competition? Matic: Our concept is that global approach to positioning B92 must not begin solely with our relationship with the competition, because it could be deceiving. It could be stimulate a single direction, or not stimulate at all. Competition is a landmark, not a direction. To be different is not enough. It takes us on a zigzag path, makes us argue who, when, why, how, because of what, with whom, against whom, for whom. The weak allow others to lead the game and do little about it. We want a more authentic path. Looking back can be one of the tactics, but not a strategy. Q: What would you say to those who call B92 TV "Channel 3 of Croatian TV"? Matic: I haven't heard that they call us that. Is it because of the language spoken on our radio and television or because of the topics we cover? Or is it value judgements? Because it is obvious that B92 produced and broadcast a large number of programs which neither Serbian public service nor Croatian television aired in the past, especially when it comes to investigative programs, dangerous subjects, facing the past. Q: Does B92 TV have a list of unsuitable persons whose presence is not desirable in front of the cameras? Matic: We won't welcome persons condemned for hate speech, which does not mean we would discard the news and information about them. We are capable of differentiating between the freedom of expression from the abuse of that right. Q: Would you say that, by airing the Big Brother, TV B92 betrayed its original audience for another kind of viewers? Matic: It is the same audience. It's only more varied now. After all, the Big Brother was very enlightening. It showed us what is rewarded and what punished. We did not stage that. It turned out that when people voted for Miki, or Ivan Ljuba, the audience used the same criteria we have been using for years. Q: Have you watched the Big Brother regularly and who was your favourite contestant? Matic: Without any doubt, Miki and Ivan Ljuba. Q: Under which conditions would you enter the house of the Big Brother and whose strategy would you use – Miki's, Ivan's, Maca's or Sasa Curcic's? Matic: I would enter if I knew that the program would bring extremely big proceeds for the resolution of an important humanitarian problem. Q: Is there any truth to the stories that certain contestants of the Big Brother were favored? Matic: That is absolutely not true. I believe that due to great differences between the contestants – some were hyperactive, others were reserved – it may have seemed that some of them were favoured. But the rules are very strict and there can be none of that. Q: Has B92 ceased being an "urban media"? Matic: Orbis urbanis or the world of urban life is an image cherished by B92. Those are the values and model of life of a regulated environment (not only urban as residential), of a balanced course, of planned work, of mutual respect, etc. In B92's vision, the whole world will one day be Orbis urbanis. Why not Serbia then? As opposed to every previous one, in 2002 census the number of city population in Serbia has for the first time prevailed over the number of rural population for a tiny percentage. A spiteful person would say that the latter only moved to the cities without changing their habits. It doesn't matter, the trend has resumed and it started a long time ago. The whole of Serbia cannot be moved into cities, and that is not the purpose of urbanization either. Serbia must be cultivated in a different way, it has to strive for contemporariness, because now it can be closer to it than ever before. B92 is not addressing only those who are there, but those who want to be there as well. The world of urban life is everywhere where the environment and relations are regulated. And that can be a country farm too, a hamlet developing village tourism, a highlander running a small power plant... Q: Which talent would you like to have? Matic: I would like to play an instrument, sing, learn different languages, be able to heal people. Q: Would you take part in anti-globalist demonstrations, such as the recent ones in Germany? Matic: I had the opportunity, but since I'm primarily a journalist, I act accordingly. For example, at the regular annual gatherings I attended in Davos, I was often on both sides, among the participants, the world leaders, but the protestors as well. It's my job. Q: What do you consider to be your most extravagant trait? Matic: I don't think of myself as such. I'd like to wear a piercing for a period of time. Q: What do you miss most in life? Matic: Free time. Q: Which mistake would you not repeat? Matic: Start smoking again. Q: What do you enjoy most? Matic: Reading good books. Q: What do you consider to be your greatest weakness? Matic: Trusting people. Often more than I should. Q: When you make decisions, is it instinctively, without much thought, or do you like to think things through first? Matic: It depends on the circumstance and importance of the decision. However, I often think it through, consult the research if there is any, as well as my associates, experts, specialists... Q: What is your favourite music? Matic: Beside rock music, I listen to a lot of "world music". Right now I'm listening to Dusko Gojkovic. I am often attracted to the music of people I know personally. Q: Which book are you reading right now? Matic: I read several books at a time, for various parts of the day and mood. I enjoyed Snow by Orhan Pamuk, Jack and Jill by James Patterson, Salaries and Models of Rewarding, The Jargon Dictionary by Dragoslav Andric. Q: Do you believe in horoscopes and destiny? Matic: I don't believe in horoscopes. Q: Are you religious? Matic: Not in a classical sense of the term. I do not go to church. But I cannot say that I am an atheist in an ideological sense. Q: What is it that you cannot imagine your day without? Matic: The internet. Q: Sporting event you do not miss... Matic: Mainly first class sports events broadcast on B92. But also, some other important sporting events. Q: What is the biggest mistake you ever made? Matic: I cannot remember right now, but when we speak about errors, I often remember the saying, ''If you're not making mistakes, you are sleeping". Q: What did you spend most of your money on? Matic: Books. Q: The biggest embarrassment of your life... Matic: I don't know what was the biggest, but often someone I know approaches me and I cannot remember instantly who it is, but I do not admit it and start the conversation instead. And, to my shame, it shows... Q: How do you express your love to the beloved woman? Matic: By listening to her and trying to understand her. Q: When was the last time you were in a fight? Matic: I was never in a fight in my whole life. Q: What is it that the public does not know about you? Matic: I think it knows too much and it is often wrong, prejudiced, full of stereotypes; propaganda of those who wish to discredit me. Regardless of frequent absurdity, it leaves its mark in the consciousness of the public. Q: They say there is the First and the Second Serbia. Where does B92 stand? Matic: The old dilemma about the two Serbias is debated by persistent phenomenologists, as if they want to cast it in cement. We have only one Serbia before us – the one we come from and address. It is varied, inhomogeneous, full of contradictions, but alive, colourful, flexible, reactive. Such Serbia will react positively to good vibrations. That was witnessed in the enthusiasm in the first years after October 5. We really wish it well and it must understand that. The one who speaks the truth is not a bad messenger. The one who cajoles with lies won't help us leave them behind once and for all. We won't be fascinated by crime, hushed by money, ridicule humanitarian work – however small it is. Q: Some claim you have organized the only successful action of voluntary blood donation. How many times did you donate blood? Matic: Twenty one. I am doing it every three or four months, as well as many employees of B92. We are building three safe houses for the victims of domestic violence although some could say it is not our job. Marlowe claimed that a man is what he does. Outside the airwaves, we are trying to show that what we stand for as journalists – we stand for as people too. Q: What is the most important thing you have learned in books? Matic: That our most important assets – our employees, our reputation, our brand and our audience – do not live in books, but around us. "B92 is a house which changes its facade in order to preserve its spirit, which questions its own spirit in order to make it stronger. Because if you cannot confront yourself, you cannot confront others either." Guest: Veran Matic Journalist: Viktor Cikes "B92 is a house which changes its facade in order to preserve its spirit, which questions its own spirit in order to make it stronger. Because if you cannot confront yourself, you cannot confront others either."

Independence is not cliché

Q: How would you define B92 today?

Matić: B92 is a house which changes its facade in order to preserve its spirit, which questions its own spirit in order to make it stronger. Because if you cannot confront yourself, you cannot confront others either.

Q: Which three shows on local television stations would you like to see on B92 TV?

Matić: Honestly, I cannot think of such a show. What I would like to see on B92 TV are primarily certain films and television series, as well as coverage of cultural and sporting events.

Q: Can a local television station be truly independent from political structures?

Matić: It can, and it's not a cliché. Simply, if you make it clear to everyone from the start that you won't tolerate any interference in the programming from the outside, political structures will learn to live with that eventually. That, of course, does not mean they are still not trying to interfere.

Q: Are you immune to criticism that you represent the "non-patriotic" forces?

Matić: I got used to it, which does not mean I don't care what people think about me. It's highly repulsive behaviour, mostly typical of people who have sold their patriotism over and over in the past.

Q: How and when did you realize that you have become important in the society?

Matić: I still do not think that I am someone truly important. There were situations and meetings with various people when I was aware of the importance of what we were doing.

For example, when I was attending the World Economic Forum in Davos as a representative of the leaders of the future. A world leader would ask my opinion, advice or something like that. And, of course, at times when I constantly felt that I was a possible target of the repressive Milošević regime.

Q: Is it true that the money has no colour?

Matić: The value of money is in what you can do with it, not in how much of it you have.

Q: What are the best aspects of being a journalist in Serbia?

Matić: You are never bored. That may be the only good thing about journalism –large quantity of challenges.

Q: What could disappoint you so much to compel you to immediately hand in your resignation?

Matić: If people were obliged by law to watch B92. Or professional or business failure of the outlet I am heading.

Q: According to you, who are the five most important people in Serbia today?

Matić: There are more than five and they certainly do not come only from politics and economy. I’m afraid that I would forget too many of them if I name anyone.

Q: What is not for sale here?

Matić: I don't know the answer to that question.

Q: What would it take for B92 TV to threaten Pink TV’s ratings and when could that happen?

Matić: In its development strategy, B92 is not oriented towards the goal of threatening Pink’s position. We are advancing our programs and media systematically. We are unique because of the interaction of three media: radio, television and internet.

If you mean the programming, having a huge audience does not depend solely on the media. More than by our program, it is influenced by general education and standard of living. Also, by having enough time.

I would like the concept of being a competition to ourselves to take root at B92 and thus bring us one step ahead from everyone else, just like what Sony is.

Q: Other stations as competition?

Matić: Our concept is that global approach to positioning B92 must not begin solely with our relationship with the competition, because it could be deceiving. It could be stimulate a single direction, or not stimulate at all.

Competition is a landmark, not a direction. To be different is not enough. It takes us on a zigzag path, makes us argue who, when, why, how, because of what, with whom, against whom, for whom. The weak allow others to lead the game and do little about it. We want a more authentic path. Looking back can be one of the tactics, but not a strategy.

Q: What would you say to those who call B92 TV "Channel 3 of Croatian TV"?

Matić: I haven't heard that they call us that. Is it because of the language spoken on our radio and television or because of the topics we cover? Or is it value judgements?

Because it is obvious that B92 produced and broadcast a large number of programs which neither Serbian public service nor Croatian television aired in the past, especially when it comes to investigative programs, dangerous subjects, facing the past.

Q: Does B92 TV have a list of unsuitable persons whose presence is not desirable in front of the cameras?

Matić: We won't welcome persons condemned for hate speech, which does not mean we would discard the news and information about them. We are capable of differentiating between the freedom of expression from the abuse of that right.

Q: Would you say that, by airing the Big Brother, TV B92 betrayed its original audience for another kind of viewers?

Matić: It is the same audience. It's only more varied now. After all, the Big Brother was very enlightening. It showed us what is rewarded and what punished. We did not stage that. It turned out that when people voted for Miki, or Ivan Ljuba, the audience used the same criteria we have been using for years.

Q: Have you watched the Big Brother regularly and who was your favourite contestant?

Matić: Without any doubt, Miki and Ivan Ljuba.

Q: Under which conditions would you enter the house of the Big Brother and whose strategy would you use – Miki's, Ivan's, Maca's or Saša Ćurčić's?

Matić: I would enter if I knew that the program would bring extremely big proceeds for the resolution of an important humanitarian problem.

Q: Is there any truth to the stories that certain contestants of the Big Brother were favored?

Matić: That is absolutely not true. I believe that due to great differences between the contestants – some were hyperactive, others were reserved – it may have seemed that some of them were favoured. But the rules are very strict and there can be none of that.

Q: Has B92 ceased being an "urban media"?

Matić: Orbis urbanis or the world of urban life is an image cherished by B92. Those are the values and model of life of a regulated environment (not only urban as residential), of a balanced course, of planned work, of mutual respect, etc.

In B92's vision, the whole world will one day be Orbis urbanis. Why not Serbia then? As opposed to every previous one, in 2002 census the number of city population in Serbia has for the first time prevailed over the number of rural population for a tiny percentage. A spiteful person would say that the latter only moved to the cities without changing their habits.

It doesn't matter, the trend has resumed and it started a long time ago. The whole of Serbia cannot be moved into cities, and that is not the purpose of urbanization either. Serbia must be cultivated in a different way, it has to strive for contemporariness, because now it can be closer to it than ever before.

B92 is not addressing only those who are there, but those who want to be there as well. The world of urban life is everywhere where the environment and relations are regulated. And that can be a country farm too, a hamlet developing village tourism, a highlander running a small power plant...

Q: Which talent would you like to have?

Matić: I would like to play an instrument, sing, learn different languages, be able to heal people.

Q: Would you take part in anti-globalist demonstrations, such as the recent ones in Germany?

Matić: I had the opportunity, but since I'm primarily a journalist, I act accordingly. For example, at the regular annual gatherings I attended in Davos, I was often on both sides, among the participants, the world leaders, but the protestors as well. It's my job.

Q: What do you consider to be your most extravagant trait?

Matić: I don't think of myself as such. I'd like to wear a piercing for a period of time.

Q: What do you miss most in life?

Matić: Free time.

Q: Which mistake would you not repeat?

Matić: Start smoking again.

Q: What do you enjoy most?

Matić: Reading good books.

Q: What do you consider to be your greatest weakness?

Matić: Trusting people. Often more than I should.

Q: When you make decisions, is it instinctively, without much thought, or do you like to think things through first?

Matić: It depends on the circumstance and importance of the decision. However, I often think it through, consult the research if there is any, as well as my associates, experts, specialists...

Q: What is your favourite music?

Matić: Beside rock music, I listen to a lot of "world music". Right now I'm listening to Duško Gojković. I am often attracted to the music of people I know personally.

Q: Which book are you reading right now?

Matić: I read several books at a time, for various parts of the day and mood. I enjoyed Snow by Orhan Pamuk, Jack and Jill by James Patterson, Salaries and Models of Rewarding, The Jargon Dictionary by Dragoslav Andrić.

Q: Do you believe in horoscopes and destiny?

Matić: I don't believe in horoscopes.

Q: Are you religious?

Matić: Not in a classical sense of the term. I do not go to church. But I cannot say that I am an atheist in an ideological sense.

Q: What is it that you cannot imagine your day without?

Matić: The internet.

Q: Sporting event you do not miss...

Matić: Mainly first class sports events broadcast on B92. But also, some other important sporting events.

Q: What is the biggest mistake you ever made?

Matić: I cannot remember right now, but when we speak about errors, I often remember the saying, ''If you're not making mistakes, you are sleeping".

Q: What did you spend most of your money on?

Matić: Books.

Q: The biggest embarrassment of your life...

Matić: I don't know what was the biggest, but often someone I know approaches me and I cannot remember instantly who it is, but I do not admit it and start the conversation instead. And, to my shame, it shows...

Q: How do you express your love to the beloved woman?

Matić: By listening to her and trying to understand her.

Q: When was the last time you were in a fight?

Matić: I was never in a fight in my whole life.

Q: What is it that the public does not know about you?

Matić: I think it knows too much and it is often wrong, prejudiced, full of stereotypes; propaganda of those who wish to discredit me. Regardless of frequent absurdity, it leaves its mark in the consciousness of the public.

Q: They say there is the First and the Second Serbia. Where does B92 stand?

Matić: The old dilemma about the two Serbias is debated by persistent phenomenologists, as if they want to cast it in cement. We have only one Serbia before us – the one we come from and address.

It is varied, inhomogeneous, full of contradictions, but alive, colourful, flexible, reactive. Such Serbia will react positively to good vibrations. That was witnessed in the enthusiasm in the first years after October 5. We really wish it well and it must understand that. The one who speaks the truth is not a bad messenger.

The one who cajoles with lies won't help us leave them behind once and for all. We won't be fascinated by crime, hushed by money, ridicule humanitarian work – however small it is.

Q: Some claim you have organized the only successful action of voluntary blood donation. How many times did you donate blood?

Matić: Twenty one. I am doing it every three or four months, as well as many employees of B92. We are building three safe houses for the victims of domestic violence although some could say it is not our job.

Marlowe claimed that a man is what he does. Outside the airwaves, we are trying to show that what we stand for as journalists – we stand for as people too.

Q: What is the most important thing you have learned in books?

Matić: That our most important assets – our employees, our reputation, our brand and our audience – do not live in books, but around us.