Tuesday, February 14, 2012

RFE/RL's Balkan Service

Fast Facts

  • RFE/RL's Balkan Service promotes the values of democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression in a region where genuine media freedom remains elusive and where many media outlets remain divided along ethnic lines.
  • Languages: Albanian, Bosnian, Croatian, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Serbian
  • Coverage: Seven hours per day on FM and Satellite, 30 minutes weekly on Bosnian TV, 10 minutes weekly on Macedonian TV
  • Established: Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian: 1994; Kosovo Albanian Service: 1999; Montenegrin: 2000; Macedonian: 2001
  • Distribution: Radio (FM, Satellite), Internet (3 separate websites in 6 languages)
  • Over 150 affiliate stations are broadcasting RFE/RL’s Balkan service programs.
  • Locations: Prague, Belgrade, Podgorica, Pristina, Sarajevo, Skopje
  • Staff: 16 in Prague, 21 in local bureaus, and 145 stringers all over the region

 

Media Environment

  • Freedom House Freedom of the Press Index, 2010: Partly Free (Bosnia-Herzegovina 97th, Macedonia 94th, Montenegro 80th, Serbia 78th, Kosovo 108th, all out of 196)
  • Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index, 2009: Bosnia 39th, Kosovo 75th, Macedonia 34th, Montenegro 77th, Serbia 65th, all out of 175)
  • Limits on freedom of expression in this region are primarily due to close ties between political parties, large corporations, and media outlets. Violence against journalists has been reported following unfavorable coverage of local governments and business leaders, and self-censorship is thus relatively common.


History

  • The South Slavic Service was established in 1994 as a multiethnic broadcaster in the Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian language.
  • Albanian-language broadcasts to Kosovo were added in March 1999, a program for Montenegro was added in July 2000, while Macedonian-language broadcasts began in September 2001.

Highlights

  • While most radio stations in this region cater only to narrow ethnic audiences, RFE/RL’s Balkan Service is a truly multi-ethnic broadcaster.
  • The Balkan Service’s “Bridge” program brought together the mayor of Belgrade and the mayor of Sarajevo for the first time. The two men had never met and they spoke over the phone because this program connected them.
  • Since 1996, the Balkan Service has had its own television show under the brand name “TV Liberty” based in Sarajevo.
  • Recent awards: Belgrade-based Milos Teodorovic won an award from the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia for his documentary on Neo-Nazi groups. Mirjana Rakela was awarded the Lorenzo Natali Prize for her radio documentary on child soldiers, sponsored by The European Parliament to recognize the best achievements in radio broadcasting.
  • The three websites of the Balkan Service average 700,000 visits per month

Facts & Stats

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BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

Population
3.8 million (2008 World Bank estimate)

Most Common Languages:
Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian

Press Freedom Index (Freedom House):
Partly Free, ranked 97 out of 196 (2010)

Press Freedom Index (RSF):
39 out of 175 (2010)

Corruption Index (Transparency Int.):
91 out of 178 (2010)

Global Peace Index (IES):
147 out of 149 (2010)

Human Rights Watch:
Report on Bosnia (2010)

Amnesty International:
Bosnia Report (2009)

KOSOVO

Population
2.8 million (2011 UN estimate)

Languages:
Albanian, Serbian

Press Freedom Index (Freedom House):
Partly Free, ranked 108 out of 196 (2010)

Press Freedom Index (RSF):
75 out of 175 (2010)

Corruption Index (Transparency Int.):
110 out of 178 (2010)

Human Rights Watch:
Report on Kosovo (2010)

MACEDONIA

Population
2.04 (2008 World Bank estimate)

Most Common Languages:
Macedonian, Albanian, Turkish, Romany

Press Freedom Index (Freedom House):
Partly Free, ranked 94 out of 196 (2010)

Press Freedom Index (RSF):
75 out of 175 (2010)

Corruption Index (Transparency Int.):
110 out of 178 (2010)

Global Peace Index (IES):
147 out of 149 (2010)

Amnesty International:
Macedonia Report (2009)

MONTENEGRO

Population
622,344 (2008 World Bank estimate)

Languages:
Montenegrin, Serbian, Bosnian, Albanian, Croatian

Press Freedom Index (Freedom House):
Partly Free, ranked 80 out of 196 (2010)

Press Freedom Index (RSF):
114 out of 175 (2010)

Corruption Index (Transparency Int.):
105 out of 178 (2010)

Global Peace Index (IES):
83 out of 149 (2010)

Amnesty International:
Montenegro Report (2009)

SERBIA

Population
7.3 million (2008 World Bank estimate)

Most Common Languages:
Serbian, Hungarian, Bosniak, Romany

Press Freedom Index (Freedom House):
Partly Free, ranked 78 out of 196 (2010)

Press Freedom Index (RSF):
65 out of 175 (2010)

Corruption Index (Transparency Int.):
78 out of 178 (2010)

Global Peace Index (IES):
90 out of 149 (2010)

Human Rights Watch:
Report on Serbia (2010)

Amnesty International:
Serbia Report (2009)