Kosovo media have less freedom because they are exposed to pressures and threats, economically weak, and some are under the direct influence of the government, it was the conclusion of the debate in the Media Centre Caglavica.
Editor in Chief of “Kontakt Plus” radio station in Mitrovica, Zeljko Tvrdisic believes that the key problem is bad economic status of the media, which is why they are prone to pressure.
Tvrdisic says the fact that journalists are less engaged in their work and more in propaganda shows unenviable situation in the media. As another problem, he points to vulnerability of journalists as they cannot fight for their own status and absence of honest solidarity among journalists, said Tvrdišić.
President of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, Zekerija Shabani said that the Albanian language media face a number of problems, and threats to some journalists as one of the greatest .
Independent journalist Violeta Oroshi said that critical attitude of some media often is not supported generally.
“Either the majority does not agree with the critical thinking, or there is a system of censorship and self-censorship. In such a situation, journalists simply do not enter into certain topics out of fear, which leads to a situation where journalist is accomplice of something that is absolutely wrong,” said Violeta Oroshi.
Frankfurt’s news journalist Jelena Petkovic criticized Belgrade media because they do not sufficiently report on problems of Serbs from Kosovo.
“The Belgrade media approach to the developments in Kosovo is divided into two spheres. One is conversation in high politics, where we constantly have the statements of politicians and the other sphere are incidents. A whole spectrum between or the real life in Kosovo was placed out of the Belgrade’s media focus,” said Petkovic.
“Agencies in Belgrade this year broadcasted 120 news covering Hashim Thaci. Only 30 news covered property issue, and when it comes to the issue of insurance 6 or 7,” said Petkovic.
Journalist and writer, Zivojin Rakocevic said that the biggest problem in the media is politicians’ power to control the media.
“Freedom of the media depends on where the money comes from. If the medium is funded by outsiders as the international community, then there are more opportunities for freedom and democracy. If the money is coming from the vicinity, then the work of journalists is often disabled,” said Rakocevic.
Debate also touched the use of the term “Metohija”, “Kosovska Mitrovica/Kamenica” in reporting of the Kosovo media.
Zivojin Rakocevic believes that avoiding and limiting the use of these terms threatens the identity of the Serbs.
