Radio Bajina Basta

RADIO BAJINA BASTA - IN BRIEF

Radio Bajina Basta is an independent local radio station which exists since 1992. It is in a small provincial town Bajina Basta (Serbia), in a central part of the border between Bosnia and Serbia. Our programmes can be heard in the area which covers eastern Bosnia and western Serbia. We have a listening audience of over 100 000 people.

The last four years we were working under very difficult, almost unbearable conditions while in our very surroundings the most terrible crimes were committed: ethnic cleansings, battles between the Serbs and the Moslems. In spite of that, we were trying and succeeded in having democratic and liberal programme orientation. We fought for the truth and peace. As a result we gained a lot of opponents - the extreme Serbs and followers of the reigning party (the Socialists) in Serbia. Although we have all regular licenses for work, they place a lot of pressure on us in order to ruin and destroy us. Our struggle for peace and democracy and truth makes a lot of trouble for them.

In order to protect ourselves we joined many professional Serbian and international associations, and we are members of the following: ANEM Association of independent electronic media - Belgrade. LOCAL PRESS Organisation independent local magazines in Serbia, IFJ/FIEJ The International Federation of Journalists - Brusseles, AMARC World Organisation of local radio stations - London, Center against censorship � London, and many others.

During the last four years the following organisations helped us a lot: The SOROS foundation Yugoslavia, Westminster Foundation for Democracy - London, Medienhilfe - Zurich, European Union and many local donors.

The conception of our programmes has been made according the needs of the average local population. We broadcast programmes 24 hours a day, the part of which are 2.30 hours rebroadcast informative programmes of the Voice Of America, BBC, Radio Free Europe in Serbian. Our programmes include informative programmes, cultural and entertainment programmes and as such is very interesting for our listeners. Our informative programmes are based on information we get from some independent news agencies and media from our country and abroad. Our journalists search and report about local events and problems. We cooperate with major Serbian independent media from Belgrade and all over Yugoslavia. But our main problems are lack of our own business offices and inadequate technical equipment. At the moment we are faced with many financial difficulties because we don`t have enough for electricity costs, telephone, rent, salaries for our staff, and other material costs. Our journalists haven`t yet got their salaries for October 1996. Their average salary is 200 DM monthly. These costs are increasing rapidly because of catastrophic economic - political situation in our country. Official authority block all our sources of income, using all possible ways, and it becomes very dangerous for independent media which are the only light and truth in nowadays Serbia.

Radio television Bajina Basta

Status Legal private company Owner Mr Boban Tomic	Start of radio programme 15. May 1992. Duration 18 hours per day, 06:00 - 24:00	Frequency 87,5 Mhz, FM Stereo Power 600 Watt	Transmitter DB Elletronica, Italy Antenna system SIRA FMC-01/4 circular	Editor in chief Mr Boban Tomic Editor of Bajina Basta newspaper Mr Obrad Dodic
See Radio Bajina Bastas's 1996 Annual Report

Known emission
News, Diary, News from Voice of America, BBC, Radio free Europe an serbian language Other entertainment and magazines emission

Music
Pop rock, techno, dance, classic, evergreen...

Contributers
Belgrades independent radio station RADIO B-92, Independent news agency FoNet and Beta from Belgrade, RFE/RL - Prague, BBC -London, Voice of America - Washington, other independent media.

Members
ANEM (Association of local independent electronic media), LOCCAL PRESS (Association of local independent magazines in Serbia), NUNS (National union independent journalists in Serbia), IFJ/FIEJ - Brusseles, AMARC - Shiefild

Sponsored
Soros foundation - Belgrade, Westminster foundation - London, Medienhilfe - Zurich, IFJ/FIEJ & European Union - Brusseles

Our aims
Peace in Balkans region, democracy, human rights, free minds and expression, free media, multiculturalism...

Our affinity Cooperation with independent media from Ex-Yugoslavia and world wide. Exchange programmes. Activity in professional unions. Internet. New technology.

Humanitarian actions
Humanitarian aid for Serbs and Moslems refugees from Bosnia in war time (1992.-1995.)

Culture actions
Art colony KIPRIJAN, Local culture almanach BASTINA, Rock concerts and happenings for youth, exhibitions...

Publishing
Bajina Basta newspapers - magazine in 3000 issue. Business guide for local businessman. Desk top publishing work shop.

Main projects

1. Business office for Radio & Television
2. New transmitter an mount Kik.
3. Independent Radio & Television DRINA in Bosnia.

Secondary projects
Mini printing workshop

---

Last updated:    April 1997

CCSI Home	Announcements	Eurasia	Opinion/Analysis	Bookstore	Site Map	Search
	Center for Civil Society International Ideas and information for civic action worldwide