Serbian regime journalists turn their back on Milosevic

VIENNA, 3 October 2000 - Over the past two days, hundreds of employees of state-controlled media have gone on strike protesting the Serbian government's refusal to recognize the results of the elections and state media's lack of objectivity in covering the post-electoral crisis.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Freimut Duve, was informed through Serbian independent media sources that over 140 reporters at Belgrade's Studio B television and radio station, which was taken over by the Serbian government on May 17, went on strike. Employees of the state-run daily Vecernje Novosti and the Uzice office of Serbian state TV are also on strike. A group of journalists at the TANJUG news agency demanded that the agency change its editorial policy.

The Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia received 175 signatures from employees at Belgrade state TV, Nis branch of the TV network, Radio Belgrade, and from Politika, joining the call for recognition of the election results. Over 70 media workers at Radio Belgrade and state TV demanded urgent changes to their editorial policy and recognition of Kostunica's victory.

Mr. Duve believes that these acts of protest show that the Belgrade regime is loosing one of its main power bases - the media. The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media supports all Serbian journalists who are fighting for democracy and freedom and are trying to bring much-needed change to their country.

For information, contact the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Kärntner Ring 5-7, Top 14, 2.DG, A - 1010 Vienna, telephone: +43-1-512 21 45-0; fax: +43-1-512 21 45-9; e-mail: pm-fom@osce.org