Newsroom

Media Coverage and the Hague War Crimes Tribunal: IREX-Sponsored Journalism Fellows Offer Their Views on the "Trial of the Century"

April 2002
By Susan Abbott

Covering the Trial of the Century
Former Yugoslav president Slobodan Miloševic, currently standing trial in The Hague for charges of crimes against humanity, has for many years captured international attention. As someone renowned for his use of state-run media to propagate his party line, it is noteworthy how the media dynamic has changed since his ouster in October 2000, and how journalists the world over document his historic trial.

Journalists covering the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) play a significant role in helping the public to understand complex legal proceedings and will shape public understanding of war crimes cases. They will also, to a large degree, influence how the international community will look upon the idea of international justice. While the ICTY is tasked with a heavy responsibility, media are equally so.

The Panel
On March 27, IREX put the spotlight on four visiting journalists from Bosnia and Serbia in a panel discussion on the topic of "The Miloševic Trial, War Crimes, and the Media: Perspectives on Bosnian, Serbian, and Western Media Coverage." Samir Cockic, journalist for Oslobodjenje (daily newspaper), and Vedrana Seksan, journalist for Dani (weekly magazine), both from Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Slobodan Reljic, editor for NIN (weekly newspaper), and Dusan Gajic, editor for Mreza (Independent TV Production Group), both from Serbia, discussed the topic before an audience of more than 60. The journalists offered their impressions on how media are covering the Miloševic trial and whether there is a difference between Western (international) and local coverage. Attendees at the IREX event listened to the journalists as they talked about the role media plays in investigating Miloševic and others wanted and tried for war crimes.

What Kind of Coverage Does the Tribunal Deserve?
In comparing coverage of the Hague Tribunal, all four journalists agreed that there is a huge difference between Western press and local coverage-due in large part to the differences between the media cultures in the West and those that exist in Bosnia and Serbia, not to mention how locals participated in or were directly affected by the events as compared to the average Western citizen. Media access also plays a significant role in the differences. Westerners have regular and easy access to outlets like BBC and CNN, whereas in Bosnia and Serbia, most citizens rely on local broadcasters. As far as print journalism is concerned, the correspondents in place at The Hague mostly come from international newspapers and agencies, most with a bent on English language coverage. Another big difference is the capability of large media outlets to afford and position Hague-based correspondents in the ICTY. Strange, but true, these trials affect the people of the Balkans and their future in a way that cannot be felt or appreciated outside of these countries, yet ironically, most (if not all) Balkan media outlets simply cannot afford the expense of covering the trials by themselves.

One-Size Fits All Approach Not Effective
Lack of access, however, has not added up to lack of coverage. All four journalists cited the use of the SENSE news agency to bring news about the ICTY to their readers and viewers. While they all seemed appreciative of the kind of information SENSE offers, they felt that the news agency's services did not always register with local readers since it had to write for audiences across the Balkans. They agreed that it would be better to have local correspondents in place that could report and write about things in a way that would make sense to their audience back home. As Seksan stated about the need for increased indigenous coverage from all Balkan countries: "It would be like Osama bin Laden getting arrested and having no American journalists to cover the story, and instead sending perhaps a reporter from Bosnia…" The panelists also cited the need for improved analysis and insight into procedures of the court and what they mean, and explaining the implications of court rulings and legal renderings.

Thanks in large part to the work of IREX, with funding from USAID, Serbian indigenous media are able to provide in-depth and daily coverage of what promises to be a long and involved process. The Bosnia program also endeavors to support balanced coverage of The Hague, and sponsors travel for journalists from Nezavisne Novine, a nationwide daily based in Banja Luka. Milosevic's trial alone is expected to last another two years; the ICTY is slated to hear cases for another six. While Bosnian media have had some coverage so far, due to the expense involved with maintaining a full-time Hague correspondent, most media outlets simply cannot afford to have someone hearing the cases as they are tried in the courtroom.

In Bosnia, as Dani journalist Seksan pointed out, "Journalists have to forget everything they know about Miloševic…" As a matter of historical circumstance, it is often difficult to maintain objectivity when covering the trial of the man who most hold accountable for the utter devastation that was wrought on their country for so long. Still, the matter of truth and objectivity remain, but no matter, as Seksan observed, "It is a rather absurd situation when the Federal TV station (Bosnian) does not even have its own correspondent [in The Hague]."

Gajic, a producer for the Serbia-based Mreza Production Group, had this to say: "We are witnessing an historical event. One-month after it started, I am not so sure how satisfied we all are with the trial-it depends, however, on our expectations." Citing the precarious nature of covering the trial of one of Serbia's most infamous men, Gajic recounted how the Serbian prime minister called the trial a circus, leaving the government faced with a major dilemma-notably the US-imposed deadline for receiving American aid. All this, he says, is a tough sell to Serbia's readers, which of course include both members of government, not to mention the newly minted democracy's voters. "His [Miloševic's] popularity is a media phenomenon. It is a David vs. Goliath situation. He tries to address the domestic audience in Serbia, as if he's counting on the next elections. He says what they want to hear."

Despite how some may feel about media coverage of the ICTY and in particular the Milosevic trial, when asked whether there is a chance for Milosevic to get away, all four panelists enthusiastically replied, "No!"

IREX Media Work in the Balkans
As part of its media development work in the Balkans, IREX works to improve the scope and quality of indigenous coverage of the ICTY. The visiting journalists present for the IREX panel are fellows at Duke University's DeWitt Wallace Center for Communications and Journalism. The fellowship program is supported by IREX through the USAID-funded ProMedia/Serbia and ProMedia/Bosnia programs. In addition to sponsoring the Duke fellowships, the Bosnia and Serbia media programs work to improve the objectivity, quality, and commercial viability of independent media.

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