IREX
International Research & Exchanges Board

Program Results

Breaking Stories in Serbia

The B92 TV investigative series called “Insider” hit an all-time high in its ratings. More than one in five viewers in Serbia tuned into the series for three weeks running in early 2006.

The program investigated the activities of former president Slobodan Milosevic’s son before he left Serbia in 2000 and featured the first interview with the mother of former Prime Minister, Zoran Djindic, since his assassination in March 2003.

IREX worked with the Insider team and helped the production crew develop the quality of their series to have greater impact on audiences across Serbia. The series was also supported by a grant from IREX. 

B92 has solidified its reputation as an independent news source offering a high level of investigative reporting. They have gained access to information that was hidden from the public and revealed more information about the way organized crime has infiltrated into the very heart of Government, both in the past and present.

Support for Local Program Production

IREX has provided over 100 subgrants to Serbian media outlets for the production of local programming and special reporting projects.  While many of these programs deal with social issues relevant to a particular community, others have covered wider issues such as the economy and ethnic reconciliation that are important to all Serbians. Providing in-depth coverage of these stories requires significant time, specific reporting skills, and knowledge of available research tools. ProMedia grants have enabled print and broadcast journalists in Serbia to write more accurate stories and produce higher quality programs.

Changing the Face of National News

IREX and its local training partner INVISION provided assistance to the state broadcaster, Radio-televizija Srbije (RTS), to revamp its main evening newscast. RTS has the highest rated news program in Serbia and its new management committed to improving the quality of its news to ensure fair and accurate reporting standards.

RTS was linked closely to the Milosevic regime in the past and, even after his fall, provided unquestioning support for the Government of Serbia. As RTS makes its first moves towards becoming a public broadcaster this year, its management hired new senior editors, each with a reputation for supporting independent journalism. With these changes, IREX received a request to train the station’s new team of on-screen reporters and camera and editing crews.

Those who previously watched RTS for information on government activities and interviews with government officials and spokespersons, now watch the main news for a rich diversity of stories and opinions that reflect the diversity of voices in Serbia. 

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