08. 08. 2002

Editor in Chief of Radio Jasenice Sacked

BELGRADE, August 8, 2002 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media strongly protests the sacking of Zoran Stanosevic as editor-in-chief of Radio Jasenica in Smederevska Palanka The Smederevska Palanka Municipal Assembly decided on March 29 to dismiss Radio Jasenica director Dragoslav Travica and editor-in-chief Zoran Stanosevic thanks to the votes of the opposition (Socialist Party of Serbia) and certain members of the divided governing coalition, DOS. The effect of the personnel changes was soon evident in the editorial policy of the radio station. New acting-director Zivko Petrovic cancelled Travica's contract on May 31. Now Stanosevic has also been dismissed, with the explanation that he had been working as an ANEM correspondent. ANEM sees the dismissals as a blow to independent journalism and democratic reform in society, especially when bearing in mind Radio Jasenica was one of the first members of ANEM and since 1996 has been part of the independent media's fight against the Milosevic regime. Due to the change in editorial policy and failure to fulfil the criteria of free, independent, and professional work, the ANEM Assembly has cancelled Radio Jasenica's membership.