Kosovo Media Commissioner looks into TV stations during March violence
(OSCE)Violence in Kosovo in March 2004 led to 19 people being killed, more than 900 injured and the destruction or damage of around 800 houses and over 20 churches/monasteries. (OSCE) Photo details
PRISTINA, 23 April 2004 - Prudent, calm and accurate journalism might have prevented or at least lessened the scale and intensity of the violence that occurred in Kosovo in mid-March, the Temporary Media Commissioner, Robert Gillette, said as he released his assessment of the three Kosovo-wide television stations.
Gillette made the point that Radio-Television Kosovo (RTK), KTV and TV 21 committed journalistic errors, in particular a failure to acknowledge the real uncertainty of what happened on the evening of March 16 when media reported the apparent drowning of three boys and allegations of Serb involvement—for which there was and remains no evidence.
The report examines the conduct of the most influential media in Kosovo, the three Kosovo-wide television broadcasters. It also makes certain remedial recommendations and indicates preliminary findings of violations of the TMC Code of Conduct for Broadcast Media. Formal findings of violations will follow this report, and will be made according to TMC's rule-of-law juridical procedures.
"Our purpose is to identify any violations of the TMC codes of conduct and to draw constructive lessons for the future," said Gillette. "We want to stimulate healthy debate among media and within civil society about the responsibilities of journalists in a democratic setting."
The TMC report focused on the performance of the three Kosovo-wide television broadcasters because they are the main source of news and information for Kosovans, and to an important degree they set the agenda and tone for other media. However, the report focuses most critically on the public broadcaster (RTK), which it says generated an "explosive atmosphere of patriotic hysteria" by its coverage of the story.
"Evidence that, to some degree, the violence that broke out on 17 March was organized and orchestrated, does not excuse errors of journalism," said the TMC. "The factual accuracy, tone and context of reports touching on any aspect of ethnicity are particularly crucial to prevent broadcasts from becoming immediate catalysts for violence. In the face of explosive allegations, there is no latitude in professional journalism for rumor or guessing about the truth."
The report demonstrates that, while it is difficult to draw a clear line from the media to public reactions, broadcasters must be intensely conscious of the need to inform their audiences while minimizing the emotional content of coverage and providing mature, responsible context.
The TMC assessment also offers seven remedial recommendations for RTK, as well as a lesser number for both KTV and TV21.
This report was written independently of the analysis undertaken by the OSCE Representative on the Freedom of the Media.
Gillette made the point that Radio-Television Kosovo (RTK), KTV and TV 21 committed journalistic errors, in particular a failure to acknowledge the real uncertainty of what happened on the evening of March 16 when media reported the apparent drowning of three boys and allegations of Serb involvement—for which there was and remains no evidence.
The report examines the conduct of the most influential media in Kosovo, the three Kosovo-wide television broadcasters. It also makes certain remedial recommendations and indicates preliminary findings of violations of the TMC Code of Conduct for Broadcast Media. Formal findings of violations will follow this report, and will be made according to TMC's rule-of-law juridical procedures.
"Our purpose is to identify any violations of the TMC codes of conduct and to draw constructive lessons for the future," said Gillette. "We want to stimulate healthy debate among media and within civil society about the responsibilities of journalists in a democratic setting."
The TMC report focused on the performance of the three Kosovo-wide television broadcasters because they are the main source of news and information for Kosovans, and to an important degree they set the agenda and tone for other media. However, the report focuses most critically on the public broadcaster (RTK), which it says generated an "explosive atmosphere of patriotic hysteria" by its coverage of the story.
"Evidence that, to some degree, the violence that broke out on 17 March was organized and orchestrated, does not excuse errors of journalism," said the TMC. "The factual accuracy, tone and context of reports touching on any aspect of ethnicity are particularly crucial to prevent broadcasts from becoming immediate catalysts for violence. In the face of explosive allegations, there is no latitude in professional journalism for rumor or guessing about the truth."
The report demonstrates that, while it is difficult to draw a clear line from the media to public reactions, broadcasters must be intensely conscious of the need to inform their audiences while minimizing the emotional content of coverage and providing mature, responsible context.
The TMC assessment also offers seven remedial recommendations for RTK, as well as a lesser number for both KTV and TV21.
This report was written independently of the analysis undertaken by the OSCE Representative on the Freedom of the Media.