Jovanka Matic from Belgrade is a media researcher with a focus on the situation of the independent media in Yugoslavia. Civic organized media is very important because media faces pressure from both sides, from government as well as from opposition parties. The independent media remain the only ones providing objective, reliable media in the area.

State controls everything, the information law is very strict. As licenses, frequences, printing facilities and advertising are all controlled by government it is impossible for the independent media to influence their elements of the general environment. Matic says that the situation of media in Yugoslavia is incomparable with any other post communism country. Most independent media can only operate with financial help from outside.

Interview: Thomas Kreiseder