Latest news with #AlJazeeraBalkans
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Shock media closure deals new blow to press freedom in Balkans
Nearly 14 years after presenting the first newscast of Al Jazeera Balkans , Sasa Delic, like his 250 colleagues, learned of the channel's closure in a shock announcement. The Bosnian journalist inaugurated the new network on November 11, 2011, telling viewers: "You are watching the first news channel in the region," and promising them "accurate, verified and impartial" information. But on July 10, management suddenly announced the Qatari-based channel's regional branch was closing, the latest in a wave of closures and downsizing to hit the Balkans' strained media industry. "I had no idea," Delic, 47, told AFP. "It was sudden, but you have to adapt. It's the owner's decision." Two days later, his colleague Dalija Hasanbegovic gave the channel's farewell sign-off: "That was the final Al Jazeera Balkans newscast. "We always tried to be the voice of those who didn't have one, an island of truth." - 'Silencing the last voices' - Claiming more than 22 million viewers, "AJB" broadcast across most of the Balkans, with studios in Belgrade, Sarajevo and Zagreb. "We never adhered to anyone's political agenda," said Delic, who added he fears the closure will hurt strained media freedoms in the region. "A beacon of free journalism in the Balkans goes dark," said philosopher and journalist Dragan Bursac in his final column published on the Al Jazeera Balkans website. Al Jazeera Balkans' executive director and one of its founders, Edhem Foco, told AFP the closure was a consequence of a "strategy shift" at the parent channel, which is investing in developing its online platform Al Jazeera 360. The loss will be felt mostly at the broadcaster's Sarajevo hub, where nearly 200 employees worked, according to Foco. "It is a warning: independent journalism in the region is increasingly under threat," said the SafeJournalists Network (SJN), a coalition of journalist associations and unions in the Balkans. For Maja Sever, director of the European Federation of Journalists, "we are witnessing the silencing of the last voices that embodied professional and quality journalism". The network's shuttering comes after the United States cut funding to a slew of foreign-based media outlets, part of President Donald Trump's budget cuts -- including to news outlets he deems hostile to his agenda. Voice of America's Serbian office closed in March after 82 years, and the future of the regional newsrooms of Radio Free Europe remains unclear. Many other independent outlets that relied on US government funding have also closed or are struggling around the world. "The damage is very significant, profound," Sever said. - Independent media disappearing - Balkan countries rate poorly in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, created by watchdog group Reporters Without Borders . Out of 180 countries, Bosnia ranks 86th and Serbia 96th. The report also noted that Serbian media "bear the brunt of attempts by the authorities to quell" large-scale anti-government protests that have rocked the country for months. At least 28 media professionals had been assaulted by police or supporters of President Aleksandar Vucic since February, it said. Independent media in the Balkans are increasingly rare, and some, like the N1 channel, are not distributed by public or government-affiliated cable operators. As these outlets shrink, many journalists will leave the profession, Sever warned. "Those who ask questions are leaving, those who think independently are leaving. Who, then, will ask a question to a prime minister or a president at a press conference? Algorithms? Artificial intelligence?" she said.
France 24
7 days ago
- Business
- France 24
Shock media closure deals new blow to press freedom in Balkans
The Bosnian journalist inaugurated the new network on November 11, 2011, telling viewers: "You are watching the first news channel in the region," and promising them "accurate, verified and impartial" information. But on July 10, management suddenly announced the Qatari-based channel's regional branch was closing, the latest in a wave of closures and downsizing to hit the Balkans' strained media industry. "I had no idea," Delic, 47, told AFP. "It was sudden, but you have to adapt. It's the owner's decision." Two days later, his colleague Dalija Hasanbegovic gave the channel's farewell sign-off: "That was the final Al Jazeera Balkans newscast. "We always tried to be the voice of those who didn't have one, an island of truth." 'Silencing the last voices' Claiming more than 22 million viewers, "AJB" broadcast across most of the Balkans, with studios in Belgrade, Sarajevo and Zagreb. "We never adhered to anyone's political agenda," said Delic, who added he fears the closure will hurt strained media freedoms in the region. "A beacon of free journalism in the Balkans goes dark," said philosopher and journalist Dragan Bursac in his final column published on the Al Jazeera Balkans website. Al Jazeera Balkans' executive director and one of its founders, Edhem Foco, told AFP the closure was a consequence of a "strategy shift" at the parent channel, which is investing in developing its online platform Al Jazeera 360. The loss will be felt mostly at the broadcaster's Sarajevo hub, where nearly 200 employees worked, according to Foco. "It is a warning: independent journalism in the region is increasingly under threat," said the SafeJournalists Network (SJN), a coalition of journalist associations and unions in the Balkans. For Maja Sever, director of the European Federation of Journalists, "we are witnessing the silencing of the last voices that embodied professional and quality journalism". The network's shuttering comes after the United States cut funding to a slew of foreign-based media outlets, part of President Donald Trump's budget cuts -- including to news outlets he deems hostile to his agenda. Voice of America's Serbian office closed in March after 82 years, and the future of the regional newsrooms of Radio Free Europe remains unclear. Many other independent outlets that relied on US government funding have also closed or are struggling around the world. "The damage is very significant, profound," Sever said. Independent media disappearing Balkan countries rate poorly in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, created by watchdog group Reporters Without Borders. Out of 180 countries, Bosnia ranks 86th and Serbia 96th. The report also noted that Serbian media "bear the brunt of attempts by the authorities to quell" large-scale anti-government protests that have rocked the country for months. At least 28 media professionals had been assaulted by police or supporters of President Aleksandar Vucic since February, it said. Independent media in the Balkans are increasingly rare, and some, like the N1 channel, are not distributed by public or government-affiliated cable operators. As these outlets shrink, many journalists will leave the profession, Sever warned. "Those who ask questions are leaving, those who think independently are leaving. Who, then, will ask a question to a prime minister or a president at a press conference? Algorithms? Artificial intelligence?" she said.
Broadcast Pro
27-05-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Al Jazeera Documentary Channel invites submissions for 2025 Industry Days
The Call for Projects is exclusively for documentary filmmakers and producers from the Southeast Europe, the Caucasus, the Central Asia, the MENA region or documentary projects dealing with topics related to these areas. Al Jazeera Documentary Channel has opened the call for project submissions for the fourth edition of 'AJD Industry Days,' set to take place in Sarajevo from September 13 to 15, 2025. The event, a key platform for fostering international documentary co-productions, will bring together filmmakers and producers from Southeast Europe, the Caucasus and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to connect with prominent figures in the global documentary and television industry. 'AJD Industry Days' serves as a networking hub where selected participants can pitch their documentary projects directly to a panel of international broadcasters, industry leaders, and decision-makers. The forum is designed to support the global circulation of compelling documentary content and to facilitate collaboration and co-financing opportunities. Project submissions are open until May 31, 2025. Filmmakers and producers whose projects are selected will have the opportunity to present their work in Sarajevo, where the panel will evaluate the pitches and award financial support. In addition to funding for production, winners will also receive backing in areas such as broadcast, distribution, screenings and international sales. The total prize pool for this edition is expected to remain consistent with previous years, at approximately $100,000, with contributions from Al Jazeera Documentary Channel, Al Jazeera Balkans, and supporting partners. 'AJD Industry Days' will be held alongside the Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival (AJB DOC), which runs from September 12 to 16, 2025. AJB DOC has become a globally recognised platform dedicated to high-quality television documentaries and continues to highlight pressing social issues and powerful storytelling from around the world.
Al Jazeera
04-03-2025
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera Documentary Industry Days opens submissions for 4th edition
Al Jazeera Documentary Channel Industry Days has opened its portal for project submissions for its fourth edition, which will be held in Sarajevo from 13th to 15th September 2025. 'AJD Industry Days' is a forum dedicated to supporting the global expansion of documentaries, including international co-productions. It aims to match key decision-makers with interesting and valuable projects. The event will offer documentary filmmakers and producers from Southeast Europe (SEE), Caucasus, and MENA the opportunity to network with leading regional and international documentary and TV industry professionals to secure funding. Filmmakers and producers from these regions are invited to submit their film projects between 3rd March and 31st May 2025. Selected participants will present their projects in Sarajevo to a panel of international broadcasters and prominent professionals. The panel will then select winners to receive funding for documentary production, and support for broadcast, distribution, screening, and international sales. The total prize fund, supported by Al Jazeera Documentary Channel, Al Jazeera Balkans, and project partners, has been around $100,000 in previous years, and a similar amount will be awarded this year. Further information regarding the application process and project requirements is available at
Al Jazeera
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Bosnian Serb leader Dodik sentenced to prison for defying peace envoy
A Bosnian court has sentenced Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik to one year in prison for defying the rulings of the international peace official overseeing peace in the Balkan country. On Wednesday, the court in Sarajevo also handed the 65-year-old from Bosnia's autonomous Serb Republic a six-year ban from office. Dodik, president of Bosnia's autonomous Serb Republic, was indicted in 2023 for signing laws that suspended rulings by the constitutional court and by international peace envoy Christian Schmidt. The Bosnian Serb leader rejected the indictment as politically motivated. 'There is no reason to worry. I learned to put up with more difficult things,' Dodik told supporters in Banja Luka. 'We must be cheerful, I am sentenced to one year for their crap and their jail,' he also said. Under criminal law, Bosnians can pay a fine instead of facing jail time if the sentence is no more than one year. Dodik has two weeks to appeal the ruling. It was not clear if he would appeal. The leader and his lawyers were not in the court during the sentencing. In response, Dodik also stated that the Bosnian Serb parliament will ban the work of the state prosecutor, the state court, and the intelligence agency in the Serb Republic area of Bosnia. Before the ruling, Dodik had said that he would disobey any conviction and threatened 'radical measures' in response, including the eventual secession of the Serb-run entity in Bosnia called Republika Srpska from the rest of the country. Dodik had said a ruling against him could 'strike a death blow to Bosnia and Herzegovina'. The court acquitted a second defendant, Milos Lucic, the former acting director of the Serb entity's Official Gazette. He had also been accused of deliberately obstructing the enforcement of decisions made by Schmidt. The first-instance verdict could still be amended. Dragan Bursac, a columnist and political analyst for Al Jazeera Balkans, said it remains to be seen whether he 'can buy out his sentence, if it's possible, and whether he'll be freed or if a compromise will be reached.' 'The real concern is whether he'll be able to hold other political positions within Bosnia and Herzegovina or not, the part of sentence which hurts him the most,' Bursac said. 'In a month's time, we'll know the second-instance verdict, but I don't believe the judicial system will stray much, and I don't expect significant changes in the appellate process. These are likely the final details of Dodik's sentence.' The case has been widely seen as a potential test of the Balkan nation's weak central government after Dodik flouted the country's peace deal and court system.
