In the republics of ex-Yugoslavia, UNESCO has supported independent media who bridge the ethnic divisions that have torn apart that region in recent years. Newsprint and equipment has been flown into Sarajevo to keep alive the independent newspaper Oslobodenje which came to symbolize the multi-ethnic harmony of that city. Support is being given to independent press threatened with censorship or suppression in other countries formerly part of Yugoslavia: e.g. the satirical weekly, Feral Tribune in Croatia; and the critical daily newspaper, Nasa Borba in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Assistance is also given to the Belgrade based newspaper The Right to Pictures and Words which denounces attacks against press freedom and deals with the difficulties media are encountering in the region.
Through a UNESCO initiative, NTV 99, the only independent television station in Sarajevo began broadcasting in early 1995, providing daily information and education programmes reflecting the multi ethnic character of the city. It is run by journalists from the different communities and presents a non partisan perspective. A system of exchange is being established between the station and other independent media in other ex republics of Yugoslavia, so they can share and transmit the same stories and images.
During the 27th Session of UNESCO's General Conference, many Member States raised the issue of violence and television and expressed their concern that UNESCO 'must not keep silent about this problem'. Hence, in the coming years, UNESCO is placing new emphasis on the educational and cultural dimensions of the media and on the problem of violence on the screen and its impact, especially on the young. Young people, themselves, are taking the lead. Through the World Organization of the Scout Movement and other

non governmental organizations, they are participating in an international survey of young people's perception of violence on the screen. Their findings will be brought to the attention of designers, directors and producers of television and video programmes and electronic games as a contribution to raising awareness of the need to promote a culture of peace.
With the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi as a fitting backdrop, in April 1994 the Government of India hosted an international roundtable in New Delhi on non violence, tolerance and television. The round table was organized jointly by UNESCO, the International Programme for the Development of Communication and the Government of India. One of the outcomes of the Delhi meeting was an emphasis on self regulation.
The round table singled out for consideration the guidelines on violence used by the BBC for its television programming. For more than 30 years, BBC Television in the United Kingdom has issued guidelines for its programme makers on the portrayal of violence, in both reporting of factual events, including sports matches and programmes involving animals, and in broadcasting drama and other fiction programmes. The Guidelines recognize that the need to provide programmes which reflect the diversity of life, which unavoidably includes violence, must be 'kept in proportion along with the humour, celebration, warmth and kindliness which will also be depicted'.
When the BBC is to air a programme - fiction or non fiction - its programmers are required to acknowledge their responsibility for the frequency and manner in which violent sequences are portrayed. The decision to include violence in fictional programmes involves a series of fine judgements, in which the following questions, among others, must be considered:

[<< return to previous page]

[turn to next page >>]

[home page]
[table of contents]