Future of Free Inter-Ethnic Radio Network (FERN) discussed

VIENNA, 29 July 1998 - A donors conference for the Free Inter-Ethnic Radio Network (FERN), Bosnia and Herzegovina's largest independent radio network, was held today at the OSCE conference facilities in the Hofburg Palace in Vienna. The meeting was attended by a number of representatives from OSCE participating States, international organizations and the media. Participants were informed about the background, activities and future work of FERN. The Network's detailed funding proposal was also presented.

FERN, which is the only radio network that does cross-entity broadcasting accessible to virtually every citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been operating since 15 July 1996. It was originally known as the Free Elections Radio Network and funded by the Government of Switzerland to provide accurate and unbiased information for the OSCE supervised elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1996 and 1997.

FERN's news stories are collected from the Republika Srpska and the Federation and are produced with an audience in both entities in mind. The station currently broadcasts twenty-four hours a day. Its daily programming is similar to that of most large, private radio stations and includes rebroadcasts from Radio Free Europe and Deutsche Welle programs each day. In addition, FERN broadcasts regular programming focused on refugees and repatriates in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as programs highlighting the activities of non-governmental organizations.

The participants were informed by members of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina that FERN is currently at a critical juncture and that "it should continue its task as the predominant and most influential international radio voice in the evolving media landscape in Bosnia and Herzegovina". The financial commitments to FERN from the OSCE and Swiss government end after the September 1998 elections. At the meeting, it was noted that FERN's future will depend upon commercial investment, partnerships with other media organizations, and, if necessary, voluntary contributions. In 1999 the goal is to make the station more self-sufficient by encouraging corporate program sponsorship and commercial advertising.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina will follow up with OSCE participating States, international organizations and members of the media on support for FERN's future operations.