The Media and the kosovo crisis

THE MEDIA AND THE KOSOVO CRISIS

By
Marosi Triseugenie


MA in Southeast European Studies
School of Slavonic and East European Studies
2002


Introduction


Probably every conflict is fought on at least two grounds: the battlefield and the minds of the people. Indeed, the war in Kosovo was not taking place only in the military field. In parallel with the NATO air strikes against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, was taking place the information and propaganda warfare. And while the military outcome between the two combatants –FRY and NATO- was predetermined, the battle could still be won or lost in the field of public opinion. In this battle the two parties employed various means and forms of propaganda to win the sympathies of their audience. The Serbian media as it is expected in a totalitarian regime, were state - controlled and disseminated state propaganda. Any media outlets that continued to criticize the authorities were months before the air strikes suppresse...