Croatian Radio in the Year 2000: in Search of a New Identity

Hrvatski je radio u krizi i nalazi se u potrazi za svojim identitetom javnog medija. Ta potraga je teška i neizvjesna, a odvija se na nekoliko razina. S jedne strane, Hrvatski radio danas odmotava paket negativnih i neriješenih statusnih i materijalnih pitanja unutar sustava HRT-a, kao i unutar cjelokupnog sustava hrvatske radiodifuzije, suočavajući se pri tom s mnogim neugodnim nasljeđima dosadašnje medijske politike. S druge strane, zastarjela i okoštala programska shema s prevladavajućom autoritarnom i monološkom komunikacijskom paradigmom koja se još uvijek ne odaziva suvremenim demokratskim konceptima uloge radija, čini ga prilično blijedim čimbenikom hrvatske medijske informativno-političke scene. Sva do sad provedena istraživanja o Hrvatskom radiju, bez obzira na stupanj kompetentnosti, ukazuju na to da je riječ o mastodontu koji svoj dosadašnji opstanak u ovom obliku duguje prije svega dobro treniranoj ulozi ancilae polticae. Uzimajući za pretpostavku kako postoji želja vlasti i rukovodstva jednako kao i želja javnosti, da se Hrvatski radio u svakom pogledu emancipira, pa tako i politički, strategijske studije (to su sada uglavnom još uvijek nedostatna i usputna promišljanja budućeg opstanka i uloge Hrvatskog radija u hrvatskom medijskom sustavu) moraju se kretati u smjeru razmatranja važnosti koju u stabilnim demokracijama obnašaju javni mediji kada je riječ o očuvanju neovisnog i viskoprofesionalnog novinarskog diskursa, te nezamjenjive uloge javnih medija u očuvanju nacionalnog i kulturnog identiteta u komercijalnom medijskom okružju zasnovanom na profitu i zabavi. Javnost, sa svojim osnovnim pravom na informaciju i komunikaciju, ima pravo na šire sudjelovanje i jasniju informiranost o tim pitanjima. Vlast je dužna što prije donijeti zakon o HRT-u, ali to će biti samo prvi korak dugog i neizvjesnog puta ka javnom radiju.Croatian Radio is in a crisis and is busy searching for a new identity as a public medium. The search is difficult and uncertain, and is taking place on several levels. On the one hand, Croatian Radio today is slowly unwrapping the package of negative and unresolved status and material issues within the system of Croatian Radio and Television. Since Croatian Radio acts within the Croatian broadcasting system, it faces many unpleasant legacies of the previous media policy. On the other hand, its old-fashioned and rigid programming, with the predominantly authoritarian and monological communication paradigm, makes it a very pale factor in the Croatian informational and media field. Thus, it fails to respond to modern democratic concepts of the role of radio. All research, regardless of the quality and level of competence, shows that Croatian Radio is a mastodonic structure whose survival is due to the well-practiced role of the maid-servant of politics. We must assume that there is a wish on the part of the authorities and management, as well as the public, to enable Croatian Radio to become emancipated, both economically and politically. The strategic studies (at present only fragmentary thoughts and concepts of the future role of Croatian Radio in the Croatian media system) ought to investigate the importance of the public media in stable democracies. This role can be performed by independent and highly professional journalists. The public media have their irreplaceable role in the preservation of the national cultural identity in the commercial media environment based on profit and entertainment. The public is entitled to participate in this effort and to be fully informed about the issues involved. The parliament should adopt a law on Croatian Radio and Television as soon as possible, but we should have no illusion that the process will be short and easy. This will be only the first step on a long and uncertain journey towards public radio