Kosovo: Journalist Under Fire

Kosovo | 04 June 2009 |

Jeta Xharra

Kosovar journalist Jeta Xharra is a spy for Belgrade, if one is to believe a campaign waged by pro-government press over the past week targeting the “Life in Kosovo” program, which she hosts on public television and which dares to address controversial and even taboo topics.

Download transcript of Skenderaj Tv debate
Download Infopress articles

Xharra is the director of BIRN Kosovo, which produces “Life in Kosovo,” aired weekly on public broadcaster RTK. Screaming front-page headlines on the Infopress tabloid newspaper reached a climax in recent days, stating “Jeta Xharra is an Agent of the Serbian Secret Police,” and calling for the programme to be taken off the air.

“This is an explosive allegation in a society still traumatized by Serbian oppression and wartime atrocities, and is a clear incitement to acts of violence against our Kosovo staff,” said Xharra.

On Thursday, Infopress appeared to issue a death threat against Xharra, commenting: "Jeta has brought it upon herself to have a short life."

The situation intensified following the 28 May edition of the program, dedicated to freedom of the media in Kosovo. It discussed how government advertising is used to influence the media landscape and recent dismissals of journalists who inconvenienced the authorities.

It featured a video report in which the BIRN Kosovo news team was expelled from the Office for Public Information of the municipality of Skenderaj in the central Kosovo Drenica region, and forced to leave town by an armed man who confiscated their footage.

Infopress newspaper, which receives the lion’s share of government advertising revenues, has led the campaign with a series of inflammatory articles on Xharra and the program, claiming they had set out to denigrate the Drenica region. Threatening emails followed, including death threats, and the newspaper itself published openly abusive and threatening letters from readers.

Xharra said: “We have nothing against Drenica. These are vicious and manipulative smears. On the contrary, our show has on several occasions dealt with the negligence of officials, which contributes to Drenica’s/Skenderaj continuous poverty”

Given Infopress’ closeness to the government, she added: “I would like to see the government explicitly distance itself from these disgraceful attacks. We need to be reassured that this is neither part of a wider campaign to put the public broadcaster under state control nor to silence an incisive and impartial source of information ahead of local elections scheduled for this autumn.”

“Life in Kosovo” is a very popular show, despite the death threats, spy allegations and negative press. It touches on taboo topics ranging from homosexuality to corruption of public officials and is Kosovo’s most-watched current affairs program.

Read also Protecting Kosovo

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Comments:

Jeta is a HERO
Thursday, June 4, 2009

She tackles all the themes one good journalist would tackles, the difference is that she takes little bit longer in her efforts! others are cowards- She is a HERO!and its SHE!

" hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.” R.W.Emerson

Besa

Black or white
Thursday, June 4, 2009

In a country like Kosovo or Serbia, it is unfortunately impossible to be free, non-conventionalist, liberal etc. At the moment one citizen thinks differently or other than the majority, she/he immediately gets labelled as a traitor, spy, you name it. Jeta is the only journalist in Kosovo who has got the guts to confront the public naïvité and the deficiencies that occur around. I think the war/struggle for Freedom of Speech has just started. I would also like to mention that same as in Serbia people like Sonja Biserko or Natasha Kandic are traitors, Jeta in Kosovo is a spy. Of course they are such, because they think differently. So, people and the society in this region should struggle for not only freedom of speech, but for freedom to act, to speak, express and most importantly freedom TO BE. Good job, Jeta and keep going (just be careful with RTK, because we all know how pro-PDK they were/are).

Labinot

news feature: Kosovo:Journalist Under Fire
Thursday, June 4, 2009

In every country of the world, there are highly trained investigative journalists who try to speak the truth, who try to show the truth. Of course, these highly repected journalists, sooner or later, run into big trouble for presenting the truth. The truth can be very embarrassing to some people, make some people very angry, get people in legal trouble, etc. But, such people must realize that the truth is to be acknowledged for being the truth. I have great respect for these professional journalists who feel it is their duty to inform the public of the truth, regardless of whatever personal risks they may take in doing so.

Steve JP

Thursday, June 4, 2009

This is just another attempt to turn off the only dissident, true dissident voice in Kosova. And they will fail, because the truth always wins.

The public is aware that the same people have been constantly attacking Jeta and her crew for more or less the same reason: revealing the truth. And this is not the first time, as they attacked the BIRN director Faik Ispahiu as well several weeks ago and BIRN editor Krenar Gashi before that.

But dont be affraid Jeta. Well done. We look forward seeing your next show, and your next investigative report... and surely the next attack against you.

nijazi

Jeta Xharra and other journalists should be protected
Thursday, June 4, 2009

Jeta Xharra is a GREAT example on how journalism should be conducted.

Jeta Xharra eshte shembull shume i mire, per menyren se si gazetaria duhet te implementohet.

A journalist should be FREE to say what he/she sees with their owen EYES and hear with their own EARS.

Nje gazetar-e i mire duhet te jete i lire ta thote haptazi ate qe e sheh me SYTE e vete dhe e ndegjon me VESHET e vete.

The present and the future of Kosova or any other non-EU Balcanic state is not depended only what happen in some government sources. All the stakeholders down there should be aware of that.

EUROPEAN UNION is watching.

Avni Dervishi

Jeta is NOT a hero
Thursday, June 4, 2009

It is strange how some people from the margins of society become ‘the protectors of freedom’. Jeta is one example of vulgar journalist that is never satisfied if the respondent has an answer but she is happy to look in the yes of audience as: ‘the wisest person’, ‘the one who controls the situation’, ‘the one who is right all the time’ and so on. Everyone who is familiar with models/patterns (being that in the field of science, politics or journalism) is aware that they can not be copied and pasted from a society to another one. She is doing so! What looks fine in studios of BBC does not mean that will work the same in the RTK. You can not yell at people in Kosovo, because that is shameful.

Once one passes the feeling of shame can not stop. Jeta can not stop and control herself. She uses her show for personal vendetta. Attacks Sami Lushtaku by attacking the whole region where he won 90% of votes. I wonder if Jeta have ever thought how people of Drenica will feel after she broadcast her so called ‘report from Skenderaj’. I am sure not. People are not part of her interest she wants vendetta and money (from donors).

We should the campaign of Infopress only as a campaign of a newspaper that thinks that Jeta is WRONG. If Jeta can have a report based only in one interview why Infopress can not have a series of articles based on many interviews?

Using public broadcaster for personal vendetta is WRONG! If government attacks Jeta is WRONG as well. If someone from politics calls her and threatens her that is wrong. But if Infopress as media tries to prove that Jeta was wrong that I OK!

What does Jeta think: If ICO writes to Infopress requesting to censor articles, is this part of freedom of media?

Astron Dreshaj

Kosovo should be proud of Jeta !
Thursday, June 4, 2009

Kosovo should be proud of Jeta !

Lode Desmet

Jeta Xharra should be protected by PM Hashim Thaqi
Thursday, June 4, 2009

Jeta Xharra should be protected by PM Hashim Thaqi

Chris

Investigative journalist
Thursday, June 4, 2009

By attacking Jeta Xharra, they are trying to kill investigative journalism in Kosovo. If Jeta is serbian spy, Rexhep Hoti(publisher of Infopress) is Russian spy!.

Liki

Jeta is NOT a professional Journalist,
Thursday, June 4, 2009

It happen for me to be in Kosovo during 2007 Election, also be part of the audience in some cities listening/watching the candidates that were running for ‘Mayor’. However, she turned the show to a comedy show, was nothing serious about debate what was going on. Some audience were laughing, some felled sad, some felled uncomfortable, those who laughed did not go to vote they thought this is a joke. And those that were upset/angry simply because she did not stop talking and did not let anybody else talk. 85% of the show you will hear only her talking and the rest is TV AD’s and audience laughing.

Simply she don’t understand life in Kosovo and she wants to be always the one that is right. I totally agree with Astron Dreshaj’s comments. Those who understand journalism will have a different opinion on Jeta Xharra, they will understand that she is very UNPROFESSIONAL and have no idea how to run the show.

To be a journalist you have to be a good:

Listener, talker, not judgmental, you can’t personally accuse some one on your behalf.

Simply you can ask OPEN ended questions and CLOSED ended questions.

If she get’s fired she will not get because she is a SPY but 100% because she is UNPROFESSIONAL and she don’t know how to do her job.

Regards, Sali Sydney

Sali

Freedom of media and My freedom
Friday, June 5, 2009

Dear All and Dear Jeta Xharra,

I am commenting here, not because you have done a show of my birthplace and giving a very bad face of birthplace, but I just want to remember you that what freedom means and to tell you that: "your freedom should stop in that moment when you touch my freedom". There is no professional journalist who can generalize the things as much as you are doing. You started with Drenica, tomorrow you will do the same with Dukagjin, after tomorrow with Llap, and remains nothing good in our free Kosovo!!! I really do not understand your objective! Please explain to the public!? When I was 19 year old I have fought for freedom... is hard to explain to you what it means to fight for freedom and how you feel when your best friend get shot and become hero in the battlefield... I am sure that you never can imagine that! Let me remember you that your freedom to do investigative journalism has been realized thanks of Drenica first and then other big freedom fighters, otherwise you could have been now still running in the streets of west Europe as a refuge Miss Xharra. I am not against journalists at all, I like them when they do really good job. Investigative journalism has to focus on particular issues and give tangible facts, to generalize the things is very bad and absolutely non professional, I am from Drenica, I was freedom fighter during the war, but since the war was finished, I never had a gun with me, I studied and I contributed to my country in every way to make things better, there is no society in the world that is perfect, so it is kosovar society, it needs time and commitment to do good things, but if we just attack each other we will go worsening everything. Dear Jeta, please before you do something first think, then analyze and then act. “The most un understandable is what is understandable” (Einstein)

Ballkan

JETA NE KOSOVE
Friday, June 5, 2009

JETA NE KOSOVE JETA XHARRA DHE BASHKPUNTORT E SAJ JAN NUMER 1 NE KOSOVE BRAVO.LIKA BERLIN

LIKA

Deja Vu
Friday, June 5, 2009

What a Deja Vu picture...

It reminds me of Serbia as I remember it from the 90's, when Milosevic was in the power.

Back then many Serbs complained to me that state controlled media "witch hunted" all those independent journalists who tried to expose bad things Milosevic's regime did. They were referred to as a "foreign spies", and they were under constant threat.

As I could see, same thing is happening nowadays in Albanian controlled part of Kosovo.

Its a very sad thing, since it looks like that part of Balkans is sliding back into the 1990's. Hope Albanian society will recognize that, and not let its government to do freely what they want to do.

Hawk

Jeta is NOT A PROFESSIONAL JOURNALIST
Friday, June 5, 2009

To be a great journalist, she should start to follow the footsteps of CNN folks. See if they yell, scream, judge or besmirch the culture of their own people - the Americans or in our case Kosovars.

Jeta is trying to suppress the freedom of speech in the same pattern: Just like you call someone thieves, criminals, they are calling you a spy. Are you trying to suppress their freedom of speech?

I mean, you got inspired by B92 and Serbian's government to investigate a fabricated story about KLA. Nothing substantial.

I happened to meet a journalist on the plane who said he is being paid by the Serbian government to investigate it.

Were you paid as well?

I have his first and last name. One thing is for sure: In Kosovo you do not get accused of something unless something is up and stands very substantial.

Of course being a spy is as exaggerated and untrue as much as creating false stories, fabricated story like journalist I.S. from Serbia said.

Besides, I read on the other article, BIRN still keeps the Kosovo status section open whereas 90% of Balkan nations recognize it. I know BIRN is an extended outlet of B92. Same folks with the same mindset run it.

The worst part of this...Jeta ignores the government. Instead goes to international community, like Serbia does. Serbia does ignore Kosovo government, instead they go to international community. Same pattern.

Jeta, take my advise, go to anger management class for a month.

Come back with better standing.

Kosova needs you, but you need Kosova more than anything else.

You want to remain a professional journalist, you take my advise seriously.

And drop BIRN/Balkaninsight - it's a pro Serbian sponsored outlet - it's obvious.

Good luck girl!Keep up your work!

Dardanian

JETA has no clue in journalism
Friday, June 5, 2009

I greatly agree with Sali and Astron. I have watched the show, it does lack profesional journalism. The way the the reporter tricked the interviewee is outrageous! Think of any such case in other world known (professional and high level) broadcasts. NONE. As for Jeta, I would have never agreed to go to any of her shows. She asks the question, she answers the questions! If she is Ms Knows Everything, then there is no point having the show at first place!

Katy

Jeta - Brilliant journalist!
Friday, June 5, 2009

I must say that Jeta is the only real journalist in Kosova. All the other so-called journalists in Kosova should hang their heads in shame as they have all been bought by Mr Thaqi and they write whatever he dictates to them. I do not bother reading the press anymore as I know it has all been written by puppets of the Prime Minister. Kosova is not a democratic country. Thaqi is dictating every part of our life. Such a shame. I hope that one day we will come out of this deep dark hole that we are in.

Dafina

It's not about Jeta, it's about freedom of speech
Friday, June 5, 2009

People,

It's not about Jeta, it's about the freedom of speech. Today it's Jeta, tomorrow it can be someone else.

Betim

Down with Enverist thugs
Friday, June 5, 2009

A few commenters apparently have an issue with Jeta Xharra's reporting style. Whether they are justified or not, they are completely missing the point. And the point is that a pro-government publication has launched a Soviet-style denunciation campaign against one of the few independent voices in the Kosovar media landscape, going as far as calling for her head. This is the disturbing, worrying, part.

So everyone should rally in her support, not because of some personal like or dislike for Xharra, but because, in a democracy, freedom of speech is sacred. And Kosova is purportedly a democracy, not Thaci's personal fiefdom.

rron

Jeta is wrong about the essential points
Friday, June 5, 2009

I have followed this case and many others covered by BIRN/Jeta. Yes, she might be intelligent - but a true journalist doesn't need to push too hard, as she often does. I feel like Jeta is rather on a kind of assignment - not part of the life in free Kosova. The fact is that her style of investigating is more kind of setup than the fact-finding. She is definitely biased and therefore very selective in presenting the facts. Simply put, if the facts are against her theory, it's too bad for the facts.

Genc

Jeta
Saturday, June 6, 2009

Jeta is a "gutsy" journalist, but by saying this one should really pay attention on how she conducts the show. She is extremely opinionated and she makes sure that the viewer only understands her point of view. A good journalist should come up with questions without imposing their personal opinion. We should all be able to form our personal opinion based on the information that we get.

Hana

its not communism..... its foxnewsism
Sunday, June 7, 2009

sigh..

pro-govt. is one thing, state run media is another.

these are 2 different media outlets going at each other...its not a case of a state run media outlet going after a poor "free" journalist. remember... Jeta is on the public broadcaster RTK... but dont they get some funding from Kosovo's Consolidated Budget? surprising eh?

This is a distinction folks seem to missing. OBVIOUSLY the comments are disturbing and idiotic... but why is jeta suddenly given more validity? You have your rush limbaughs and Bill O Reillys talking nonsense (or insert whatever news folks irritate you)so what?

regardless if infopress ... a private media org sucks up to the current govt. for ad dollars. again, So what? its nothing that reporters dont go through everywhere in a commercial news org.

what jeta's program did... was less than journalism and more of sensationalism... INSTEAD of just critisizing infopress for being a lapdog for Ad dollars from the govt. wich would have been perfectly fair and valid from what i gather... but is combining the realities journalists in a commercial company have to deal with... and holding it as Government Actions. I am sorry, but responsibility for infopress's apparent shoddy principles... is fair game for critism, but it is ultimately infopress responsibilities.

what i see, is that jeta's programs takes instances of journalists getting canned from private media orgs. for no other reason than screwing with money money sources.... and interspersing that with LEGITIMATE questions on freedom of speech issues to create an overall govt. conspiracy.

putting the spotlight on free speech issues is always a good thing... but there is free speech, and there is media hype.

infopress is attacking jeta... not the govt. in fact, with all the negative publicity this generated, the govt. is probably shaking their heads at infopress...they certainly didnt do them any favors with these idiotic editorials.

so where is the threat to her free speech from the govt.? no. Infopress? yes. Should we shut up infopress entirely? ok, thats fine...they do seem like jerks.

but then... what was that about free speech again?

AdamNY

The Free Speech Terrorists

Kosovo: Journalist Under Fire