Lausitzer Rundschau
policy 01/04/2010
The Sorbian evening newspaper Serbske Nowiny lies with their own partners and donors, the Foundation for the Sorbian people in the clinch. Of tendentious reporting is the speech and of limited press freedom. In the end, was an editor of the Serbske Nowiny at the press conference in Cottbus. Like his colleagues from the other Media, he heard Helen Theurich, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for the Sorbian people, the reductions in the Sorbian National Ensemble (SNE) announced as a done deal (the RUNDSCHAU reported). provide € 16.8 million, the Sachsen, Brandenburg and the Federal Government for that year of the Lusatian minority to preserve their language and culture not available, only four million euros to the SDS. In recent years it had been from 4.9 million euros. The house has this year also save 40 people.
For the outsider it seems only natural when the editor of a newspaper Sorbian is invited to a press conference which deals with important issues Sorbian. However, the director of the Foundation for the Sorbian people, a 29-member administration, which leads to the Sorbian institutions, the budget and manages its real estate, the newspaper did not have it. Marko Suchy said the head of the publishing Serbske Nowiny writing three days before the press conference. Reason: ". Unprofessional and biased coverage" publishing boss Maria Matschie then turned to the Chairman of the Board. A 15-member body, comprising representatives of the Sorbs and the states of Saxony and Brandenburg and the Federal Government, which decides on the use of funds for the Sorbs. Foundation Council President Helene Theurich allowed the Serbske Nowiny to the press conference.
had at the time the editors and a "position" made public, in which it complained Foundation Director Suchy, to disregard the Saxon press law and put pressure on the editors. Moreover, working his administration "transparent" and to great personal expense in comparison to other cultural institutions.
expression of disrespect
Foundation Director Mark Suchy says the "position" on the Serbske Nowiny REVIEW-demand, saying "how cute!". He had not allowed the newspaper to come. "I have not invited the editors only to make clear what I think of her. Namely, nothing. "From the perspective Suchy had the sheet in his contributions on the concepts backed by deletion of Foundation funds for the SDS completely one-sided reports only for the benefit of the Ensemble employees. But without the word about to invest more of the scarce money in the rescue of the endangered Sorbian vocabulary. "That made me angry beyond measure," said Suchy.
Alfons Wicaz, acting editor of Serbske Nowiny defended the "critical and investigative necessity, also" reporting of his newspaper. Behind the scenes, had the colleagues have to get information about the pending cuts. The Foundation had their savings plans as long as want to keep secret until all decided to stop and change is. "As always with contentious issues," says Wicaz, "us locked out of their own shareholders."
The Serbske Nowiny is not the first time with the Foundation crosswise. 2005, criticized the newspaper its shareholders, because the tariff was illegal settlements in the Sorbian National Ensemble, and thus control of money allowed. A critical attitude is always a challenge for a newspaper, so Wicaz. A fortiori, if it goes against their own interests, which finances the newspaper. Although with taxes.
To the unfortunate Constellation dissolve the Board of Trustees in 2007 for the Domowina book publisher has set up an advisory council. As a supervisory board since he is between the Foundation as a shareholder and the Domowina book publisher with its newspapers and Serbske Nowiny Nowy Casnik.
Unique process
for the deputy chief editor Serbske Nowiny Wicaz brought this little model, even for the advisory board chairman Hans Eggert. The former editor in chief of the Saxon newspaper can not recognize that the foundation uses to influence the reporting. It is interfering even in the newspaper business. The advisory board, so I Eggert, can stabilize the financial situation for publishers and newspapers. Funding would have been enough now timely. In addition, the Council recommended investment in a new editorial system. "We also look at how newspapers can with advertisements, information and archive material to make more money."
The more Eggert surprised that the foundation director wanted to exclude their own newspaper from a press conference: "How can one come to such an idea, the is incredible and a one-time process. "
By Daniel Preikschat
