News Media Croatia

A few weeks after he was chosen to head the Roman Catholic Church in Croatia, Msgr. Josip Bozanic invited a fledgling association of dissident television journalists to a personal audience. Bozanic's gesture was seen as an important show of support for activists fighting to break the airtight government control of most Croatian electronic media. "It was a huge boost [at] a crucial moment," said Damir Matkovic, the president of the group, Forum 21.

A few weeks after he was chosen to head the Roman Catholic Church in Croatia, Msgr. Josip Bozanic invited a fledgling association of dissident television journalists to a personal audience. Bozanic's gesture was seen as an important show of support for activists fighting to break the airtight government control of most Croatian electronic media. "It was a huge boost [at] a crucial moment," said Damir Matkovic, the president of the group, Forum 21.

Like most newspapers in post-war Croatia, Novi List imported a new printing press and other equipment a while back, hoping to upgrade its operations. But unlike newspapers that toe the government line, Novi List suddenly found itself fined about $2.5 million in customs fees and punitive taxes. A cynic might think that Novi List's position as Croatia's most prominent anti-government newspaper had something to do with the fines, which could bankrupt the publication.

Like most newspapers in post-war Croatia, Novi List imported a new printing press and other equipment a while back, hoping to upgrade its operations. But unlike newspapers that toe the government line, Novi List suddenly found itself fined about $2.5 million in customs fees and punitive taxes. A cynic might think that Novi List's position as Croatia's most prominent anti-government newspaper had something to do with the fines, which could bankrupt the publication.