Episode 66: The Bosnian War Part IV-War Journalism and The Tolerance Paradox

Reflecting History

As Bosnia was torn asunder by war and destruction, a newspaper known as Oslobodjenje endured the heat of the Siege of Sarajevo and gained worldwide recognition for it's reporting and it's ability to continue publishing papers in a war zone. Their building was destroyed, their supplies were minimal, and their people were killed, but somehow the paper endured. The reporters at Oslobodjenje provided a valuable service to the community by keeping the people informed of big picture events in the war, but also keeping up with the daily tragedy that was life in Sarajevo. In addition to struggling for their lives, editors and reporters struggled with journalistic questions of objectivity, bias, and emphasis. Should you report everything that comes across your desk during a war? What if it gives the other side an advantage? Should you make an extra effort to be fair in your reporting to people who are actively trying to kill you? What's more important: journalistic integrity or survival? The experience of Oslobodjenje and it's employees provides a great opportunity to think about the ethical questions that any free press faces.

This is part four in a series on the Bosnian War. Future episodes will cover different aspects of the conflict, including the role of United States foreign policy and the United Nations in the conflict, ethnic cleansing, and the Bosnian Genocide.

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