Prizren-based outlet, RTV Besa, used the multicultural and language diversity of the city as a key asset for the outlet’s further development. Namely, they decided to open towards minority communities in the city by introducing TV shows in Bosnian and Turkish language. In addition, for the first time, they provide translation of municipal assembly sessions and broadcast them on TV and social media channels (Facebook and YouTube).
“So far, based on the reactions from the audience, translation and broadcast of the assembly sessions has direct impact on the transparency of the assembly work,” Mamer Fusha, owner and director of RTV Besa, said adding that “besides the purpose of keeping informed and engaging the Bosnian and Turkish communities in decision making processes, with this decision we also aim at reaching out to companies owned by the members of the communities for marketing.”
The show hosts distinguished representatives of Turkish and Bosnian communities and covers topics on politics, culture, art, sports, civil society and business. Additionally, RTV Besa opened Facebook pages and separate subpages on the outlet's main web portal in both respective languages, Bosnian and Turkish, with regular daily updates.
“The new content produced in Turkish and Bosnian languages has reached its audiences mainly through social media and TV announcements. The boosting of the new content brought us thousands of new followers and visitors,” Fusha said.
Thanks to the business development grant RTV Besa hired additional staff for supporting the production of the new content.
“Our team was already multiethnic, but was engaged on producing content in Albanian language exclusively. Now, our team members in cooperation with the new staff work together in creating content in Turkish and Bosnian languages,” Fusha said.
RTV Besa was established in 2002 as a local radio station. The TV channel was introduced two years later in 2004. It is one of the six outlets from Kosovo that are part of the Media for All business development grant scheme. The project is funded by the UK Government and implemented by the British Council, Thomson Foundation, BIRN and INTRAC in all Western Balkans countries.
