"106.5 -- keepin' you alive, eFM radio"
UNMIBH Radio had a dual role in Sarajevo. In addition to producing its own programmes, it was also a midwife. In summer 1996, the Radio teamed up with the Students Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina to establish eFM. The aim, according to Henry Beresford-Peirse, head of UNMIBH Radio and editor in chief at eFM, was "to create something good, something positive in this city, something homegrown".

With a loan of equipment and $20,000 from UNMIBH, studios were reconstructed in a totally devastated former barracks on "Snipers' Alley". Additional funds came from the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, the Canadian Embassy and the European Union. IFOR helped with reconstruction work -- notwithstanding the theft from the site of all the Belgian Engineering Group's power tools.

In October 1996, the station began its test programming. By May 1997, eFM was on the air 24 hours a day with a mix of news, music, current affairs, student programmes and education programmes. Add to that a healthy dose of entertainment. Students also get training in how to maintain and run a fully operational radio station. With the help of a BBC World Service radio trainer and UN Radio and other professionals, the students are learning everything from journalism to fund raising, as well as the value of forging contacts with similar operations worldwide.

At eFM the students have their own voice, and that has generated considerable excitement among students at Sarajevo University. "We can go anywhere with our microphones and ask what's up", says Jasna Lubura, a young student journalist. "It's really cool."

A number of exclusives have helped bring the current affairs programming into the limelight. eFM opened its phones when the Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal, Justice Louise Arbour, was live in the studio, and, Oslobodjenje, the leading daily newspaper, reported that an eFM story had prompted concern over alleged irregularities at the Faculty of Medicine. "It means that all sorts of people listen to us", explained Edin Cavalic, the station manager. "We can get the facts across, our listeners are interested and it makes our programme better."

As for entertainment, eFM broadcast live the recent Sarajevo International Jazz Festival . The station is particularly proud of its collection of new music from around the world. And there are big plans to bring young people together across the entities with eFM organized events.

At the moment, eFM can be heard only in greater Sarajevo, but coverage is slated to expand to many of the most populated areas of the country by the end of the year . UNMIBH Radio is also working on ways to assure eFM's future income. With new technology and partner stations worldwide, eFM could truly be said to be on "the cutting edge".

United Nations Radio, Sarajevo
Part of eFM's news programming is UNMIBH Radio's daily 15-minute newscast. UNMIBH's voice in Sarajevo set up shop in February 1996 with a once-a-week feature, although UN programmes in various forms had been running since the UNPROFOR days. In July 1996, when the service became fully operational, it moved to daily production. Since then, the show has concentrated on local news stories and includes interviews and features -- nine minutes in Bosnian, four minutes in English. Besides the afternoon and evening time slots on eFM, the show is also broadcast over Radio Bosnia-Herzegovina and Radio FERN, the OSCE-sponsored station. A Tuzla radio station rebroadcasts the show.

There are currently seven UNMIBH Radio staff. The daily programme is prepared at UNMIBH headquarters and produced at eFM. UNMIBH Radio retains complete editorial control, and the integrity of its programmes has without exception been respected. Nevertheless, Radio Bosnia-Herzegovina previews each programme and charges a broadcast fee. During the first months of the mission, it also made its production studios available to UNMIBH Radio. When the construction at eFM was completed, all production was transferred to studios there, saving UNMIBH a considerable sum in production fees.

Where UNMIBH Radio particularly distinguishes itself from the regional norm is by its style. Newsmakers, such as the SRSG, the IPTF Commissioner or other UNMIBH officials, are presented by means of their actual words, not by means of editorial comment. Listeners are given the facts, and they make up their own minds. "UN Radio Sarajevo tries to set an example by being as free and independent as possible", explains station head Beresford-Peirse. "We report the good and the not so good, as this is the only way to gain any credibility. The fact that it draws criticism from all sides is another measure of its success."

As UNMIBH goes about its tasks of observing, training and advising law enforcement personnel, UNMIBH Radio has helped to focus the public's attention on the role of law enforcement in society. "We monitor police activities", says UNMIBH Police Commissioner Manfred Seitner. "But radio sends the message home to people. It brings things into the open, lets them know what is acceptable and what is not. It raises their expectations. Now, we are beginning to see people complain openly when things go wrong."