Hot News 2005

October 18

KOORT insist their demands are fulfilled

KOORT staff sent a letter saying they refused to continue working, after having confronted the management of the Company. “The TV Channel is no longer the same. The staff refused to keep working with the new management, after their creative process was rudely interfered. People, who had been never involved in journalism, came to the channel.” An hour later, the management attempted to edit materials prepared for Apta programme. Journalists were forced to put additional materials, that praise higher officials of the state. Usually, the programme is prepared within a week, but this time the journalists had to complete it for less then hour. The changes were not made due to purely technical reasons.” “The appointment, and methods used to appoint are obviously politically motivated. It seems like the authorities make constant attempts to stifle opposition media outlets,” staff say. “We want to work, we want to make news, air Apta and Zona Osobogo Vnimaniya programmes. But we want to do this under control by competent people, with expertise in journalism. KOORT produces no news for two days. The staff plan to work after their demands are fulfilled, which are impossible in principle,” KOORT journalists said.

Contents