As Long As Sarajevo Exists

by Kemal Kurspahić, Colleen London (Translator)

When Serbian nationalist forces began their siege of Sarajevo, Kemal Kurspahic called together the editors, reporters and production staff of the city's main newspaper, Oslobodenje, and made a grim offer to those willing to work under relentless artillery, tank and sniper fire.Acting on their deepest beliefs, the reporters and editors of Oslobodenje ("Liberation") literally risked their lives for their readers and kept the daily paper of Sarajevo running against all odds. Under the direction of Kemal Kurspahic, former Editor-in-Chief of Oslobodenje, the paper was published on every day but one throughout the 3 fi years of attack on the city by extreme nationalist Serbs. Representing hope to a population completely besieged, and upholding the ideals of tolerance, equal rights, and free debate, Oslobodenje was an early prime target of the Serb nationalists. Under constant artillery and mortar attack, and often without electricity and phone, the Oslobodenje was "the daily miracle of Sarajevo". Having had their ten-story building reduced to rubble, and five of their colleagues killed and twenty wounded, the staff shifted its editorial quarters and its presses into a basement bomb shelter.

Genres: Journalism, History

248 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997