Defamation vs. Poor Jurnalism: My B92 TV Interview
On the last day of October I appeared to have been libeled on B92, a leading “pro-Western” TV network in Serbia, in a live program in which I appeared as an invited guest.
It subsequently transpired that the network used an unpleasant quote from an article published under my name -- but without my knowledge or authorization -- in a leading Belgrde daily newspaper. Welcome to the brave new world of southeast Europe's transitional journalism, post-communist style.
Last Thursday, October 30, I received a call on my cell phone in Belgrade -- which I am currently visiting -- from a producer with B92 Television, a national conglomerate regarded as the most pro-Western corporation in the country. I was invited to take part in “The State of The Nation” (Stanje nacije), a 30-minute current affairs program that was going to be broadcast live at 6 p.m. the following day, Friday, October 31, and presented by Milos Maksimovic. The topic was to be the forthcoming presidential election in the United States.
I accepted this invitation although I disagree with many positions taken by the B92, because appearing on a network does not imply endorsement of its editorial policy. I have appeared on B92 before, notably on a popular Sunday panel-style program “The Week’s Impression” (Utisak nedelje). Likewise over the years I have accepted invitations from the BBC, CBC, Sky News, ITN, MSNBC, etc. on more than one hundred occasions – although I disagree with many aspects of their corporate philosophy, reportage, or editorial commentary.
While introducing the other guest, former government minister Professor Zarko Korac, the presenter said that "Trifkovic is in the habit of describing McCain as a neurotic cockroach” (koji ima obicaj da nazove Mekejna neuroticnom bubasvabom). I have never said or written anything of the kind, but I did not correct him right away because I was initially uncertain whether he was giving a personal, somewhat colorful interpretative summary of my views of Sen. McCain, or providing a purported verbatim quote.
Having reviewed the recording of the program, I established that the latter was the case: the presenter alleged that I am in the habit of calling John McCain “a neurotic cockroach,” straight and simple. This was an ostensibly factual statement that, to the best of my recollection, was simply not true. I've never used the term "cockroach" in connection with Mr. McCain, however apt it may appear to my friends and allies.
Subsequently it turned out that B92's editors were well covered, legally and even factually. As I learnt today (Sunday, November 2), the said Belgrade daily Glas javnosti published an article four months ago (on July 4, 2008) under my name and under the headline May God Help Us All ("Neka nam Bog bude na pomoći"). In that article, to my chagrin, the incriminated phrase -- "neurotic cockroach" -- does appear. This article was an inept translation of a commentary published on this very site on July 1 (Obama the “Patriot”). It is easy to establish that the term I used to describe the illustrious Mr. McCain was not "cockroach" but "scumbag."
I have never seen this article. It goes without saying that I had not authorized its text prior to publication. I was blissfully unaware of its existence until after the B92 "State of the Nation: program was broadcast. Glas javnosti is by and large a decent and professionally edited newspaper, but on this particular occason they erred badly, thus providing an opportunity to the B92 crowd to embarrass me.
The paper assures me that they will publish an apology and an explanation on Tuesday, November 4.
I do not look forward to any heads rolling there. I hope that they will take this episode to heart, however, as a warning against the deluge of frivolity, sensationalism, and tastelessness that permeates the media scene in Serbia and other post-communist countries of eastern and south-eastern Europe.
Entries(RSS)
Srdja, I would not count on any apology, but I'll pray you win the lawsuit lottery. Hopefully Serbia's free speech laws are not as dumb as ours.
Personally, with regard to the senator from Arizona, the talk show host may not have reached deeply into the gutter enough. McCain is worse in my opinion than a neurotic cockroach. And Lil' Smokin' Barry from your own state of Illinois is the illegitimate. Indonesian mulatto son of crazy, spiteful Stanley Anne Dunham. He is also a doctrinaire marxist -- a disciple of the vile Saul Alinsky, and the dead Gramsci. He is also an empty suit and will be a terrific puppet fot the Israeli lobby. I'll bet no talk show would ever mention these factoids without pear of retribution from the teams of cromwellian cell groups and "truth squads."
But don't you WISH you had said it????
In this article on Serbian, you did call McCain a neurotic cockroach :
http://www.glas-javnosti.rs/node/31729/print
Although you did referred to Obama as something much worse than that.
But maybe it's some other Srdja Trifkovic?
Anyway, you are right no matter what the truth is - McCain is pretty much a neurotic cockroach.
If they work for 92 they have no character at all.
The only ones with character to cover the Balkans are yourself, Michael Averko and especially Andy Wilcox at slobodanmilosevic.org who covered the Milosevic trail which showed without a doubt there definitely is a NWO one world government.
B92 is occupation government mass media outlet of George Soros who genocided the Serbs in Kosovo and Bosnia and that is exactly what it was genocide.
It would be interesting to see how they covered Russia-Georgia conflict of Soro’s client state Georgia’s blitz on South Ossetia.
Although I can predict how they covered it like all of the western Russian hating mass media.
"Likewise over the years I have accepted invitations from the BBC, CBC, Sky News, ITN, MSNBC"
There as cronious as B92 you only have to look at how they covered the MURDER of Slobodan Milosevic at the Hague. Especially ITN and its fake Serb death camp story which contributed to the influx of international Muslim terrorism in the Bosnian war a war crime under international law.
Who are what Michael Collins Piper terms in his book “Judas Goats” of Serbia like people who work for NGO’s like NED or other western intelligence fronts?
I love Srdja Trifkovic and, yes, he should go ahead and sue this B92 TV outfit for what it's worth but to tell you honestly the party that appears slandered here most is the cockroach.
According to a friend, "the party that appears to have been slandered is the cockroach."
Another friend, a prominent Washingtonian political analyst, says that "surely there's a good argument that it is one of the best descriptions of [McCain] around" and that I should use it in the future
This leading "pro Western" but anti-Serbian TV network, in the heart of Serbia, lost its credibility in my eyes long time ago. I am sorry that they used the opportunity to set you up – but that is what they are trained to do, and what they do with passion to people who do not share they point of you.
You are too GOOD for them – teach them a lesson !
"the other hand they may decide to remain true to the principles of journalism as practiced by the paragons of media integrity and independence in the Western world, such as the Murdoch empire, CNN’s Ms. Amanpour, or the Gray Lady, in which case I’ll be pleased to lighten their coffers."
Yes, this is the course I would recommend. Your case is a mortal lock! The funds available to protect them against their own propoganda are very large and they would think nothing of settling this in lieu of court costs and attorney fees. You are, however, a public figure of sorts known for measured and intelligent commentary, so even if you did say McCain and his neo-con McCaniacs were "neurotic cockroaches" the truth has always been an absolute legal defense in libel/slander type cases. That is to say, the network may plead that even if you did not say it, since it is true, they should not be liable for reporting the truth. Walk, don't run, to the nearest plaintiff's attorney in your area. Good luck Dr. Trifkovic, and keep up the good work.
What I find most amusing about B92 right now is that they are passionately for Obama. That may have been their motive in portraying Dr. Trifkovic as an Obama supporter, as someone who is a journalist in the US and knows the inside scoop. B92s many current articles favor Obama, point out to his great qualities and what a bright future he will bring. To the Tito's pioneers that work at B92, Obama brings out the fond memories of the Nonaligned movement to say the very least. In one of current articles for example,a famous basketball player that hopes to become the president of Serbia someday. endorses Obama! Anyway, the popularity of B92 is not due to its political message, but to its perceived willingness to discuss controversial topics and occasionaly go against its own ideology which makes the reader think that democracy works. Will the patriots ever design a site that will be able to compete with B92?
When you type "Mekejn je neurotična bubašvaba" ("McCain is a neurotic cockroach" in Serbian) it's your article in "Glas Javnosti" that pops up. Here it is: www. glas-javnosti. rs/node/31729/print
So what if you said it, what's the big deal?
JAck Baily @7What I find most amusing about B92 right now is that they are passionately for Obama. That may have been their motive in portraying Dr. Trifkovic as an Obama supporter, as someone who is a journalist in the US and knows the inside scoop.
In light of this Mr. Bailey I would tell Dr. Trifkovic that his chances for a settlement have improved. If McCain wins, then the facts will support the wagon train effect to overhaul B92 by possibly using the good doctor's case as an example of their anti-american ( read anti McCain ) hysterics. On the other hand if Obam wins, then Dr. Trifkovic's case can appeal to the gravy train:"It was just a mistake so let's put it behind us and move on-- quickly please!( This is called the Scooter Libby effect)
Either way Dr. Trifkovic can request bisquits or gravy. And
there is not a plaintiff's lawyer in the world who does not love the smell of bisquits and gravy in the morning.
Ok, I found it now - it's the mistake in translation of your article "Obama - The Patriot" from the Chronicles at "Glas Javnosti" website - where your sentence "McCain is a neurotic scumbag" was mistranslated to "McCain is a neurotic cockroach" - B92 must have found the translation, not the original text.
You can continue your anti-B92 thread now, I won't interrupt.
How is it possible to stay quiet and not to react when someone is "citing" the words you've never verbalized to anyone? The natural answer would be immediately expressed ("no, I have never said something like that!"), except in case that the "defamed" person had some other (prearranged) "idea" on his mind. The "other idea" may only be referring to the future lawsuit, which has been planned in advance by the "damaged" side. Knowing the "profitable" personality of Srđa Trifković, I wouldn't be surprised if he really had been using the incriminated syntagm ("a neurotic cockroach") in an unofficial conversation with the presenter, shortly before the live broadcast itself.
On the other hand, it is hard to believe that anyone (whose natural language is Serbian), who intended to defame another person, would be using similar string of words, because "neurotična bubašvaba" (neurotic cockroach) has no meaning whatsoever in Serbian and makes no sense at all. In English, it seems that the syntagm "nervous as a cockroach" is possible and it can be used in description of a state of unquietness. Nevertheless, I suppose that the mentioned TV show was broadcast in Serbian language, and not in English.
Of course, I do not want to be apologetic towards the anti-Serbian B92 TV station, because that people deserve nothing but the deepest despise of the Serbian nation, but, I would add that a "lucrative" (surreptitious) behaviour of Srđa Trifković, should also be condemned.
I would hate to be seen on the side of B92 and the rotten Soros gang but the truth is that I have seen those words written by Mr. Trifkovic. I remember reading back in July in "Glas javnosti" the article titled "Neka nam Bog bude na pomoći" (May God help us) in which Mr. Trifkovic uses the words "Mekejn je neurotična bubašvaba, ali je njegov oponent uništitelj." (McCain is a neurotic cockroach, but his opponent is a destroyer). Unless that article was a misprint Mr. Trifkovic may be the one apologizing and that would sadden me greatly.
Srdja,
I did not follow something in the revision. Did you or did you not call McCain a scumbag on this blog back in July, or is somebody hacking in columns under your name in order to sandbag you later?
And how does an interpreter get "neurotic cockroach" out of scumbag? Oh, he was educated in American public schools.
"Sensationalism and tastelessness" have indeed both parties, Glas-javnosti and B92 TV, displayed here.
Let's try to get this straight: Dr Trifkovic in his column calls sen. McCain a "neurotic scumbag". The posting is translated, without permission, and "scumbag" becomes "cockroach". It is clear that this is not a fair way to use his material.
It is also clear that this episode does not, in any real way, cause damage to dr. T:s professional reputation. To threaten libel lawsuits, as in the original posting, seems silly. Surely moving to the US cannot make a man so sensitive to slight, or so eager for litigation?
It is not hard to arrive at the connection between "scumbag" and "cockroach" during the process of translation from English to another language. The former does not appear as a meaning in Oxford Illustrated Dictionary, Britannica-Webster Dictionary 1981 or the Macquarie Thesaurus 1992. Even if it appears in some American dictionaries it is still obscure to many outside the US.
"Scum", on the other hand, is listed alongside a wide range of meanings including; "louse", insect, vermin and creep". Either "vermin", "insect" or "creep" could easily contain "cockroach" as an analogy in some dictionaries. The bag of scum (scumbag) would therefore contain all the possible meanings of "scum" or any single one by selection.
If the article in question is a translation, as Dr. Trifkovic claims, it is not necessarily intended to slight the author of the original article but a matter of judgment by the translator as to which analogy would be most befitting the translation.
Well, I recommend that translators use the Urban Dictionary instead, or if thgey are more literate and prefer books they could consult the Dictionary of American slang. Scumbag appears in both. It is a regional expression used primarily in New York City, but understood elsewhere to be a used condom.
It is surprising then that Dr. Trifkovic is complaining. The translator may have been inadvertently kind to him because a neurotic cockroach is less of an insult to the designated party than a used condom.