Activity Details (ID# 12074)

Activity Synopsis

The objective of the conference was to discuss whether poor quality media are a threat to democracy in South East Europe and to discuss the key issues examined in the report “Freedom and accountability: safeguarding free expression through media self-regulation” recently published by ARTICLE 19 in association with the IFJ. 

The Conference was well organised and the participants took an active part in the debates, which focussed on key principles of media self-regulation, specific obstacles encountered by the media in South East Europe, including the large degree of political influence on the media, commercial pressure, the non-respect of laws, the problem of vigilante or revolver journalism or critical thinking within the population, a dire economic situation and poor employment conditions for journalists, which in turn promote low ethical standards of journalism. Although many codes of ethics have been signed, there is a lack of mechanisms to seek their implementation. The fact that the media community is fragmented and the lack of independence of press councils from external pressure only serves to exacerbate the situation.

Other issues raised included: making a press council work in a post-conflict society, how to develop a code of ethics, the best composition for a press council, the possible remits of self-regulatory bodies and how to secure the independence of a press council.
 

As a conclusion to the Conference recommendations on the following issues were adopted:
- how to reach out to the public;
- how to address the impact of poor working conditions on journalists and the knock-on effect on professional standards;
- how to secure the independence of press councils;
- how to ensure that foreign funding is used in an accountable manner
 

Media representatives and NGO activists from Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as representatives from the Estonian Press Council, the British Press Complaints Commission and other international organisations. 

Council of Europe funded 6 participants 

Tanja GERWIEN