Activity Details (ID# 13744)

Activity Synopsis

The objective of this conference was to address the urgent need to enhance the capacity of the state and society to deal with the problem of organised crime by: (1) discussing this problem from the perspective of the media as representatives of public opinion and (2) exploring the media’s possible contribution to combat this problem. In particular, to discuss the media image of organized crime, the role of investigative journalism and the problems of access to information when dealing with the issue. 

The discussions were very lively and open. The problems identified by the participants regarding the media image of organised crime included the following:
 despite the large coverage of events related to organized crime, the perception remained that news coverage ends at the level of ordinary crime reporting, adopting a rather sensationalist approach;
 the use of subtle image-building of bosses of the underworld with their life-styles sometimes succeeds in promoting these people as legitimate public figures;
 increasing attention was being paid to petty crime;
 the specific use of language by the media, based on allegations and evading precise terminology.

The participants identified the following problems regarding the role of investigative journalism:
 although the media succeed in outlining the destructive effects of organized crime on the economy, on public and political life, on the judiciary and on the daily life of the country, they were not always successful in the “in-depth” investigation and analysis of organized criminal groups;
 the media were often over-dependent on official sources feeding them the information that is potentially quite different from non-institutional analyses.

The above showed the fundamental flaw of investigative journalism in Bulgaria: the lack of adequate funding and other resources given to journalist to do their work properly. This in turn showed the lack of commitment by media owners to support quality journalism. Nevertheless, there are exceptions, but these are few.

As regards access to information, the participants expressed their concern about the existing and growing restrictions imposed by a draft law on the Ministry of Interior, which aims to declare that all information involving the Ministry’s work could be considered classified. The association of journalists, various foundations, representatives of the Access to Information Programme and others are vigorously protesting against these planned measures, insisting that all efforts should be made to overcome legal, bureaucratic, and systemic impediments that hinder normal access to information that the public deserves to know. This includes all information concerning organized crime.

The discussions also covered information strategies and the media and the often “romantic portrayal” of people involved in organized crime, which suggest the existence of special links between them and media owners, editors-in-chief or simple reporters. Economic independence of the media and their relationship with powerful advertisers and how this affects the work of editors and journalists was also covered.

Mr Gabriel Partos gave an interview to the daily Dnevnik and to Bulgarian National Television in which he reiterated the importance of the public debate on the problems related to organized crime and the responsibility of the media in this respect.
 

The following conclusions were adopted:

• there is no doubt that the media can play a key role in the struggle against organized crime and corruption because journalists must collect, package and disseminate information for the good of society. As a watchdog and whistle-blower, the media can be a powerful partner of other agencies, by exposing acts of organized crime and corruption and informing and educating the public about its dangers;

• the media assumes ever-growing responsibilities in forming public coalitions for fighting organized crime, and finally to adequately reward journalists for their balanced reporting and work, bearing in mind the highest ethical/ professional standards of Western journalism;

• editors and journalists must make every attempt to protect their editorial independence form the pressures of their business colleagues;

• additional resources must be provided by publishers, to facilitate and cover expenses for in-depth investigations on organized crime.

All participants expressed their appreciation to the Council of Europe for supporting this important event. They proposed that similar conferences bringing together publishers and journalists, lawyers and judges, parliamentarians and political party activists be organized by the Free and Democratic Bulgaria Foundation.
 

Leading journalists who cover this topic in the printed and electronic media and leading investigative journalists; representatives of the Bulgarian Association of investigative journalists (namely Zoya Dimitrova, Chair, Yovo Nikolov, Deputy Chair, Ivan Rachev, Kristi Petrova, Miroluba Benatova, Slavi Angelov, Velislav Roussev); members, representatives of think-tanks and NGOs, representatives of the the Ministry of the Interior (Yavor Simov, Head of PR Department) and the judiciary 

Mr Gabriel Partos, South-East Europe analyst, BBC World Service