Activity Details (ID# 10861)

Activity Synopsis

Discussion of threats and opportunities involved in the establishment of a public broadcasting system, setting up a working group and development of practical recommendations for the Ukrainian government and other bodies of state administration and local governments to ensure equal status of the commercial and public radio and TV both at the national and regional level. 

- It was a very fruitful cooperation in terms of technical and organisational preparations, especially with Internews-Ukraine. This organisation published a special brochure including all important documents related to the topics covered during the conference. Moreover, two CoE experts gave power-point presentations and then made them available to the participants.

- Participants were actively involved in discussions during the onference. Many questions regarding the process of establishment of PSB, funding of PSB and finally the PSB’s impact on commercial broadcasting services in regions were raised. The Polish experience in this matter was also discussed in depth.

- There was an excellent media coverage. All commercial and State TV stations were present during the conference.

- The representatives of the abovementioned organisations and institutions were present, especially representatives of media including regional media. There were no politicians or representatives of the decision-makers.
 

The conference did not conclude with any declaration due to its character. During the conference the representative of the Council of Europe informed the participants about the planned actions aimed at Ukrainian media in 2006.

Furthermore it could be noted that the representatives of regional media were not aware of the specific character of PSB. In this context it seems useful to follow up the conference by holding seminars and workshops in the regions. It is possible, relatively quickly, to prepare together with Ukrainian partners a list of important topics and regions to which these seminars and workshops should be addressed.

It is also worth considering the possibility of a group of CoE experts preparing/analysying the the draft law on public media.
 

Representatives of radio and TV station managers, journalists, representatives of schools of journalism, social organisations operating in the media sector, media trade unions, donor organisations from Europe, Kiev and Ukrainian regions  

Mr Karol JAKUBOWICZ (Poland), Chairman of the Council of Europe’s Steering Committee on the Media and New Communication Services
Mr Dusan Babic, member of the Board of Governors, PBS Bosnia and Herzegovina, media expert, Media Plan Institute
Mr Petr. Mares, Advisory Board Member, Association for International Affairs (Czech Republic), former Vice-Prime Minister of Czech Republic
Mr Christian Nissen, independent media and management advisor