Activity Details (ID# 12661)

Activity Synopsis

The main objective of the seminar was to explain the legal and philosophical European standards on the question of freedom of the press and freedom of expression and information, and to inform about professional tools concerning the coverage of democratic elections, taking into account the content of Recommendation No. (99) 15 of the Council of Europe on media coverage of election campaigns. 

The organisational preparation of both seminars was contrasted.

The organisers of the seminar in Vinnitsa showed much goodwill and were very keen to do their best. But they apparently encountered some difficulties in setting up the seminar. According to information provided to the expert, they did not have sufficient enough notice to attract more journalists and convince them to attend the seminar, and many newspaper staff have very few journalists, given these difficult working condition, of course, if was difficult for them to be absent from the newspaper one whole day.

On the contrary, the preparation of the Chernigiv seminar was excellent. The choice of its location (a spacious conference room in a modern hotel technically well-equipped) was very convenient. The local organisers were very dynamic and well-aware of the issues to be discussed. The journalists came from the regions all around Chernigiv (one lady came from a small town more than 200 km away).

In both seminars, the participants received basic documentation about the Council of Europe (Recommendation No. (99) 15 and a booklet introducing the history and aims of the CoE).

The discussions with the participants were very lively and allowed the expert to give more concrete explanations about the ways journalists in western countries, particularly in France, carry out their work during election campaigns. The expert gave some examples of regulations adopted by the public authorities to ensure the fair treatment by the media of the candidates.

Nevertheless, the expert had the impression that it was sometimes difficult for the participants to imagine this legal framework in the present Ukrainian context. Really independent newspapers are still very few in Ukraine and both codes of ethics or self-regulation do not exist. 

For these reasons, the holding of this kind of seminar is very useful. But it remains a long task before European standards of freedom of press are popularised and practised in Ukraine. 

Most of the participants came from local newspapers dependant on local administrations. Very few came from effectively independent newspapers. Some were members of NGO’s editing electronic media concerning local, social or national problems 

Mr Manuel LUCBERT, Journalist, Ecole Supérieure de Journalisme de Lille (France) 

Ms Lejla DERVISAGIC, Media Division, DG II