Activity Details (ID# 12687)

Activity Synopsis

- General and specific objectives

The aims of the seminar were to:

1) involve representatives from Media and local authorities from different regions in Ukraine

2) transmit the Polish and Lithuanian experience as regards the main issue of the seminar

3) discuss the main problems related to the media and local authorities in Ukraine and also with the presentation on independent Ukrainian experts from the NGO – Internews-Ukrainia reinforced the knowledge of regional representatives on the European standards in this regard.

4) carry out a comprehensive analysis of the relations between the media and government authorities.
 

The seminar was very well organised. The participants received some documents related to media issues.

The presentations by the Polish and Lithuanian experts were very active and efficient. An exchange of opinions with participants was very lively and interesting. The participants were particularly interested in the situation in the Polish and the Lithuanian public media, their presentation of the state administration and local politicians by newspapers, radio and TV stations, development of the local advertising market and projected trends in the media market. A lot of attention was devoted to the specificity of the Polish and the Lithuanian regional newspapers, mainly about how they fight for readers, and to the steps taken by the administration to build a positive image of the authorities and the people who hold public functions. Discussed as a separate problems were the media of national minorities and the role of women in the media. It is important to stress that the experts were excellent.

The seminar received very good media coverage. The main television channels; journalists from the press such as Telekrytyka, Dzerkalo Tyznia and the main press agency “Unian” were represented.

The seminar reached its targeted audience. 30 participants from different regions of Ukraine were invited to the seminar (the organisers received 200 requests from the regions for the 30 available places).
 

It should be important to take into account the huge interest of the Ukrainian regional participants for this kind of seminar in the future and to organise the follow-up activities.

Under the existing Joint Programme it is planned to organise 2-3 regional seminars. Taking into consideration that Ukraine only begins the process of democratic reforms in the regions, it will be useful to conduct such consultations with the detailed elaboration of the problems and searches of their solution taking into account the experience of such close to Ukraine countries as Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania or Latvia.

Internews-Ukrainia, a co-organiser of the seminar, stressed that in the future it would be important to pay more attention to the development of the regional media. Special attention should be paid to the training for journalists, editors, advertisement makers. The enhancement of their professional skills will make their job easier in market conditions and will improve the quality of such editions. The participation of the experts from Central and Eastern Europe is recommended as they can share their experience, practical skills, knowledge.
 

Media and local authorities representatives from 10 Ukrainian regions 

Mr Wlodzimierz Bogaczyk, Council of Europe expert, Poland
Mr Igor Hrywna, Council of Europe expert, Poland
Mr Artur Jablonski, Council of Europe expert, Poland
Mr Piotr Tyma, Council of Europe expert Poland
Mr Viktor Cernysuk, Council of Europe expert, Lithuania
Mr Roman Kobets, Head of Analytical Service of Ideal Country Project, Ukraine
Mr Pavlo Moiseev, Head of Legal Department, Internews-Ukraine.
 

Ms Izabella Chruslinska, Council of Europe