Activity Details (ID# 4612)

Activity Synopsis

Based on a proposal drafted by the Belarusian Association of Journalists, this activity had for general objective to familiarise participants with the concept of public service broadcasting and discuss its possible development in Belarus after a political transition.
More specifically, the Conference wanted to assess the current situation in the broadcasting field in Belarus, particularly in the State Television but also in the emerging regional private sector as well as cable television. It was aimed as a launch of a wider public awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need to reform the broadcasting sector in Belarus, as well as a first stepping stone on the way to develop practical approaches for such a reform process.
 

(description of the activities output and how this should lead to results. The activity help in attaining the objectives? Why or why not? Lessons learned?)

The Conference was well organised, the simultaneous interpretation enabled a high-level of technical exchanges between the local participants and foreign experts. Article 19’s Principles on Freedom of expression and broadcasts regulation and the Council of Europe Recommendation on the guarantee of the independence of Public Service Broadcasting R (96) 10 translated into Russian were made available to the participants.

The presentations were mostly interesting but probably too numerous. The time for discussion was often used for additional shorter presentations by conference participants, thereby not leaving much time for questions and answers or open discussion. The presentations by Mr Hagi Šein, member of the Estonian Broadcasting Council on the Estonian transition from State TV to PSB and by Ms Katherine Dumbleton, broadcasting consultant, on the current regulation of the broadcasting sector in the United Kingdom, were extremely well received and complemented each other well. Belarusian speakers, for the most part, described a very difficult situation in the sector and in some cases promoted solutions by giving concrete examples of successes, particularly in the field of regional broadcasting. During the last session participants discussed follow-up steps and agreed on a joint declaration.

Some media from the press as well as radio covered the activity.

Although no questionnaire was distributed, the activity was well received and welcomed, the initial sceptical remarks about the need of such an activity expressed by a few conference participants were soon rejected by the majority who agreed on the need to start as early as possible a public and practical debate around these sensitive questions. The format of the activity (conference) enabled a much needed exchange of information between participants from different backgrounds.

Some changes in the programme were undertaken because a few speakers were available only at particular times, but generally the timetable was followed.

The target group was reached. The media professionals present and the Belarusian experts discussed possibilities of collaboration on an ambitious strategy for reforming the country’s broadcasting sector. Members of parliament from opposition fractions had an opportunity to show their support to this reform process, and for other participants this was an occasion to develop their understanding of the concept of PSB.

Besides some remarks about the appropriateness of an activity on such a topic in the current situation, no negative feed-back was expressed. One of the news articles (in ‘Belarusskaya Delovaya Gazeta’) published the day after the conference also followed this tenor while others were supportive.
 

(Is a follow-up to this activity necessary? What should be done? How and when?)

A final resolution was adopted by the Conference participants. It foresees the setting-up of a working group of experts by the end of July 2003. This group will work under the aegis of the Belarusian Association of Journalists. It will work to develop the public awareness-raising campaign about the need to reform the Belarusian broadcasting sector and to prepare an alternative draft Law on broadcasting.

ARTICLE 19 agreed to provide technical assistance and advise in developing the project further, as well as legal expertise in the drafting process.

 

Media professionals from both press and broadcasting sector, members of Parliament, academics, representatives of trade-union and representatives of civil society organisations

 

Mario Oetheimer, Media Division, DG II