Activity Details (ID# 7601)

Activity Synopsis

The general aim of the seminar was, by analysing the principals of media performance, media effects, and relations between the media and governments, to show how the media stimulates the effectiveness of politics and is one of the main instruments of the political socialisation of society.

 

The seminar proved to be a success both as concerns the technical and organisational aspects, as well as the content of the presentations.

During the three day seminar, the Lithuanian experience of relations between the media and politics was presented to the participants from Belarus and Russia. Firstly, the discussion centred on theoretical questions about political communication and the political effects of the mass media.Following wich practical issues were analysed. Problems such as relations between the media and the government, media and public interests, and media concentration raised many questions and much discussion. The second day was devoted to the role of the media in electoral campaigns. The participants had the possibility to improve their knowledge in using media in communication with audiences and in participating in media. During the final day of the seminar, the participants had the meetings with the heads of the information centres of two Lithuanian political parties and the editor of a Lithuanian daily newspaper.

The participants represented our targeted group, however, there was a slight disproportion among the participants: the NGO’s were more represented by the Belarusian side and the majority of journalists were from Kaliningrad.
 

Since this activity was a training seminar, no formal declaration was adopted at the end of the seminar. As the seminar proved to be a success, the possibility of holding similar seminars, not only in Lithuania, but also in the area of the target groups – Kaliningrad and even Belarus, was discussed. 

Media professionals and representatives of political NGO’s 

Mario Oetheimer, Media Division, DG II