Activity Details (ID# 16034)

Activity Synopsis

The objectives of the seminar were to present to participants the standards of the Council of Europe regarding freedom of expression in time of elections (Recommendation No. R (99) 15 on measures concerning media coverage of election campaigns) in the perspective of the forthcoming elections in 1 October 2006, and to discuss the possible difficulties which may be encountered when implementing these principles in their daily work. 

At the beginning of the seminar, the Council of Europe standards as well as some examples from other European countries on media coverage of electoral campaigns were presented to the participants.
The national speakers shared with participants their longstanding experience of monitoring and reporting on elections. During the first part of the seminar, which was dedicated to the print media, the Election Law which largely determines the role of the Press Council was discussed. Namely, the Election Law allows all political parties and candidates to address any complaint related to print media to the Press Council. However, due to lack on funding, the Press Council will consider complaints according to ongoing procedures and there is no possibility for organising extraordinary sessions for settling disputable cases prior to general elections.

During the second part of the seminar, which was dedicated to the electronic media, the speakers shared their experiences of monitoring and reporting of pre-election campaigns. The participants discussed their misgivings related to the rules regulating electronic media passed by the Central Election Commission. There was a shared opinion among journalists that, in most cases, these rules did not allow journalists to express their creativity while designing programmes and presenting political actors and their platforms.

The journalists also agreed that there were no firmly defined rules for media presentation of political actors in pre-election campaigns between elections in print media. In order to avoid the pitfalls due to the lack of these rules, it would be necessary to meet the rules and regulations in the Code of Conduct for print media.
 

The general conclusion was that the media should step up their service to the public and meet the rules for correct and objective reporting in order to encourage citizens to use the electoral process and vote for those they consider to be the right choice. The pluralism of the media exists (more than 180 newspapers, television and radio stations), but fair balanced and impartial reporting is not always ensured.

 

Journalists from print and electronic media, Editors, Representatives of local and international organisations in Sarajevo
Mr Tarik Jusic, Executive Drector of the Media Center Sarajevo, Ms Vildana SELIMBEGOVIĆ, Editor-in-chief of the magazin ''Dani'', Ms Senka KURTOVIC, Editor-in-chief of the daily ''Oslobođenje'', Mr Emir HABUL, Vice-chairman of the Press Council, Mr Senada CUMUROVIC, Director of the BH Radio 1, Mr Vlado BILIC, Programme Director of the FTV, Ms Dunja MIJATOVIC, CRA Sarajevo
 

Mr Henri DUDZINISKI, Journalist and trainer at the ESJ-Lille, ''Ecole supérieure de Journalisme'', Director of daily newspaper ''La Voix du Nord'' (France)
Kees BOONMAN, Chief editor, Network KRO, (the Netherlands) 

Ms Lejla DERVISAGIC, Media Division, Directorate General of Human Rights