Activity Details (ID# 796)

Activity Synopsis

The workshop was organised at the request of the Local Democracy Agency - Ohrid. It was also co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation within the framework of the Stability Pact.

The workshop was aimed to address questions raised by the problematic Articles within the existing Law for radio-broadcasting activities. Questions concerning the legal status, financing and independent editorial policy of the public and private broadcasting sectors had a primary position on the agenda. In that respect, one of the main aims of the workshop was to acquire information and determine directions for amending and developing the broadcasting regulation, with all relevant representatives throughout the country.

 

In the discussion were accentuated problems of strategy building as problems faced by ''the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia''. Few elements were also pointed out that have a main role in “producing” a European broadcasting system and in particular the role of National Broadcasting Council which under the current Law has more advisory than regulatory role. Furthermore was noted the connection between broadcasting system and political and economic system in the country. It was noted that the pressure put on the broadcasters is depending from the political culture of the political elite. The existing laws are producing state broadcasting instead of public broadcasting service.

Concerning the private broadcasters were revealed numerous problems likewise: private broadcasting associations are not defined as a specific type of commercial association; the legal limits regarding the ownership structure and restrictions on the ownership concentration are not functioning well; decisions regarding the allocation of concession are made by government; possibilities for financing the private broadcasters through licence fee revenue and through projects of public interest do not give optimal solutions; new technologies dictate new regulation for digital distribution system.
 

All participants agreed that there is a high level of homogeneity between private and public broadcasters. The existing legal frame, mainly the Law on broadcasting activity and the Law on establishing MRT are not adequate to the needs of broadcasters, neither provide the implementation of the European standards in the broadcasting system of the country.

Hence, in the sector of the public or state broadcasting as well as in the sector of commercial broadcasting new legal regulation is urgent. The new legal regulation has to transform the existing Broadcasting Council in autonomous regulatory body of the broadcasting and adequate to this position this institution can actively direct the broadcasting policy of ' the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia'.

Planned follow-up activities

At the end of the workshop was established a Working group consisting of five members, which will prepare a final document based on the conclusions adopted at the end of the workshop, including all additional comments given by the public and private electronic media on problematic articles in the Broadcasting Law. The final document will be submitted to the Ministry of Transport and Data Links, which would initiate the procedure for amending the existing Law.

A summary of the workshop is published on the LDA-Ohrid WEB site www.aldoh.org.mk, and on the WEB site of Association of LDAs www.ldaaonline.org.

 

Representatives from the legal departments of private and public media, as well as directors, editors and journalists; elected members of the Broadcasting Council; government officials, elected members of the Trade Union of Media (GIFIH) and representatives from NGO sector dealing with media.