INDEX
2003 Eurasia and Europe in Media Independent Sustainable of Development SUSTAINABILITY MEDIA
Media Sustainability Index 2003 IREX www.irex.org www.irex.org/msi/ Fax: (202) 628-8189 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (202) 628-8188 Washington, DC 20037 Copyright © 2004 IREX by 2121 K Street, Suite 700 NW, 2121 Media Sustainability Index 2003 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITYINDEX2003
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Introduction vii Executive Summary ix Methodology xxi
Southeast Europe
Albania 3 Bosnia and Herzegovina 13 Bulgaria 23 Croatia 33 Kosovo 43 Macedonia 55 Montenegro 65 Romania 75 Serbia 89 Caucasus . Armenia 99 Azerbaijan 109 Georgia 117
Russia & Western Eurasia Belarus 131 Moldova 143 Russia 155 Ukraine 169
Central Asia Kazakhstan 185 Kyrgyzstan 195 Tajikistan 205 Uzbekistan 215
CONTENTS v !CCORDING TO -ARK 0OMAR 0RESIDENT OF )2%8 h4HE LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA POINTS TO A STRONG CORRELATION BETWEEN MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT 4HE TWO MOVE IN TANDEM AND THEREFORE A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA IS ONE OF THE MORE ACCURATE INDICATORS OF POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTv )NTRODUCTION
AM PLEASED TO INTRODUCE THE -EDIA 3USTAINABILITY )NDEX -3) &OR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR THE -3) PROVIDES IN DEPTH ANALYSIS OF THE CONDITIONS FOR INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN COUNTRIES ACROSS %UROPE AND %URASIA 4HE -3) WAS CONCEIVED IN COOPERATION WITH THE 5NITED 3TATES !GENCY FOR )NTERNATIONAL $EVELOPMENT 53!)$ IN AS A TOOL TO MEASURE MEDIA DEVELOPMENT 3INCE THEN THE -3) HAS EVOLVED INTO AN IMPORTANT BENCHMARK STUDY TO ASSESS HOW MEDIA STRUCTURES CHANGE OVER TIME AND ACROSS BORDERS $URING THE PAST THREE YEARS THE -3) HAS CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS READERSHIP AND ITS ROLE IN BUILDING A KNOWLEDGE BASE FOR THOSE INTERESTED )IN PROMOTING INDEPENDENT MEDIA &OR EXAMPLE 4RANSPARENCY )NTERNA TIONAL REFERENCED THE -3) IN ITS 'LOBAL #ORRUPTION 2EPORT UNDER SCORING THE ROLE MEDIA PLAY IN REVEALING AND COMBATING CORRUPTION 4HE -3) WAS CITED IN A REPORT BY THE 53 'ENERAL !CCOUNTING /FlCE '!/ AS A COMPREHENSIVE TOOL FOR ASSESSING MEDIA IN TRANSITIONING COUNTRIES )N RESPONSE TO CONGRESSIONAL CONCERN ABOUT CUTS TO 6OICE OF !MERICA AND 2ADIO &REE %UROPE PROGRAMS THE '!/ REPORT SUGGESTED THE -3) COULD BE USED TO MORE ACCURATELY GAUGE SPECIlC MEDIA ENVIRONMENTS BEFORE DETERMINING BUDGET CUTS &URTHERMORE THE -3) CONTINUES TO BE USED BY 53!)$ AND MANY IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATIONS IN DETERMINING DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES %QUALLY IMPORTANT IS THE SIGNIlCANCE OF THE -3) FOR MEDIA PROFESSIONALS IN EACH OF THE COUNTRIES ASSESSED &OR SOME THEIR PRES ENCE ON THE -3) PANEL SERVES NOTICE TO REPRESSIVE GOVERNMENTS THAT INDEPENDENT MEDIA HAVE AN IMPORTANT SOCIAL VOICE &OR OTHERS THE STUDY OFFERS INSIGHT INTO HOW SIMILAR OUTLETS IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES BECOME SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES OR HOW THE ESTABLISHMENT OF EVEN ONE MEDIA ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT OF JOURNALISTS RIGHTS CAN BEGIN TO COUNTERACT THE POLITICAL PRESSURE ON REPORTERS AND EDITORS !ND JOURNALISTS CAN MEASURE THE COSTS OF PASSIVE SELF CENSORSHIP ALONGSIDE THE DAMAGE TO PROFES SIONAL STANDARDS FROM MORE TRADITIONAL CENSORSHIP BY MANAGERS OWNERS OR THE GOVERNMENT 4HE -3) ALSO DEMONSTRATES THAT HAVING LAWS THAT PURPORT TO ENSHRINE THE RIGHT TO A FREE PRESS DOES NOT EQUATE TO HAVING AN INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN PRACTICE AND THAT STATE CONTROLLED MEDIA CANNOT NECESSARILY BE PASSED OFF AS BEING IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST
)2%8 ANALYZED +OSOVO AND -ONTENEGRO AS DISTINCT ENTITIES ).42/$5#4)/. VII "Y PROVIDING SUCH PERSPECTIVES TO READERS OF THE -3) WE HOPE TO REINFORCE SUPPORT FOR DEVELOPING MEDIA SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRIES CURRENTLY STUDIED (OWEVER AS OPPOR TUNITIES ARISE TO ANALYZE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND REGIONS WE WILL CONTINUE TO APPLY THE -3) AS A USEFUL ANALYTICAL AND ADVOCACY TOOL )2%8 WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE PUBLICATION OF THE -EDIA 3USTAINABILITY )NDEX 0ARTICIPANTS MODERATORS AND OBSERVERS FOR EACH COUNTRY LISTED AFTER EACH CHAPTER PROVIDED THE PRIMARY OBSERVATIONS AND ANALYSIS FOR THIS PROJECT !T 53!)$ 0ETER 'RAVES AND NUMEROUS lELD BASED STAFF PROVIDED VALUABLE COM MENTS ON THE CONTENT OF THE STUDY !LL HAVE BEEN ESSENTIAL SUPPORTERS OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA AND ADVOCATES FOR THE -3) AS AN ANALYTICAL TOOL FOR DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS !T )2%8 -ICHAEL #LARKE *ILL *ARVI -AGGIE -C$ONOUGH $RUSILLA -ENAKER 'ER HARD 3ARIC #ARA 3TERN ,INDA 4RAIL AND -ARK 7HITEHOUSE PROVIDED EDITORIAL SUPPORT )2%8 2ESIDENT !DVISORS AND )2%8 lELD STAFF IN THE COUNTRIES PROVIDED IMPORTANT SUP PORT IN DEVELOPING THE PANELS OR PROVIDING LOGISTICAL SUPPORT 4HEO $OLAN MANAGED THE OVERALL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT 7E HOPE YOU WILL lND THIS REPORT USEFUL AND WE WELCOME ANY FEEDBACK
3INCERELY
-ARK ' 0OMAR 0RESIDENT )2%8
VIII -%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI %XECUTIVE 3UMMARY
HE THIRD ANNUAL -EDIA 3USTAINABILITY )NDEX -3) REVEALS KEY TRENDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN %UROPE AND %URASIA DURING AS WELL AS THOSE SINCE THE ASSESSMENT BEGAN IN 3CORES OVER THIS PERIOD SHOW THE UNEVEN PROGRESS OF THE COUNTRIES ANALYZED IN FOUR REGIONAL TIERS 3OUTHEAST %UROPE CONSTITUTES THE lRST TIER WITH THE NINE COUNTRIES OF THE REGION MOVING RAPIDLY TO ESTABLISH SUSTAIN ABLE INDEPENDENT MEDIA 4HE #AUCASUS IN THE SECOND TIER SHOW A VERY GRADUALLY IMPROVING MEDIA LANDSCAPE )N 2USSIA AND THE 7ESTERN %URASIA COUNTRIES PROGRESS HAS LEVELED OFF OVER THE THREE YEAR PERIOD WITH THE DRAMATIC EVENTS AFFECTING MEDIA IN "ELARUS HAVING A SIGNIl 4 CANT IMPACT )N #ENTRAL !SIA THE FOURTH TIER OF MEDIA DEVELOPMENT COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE ONLY HALTING REFORMS 4HESE REGIONAL TIERS INDICATE A SIMILAR PACE OF MEDIA DEVELOPMENT FOR EACH GROUP OF COUNTRIES YET THE PROGRESSOR LACK THEREOFOF THE INDIVIDUAL COUN TRIES INDICATES JUST HOW UNIQUE THE PATH TO SUSTAINABILITY CAN BE
3OUTHEAST %UROPE 4HE COUNTRIES OF 3OUTHEAST %UROPE LARGELY CONTINUED THEIR RAPID PROGRESS TOWARD MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY DURING #ROATIA REMAINS THE COUNTRY CLOSEST TO ESTABLISHING OVERALL SUSTAINABILITY BUT -ACEDONIA -ONTENEGRO AND 3ERBIA EVIDENCED THE GREATEST GROWTH ON A PERCENTAGE BASIS FROM TO -UCH OF THIS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE EMPHA SIS THE REGIONS COUNTRIES PLACED ON GAINING MEMBERSHIP IN MULTILATERAL ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS .!4/ AND THE %UROPEAN 5NION 4HESE COUN TRIES ALSO SHARED AN IMPROVING BUSINESS CLIMATE THAT ALLOWED GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF QUALITY MEDIA OUTLETS "OSNIA AND (ERZEGOVINA IMPROVED SIGNIlCANTLY IN AS WELL BUT PROGRESS IS RESTRAINED BY A COMPLEX POLITICAL STRUCTURE AND CORRESPONDING DELAYS IN REORGANIZING PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATIVE REFORMS "ULGARIA AND 2OMANIA DEMONSTRATE A DIFFERENT TREND 7ITH .!4/ MEMBERSHIP PROMISED IN AND %5 MEMBERSHIP ATTAINABLE IN BOTH COUNTRIES HAVE REGRESSED SLIGHTLY IN THEIR MEDIA DEVELOP MENT 4HEIR EFFORTS TO ASSERT THEMSELVES INTERNATIONALLY APPEAR TO HAVE
%DITORS .OTE 4URKMENISTAN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE -3) %8%#54)6% 35--!29 IX DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM DOMESTIC EFFORTS TO PROMOTE FURTHER MEDIA LIBERALIZATION )NDEED BOTH COUNTRIES HAVE EXPERI ENCED SIGNIlCANT PROBLEMS WITH IMPLEMENTING MEDIA LEGISLATION AND PROTECTING JOURNALISTS FREEDOM OF SPEECH 4HE LACK OF JUDICIAL REFORM ALSO PREVENTS THESE COUNTRIES FROM DISPLAYING THE KIND OF PROGRESS EXHIBITED BY THEIR NEIGHBORS !LBANIA AND +OSOVO HAVE SHOWN LITTLE IMPROVEMENT OVER THE THREE YEAR PERIOD !LBANIAS PROGRESS IS TEMPERED BY THE STRONG GRIP OF POLITICAL AND BUSINESS GROUPS ON MEDIA OUTLETS -EANWHILE +OSOVOESSENTIALLY AN INTERNATIONAL PROTECTORATEMUST COPE WITH A SATURATED MEDIA MARKET AS THE INTERNAL BUREAUCRACY SHAPES EFFECTIVE MEDIA LEGISLATION AND AN INDEPENDENT MEDIA REGULATORY COMMISSION $ESPITE LIBERALIZATION IN THE MEDIA SECTOR THROUGHOUT 3OUTHEAST %UROPE POTENTIAL DANGERS LINGER -EDIA OUTLETS IN MANY COUNTRIES CONTINUE TO BE STRONGLY INmUENCED BY POLITICAL OR BUSINESS INTERESTS AFFECTING EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE AND PROFESSIONALISM &URTHERMORE THE MEDIA SECTOR IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY CONSOLIDATED AS LARGE FOREIGN CONGLOM ERATES BUY LOCAL MEDIA 4HIS TREND OFTEN LEADS TO MORE lNANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE MEDIA BUT RISKS CENTRALIZING EDITORIAL DECISION MAKING IN A FEW HANDS !DVOCATES FOR INDEPENDENT MEDIA CANNOT ASSUME THE SIGNIlCANT PROGRESS RECORDED IN 3OUTHEAST %UROPE SINCE WILL CONTINUE !CCESSION TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WILL NOT BE A GUARANTEE OF A SUSTAINABLE INDEPENDENT MEDIA UNLESS EACH COUNTRY IN THE REGION MAINTAINS ITS FOCUS ON NURTURING THE GROWTH OF A FREE PRESS WITHIN ITS BORDERS
X -%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI #AUCASUS
4HE COUNTRIES THAT COMPRISE THE #AUCASUS REGION ALL EVIDENCE MARGINAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE MEDIA SECTOR DESPITE THE CONTENTIOUS ELECTIONS THAT DOMINATED ACTIVITIES IN 4HESE ELECTIONS WITNESSED A CYCLE OF HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE DIRECTED AGAINST JOURNALISTS REQUIRING MEDIA ASSOCIATIONS AND NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS .'/S TO STEP IN MORE FREQUENTLY TO DEFEND JOURNALISTS RIGHTS IN ALL THREE COUNTRIES $ESPITE THE STILL UNDERDEVELOPED ADVERTISING MARKETS IN THE #AUCASUS MODEST ECONOMIC GROWTH ACROSS THE REGION BOLSTERED MEDIA OUTLETS )N ANOTHER REGIONAL TREND !RME NIA !ZERBAIJAN AND 'EORGIA ALL MADE PROGRESS IN DRAFTING NEW MEDIA LAWS !RMENIA ADOPTED NEW STATUTES ON MASS MEDIA AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION WHILE !ZERBAIJAN AND 'EORGIA PRESENTED CONTROVERSIAL NEW BROADCASTING LEGISLA TION $URING THE CONTINUING DEBATE ALL THREE COUNTRIES WILL NEED TO CONSIDER INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM OF THEIR CRIMINAL DEFAMATION CODES AND REPRESSIVE JUDICIAL SYSTEMS /VERALL THE COUNTRIES IN THE #AUCASUS HAVE INCHED FORWARD IN THEIR MEDIA DEVELOPMENT SINCE (OWEVER MUCH REMAINS TO BE DONE !SSOCIATIONS MUST SEEK PROTECTION FOR JOURNALISTS AND APPLY ONGOING PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENTS TO INITIATE JUDICIAL REFORMS ,EGISLATIVE BODIES ALSO MUST RESIST PRESSURE TO WEAKEN PENDING MEDIA LAWS WITH AMENDMENTS THAT INCREASE STATE CONTROL 7ITH THE ELECTIONS COMPLETED THE MEDIA SECTOR HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS ITS PROFESSIONAL EFFORTS ON REGAINING THE PUBLIC TRUST RATHER THAN TAKING POLITICAL SIDES
2USSIA AND 7ESTERN %URASIA 4HE MEDIA DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT FOR 2USSIA AND 7ESTERN %URASIA WAS LOWERED BY THE REPRESSION OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN "ELARUS AS 0RESIDENT !LEXANDER ,UKASHENKO TURNED HIS COUNTRY AWAY FROM DEMOCRATIC LIBERALIZATION ,UKASH ENKO CONSOLIDATED HIS POWER DURING BY USING NEW REGULATORY PROCEDURES COURT DECISIONS AND PRESIDENTIAL DECREES TO RESTRICT THE ACTIVITIES OF NON STATE MEDIA OUTLETS !S A RESULT "ELARUSIAN MEDIA FELL BELOW THEIR STARTING POINT IN THE -3) RATINGS 3INCE THE -3) 2USSIA HAS TAPERED OFF IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS MEDIA INDEPENDENCE 0OLITICIZED MEDIA ARE SET AGAINST THE STRUGGLING INDEPENDENT MEDIA AND AN APATHETIC PUBLIC IS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE 7ITH CONTROL OVER THE NATIONAL BROADCASTERS CONCENTRATED IN THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND THE MARKET DISTORTED BY THE MANY GOVERNMENT RUN REGIONAL NEWSPAPERS INDEPENDENT OUTLETS STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR PRESENCE 3UCH lRM GOVERNMENT CONTROL HAS LED TO A DECREASE IN THE OBJECTIVITY OF COVERAGE AND DIVERSITY OF OPINIONS AVAILABLE TO 2USSIAN AUDIENCES 4HE COUNTRYS DECLIN
%8%#54)6% 35--!29 XI ING SCORE IS OFFSET SOMEWHAT HOWEVER BY A MODEST GAIN IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALISM AS AN UPSWING IN ECONOMIC INDICATORS FUELS AN IMPROVING ADVERTISING MARKET FOR SOME OUTLETS 4HE -3) SCORES SHOW INERTIA IN -OLDOVAS MEDIA DEVELOPMENT 4HE ACTIVITIES OF .'/S AND MEDIA ASSO CIATIONS IN SUPPORT OF MEDIA DEVELOPMENT CONTINUE TO BOOST THE OVERALL INDEX BUT JOURNALISTS STILL LACK ACCESS TO INFORMATION DECREASING THE LEVEL OF THEIR PROFESSIONALISM /VERALL THE -OLDOVAN MEDIA SECTOR IS SEARCHING FOR TRAC TION AS IT CONFRONTS 3OVIET ERA TRADITIONS A POOR ECONOMY AND STATE CONTROL OF MANY PORTIONS OF THE MEDIA INDUSTRY INFRASTRUCTURE 5KRAINE DEMONSTRATED UNEVEN PROGRESS DURING 7HILE SCORES INDICATE IMPROVEMENT ACROSS ALL CATEGORIES THE RESULTS MUST BE PUT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE DISMAL REPORTS FROM THE TWO PRIOR YEARS .EVERTHELESS 5KRAINE HAS DISPLAYED SIGNIlCANT IMPROVEMENT IN SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS ASSOCIATIONS AND .'/S 7ITH SIGNS OF ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY HAS ALSO BROUGHT NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO THE MEDIA SECTOR "UT VIGILANT POLITICAL CONTROL OVER THE MEDIA AND POOR ETHICAL STANDARDS AMONG JOURNALISTS LESSEN THE POSITIVE EFFECTS
#ENTRAL !SIA !S A WHOLE THE #ENTRAL !SIAN REGION SUFFERED THROUGH A DIFlCULT YEAR IN MEDIA DEVELOPMENT 7ITH THE EXCEPTION OF MODESTLY INCREASING PRESS FREEDOMS IN 4AJIKISTAN THE FOUR COUNTRIES REPRESENTING #ENTRAL !SIA IN THE -3) ARE FAR FROM A SUSTAINABLE INDEPENDENT MEDIA 'OVERNMENTS IN +AZAKHSTAN +YRGYZSTAN AND 5ZBEKISTAN WAGED TARGETED CAMPAIGNS IN TO ASSERT CONTROL OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA -UCH OF THE PROGRESS MEASURED BY THE -3) IN 5ZBEKISTAN AND +AZAKHSTAN DURING PRIOR YEARS UNRAVELED DURING *OURNALISTS WERE ARRESTED HARASSED AND ABUSED WITH NEAR IMPUNITY BY POLITICAL AND BUSINESS INTERESTS +AZAKHSTANS 0RESIDENT .AZARBAYEV REmECTED THE ATTITUDE OF THE REGIONS
XII -%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI REGIMES WHEN HE COMMENTED h)N A POOR SOCIETY TORN BY SOCIAL ANTAGONISMS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ATTAIN THE MODEL OF A LIBERAL AND PLURALISTIC PRESSv 4AJIKISTAN HOLDS THE MOST HOPE FOR #ENTRAL !SIAN MEDIA 4HOUGH MANY JOURNALISTS LACK ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP PROFESSIONAL SKILLS NEW INDEPENDENT MEDIA OUTLETS ARE PROLIFERATING AND COMPETITION AMONG THE 4AJIKISTANI MEDIA IS REVIVING THE INDUSTRY #ONTROL OVER THE MEDIA IN #ENTRAL !SIAN COUNTRIES HAD BEEN NOTED BY THE -3) SINCE (OWEVER RECENT SCORES INDICATE THAT THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE FORMER 3OVIET REPUBLICS DID NOT REACT WELL TO INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM IN PRACTICE AND ARE SEEKING TO CONTROL THE mOW OF INFORMATION TO CITIZENS &UTURE MEDIA DEVELOPMENT APPEARS DEPENDENT ON REFORM OR CHANGE WITHIN THE #ENTRAL !SIAN POLITICAL POWER STRUCTURES
/VERALL COUNTRIES MUST SUMMON THE POLITICAL WILL TO INITIATE THE REFORMS NEEDED TO GIVE TEETH TO WELL INTENTIONED MEDIA LEGISLATION 'OVERNMENTS POLITICIANS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS IN ALL FOUR REGIONS MUST ACCEPT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS !ND THEY MUST COMMIT TO GIVING CITIZENS THE INFORMATION NEEDED FOR THEIR PERFORMANCES TO BE JUDGED #ONCURRENTLY MEDIA OUTLETS MUST APPRECIATE FULLY THEIR ROLES AS RESPONSIBLE CONDUITS SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS 4HE GAINS IN DEVELOPMENT NOTED IN THE -3) MERIT APPRECIATION WHILE THE ROADBLOCKS AND SETBACKS DEMAND ATTENTION 4HE POINTS OF CONVERGENCE ACROSS THE SURVEYED COUNTRIES INDICATE THE AREAS REQUIRING PARTICULAR FOCUS IF INDEPENDENT MEDIA ARE GOING TO BE FULLY SUSTAINABLE AND PROVIDE THE CREDIBLE INFORMATION THE PUBLIC DESERVES
%8%#54)6% 35--!29 XIII XIV -%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI %8%#54)6% 35--!29 XV XVI -%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI %8%#54)6% 35--!29 XVII XVIII -%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI %8%#54)6% 35--!29 XIX 4HE GAINS IN DEVELOPMENT NOTED IN THE -3) MERIT APPRECIATION WHILE THE ROADBLOCKS AND SETBACKS DEMAND ATTENTION 4HE POINTS OF CONVERGENCE ACROSS THE SURVEYED COUNTRIES INDICATE THE AREAS REQUIRING PARTICULAR FOCUS IF INDEPENDENT MEDIA ARE GOING TO BE FULLY SUSTAINABLE AND PROVIDE THE CREDIBLE INFORMATION THE PUBLIC DESERVES -ETHODOLOGY
2%8 PREPARED THE -EDIA 3USTAINABILITY )NDEX -3) IN COOPERATION WITH THE 5NITED 3TATES !GENCY FOR )NTERNATIONAL $EVELOPMENT 53!)$ AS A TOOL TO ASSESS THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA SYSTEMS OVER TIME AND ACROSS COUNTRIES )2%8 STAFF 53!)$ AND OTHER MEDIA DEVEL OPMENT PROFESSIONALS CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS ASSESS MENT TOOL
4HE -3) ASSESSES lVE hOBJECTIVESv IN SHAPING A SUCCESSFUL MEDIA SYSTEM ) ,EGAL AND SOCIAL NORMS PROTECT AND PROMOTE FREE SPEECH AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION *OURNALISM MEETS PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF QUALITY -ULTIPLE NEWS SOURCES PROVIDE CITIZENS WITH RELIABLE AND OBJECTIVE NEWS )NDEPENDENT MEDIA ARE WELL MANAGED BUSINESSES ALLOWING EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE 3UPPORTING INSTITUTIONS FUNCTION IN THE PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA
4HESE OBJECTIVES WERE JUDGED TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF A SUSTAINABLE AND PROFESSIONAL INDEPENDENT MEDIA SYSTEM AND SERVED AS THE CRITERIA AGAINST WHICH COUNTRIES WERE RATED ! SCORE WAS ATTAINED FOR EACH OBJECTIVE BY RATING SEVEN TO NINE INDICATORS WHICH DETERMINE HOW WELL A COUNTRY MEETS THAT OBJECTIVE 4HE OBJECTIVES INDICATORS AND SCORING SYSTEM ARE PRESENTED BELOW 4HE SCORING WAS DONE IN TWO PARTS &IRST A PANEL OF EXPERTS WAS ASSEMBLED IN EACH COUNTRY DRAWN FROM REPRESENTATIVES OF LOCAL MEDIA NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS .'/S PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS INTERNATIONAL DONORS AND MEDIA DEVELOPMENT IMPLEMENTERS %ACH COUNTRYS PANEL HAD A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT COMPOSITION BUT IN MOST CASES THE SAME PANELISTS FROM LAST YEARS -3) WERE INVITED TO RETURN FOR THE STUDY IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENCY %ACH PANEL WAS PROVIDED WITH THE OBJECTIVES AND INDICATORS AND AN EXPLANATION OF THE SCORING SYSTEM 0ANELISTS WERE ASKED TO
-%4(/$/,/'9 XXI REVIEW THE INFORMATION INDIVIDUALLY 4HE PANELISTS THEN SCORED THE COUNTRIES INDEPENDENTLY OF THE -3) PANEL ASSEMBLED TO DISCUSS THE OBJECTIVES AND INDICATORS AND TO 4HE PANEL SCORES AND )2%8 SCORES WERE THEN COMBINED DEVISE COMBINED SCORES AND ANALYSES 4HE PANEL MODERA TO OBTAIN THE lNAL SCORE PRESENTED IN THIS PUBLICATION TOR IN MOST CASES A HOST COUNTRY MEDIA OR .'/ REPRE 4HIS METHOD ALLOWED THE -3) SCORES TO REmECT BOTH LOCAL SENTATIVE PREPARED A WRITTEN ANALYSIS OF THE DISCUSSION MEDIA INSIDERS VIEWS AND THE VIEWS OF INTERNATIONAL WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY EDITED BY )2%8 REPRESENTATIVES MEDIA DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS )2%8 IN COUNTRY STAFF AND 7ASHINGTON $# MEDIA STAFF ALSO REVIEWED THE OBJECTIVES AND INDICATORS AND
) /BJECTIVES AND )NDICATORS
/BJECTIVE &REE 3PEECH /BJECTIVE 0ROFESSIONAL *OURNALISM
,EGAL AND SOCIAL NORMS PROTECT AND PROMOTE *OURNALISM MEETS PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF FREE SPEECH AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION QUALITY
Q ,EGALSOCIAL PROTECTIONS OF FREE SPEECH EXIST Q 2EPORTING IS FAIR OBJECTIVE AND WELL SOURCED AND ARE ENFORCED Q *OURNALISTS FOLLOW RECOGNIZED AND ACCEPTED Q ,ICENSING OF BROADCAST MEDIA IS FAIR COMPETITIVE ETHICAL STANDARDS AND APOLITICAL Q *OURNALISTS AND EDITORS DO NOT PRACTICE Q -ARKET ENTRY AND TAX STRUCTURE FOR MEDIA ARE FAIR SELF CENSORSHIP AND COMPARABLE TO OTHER INDUSTRIES Q *OURNALISTS COVER KEY EVENTS AND ISSUES Q #RIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS OR MEDIA OUTLETS ARE PROSECUTED VIGOROUSLY BUT OCCURRENCES OF SUCH Q 0AY LEVELS FOR JOURNALISTS AND OTHER MEDIA CRIMES ARE RARE PROFESSIONALS ARE SUFlCIENTLY HIGH TO DISCOURAGE CORRUPTION Q 3TATE OR PUBLIC MEDIA DO NOT RECEIVE PREFERENTIAL LEGAL TREATMENT AND LAW GUARANTEES EDITORIAL Q %NTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING DOES NOT ECLIPSE INDEPENDENCE NEWS AND INFORMATION PROGRAMMING
Q ,IBEL IS A CIVIL LAW ISSUE PUBLIC OFlCIALS ARE HELD Q 4ECHNICAL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT FOR GATHERING TO HIGHER STANDARDS AND THE OFFENDED PARTY PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING NEWS ARE MODERN MUST PROVE FALSITY AND MALICE AND EFlCIENT
Q 0UBLIC INFORMATION IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE RIGHT OF Q 1UALITY NICHE REPORTING AND PROGRAMMING ACCESS TO INFORMATION IS EQUALLY ENFORCED FOR ALL EXISTS INVESTIGATIVE ECONOMICSBUSINESS LOCAL &2%% 30%%#( ).$)#!4/23 MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS 02/&%33)/.!, */52.!,)3- ).$)#!4/23 POLITICAL Q -EDIA OUTLETS HAVE UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO INFOR MATION THIS IS EQUALLY ENFORCED FOR ALL MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS
Q %NTRY INTO THE JOURNALISM PROFESSION IS FREE AND GOVERNMENT IMPOSES NO LICENSING RESTRICTIONS OR SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR JOURNALISTS
XXII -%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI /BJECTIVE 0LURALITY OF .EWS 3OURCES
-ULTIPLE NEWS SOURCES PROVIDE CITIZENS WITH RELIABLE AND OBJECTIVE NEWS
Q ! PLURALITY OF AFFORDABLE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NEWS SOURCES EG PRINT BROADCAST )NTERNET EXISTS
Q #ITIZENS ACCESS TO DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL MEDIA IS NOT RESTRICTED
Q 3TATE OR PUBLIC MEDIA REmECT THE VIEWS OF THE ENTIRE POLITICAL SPECTRUM ARE NONPARTISAN AND SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST
Q )NDEPENDENT NEWS AGENCIES GATHER AND DISTRIB UTE NEWS FOR PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA
Q )NDEPENDENT BROADCAST MEDIA PRODUCE THEIR OWN NEWS PROGRAMS
Q 4RANSPARENCY OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP ALLOWS CONSUMERS TO JUDGE OBJECTIVITY OF NEWS MEDIA OWNERSHIP IS NOT CONCENTRATED IN A FEW CONGLOMERATES
Q ! BROAD SPECTRUM OF SOCIAL INTERESTS ARE REmECTED AND REPRESENTED IN THE MEDIA INCLUD
0,52!,)49 /& .%73 3/52#%3 ).$)#!4/23 ING MINORITY LANGUAGE INFORMATION SOURCES /BJECTIVE "USINESS -ANAGEMENT /BJECTIVE 3UPPORTING )NSTITUTIONS )NDEPENDENT MEDIA ARE WELL MANAGED 3UPPORTING INSTITUTIONS FUNCTION IN THE BUSINESSES ALLOWING EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA
Q -EDIA OUTLETS AND SUPPORTING lRMS OPERATE AS Q 4RADE ASSOCIATIONS REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF EFlCIENT PROFESSIONAL AND PROlT GENERATING PRIVATE MEDIA OWNERS AND PROVIDE MEMBER BUSINESSES SERVICES
Q -EDIA RECEIVE REVENUE FROM A MULTITUDE OF Q 0ROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS WORK TO PROTECT SOURCES JOURNALISTS RIGHTS
Q !DVERTISING AGENCIES AND RELATED INDUSTRIES Q .'/S SUPPORT FREE SPEECH AND INDEPENDENT SUPPORT AN ADVERTISING MARKET MEDIA
Q !DVERTISING REVENUE AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL Q 1UALITY JOURNALISM DEGREE PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE REVENUE IS IN LINE WITH ACCEPTED STANDARDS AT SUBSTANTIAL PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE EXIST COMMERCIAL OUTLETS Q 3HORT TERM TRAINING AND IN SERVICE TRAINING Q )NDEPENDENT MEDIA DO NOT RECEIVE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS ALLOW JOURNALISTS TO UPGRADE SKILLS OR SUBSIDIES ACQUIRE NEW SKILLS
Q -ARKET RESEARCH IS USED TO FORMULATE STRATEGIC Q 3OURCES OF NEWSPRINT AND PRINTING FACILITIES ARE PLANS ENHANCE ADVERTISING REVENUE AND TAILOR PRIVATE APOLITICAL AND UNRESTRICTED PRODUCTS TO THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF Q #HANNELS OF MEDIA DISTRIBUTION KIOSKS TRANS AUDIENCES MITTERS )NTERNET ARE PRIVATE APOLITICAL AND 3500/24).' ).34)454)/.3 ).$)#!4/23 "53).%33 -!.!'%-%.4 ).$)#!4/23 Q "ROADCAST RATINGS AND CIRCULATION lGURES ARE UNRESTRICTED RELIABLY AND INDEPENDENTLY PRODUCED -%4(/$/,/'9 XXIII /BJECTIVE 3CORING )NDICATOR 3CORING 4HE AVERAGES OF ALL THE INDICATORS ARE AVERAGED TO OBTAIN A %ACH INDICATOR IS SCORED USING THE FOLLOWING SYSTEM SINGLE OVERALL SCORE FOR EACH OBJECTIVE /BJECTIVE SCORES ARE #OUNTRY DOES NOT MEET INDICATOR GOVERNMENT OR SOCIAL AVERAGED TO PROVIDE AN OVERALL SCORE FOR THE COUNTRY )2%8 FORCES MAY ACTIVELY OPPOSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION INTERPRETS THE OVERALL SCORES AS FOLLOWS #OUNTRY MINIMALLY MEETS ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR AND ABOVE 3USTAINABLE AND FREE INDEPENDENT MEDIA FORCES MAY NOT ACTIVELY OPPOSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION BUT BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT MAY NOT SUPPORT IT AND GOVERN n )NDEPENDENT MEDIA APPROACHING SUSTAINABILITY MENT OR PROFESSION DO NOT FULLY AND ACTIVELY SUPPORT n 3IGNIlCANT PROGRESS REMAINS TO BE MADE CHANGE SOCIETY OR GOVERNMENT IS NOT FULLY SUPPORTIVE #OUNTRY HAS BEGUN TO MEET MANY ASPECTS OF THE INDICA n #OUNTRY MEETS FEW INDICATORS GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY TOR BUT PROGRESS MAY BE TOO RECENT TO JUDGE OR STILL ACTIVELY OPPOSE CHANGE DEPENDENT ON CURRENT GOVERNMENT OR POLITICAL FORCES #OUNTRY MEETS MOST ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR IMPLE MENTATION OF THE INDICATOR HAS OCCURRED OVER SEVERAL YEARS ANDOR THROUGH CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT INDICAT ING LIKELY SUSTAINABILITY #OUNTRY MEETS THE ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR IMPLEMEN TATION HAS REMAINED INTACT OVER MULTIPLE CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC mUCTUATIONS CHANGES IN PUBLIC OPINION ANDOR CHANGING SOCIAL CONVENTIONS
XXIV -%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI 3OUTHEAST %UROPE 3/54(%!34 %52/0% h4HE .ATIONAL #OUNCIL FOR 2ADIO AND 4ELEVISION .#24 DECLARED IN LATE THAT NO UNLICENSED PROGRAMMING COULD BE AIRED ON TELEVISION STATIONS )N A BROADCAST MARKET WELL KNOWN FOR mAGRANT PIRACY THIS WAS A GROUNDBREAKING STEPv !LBANIA !,"!.)! Y % NOW ELY T CA NEWS VAL E #ON BUT IN lTS FARTHER ROM VE AN T ON THE LACK OF "UT PPORTED TTLE SALARY GUARAN TS HAVE E GOV STATIONS TO THIS ATTRI STATIONS ETS R IN !LBANIA HAS MOVED FORWARD
)F MARKET CONSOLIDATION IS AN INDICATION OF SUCCESS THERE ARE )N THE PRINT SECTOR THERE ARE STILL DAILIES IN DISTRIBUTION 4HERE WERE SOME MEDIA SUCCESSES IN THE PAST YEAR )N !UGUST )N ANOTHER ARENA ONE OF THE MAJOR STATIONS 4OP #HANNEL NOW -EANWHILE THE NUMBER OF RADIO STATIONS CONTINUES TO HOLD STEAD )NTRODUCTION N THE PAST YEAR THE MEDIA SECTO AND STARTS FEWER TELEVISION STATIONS THAN THERE WERE LAST YEAR .INE OUTLE CLOSED BRINGING THE CURRENT TOTAL TO 4HERE ARE SIGNS THAT TION IS NOT OVER AS ONE OF THE TWO PRIVATE NATIONAL TELEVISION CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE "UT THERE ARE STILL TOO MANY TELEVISION SERVE A COUNTRY OF ABOUT MILLION PEOPLE ERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION 0REVIOUSLY THE GOVERNMENT WAS LARG EXEMPT FROM NEGATIVE MEDIA COVERAGE OTHER THAN IN OPPOSITION 0RIME -INISTER .ANO ISSUED AN EDICT RESTRICTING HIS MINISTERS F BROADCASTS A DAILY SATIRE h&IKS &ARE v THAT CHALLENGES BOTH TH THEIR CIRCULATION NUMBERS REMAIN A MYSTERY TO ADVERTISERS 4HE ONE GETS FROM 4IRANA THE FEWER PAPERS ARE AVAILABLE DUE TO THE A PROPER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM .EVERTHELESS NEWSPAPERS STILL HA ADVANTAGE OVER BROADCASTERS BECAUSE PRINT MEDIA HAVE MORE INVES MENT FROM BUSINESS INTERESTS AND MORE POLITICAL SUPPORT FROM RI GOVERNING AND OPPOSITION PARTIES 4HIS SUPPORT GIVES MANY PUBLI TIONS THE lNANCIAL ABILITY TO SURVIVE IN AN OVERSATURATED MARKE AT !SIDE FROM 2ADIO 4IRANA THE GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED STATI COMMON RADIO FORMAT IS LOUD MUSIC WHICH TAKES PRECEDENCE OVER 4HERE ARE FEW COMMERCIALS TO GENERATE REVENUE FOR THE STATIONS BECAUSE THE RADIO BROADCASTERS PAY NO MUSIC LICENSE FEES AND LI TO THEIR STAFFS THEY ARE ABLE TO LIMP ALONG ON SHOESTRING BUDG SPEAKING TO THE PRESS DESPITE A CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION THAT TEES ALL CITIZENS OPEN ACCESS TO THE GOVERNMENT *OURNALISTS SU BY THE /RGANIZATION FOR 3ECURITY AND #OOPERATION IN %UROPE /3# AND )2%8 BROUGHT SUIT AGAINST THE PRIME MINISTER BUT BEFORE TH STITUTIONAL #OURT COULD RULE .ANO PUBLICLY RESCINDED HIS ORDER ) /BJECTIVE 3CORING )NDICATOR 3CORING 4HE AVERAGES OF ALL THE INDICATORS ARE AVERAGED TO OBTAIN A SINGLE %ACH INDICATOR IS SCORED USING THE FOLLOWING SYSTEM OVERALL SCORE FOR EACH OBJECTIVE /BJECTIVE SCORES ARE AVERAGED TO PROVIDE #OUNTRY DOES NOT MEET INDICATOR GOVERNMENT OR SOCIAL FORCES MAY ACTIVELY AN OVERALL SCORE FOR THE COUNTRY )2%8 INTERPRETS THE OVERALL SCORES AS FOLLOWS OPPOSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND ABOVE 3USTAINABLE AND FREE INDEPENDENT MEDIA #OUNTRY MINIMALLY MEETS ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR FORCES MAY NOT AC T IVELY OPPOSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION BUT BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT MAY NOT SUPPORT IT n )NDEPENDENT MEDIA APPROACHING SUSTAINABILITY AND GOVERNMENT OR PROFESSION DO NOT FULLY AND ACTIVELY SUPPORT CHANGE n 3IGNIlCANT PROGRESS REMAINS TO BE MADE #OUNTRY HAS BEGUN TO MEET MANY ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR BUT PROGRESS MAY SOCIETY OR GOVERNMENT IS NOT FULLY SUPPORTIVE BE TOO RECENT TO JUDGE OR STILL DEPENDENT ON CURRENT GOVERNMENT OR POLITICAL FORCES n #OUNTRY MEETS FEW INDICATORS GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY ACTIVELY OPPOSE CHANGE #OUNTRY MEETS MOST ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INDICA TOR HAS OCCURRED OVER SEVERAL YEARS ANDOR THROUGH CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT INDICATING LIKELY SUSTAINABILITY #OUNTRY MEETS THE ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR IMPLEMENTATION HAS REM AI NE D INTACT OVER MULTIPLE CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC mUCTUATIONS CHANGES IN PUBLIC OPINION ANDOR CHANGING SOCIAL CONVENTIONS
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI SUPPORTED MEDIA "UT h&IKS &AREv HAS MANAGED HIGH LEAVING THE SECTOR TO DISCOVER LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES WHEN RATINGS WHILE TAKING AIM IN A BALANCED WAY AT THE FULL A DRAFT IS READ IN THE PARLIAMENT "Y THEN IT IS TOO LATE FOR POLITICAL SPECTRUM THE MEDIA COMMUNITY OR CIVIL SOCIETY MORE BROADLY TO !NOTHER MEDIA HIGHLIGHT OCCURRED WHEN THE HAVE ANY INmUENCE ON THE SHAPE OF THE LEGISLATION .ATIONAL #OUNCIL FOR 2ADIO AND 4ELEVISION .#24 .EARLY ANYONE CAN OBTAIN A LOCAL BROADCAST DECLARED IN LATE THAT NO UNLICENSED PROGRAM LICENSE IN !LBANIA AND NO ONE WHO HAS APPLIED HAS BEEN MING COULD BE AIRED ON TELEVISION STATIONS )N A BROAD REJECTED 7HILE THIS MIGHT BE CONSIDERED A MOVE TOWARD CAST MARKET WELL KNOWN FOR mAGRANT PIRACY THIS WAS A MEDIA FREEDOM IN !LBANIA IT LEADS TO A CHAOTIC BROAD GROUNDBREAKING STEP /N /CTOBER ALL BUT ONE OF CASTING ENVIRONMENT 3IGNALS OFTEN OVERLAP CAUSING THE STATIONS COMPLIED WITH THE MANDATE AND REMOVED PROBLEMS WITH RECEPTION AS WELL AS CONmICTING OWNERSHIP THE (OLLYWOOD MOVIES FROM THEIR PROGRAM SCHEDULES CLAIMS TO THE AIRWAVES !S ONE PANELIST EXPLAINED h(ERE REPLACING THEM MAINLY WITH TALK SHOWS &ACED WITH lNES EVERY PEASANT THAT WANTS TO OPEN A 46 STATION AND EVERY THE REMAINING STATION FOLLOWED SUIT WITHIN TWO DAYS PERSON THAT HAS MONEY HAS SUCCEEDED IN OPENING A 46 (OWEVER DESPITE SOME PROGRESS !LBANIAN MEDIA STATIONv 5NLIKE IN MORE MATURE MEDIA MARKETS !LBA OUTLETS STILL ARE LARGELY POLITICAL COGS )N FACT MANY HAVE NIAN STATIONS APPLY FOR LICENSES AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN BUILT RECENTLYAND OPENLYBEEN PURCHASED BY LEADING AND STARTED BROADCASTING "EFORE THE GOVERNMENT POLITICAL lGURES &OR EXAMPLE THE -INISTER OF !GRICUL FOUND IT DIFlCULT TO TURN DOWN A STATIONS APPLICATION TURE WITH URGING FROM THE PRIME MINISTER BOUGHT A ESPECIALLY WHEN THE STATION WAS ALREADY ON THE AIR 3INCE LOCAL 4IRANA TELEVISION STATION 46 +/(! 4HE OWNER THE LICENSING PROCESS WAS NOT ESTABLISHED UNTIL OF ANOTHER STATION 46 +,!. HAD HIS VACATION COMPLEX WHEN THERE WERE ALREADY PRIVATE STATIONS TRANSMITTING THREATENED WITH DESTRUCTION WHEN HIS STATIONS NEWS BEGAN OPENLY SUPPORTING A RIVAL FACTION WITHIN THE GOV ,EGAL AND SOCIAL NORMS PROTECT AND PROMOTE ERNMENT 46 +,!. NOW LAUDS 0RIME -INISTER .ANO AND FREE SPEECH AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION HIS CABINET OF MINISTERS Q ,EGALSOCIAL PROTECTIONS OF FREE SPEECH EXIST /BJECTIVE &REE 3PEECH AND ARE ENFORCED Q ,ICENSING OF BROADCAST MEDIA IS FAIR COMPETITIVE !LBANIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE AND APOLITICAL
"Y LAW PRESS FREEDOMS EXIST IN !LBANIA (OWEVER AS SO Q -ARKET ENTRY AND TAX STRUCTURE FOR MEDIA ARE FAIR OFTEN OCCURS IN THIS COUNTRY AND ITS NEIGHBORS THE LAWS AND COMPARABLE TO OTHER INDUSTRIES ARE RARELY IMPLEMENTED FULLY BUT MORE OFTEN USED TO SERVE Q #RIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS OR MEDIA OUTLETS ARE THE INTERESTS OF THOSE IN POWER 7HEN THE PRIME MINISTER PROSECUTED VIGOROUSLY BUT OCCURRENCES OF SUCH ATTEMPTED TO MUZZLE HIS MINISTERS BY PREVENTING THEM CRIMES ARE RARE FROM SPEAKING WITH THE MEDIA HE NOT ONLY WENT AGAINST Q 3TATE OR PUBLIC MEDIA DO NOT RECEIVE PREFERENTIAL THE CONSTITUTION BUT ALSO REDIRECTED ALL MEDIA INQUIRIES TO LEGAL TREATMENT AND LAW GUARANTEES EDITORIAL HIS OWN OFlCE WITH THE PRETENCE OF PREVENTING CONmICT INDEPENDENCE ING INFORMATION FROM BEING RELEASED !CCORDING TO ONE Q ,IBEL IS A CIVIL LAW ISSUE PUBLIC OFlCIALS ARE HELD PANELIST h&REEDOM OF SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF THE PRESS TO HIGHER STANDARDS AND THE OFFENDED PARTY ARE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES 9OU CAN HAVE THE FREEDOM TO MUST PROVE FALSITY AND MALICE SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT BUT YOU DONT HAVE THE FREEDOM TO PRINT SOME THINGS THAT HAVE MORE IMPORTANCE &OR Q 0UBLIC INFORMATION IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION IS EQUALLY ENFORCED FOR ALL EXAMPLE SAYING WHETHER OR NOT SHORT SKIRTS ARE IN FASHION &2%% 30%%#( ).$)#!4/23 MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME IMPORTANCE AS THE PRESENTATION OF POLITICAL OR ECONOMIC ISSUES !ND ) THINK THAT FREEDOM OF Q -EDIA OUTLETS HAVE UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO INFOR PRESS IS SUPPRESSED BEFORE ELECTIONSv MATION THIS IS EQUALLY ENFORCED FOR ALL MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS -OST -EDIA 3USTAINABILITY )NDEX -3) PANEL PARTICIPANTS AGREED THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF MEDIA Q %NTRY INTO THE JOURNALISM PROFESSION IS FREE AND RELATED LEGISLATION IS SIGNIlCANTLY LACKING $RAFT LAWS ARE GOVERNMENT IMPOSES NO LICENSING RESTRICTIONS NOT GIVEN IN ADVANCE TO THE MEDIA FOR COMMENT OFTEN OR SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR JOURNALISTS !,"!.)! h) HAVENT SEEN THE SAME STANDARDS PERIOD /CCURRENCES OF SUCH CRIMES ARE RARE AND DO NOT EXIST FOR NEW THEY ARE PROSECUTED VIGOROUSLYv VIOLENT CRIMES AGAINST STATIONS )N ADDI 4HERE ARE SOME INSTANCES IN WHICH JOURNALISTS ARE JOURNALISTS OR EDITORIAL TION LICENSING OF ABLE TO OBTAIN INFORMATION FROM GOVERNMENT AND OTHER NATIONAL BROADCAST SOURCES )N GENERAL HOWEVER PUBLIC OFlCIALS CAN MAKE IT OFlCES AT LEAST DURING ERS CONTINUES TO BE EXTREMELY DIFlCULT FOR MEDIA TO ACCESS INFORMATION !ND THE n PERIOD SUBJECT TO POLITI DESPITE SOME REFORMS INITIATED BY THE #OUNCIL OF -IN CAL INmUENCE &OR ISTERS COLLECTING INFORMATION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IS NEARLY /CCURRENCES OF SUCH EXAMPLE ONE PANEL IMPOSSIBLE /NE PANELIST SUMMARIZED THE PANELS MAJOR CRIMES ARE RARE AND IST QUESTIONED WHY ITY VIEW BY STATING h,EGALLY ACCESS TO INFORMATION LAWS 46 +,!. AND 46! OFFER MUCH BUT IN PRACTICE VERY LITTLE CAN BE OBTAINEDv THEY ARE PROSECUTED WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN -EDIA ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL NEWS IS A QUESTION OF NATIONAL LICENSES CAPITALIZATION &OR BROADCASTERS THOSE STATIONS THAT HAVE VIGOROUSLYv AND 3HIJAK 46 WAS THE MONEY CAN INVEST IN LICENSE AGREEMENTS WITH 2EUTERS NOT .EVERTHELESS #.. !0. AND SO ON "UT THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE AVAIL THE SITUATION HAS IMPROVED IN THE PAST YEARNOW A STA ABLE FUNDS ARE FORCED TO DOWNLINK &OX .EWS 'ENERALLY TION MUST OBTAIN A LICENSE BEFORE BUILDING BEGINS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO ALL WHO WANT IT IT IS JUST A 4HE TAXATION OF MEDIA OUTLETS IS A CONFUSING AND QUESTION OF FUNDING (OWEVER INTERNATIONAL NEWS IS NOT NONTRANSPARENT PROCESS 4HE .#24 REGULATES THE FEE THE MAIN INGREDIENT OF THE !LBANIAN NEWSCASTS WHERE THE STRUCTURE FOR BROADCASTERS WHILE THE GOVERNMENT IMPOSES FOCUS STILL IS DOMESTIC POLITICS TAXES BASED ON STAFlNG AND REVENUE 4HE FEE STRUCTURE %NTRY TO THE JOURNALISM SECTOR IS WIDE OPEN IN FOR A LICENSE IS NOT BASED ON ANY DISCERNIBLE OR CONSISTENT !LBANIA !S ONE PANELIST EXPLAINED h9OU CAN lNISH YOUR ECONOMIC FORMULA &OR EXAMPLE ONE PANELIST EXPLAINED STUDIES IN AGRICULTURE AND STILL IMMEDIATELY BECOME A THAT HIS REGIONAL TELEVISION STATION PAYS THE SAME TAX AS A JOURNALIST IN !LBANIAv 7HILE THIS MIGHT PRESENT A GOOD 4IRANA BASED STATION EVEN THOUGH HIS STATION HAS COM CAREER OPTION FOR YOUNG !LBANIANS IT DOES NOT NECESSAR PARATIVELY LITTLE ADVERTISING REVENUE -EANWHILE A PANELIST ILY GUARANTEE A HIGH QUALITY PROFESSIONAL MEDIA SECTOR WHO OWNS A RADIO STATION IN 4IRANA STATED THAT HER OUTLET PAID MORE IN TAXES THAN REGIONAL RADIO STATIONS &URTHER MORE THE FEES COLLECTED SUPPORT THE .#24 RATHER THAN /BJECTIVE 0ROFESSIONAL *OURNALISM CONTRIBUTE TO GENERAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE .OT ENTIRELY !LBANIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE SURPRISINGLY THE .#24 HAS SET THE TARIFFS AT AN UNREASON ABLY HIGH RATE IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN ITSELF -ANY -3) PANELISTS WERE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE RELIABIL ,IBEL IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE IN !LBANIA A SITUA ITY OF THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN THE !LBANIAN MEDIA TION THAT THE GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO RECONSIDER DESPITE 3OME PANEL MEMBERS FELT THAT MUCH OF THE PURPORTED PRESSURE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY !LTHOUGH hNEWSv IS BASED ON GOSSIP AND RUMOR )N THE PRINT MEDIA NO LAWSUITS FOR LIBEL WERE lLED DURING ACCUSATIONS REPORTERS OFTEN ARE REQUIRED TO lLL A DAILY QUOTA OF HAVE HAD FAR RANGING EFFECTS &OR EXAMPLE THE -INIS ARTICLES NOT SURPRISINGLY LOWERING THEIR QUALITY 4O MEET TER OF 0UBLIC /RDER KICKED THE NEWS DIRECTOR OF A LOCAL THIS OBLIGATION JOURNALIST MUST HAVE hSOURCES v MANY TELEVISION STATION 6IZION 0LUS FOR BROADCASTING A STORY OF WHICH ARE NOT LEGITIMATE !CCORDING TO ONE PANELIST QUESTIONING THE MINISTERS COMPETENCE 4HE GOVERNMENT h.EWSPAPERS STILL FEATURE NEWS THAT IS PREPARED IN THE TRIED TO IGNORE THE AFFAIR BUT THERE WERE TOO MANY WIT CAFETERIA 4HIS MEANS THAT GOSSIP IS THE BASIS OF PRINT NESSES TO THE INCIDENT AND HE WAS FORCED TO RESIGN UNDER MEDIA AND IT CANT BE CALLED INFORMATIONv PRESSURE *OURNALISTS ON THE -3) PANEL WERE PARTICULARLY 3ELF CENSORSHIP IS ANOTHER SERIOUS PROBLEM 1UITE CRITICAL OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR REJECTING ADVICE TO REPLACE SIMPLY SELF CENSORSHIP OCCURS BECAUSE JOURNALISTS AND THE CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR LIBEL WITH CIVIL ONES EDITORS WANT TO KEEP THEIR JOBS &EW HAVE EMPLOYMENT !SIDE FROM THE ABOVE INSTANCE CRIMES AND ATTACKS CONTRACTS EVEN THOUGH THE LAW DEMANDS IT %VEN FEWER AGAINST JOURNALISTS ARE NOT COMMON !CCORDING TO ONE HAVE BENElTS SUCH AS UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE !S ONE PANEL PARTICIPANT h) HAVENT SEEN VIOLENT CRIMES AGAINST PANEL MEMBER STATED h.INETY PERCENT OF OUR COLLEAGUES JOURNALISTS OR EDITORIAL OFlCES AT LEAST DURING THE n WORK WITHOUT BEING INSURED 5NDER SUCH CONDITIONS ITS VERY DIFlCULT TO NOT PRACTICE SELF CENSORSHIPv
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI #ORRUPTION IS RAMPANT THROUGHOUT !LBANIA AND WITH TALKING HEADS h.EWSPAPERS STILL IN THE MEDIA SECTOR AS WELL THERE IS LITTLE PRACTICE OF )NDEED NEWS AND ACCEPTED ETHICAL STANDARDS 0ANELISTS AGREED THAT THE INFORMATION ARE THE FEATURE NEWS THAT ENTIRE ISSUE OF ETHICS AND ETHICS CODES IS IN THE INCUBATION FEATURED PROGRAMS IS PREPARED IN THE STAGE 4O MAKE !LBANIANS AWARE OF THE COSTS OF CORRUP ON MOST STATIONS TION TWO INTERNATIONAL NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (OWEVER AS THE CAFETERIA 4HIS MEANS .'/S )2%8 AND -ANAGEMENT 3YSTEMS )NTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY ACQUAINTS THAT GOSSIP IS THE -3) HAVE COLLABORATED TO PRODUCE A BIMONTHLY PRO ITSELF WITH BUYING GRAM h(APURv 4HE HOUR LONG SHOW HIGHLIGHTS CORRUPT LEGAL PROGRAMMING BASIS OF PRINT MEDIA PRACTICES AND THEIR NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON SOCIETY 3EVERAL A SHIFT IN BROADCAST AND IT CANT BE EPISODES HAVE SPURRED GOVERNMENT RESPONSES SCHEDULES WILL AGAIN 0ANELISTS AGREED THAT ESTABLISHED JOURNALISTS ARE FAIRLY TAKE PLACE CALLED INFORMATIONv WELL PAID IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER PROFESSIONS (OWEVER 4HE GAP THE SAME CANNOT BE SAID OF MANY OF THE YOUNG JOURNALISM BETWEEN THOSE OUTLETS WITH THE PROPER TECHNICAL RESOURCES STUDENTS HIRED STRAIGHT OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY 4HERE WAS AND THOSE WITHOUT IS A SIGNIlCANT PROBLEM IN BROADCAST SOME DISAGREEMENT ON THE LINK BETWEEN SALARIES AS A FACTOR ING 4HIS GAP MAY BE EVIDENT EVEN WITHIN THE SAME OUTLET IN DISCOURAGING CORRUPTION -ANY PANEL PARTICIPANTS FELT &OR EXAMPLE THE STATE BROADCASTER 463H APPEARS TO HAVE THAT CORRUPTION IN MEDIA IS NOT CORRELATED TO WAGE LEVELS THE FUNDS TO UPDATE ITS TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS AND ITS NEWS /NE PANELIST STATED h) CAN WRITE AN ARTICLE FOR PAYMENT AND STUDIO BUT ITS REPORTERS STILL USE TYPEWRITERS 4OP #HAN ) CAN HAVE A MONTHLY SALARY ;OF= LEK )T DOESNT NEL A 4IRANA BASED TELEVISION STATION COULD COMPETE QUITE MATTER AT ALL BECAUSE IT IS CORRELATED WITH MY CHARACTER !LL SUCCESSFULLY IN ANY MID MARKET !MERICAN CITY 4ECHNICAL PROFESSORS OF THE JOURNALISM FACULTY THAT HAVE A LOW SALARY CAPACITY DROPS PRECIPITOUSLY OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL CITY -OST OF MUST BE CORRUPT 4HIS IS THE LOGICAL CONCLUSIONv THE REGIONAL STATIONS STILL MAINTAIN 6(3 SYSTEMS WITH LITTLE 4HE .#24S MANDATE ON /CTOBER ABILITY TO UPGRADE THEM 46 "AJRAM #URRI IN THE NORTHERN ELIMINATED VIRTUALLY ALL ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING CITY OF 4ROPOJE BROADCASTS FROM A TWO ROOM APARTMENT ON TELEVISION 7ITH TELEVISION STATIONS PROHIBITED FROM THAT IT SHARES WITH A FAMILY AIRING PIRATED MOVIES AIRTIME WAS lLLED IMMEDIATELY "EFORE THE ONLY TELEVISION STATION THAT TRANSMITTED VIA SATELLITE WAS THE STATE BROADCASTER .OW *OURNALISM MEETS PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF THERE ARE THREE OTHER STATIONS USING %UTEL3AT TO REACH QUALITY BEYOND !LBANIA 7ITH ANNUAL SATELLITE FEES RANGING FROM ; TO ; PER YEAR ONE WONDERS WHERE THE Q 2EPORTING IS FAIR OBJECTIVE AND WELL SOURCED MONEY IS COMING FROM WHEN THERE IS SUCH A DEARTH OF Q *OURNALISTS FOLLOW RECOGNIZED AND ACCEPTED ADVERTISING REVENUE ESTIMATED AT MILLION TO ETHICAL STANDARDS MILLION PER YEAR FOR THE NATIONAL BROADCAST MARKET 4HIS PROLIFERATION OF SATELLITE BROADCASTING GIVES RISE TO NEW Q *OURNALISTS AND EDITORS DO NOT PRACTICE PROBLEMS &IRST STATIONS MUST INCREASE ADVERTISING RATES SELF CENSORSHIP TO ACCOMMODATE THE INCREASED OPERATIONAL EXPENSES Q *OURNALISTS COVER KEY EVENTS AND ISSUES 3ECOND WHY WOULD LOCAL !LBANIAN BUSINESSES WANT TO BROADCAST ADS THROUGHOUT %UROPE 4HIRD INTERNATIONAL Q 0AY LEVELS FOR JOURNALISTS AND OTHER MEDIA PROFESSIONALS ARE SUFlCIENTLY HIGH TO DISCOURAGE ADVERTISERS SUFFER WHEN THEIR ADS ARE BEAMED VIA SATELLITE CORRUPTION TO OTHER COUNTRIES AND THEY HAVE TO PAY COPYRIGHT FEES BASED ON DISTRIBUTION Q %NTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING DOES NOT ECLIPSE 4HE PRIMARY PRINTING FACILITY IS STILL THE $EMOKRAT NEWS AND INFORMATION PROGRAMMING ZIA AN OUTDATED PRESS ORIGINALLY DONATED BY THE )NTERNA Q 4ECHNICAL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT FOR GATHERING TIONAL -ONETARY &UND )-& 4HE PRESS WAS GIVEN OVER PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING NEWS ARE MODERN TO A CONSORTIUM OF NEWSPAPERS WHICH STILL OPERATE IT AND EFlCIENT $EMOKRATZIA PRINTS AT A LOSS BECAUSE THE CUSTOMERS THE Q 1UALITY NICHE REPORTING AND PROGRAMMING OWNERS REFUSE TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE /FTEN THERE IS NO EXISTS INVESTIGATIVE ECONOMICSBUSINESS LOCAL PRESS RUN DUE TO THE LACK OF SPARE PARTS INK OR NEWSPRINT
02/&%33)/.!, */52.!,)3- ).$)#!4/23 POLITICAL !,"!.)! 1UALITY NICHE REPORTING IS IN ITS INFANCY IN !LBANIA -ULTIPLE NEWS SOURCES PROVIDE CITIZENS WITH 7EEKLY hCIVIC JOURNALISMv PROGRAMS ARE NOW BEING AIRED RELIABLE AND OBJECTIVE NEWS BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF MEDIA DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES OR THE INCLINATION TO PRODUCE SPECIALIZED PROGRAMMING Q ! PLURALITY OF AFFORDABLE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NEWS SOURCES EG PRINT BROADCAST )NTERNET EXISTS /BJECTIVE 0LURALITY OF .EWS 3OURCES Q #ITIZENS ACCESS TO DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL MEDIA IS NOT RESTRICTED !LBANIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE Q 3TATE OR PUBLIC MEDIA REmECT THE VIEWS OF THE ENTIRE POLITICAL SPECTRUM ARE NONPARTISAN AND "Y ALL ACCOUNTS A WIDE VARIETY OF MEDIA EXIST IN !LBANIA SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST !S REFERENCED PREVIOUSLY THERE ARE TELEVISION OUTLETS RADIO STATIONS AND DAILY NEWSPAPERS OPERATING Q )NDEPENDENT NEWS AGENCIES GATHER AND DISTRIB IN THE COUNTRY (OWEVER THIS BROAD RANGE OF OUTLETS UTE NEWS FOR PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA DOES NECESSARILY MEAN THEY ARE PROFESSIONAL OPERATIONS Q )NDEPENDENT BROADCAST MEDIA PRODUCE THEIR OWN LET ALONE VIABLE BUSINESSES )F ANYTHING THE NUMBER OF NEWS PROGRAMS MEDIA OUTLETS WILL Q 4RANSPARENCY OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP ALLOWS xTHE NUMBER OF CONTINUE TO DECLINE CONSUMERS TO JUDGE OBJECTIVITY OF NEWS AS MARKET FORCES MEDIA OWNERSHIP IS NOT CONCENTRATED IN A MEDIA OUTLETS WILL WEED OUT THE STRUG FEW CONGLOMERATES GLING STATIONS AND CONTINUE TO DECLINE AS Q ! BROAD SPECTRUM OF SOCIAL INTERESTS ARE PUBLICATIONS REmECTED AND REPRESENTED IN THE MEDIA INCLUD
MARKET FORCES WEED OUT !LBANIAN 0,52!,)49 /& .%73 3/52#%3 ).$)#!4/23 ING MINORITY LANGUAGE INFORMATION SOURCES THE STRUGGLING STATIONS CITIZENS ARE NOT RESTRICTED BY THE WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THE NEWSPAPERS AND HAS NO DISCERNIBLE AND PUBLICATIONS GOVERNMENT IN CLIENT BASE ACCESSING DOMESTIC -EDIA OWNERSHIP IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DETER OR INTERNATIONAL MEDIA 4HE ONLY LIMITATIONS FOR MANY MINE 4HE NAMES THAT APPEAR ON THE LICENSES OFTEN DO NOT PEOPLE ARE ECONOMIC %VEN IF CITIZENS IN THE RURAL REGIONS REPRESENT THE ACTUAL OWNERSHIP &OR EXAMPLE 46 +/(! CANNOT AFFORD A SATELLITE ANYONE WITH A TELEVISION SET OR IS UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE EIGHT OWNERS AMONG THEM THE RADIO CAN PICK UP ANY STATION THAT HAS A STRONG ENOUGH -INISTER OF #ULTURE AND THE MAYOR OF $URRES (OWEVER SIGNAL THEIR NAMES DO NOT APPEAR ON ANY OFlCIAL PAPERS REGIS 0UBLIC BROADCASTING IS NOT A FACTOR 4HE GOVERN TERED WITH THE .#24 -EANWHILE NEWSPAPERS WHICH DO MENT CONTROLLED BROADCASTER 243H IS COMPLETELY UNDER NOT REQUIRE A LICENSE TO OPERATE ONLY HAVE TO REGISTER AS A THE INmUENCE OF POLITICAL FORCES %VEN THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CORPORATION WITHOUT PROVIDING OWNERSHIP INFORMATION 0ARLIAMENTARY #OMMISSION ON -ASS -EDIA A MEMBER !LTHOUGH THERE ARE STATUTES THAT PROVIDE FOR MEDIA OF THE RULING 3OCIALIST 0ARTY WAS CRITICAL OF STATE TELEVI COVERAGE OF MINORITY COMMUNITIES THESE PROVISIONS ARE SION DURING THE -3) PANEL SAYING h) HAVE PUT A FOR THIS LARGELY IGNORED IN PRACTICE 3OME OF THE SOUTHERN REGIONAL CATEGORY SINCE ) REPRESENT THE PARTY THAT IS IN POWER )F ) TELEVISION STATIONS DO HAVE 'REEK PROGRAMMING AND WERE A JOURNALIST ) COULDNT PUT MORE THAN A BECAUSE IT THERE ARE 'REEK AND -ACEDONIAN LANGUAGE RADIO STA IS SCANDALOUS THAT PUBLIC BROADCASTERS SUSTAIN A POLITICAL TIONS OPERATING LOCALLY !CCORDING TO ONE PANELIST h%VERY PARTYv 243H HAS OTHER PROBLEMS )T IS OVERSTAFFED AND PERSON CAN OPEN A LOCAL BROADCAST OUTLET IN 'REEK OR MANY EMPLOYEES ALSO WORK FOR PRIVATE STATIONS WHILE SUP -ACEDONIAN LANGUAGES !ND LICENSES ARE ONLY LOCAL POSEDLY ON DUTY AT 243H 4HE 243H NEWSCAST WAS THE MOST NOT REGIONAL OR NATIONAL ,EGALLY THE GOVERNMENT HAS POPULAR TELEVISION PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY AT ONE TIME BUT FULlLLED THIS CONDITION )T IS ANOTHER ISSUE WHETHER OR NOT RECENT SURVEYS SHOW IT HAS LOST MUCH OF ITS POPULARITY ANYONE IS INTERESTED BECAUSE THERE IS NO PROMOTIONv .EWS AGENCIES HAVE YET TO BE DEVELOPED IN !LBA NIA !SIDE FROM !LBANIAN 4ELEGRAPHIC !GENCY !4! THE STATE SUPPORTED OPERATION 4IR&AX IS THE ONLY PRIVATE NEWS AGENCY (OWEVER 4IR&AX GENERALLY REGURGITATES
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI SPECIlC BUSINESS OR h)N GENERAL EVERY /BJECTIVE "USINESS -ANAGEMENT POLITICAL INTERESTS !LBANIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE WITHOUT CONSIDER PROMOTION IS PRODUCED ING VIEWERSHIP OR FOR SPECIlC BUSINESS -3) PANEL PARTICIPANTS AGREED THAT THE MEDIA INDUSTRY READERSHIP &OR THIS CANNOT SUPPORT ITSELF IN !LBANIA !LTHOUGH SOME STATIONS REASON THE ADVERTIS OR POLITICAL INTERESTS ARE GENERATING A BIT OF PROlT MOST ARE UNSUSTAINABLE 4HE ING MARKET IN !LBA WITHOUT CONSIDERING DIFlCULT ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT MEANS THAT IT WILL TAKE A NIA IS COMPLETELY LONG PERIOD TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABILITY ABSENTv VIEWERSHIP OR -OST PANELISTS AGREED THAT FEW SOURCES OF FUND -ARKET READERSHIP &OR ING FOR MEDIA COULD BE LEGAL 4HE GOVERNMENT HAS THE RESEARCH IS PRACTI TENDENCY TO ADVERTISE ITS ENTERPRISES SUCH AS !LB4ELECOM CALLY NONEXISTENT IN THIS REASON THE THE POWER COMPANY AND THE STATE INSURANCE COMPANY ON !LBANIA )N THE PAST MEDIA THAT SUPPORT IT 0ROlTS FROM THESE ADS ARE SUB TWO YEARS HOWEVER ADVERTISING MARKET STANTIAL AND ARE VIEWED AS REWARDS FOR PRO GOVERNMENT FOUR SURVEYS OF THE IN !LBANIA IS COVERAGE #ONVERSELY THE STATIONS AND NEWSPAPERS THAT NATIONAL BROADCAST SUPPORT THE OPPOSITION ARE PUNISHED BY BEING IGNORED BY MARKET HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY ABSENTv THE STATE ADVERTISERS CONDUCTED BY THE !DVERTISING AGENCIES HAVE YET TO EMERGE IN !LBANIA )NSTITUTE FOR 3TATISTICS AND /PINIONS )3/ )3/ IS NOW IN 4HERE ARE A FEW ENTREPRENEURS WHO CLAIM TO REPRESENT NEGOTIATIONS WITH 4.3 THE FORMER 'ALLUP /RGANIZATION AGENCIES 4HESE hAGENTSv BUY BLOCKS OF TIME ON VARIOUS TO JOIN THAT NETWORK 4HE SEMI ANNUAL SURVEYS ARE SLOWLY STATIONS AND THEN LOOK FOR CLIENTS TO SELL TO (OWEVER THE BEING ACCEPTED AS INDEPENDENT MEASUREMENTS OF VIEWER STATIONS THAT HAVE PRODUCED AND AIRED THE ADS ARE RARELY SHIP 4HERE HAS BEEN A DEMONSTRABLE SHIFT IN ADVERTISING PAID THROUGH THESE MIDDLEMEN /NE PANELIST BLUNTLY REVENUE FROM THE STATE BROADCASTER TO SOME OF THE PRIVATE STATED h)N GENERAL EVERY PROMOTION IS PRODUCED FOR STATIONS THAT DEMONSTRATE STRONGER RATINGS 4HE VALUE OF )3/S SURVEYS WAS HIGHLIGHTED WHEN THE POLITICAL PARTIES BOUGHT COPIES OF THE RATINGS BEFORE MOUNTING THEIR MEDIA BLITZES IN THE RUN UP TO THE MAYORAL ELECTIONS IN )NDEPENDENT MEDIA ARE WELL MANAGED BUSINESSES ALLOWING EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE /BJECTIVE 3UPPORTING )NSTITUTIONS Q -EDIA OUTLETS AND SUPPORTING lRMS OPERATE AS EFlCIENT PROFESSIONAL AND PROlT GENERATING !LBANIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE BUSINESSES 4HE CONCEPT OF UNITING FOR THE COMMON GOOD HAS YET Q -EDIA RECEIVE REVENUE FROM A MULTITUDE OF TO TAKE HOLD WITH THE MEDIA OWNERS WHO APPEAR TO SOURCES FEAR LOSING POWER AND INmUENCE AS INDIVIDUALS WITHIN Q !DVERTISING AGENCIES AND RELATED INDUSTRIES THE INDUSTRY /NE PANELIST EXPLAINED THAT A BROADCAST SUPPORT AN ADVERTISING MARKET ASSOCIATION hIS NOT AN ASSOCIATION BUT A GROUP OF PEOPLE Q !DVERTISING REVENUE AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL WHO WANT TO CONTROL EVERYTHING IN THE MEDIAv 0ANELISTS REVENUE IS IN LINE WITH ACCEPTED STANDARDS AT AGREED THAT THE OWNERS PARTICIPATING IN THE BROADCAST COMMERCIAL OUTLETS ASSOCIATION HAVE TROUBLE ADVOCATING FOR THEIR OWN INTER ESTS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT REPRESENT THE WHOLE SPECTRUM OF Q )NDEPENDENT MEDIA DO NOT RECEIVE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES MEDIA -EANWHILE THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT THE RIGHTS OF PRINT OWNERSHIP Q -ARKET RESEARCH IS USED TO FORMULATE STRATEGIC *OURNALISTS HAVE EVEN LESS OF A SUPPORT NETWORK PLANS ENHANCE ADVERTISING REVENUE AND TAILOR -ANY JOURNALISTS DO NOT HAVE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS PRODUCTS TO THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF AUDIENCES AND COME TO WORK EACH DAY WONDERING IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE lRED 0UBLISHERS CAN TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THIS "53).%33 -!.!'%-%.4 ).$)#!4/23 Q "ROADCAST RATINGS AND CIRCULATION lGURES ARE SITUATION .EWSPAPERS TEND TO EMPLOY STUDENTS FROM RELIABLY AND INDEPENDENTLY PRODUCED THE FACULTY OF JOURNALISM AND WHEN THE CLASS ENTERS THE !,"!.)! xTHE GOVERNMENT UNIVERSITY THERE 3UPPORTING INSTITUTIONS FUNCTION IN THE ARE MASS LAYOFFS AS PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA REGARDS .'/S AS OLDER STAFF MEM MORE OF A NUISANCE BERS ARE REPLACED Q 4RADE ASSOCIATIONS REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF BY MORE NOVICES PRIVATE MEDIA OWNERS AND PROVIDE MEMBER THAN AS A VEHICLE !LTHOUGH THERE SERVICES FOR IMPROVEMENT WAS AN ATTEMPT TO Q 0ROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS WORK TO PROTECT INITIATE A UNION JOURNALISTS RIGHTS 4HE GOVERNMENT CAN FOR JOURNALISTS Q .'/S SUPPORT FREE SPEECH AND INDEPENDENT SEVERAL YEARS AGO IGNORE CALLS FOR REFORM MEDIA THE REPORTERS WERE WITHIN THE MEDIA SECTOR TOO AFRAID TO JOIN Q 1UALITY JOURNALISM DEGREE PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE EXIST BECAUSE CIVIL SOCIETY IS BECAUSE THEY FEARED LOSING THEIR JOBS Q 3HORT TERM TRAINING AND IN SERVICE TRAINING TOO UNDERDEVELOPED TO -EDIA SUP PROGRAMS ALLOW JOURNALISTS TO UPGRADE SKILLS OR PORT .'/S DO EXIST ACQUIRE NEW SKILLS EXERT MUCH PRESSURE TO PROVIDE ADVOCACY Q 3OURCES OF NEWSPRINT AND PRINTING FACILITIES ARE AND ASSISTANCE PRIVATE APOLITICAL AND UNRESTRICTED (OWEVER THE GOVERNMENT REGARDS .'/S AS MORE OF A NUISANCE THAN AS A VEHICLE FOR IMPROVEMENT 4HE GOVERN Q #HANNELS OF MEDIA DISTRIBUTION KIOSKS TRANS MITTERS )NTERNET ARE PRIVATE APOLITICAL AND MENT CAN IGNORE CALLS FOR REFORM WITHIN THE MEDIA SECTOR 3500/24).' ).34)454)/.3 ).$)#!4/23 UNRESTRICTED BECAUSE CIVIL SOCIETY IS TOO UNDERDEVELOPED TO EXERT MUCH PRESSURE 4HE -3) PANEL WAS GENERALLY OPTIMISTIC THAT JOUR $ISTRIBUTION OF PRINT MEDIA CONTINUES TO BE A PROB NALISTS COULD OBTAIN THE PROPER TRAINING (OWEVER THE LEM IN !LBANIA 0RINTING AND DISTRIBUTION ARE CONTROLLED OBSTACLES FOR ASPIRING JOURNALISTS ARE DAUNTING 4HE 5NI BY COMPANIES OPERATING IN 4IRANA 4HE POOR INFRASTRUC VERSITY OF 4IRANA 3CHOOL OF *OURNALISM HAS RECEIVED MUCH TURE DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THE EFFECTIVE DELIVERY OF PRINTED SUPPORT FROM INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OVER THE YEARS PUBLICATIONS ON A DAILY BASIS .EWSPAPER DISTRIBUTION hIS WITH LITTLE TO SHOW FOR IT IN TERMS OF IMPROVED PROFESSION A JUNGLE v SAID ONE PANELIST h)F THE DISTRIBUTOR WANTS TO ALISM #ORRUPTION AND POLITICAL INmUENCE PERVADES EVEN DELIVER YOUR PAPER IT WILL "UT IF IT DOESNT YOUR PAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL WONT BE DELIVEREDv -EANWHILE THE COST OF INSTALLING 4WO QUALIlED JOURNALISTS HAVE FORMED A PRIVATE PRINT FACILITIES OUTSIDE 4IRANA IS TOO GREAT TO BE A REALISTIC EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM TO PREPARE STUDENTS TO ENTER THE OPTION 'ENERALLY TELEVISION STATIONS DELIVER CONCISE AND INDUSTRY $ESPITE A SUCCESSFUL START TO THEIR PROGRAM STILL RELEVANT NEWS TO THOSE LIVING OUTSIDE 4IRANA THEIR RESOURCES ARE LIMITED "OTH JOURNALISTS HAVE PROVEN TO BE EXCELLENT REPORTERS AND ABLE INSTRUCTORS BUT THE SCOPE OF THEIR PROGRAM IS TOO LIMITED TO BENElT THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI 0ANEL 0ARTICIPANTS
%LSA "ALLAURI DIRECTOR (UMAN 2IGHTS 'ROUP .'/
&ATOS "AXHAKU JOURNALIST 6IZION 0LUS
$ZIMI "YLYKBASHI OWNEROPERATOR 46 ,USHNJE
,UTFE $ERVISHI EDITOR IN CHIEF !LBANIA NEWSPAPER
4HANAS 'OGA MEDIA CONSULTANT )NTERNATIONAL &OUNDATION FOR %LECTION 3YSTEMS )&%3
,EONARD 'REMI GENERAL DIRECTOR "ALKAN 46
%DMOND )SAKU OWNEROPERATOR 46 "ULQIZE
2EMZI ,ANI DIRECTOR !LBANIAN -EDIA )NSTITUTE
)RIS ,UARASI CO OWNER 2ADIO )MA 0ROFESSOR OF *OURNALISM 5NIVERSITY OF 4IRANA
%DI 0ALOKA VICE CHAIRMAN 0ARLIAMENTARY #OMMISSION ON -ASS -EDIA
3UELA 3HALA ASSISTANT TO PRESS OFlCER /3#%
!NDI 4ELA EDITOR IN CHIEF 0ANORAMA DAILY
-USA 5LQINI CHAIRMAN 0ARLIAMENTARY #OMMISSION ON -ASS -EDIA 2EZAR 8HAXHIU NEWS DIRECTOR 46 !RBERIA
-ODERATOR !NDREA 3TEFANI LOCAL MEDIA ADVISOR )2%8!LBANIA
!,"!.)! &REEDOM OF SPEECH IN SOME RURAL AREAS IS SEEN AS INTERFERENCE WITH THE ACTIVITIES OF POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CENTERS OF POWER OFTEN THE SOVEREIGN AND UNDISPUTABLE AUTHORITIES IN SMALLER COMMUNITIES "OSNIA AND (ERZEGOVINA
)NTRODUCTION EDIA IN "OSNIA AND (ERZEGOVINA CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN A COMPLEX POLITICAL AND LEGAL ENVIRONMENT &OLLOWING THE END OF THE WAR IN THE $AYTON 0EACE !CCORDS CREATED A CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM THAT DElNES "OSNIA AND (ERZEGOVINA AS A STATE WITH THREE PARTS THE &EDERATION OF "OSNIA AND (ERZEGOVINA WITH A MAJORITY OF "OSNIAKS AND #ROATS THE 2EPUBLIKA 3RPSKA 23 COMPRISED MOSTLY OF 3ERBS AND THE "RCKO $ISTRICT WITH ITS OWN SPECIlC AND INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATION 4HE ACCOMPANYING 'ENERAL &RAMEWORK !GREEMENT FOR 0EACE '&!0 DESIGNATED THE /FlCE OF THE (IGH 2EPRESENTATIVE /(2 AS THE HIGH EST AUTHORITY IN "OSNIA AND (ERZEGOVINA RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CIVILIAN - ASPECTS OF THE PEACE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 4HE (IGH 2EPRESENTATIVE IS AN INTERNATIONAL OFlCIAL NOMINATED BY THE 0EACE )MPLEMENTATION #OUNCILMADE UP OF COUNTRIES AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ENDORSED BY THE 5NITED .ATIONS 3ECURITY #OUNCIL 4HE BROAD POWERS OF THE /(2 INCLUDE THE RIGHT TO IMPOSE LEGISLATION ENFORCE DECISIONS AND REMOVE OFlCIALS AT ALL ADMINISTRATIVE LEVELS WHEN DEEMED NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PEACE PROCESS 4HE CURRENT POLITICAL LANDSCAPE IS FURTHER MARKED BY THE CON TINUING RULE OF NATIONALIST PARTIES THE 0ARTY OF $EMOCRATIC !CTION 3$! "OSNIAK AND #ROATIAN $EMOCRATIC #OMMUNITY ($: #ROAT IN THE &EDERATION AND THE 3ERB $EMOCRATIC 0ARTY 3$3 3ERB IN THE 23 5NDER PRESSURE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THESE POLITICAL AUTHORITIES ARE BEGINNING TO TAKE ON SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COUNTRYS RECONSTRUCTION AND ARE SHIFTING CERTAIN POLITICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS SUCH AS DEFENSE TO NATIONAL LEVEL INSTITU TIONS !S "OSNIA AND (ERZEGOVINA CONTINUES EFFORTS TOWARD %UROPEAN INTEGRATION ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE REFORMS INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES AND THE FULL REORGANIZATION OF THE 0UBLIC "ROADCASTING 3YSTEM 0"3 ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW )MPLEMENTATION OF MEDIA LEGISLATION REMAINS DEPENDENT ON AN EFlCIENT JUDICIARY AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION NEITHER OF WHICH HAS COMPLIED WITH SUPPOSEDLY MANDATORY STRUCTURAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL REFORMS
"/3.)! !.$ (%2:%'/6).! /BJECTIVE 3CORING )NDICATOR 3CORING 4HE AVERAGES OF ALL THE INDICATORS ARE AVERAGED TO OBTAIN A SINGLE %ACH INDICATOR IS SCORED USING THE FOLLOWING SYSTEM OVERALL SCORE FOR EACH OBJECTIVE /BJECTIVE SCORES ARE AVERAGED TO PROVIDE #OUNTRY DOES NOT MEET INDICATOR GOVERNMENT OR SOCIAL FORCES MAY ACTIVELY AN OVERALL SCORE FOR THE COUNTRY )2%8 INTERPRETS THE OVERALL SCORES AS FOLLOWS OPPOSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND ABOVE 3USTAINABLE AND FREE INDEPENDENT MEDIA #OUNTRY MINIMALLY MEETS ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR FORCES MAY NOT AC T IVELY OPPOSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION BUT BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT MAY NOT SUPPORT IT n )NDEPENDENT MEDIA APPROACHING SUSTAINABILITY AND GOVERNMENT OR PROFESSION DO NOT FULLY AND ACTIVELY SUPPORT CHANGE n 3IGNIlCANT PROGRESS REMAINS TO BE MADE #OUNTRY HAS BEGUN TO MEET MANY ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR BUT PROGRESS MAY SOCIETY OR GOVERNMENT IS NOT FULLY SUPPORTIVE BE TOO RECENT TO JUDGE OR STILL DEPENDENT ON CURRENT GOVERNMENT OR POLITICAL FORCES n #OUNTRY MEETS FEW INDICATORS GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY ACTIVELY OPPOSE CHANGE #OUNTRY MEETS MOST ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INDICA TOR HAS OCCURRED OVER SEVERAL YEARS ANDOR THROUGH CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT INDICATING LIKELY SUSTAINABILITY #OUNTRY MEETS THE ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR IMPLEMENTATION HAS REM AI NE D INTACT OVER MULTIPLE CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC mUCTUATIONS CHANGES IN PUBLIC OPINION ANDOR CHANGING SOCIAL CONVENTIONS
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI -INIMAL FOREIGN BUSINESS INVESTMENT AND A DEEP ABOUT PERCENT %DITORS APPOINTED BY ENING ECONOMIC CRISIS CONTRIBUTE TO THE DIFlCULTIES OF OF THE POPULATION THE MEDIA ENVIRONMENT 0ROFESSIONALLY MANAGED MEDIA 4HREE NETWORKS POLITICAL CIRCLES SERVE WITH STRONG SALES DEPARTMENTS COMPETE EFlCIENTLY FOR AD COMPETE FOR MARKET AS WATCHDOGS AND REVENUE WHILE SMALLER MEDIA RAPIDLY MARGINALIZED IN SHARE WITH PUBLIC THEIR lGHT TO GAIN ADVERTISING FUNDS STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL BROADCASTERS WHO ENFORCE CONTENT /VERALL THE MEDIA ADVERTISING MARKET REMAINS SMALL ARE ALLOWED TO AIR CONTROL -EDIA IN BY FOREIGN STANDARDS AND IN THE COMPETITION FOR ADVERTISING IN ADDI LIMITED FUNDS INTENSIlED WITH THE ENTRY OF MEDIA COMPA TION TO COLLECTING THIS SITUATION NIES FROM NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES SUCH AS 0INK 46 FROM SUBSCRIPTIONS PRACTICALLY INTRODUCE 3ERBIA AND -ONTENEGRO AND .OVA 46 FROM #ROATIA 3OME $ESPITE THESE FEAR THAT THESE OUTSIDE ACTORS WILL TAKE OVER THE MAJORITY OF MULTIPLE SOURCES OF SELF CENSORSHIP AS INTERNATIONAL AD CAMPAIGNS RUNNING THEM DIRECTLY FROM POSSIBLE REVENUE NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES BY OFFERING THE "OSNIAN MARKET AS FURTHER RECONSTRUC THE MODUS OPERANDI hVALUE ADDEDv AND THEREBY CUTTING FURTHER INTO REVENUES TION OF THE 0"3 AVAILABLE DOMESTICALLY FROM ADVERTISING STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY 0RINT MEDIA READERSHIP CONTINUES TO DECLINE DUE TO CONTINUES WITH EMPHASIS ON CLEARING AN ACCUMULATED DEBT ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES AND A RELATIVELY EXPENSIVE PROD OF MORE THAN MILLION SHARED BETWEEN 2423 WHICH UCT COMPARED WITH THE VAST NUMBER OF hFREEv ELECTRONIC SERVES THE 23 AND &EDERATION 46 WHICH SERVES THE MEDIA )N ADDITION MANY PRINT PUBLICATIONS REMAIN PLAT &EDERATION ! SECOND &EDERATION CHANNEL HAS BEEN CLOSED FORMS FOR POLITICAL ANDOR INTEREST GROUPS ALTHOUGH A FEW IN THE RECONSTRUCTION PROCESS AND PLANS INCLUDE FURTHER MARKET ORIENTED PUBLICATIONS CONTINUE TO RETAIN READER STAFF REDUCTIONS ! STATEWIDE PUBLIC BROADCASTER SERVING SHIP BY FOCUSING ON TOPICS OF INTEREST TO THEIR AUDIENCES BOTH THE 23 AND THE &EDERATION CONTINUES WITH LIMITED *OURNALISM STANDARDS THOUGH IMPROVING GRADUALLY ARE TRANSMISSIONS THROUGH THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF 2423 AND &ED STILL MARKED BY FREQUENT VIOLATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL CODES 46 ! RECONSTRUCTION IS PLANNED PENDING THE ABILITY OF THE AS NOTEDFOR EXAMPLE IN THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATION TO OVERCOME EXISTING DEBT 4HIS WOULD INTRODUCE A (ELSINKI (UMAN 2IGHTS #OMMITTEE THIRD STATE OWNED BROADCASTER FOR A POPULATION OF ONLY 4HE BROADCAST MEDIA SECTOR IS REGULATED BY THE MILLION !N UPCOMING AGREEMENT ON COLLECTING SUBSCRIP #OMMUNICATIONS 2EGULATORY !GENCY #2! WHICH IS TION FEES THROUGH THE TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANIES OF RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING BROADCAST REGULATIONS )TS THE 23 AND THE &EDERATION SEEKS TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC SYSTEM BROAD POWERS WHICH INCLUDE THE ABILITY TO IMPOSE SEVERE WITH SOME OF ITS lNANCIAL DIFlCULTIES SANCTIONS AND TO HELP ENSURE THE ABSENCE OF HATE SPEECH OR POLITICALLY MOTIVATED PROGRAMMING HAVE MADE THE BROADCASTING ARENA FAR LESS INmAMMATORY THAN THE PRINT /BJECTIVE &REE 3PEECH SECTOR 4HE #2! ALSO ISSUES BROADCAST LICENSES THROUGH A "OSNIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE STRICT PROCESS (OWEVER THE TOTAL OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA OUTLETS TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONSREMAINS )N ADDITION TO CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS TWO MEDIA LAWS FAR MORE THAN THE COUNTRYS LIMITED ADVERTISING MARKET DEAL SPECIlCALLY WITH FREEDOM OF SPEECH THE ,AW ON CAN SUPPORT )N ADDITION THE RECENT ENTRY OF FOREIGN &REE !CCESS TO )NFORMATION AND THE ,AW ON $EFAMATION MEDIA COMPANIES INTO "OSNIA AND (ERZEGOVINA HAS HIGH 7HILE THE COUNTRY IS MOVING AHEAD IN THIS AREA DIFlCUL LIGHTED INADEQUACIES IN THE BROADCAST REGULATIONS LEADING TIES EMERGE IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING LAWS INCLUD ONE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION THE !SSOCIATION OF THE %LEC ING AN INEFlCIENT JUDICIARY AND A LACK OF AWARENESS BY TRONIC -EDIA TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE RESULTING DESTABI BOTH THE PUBLIC AND JOURNALISTS LIZATION OF THE DOMESTIC BROADCAST MARKET )N .OVA !LTHOUGH BROADCAST MEDIA OPERATE IN A WELL DElNED 46 BOUGHT THE PRIVATE BROADCASTER /". WHILE 0INK 46 ENVIRONMENT THAT LIMITS HATE SPEECH AND SLANDER PRINT ACQUIRED PARTIAL OR ENTIRE OWNERSHIP OF lVE TELEVISION MEDIA OFTEN REmECT THE INmUENCE OF POLITICAL OR INTER STATIONS ACROSS "OSNIA AND (ERZEGOVINA "OTH BROADCAST EST GROUPS INCLUDING THE SPREAD OF UNSUBSTANTIATED ERS COVER THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNTRYS TERRITORY THROUGH ACCUSATIONS AGAINST INDIVIDUALS &OUR RECENT COURT DECI THEIR AFlLIATE STATIONS -REZA 0LUS "OSNIA AND (ERZEGOV SIONS TARGETED FALSE INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY THE DAILY INAS lRST COMMERCIAL PRIVATE TELEVISION NETWORK SERVES NEWSPAPER $NEVNI !VAZ AND THE WEEKLY MAGAZINE $ANI
"/3.)! !.$ (%2:%'/6).! 0ROFESSIONAL *UDICIAL RESPONSE TO 4HE ,AW ON &REE !CCESS TO )NFORMATION IS PER DEFAMATION REMAINS CEIVED AS ADVANCED AND REmECTS THE BEST %UROPEAN ASSOCIATIONS EITHER INADEQUATE HOW STANDARDS /NE PANELIST SUGGESTED HOWEVER THAT OFlCIALS DO NOT EXIST OR OPERATE EVER THE 3ARAJEVO TAKE SOME OF ITS PROVISIONS hLIGHTLYv 4WO YEARS AFTER #ANTON ALONE HAS THE LAWS PASSAGE MANY PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS HAVE YET TO POORLY !LTHOUGH THERE OPEN CASES AND A CREATE THE NECESSARY PROCEDURES FOR PROCESSING REQUESTS ARE SIX JOURNALISTS CLEARANCE RATE OF LESS 4HOUGH THE GENERAL PUBLIC REMAINS SILENT ON THE ISSUE THAN PERCENT 4HE A FEW ASSOCIATIONS SUCH AS THE #ENTER FOR &REE !CCESS TO ASSOCIATIONS THEY ARE NUMBER OF DEFAMA )NFORMATION PROVIDE RELATED LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO MEDIA INEFlCIENT AND UNABLE TION CASES MAY INDI 7HILE CRIMINAL ACTS AGAINST JOURNALISTS DO NOT CATE THAT THE LAW IS OCCUR OFTEN PANELISTS AGREED THAT WHEN THEY DO INVESTI TO INmUENCE THE BEING USED AS A TOOL GATION AND PROSECUTION ARE NOT SATISFACTORY 3OME CITED TO INmUENCE MEDIA THE FOUR YEAR OLD CASE OF THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF PROFESSION OR THE COVERAGE ,IBEL HAS :ELJKO +OPANJA MANAGER AND OWNER OF THE "ANJA ,UKA PUBLIC IN GENERAL BECOME PART OF THE BASED DAILY .EZAVISNE .OVINE WHICH REMAINS UNSOLVED CIVIL CODE REQUIRING ! MEDIA HELPLINE ESTABLISHED BY THE /RGANIZATION FOR A HIGHER LEVEL OF TOLERANCE ON THE PART OF PUBLIC OFlCIALS 3ECURITY AND #OOPERATION IN %UROPE /3#% AND RUN 4HE LAW ALSO PROVIDES PROTECTION TO MEDIA IN THAT IT SETS SINCE BY THE /(2 APPEARS ONLY TO LOG THREATS AND lNANCIAL PENALTIES THAT WILL NOT ENDANGER A MEDIA COMPA ATTACKS RATHER THAN HELP PREVENT THEM NYS OPERATIONS )N THE lELD OF BROADCAST LICENSING THE INDEPENDENT #2! HAS ESTABLISHED REGULATIONS BROUGHT ORDER TO AN OVERSATURATED MEDIA MARKET AND INCREASED THE PROFES ,EGAL AND SOCIAL NORMS PROTECT AND PROMOTE SIONALISM OF THE COUNTRYS BROADCAST MEDIA /VERALL ITS FREE SPEECH AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES ARE VIEWED AS FAIR AND ITS CRITE Q ,EGALSOCIAL PROTECTIONS OF FREE SPEECH EXIST RIA AS MORE OR LESS SOLID (OWEVER ITS DECISION TO TRANSFER AND ARE ENFORCED FREQUENCIES AND BROADCAST LICENSES TO MEDIA THAT HAVE RECENTLY ENTERED THE DOMESTIC MARKET FROM NEIGHBORING Q ,ICENSING OF BROADCAST MEDIA IS FAIR COMPETITIVE AND APOLITICAL COUNTRIES RAISED CONTROVERSY )N ADDITION COMMERCIAL MEDIA CONTINUE TO EXPRESS CONCERN OVER THE ABILITY OF THE Q -ARKET ENTRY AND TAX STRUCTURE FOR MEDIA ARE FAIR 0"3 TO ACCEPT PAID ADVERTISING WHICH MANY FEEL GRANTS IT AND COMPARABLE TO OTHER INDUSTRIES A PRIVILEGED COMPETITIVE EDGE Q #RIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS OR MEDIA OUTLETS ARE /THER LEGAL ASPECTS ARE RATED AS GENERALLY FREE IN PROSECUTED VIGOROUSLY BUT OCCURRENCES OF SUCH "OSNIA AND (ERZEGOVINA !CCESS TO INTERNATIONAL NEWS CRIMES ARE RARE SOURCES IS NOT LIMITED IN ANY WAY 4HE HIGH COSTS OF Q 3TATE OR PUBLIC MEDIA DO NOT RECEIVE PREFERENTIAL SERVICES SUCH AS THE )NTERNET DUE IN PART TO A MONOPOLY LEGAL TREATMENT AND LAW GUARANTEES EDITORIAL ON HIGH SPEED ACCESS AND THE POOR lNANCIAL SITUATION INDEPENDENCE OF MOST MEDIA SOMETIMES POSE OBSTACLES TO ADEQUATE ACCESS (OWEVER THE REBROADCASTING AND REPRINTING OF Q ,IBEL IS A CIVIL LAW ISSUE PUBLIC OFlCIALS ARE HELD TO HIGHER STANDARDS AND THE OFFENDED PARTY NEWS IS REGULATED BY THE COPYRIGHT REGULATIONS AND IS MUST PROVE FALSITY AND MALICE NOT INmUENCED BY THE AUTHORITIES 4HE LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND TAXATION SYSTEM TREAT Q 0UBLIC INFORMATION IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE RIGHT OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA AS ANY OTHER BUSINESS /NE PANELIST ACCESS TO INFORMATION IS EQUALLY ENFORCED FOR ALL &2%% 30%%#( ).$)#!4/23 MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS NOTED THAT TAXES ON ADVERTISING FROM ABROAD ARE CAL CULATED AS AN IMPORT OF GOODS AND THUS INADEQUATELY Q -EDIA OUTLETS HAVE UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO INFOR CHARGED 4HE PRACTICE APPEARS TO RESULT FROM LACK OF MATION THIS IS EQUALLY ENFORCED FOR ALL MEDIA KNOWLEDGE AND MISINTERPRETATION OF THE PROVISIONS AND JOURNALISTS %NTRY INTO THE JOURNALISM PROFESSION IS FREE Q %NTRY INTO THE JOURNALISM PROFESSION IS FREE AND THOUGH SOME PANELISTS NOTED THAT THE QUANTITY OF NEWLY GOVERNMENT IMPOSES NO LICENSING RESTRICTIONS TRAINED JOURNALISTS IS DISPROPORTIONAL TO THE QUALITY OF OR SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR JOURNALISTS JOURNALISM IN GENERAL -%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI /BJECTIVE 0ROFESSIONAL *OURNALISM WORK AS PRESENTERS 4HE EDUCATION OF ADVISORS OR EDI "OSNIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE TORS IN SPECIALIZED JOURNALISTS IS NEITHER PUBLICATIONS DONE WELL ORGANIZED NOR 4HE QUALITY OF JOURNALISTIC PROFESSIONALISM IN "OSNIA AND BY STATE AUTHORI (ERZEGOVINA IS IMPROVING ALBEIT SLOWLY AND WITH EVIDENT TIES IN EXCHANGE FOR CONSISTENTMEDIA AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ELECTRONIC AND PRINT MEDIA )NEX PROVIDING FAVORABLE JOURNALISTS DO NOT PLACE PERIENCE PARTLY ACCOUNTS FOR POOR PRACTICES OF FAIRNESS COVERAGE 3TANDARDS OBJECTIVITY VARIED SOURCING AND SO ON *OURNALISTS TOO IN BROADCAST MEDIA ENOUGH IMPORTANCE ON RARELY SEARCH FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR FURTHER INVES ARE HIGHER THAN THEIR EDUCATION TIGATE STORIES PASSIVE PARTICIPATION IN NEWS CONFERENCES IS AMONG PRINT JOUR ALSO COMMON 4HOSE WITH STRONGER SKILLS ARE SOMETIMES NALISTS WHICH SOME LOST IN NEWSROOMS THAT STRUGGLE TO BALANCE NEWS AND PARTICIPANTS ATTRIBUTED TO THE STRICT REGULATIONS UNDER COMMERCIAL CONTENT WHICH ELECTRONIC MEDIA OPERATE ! #ODE OF %THICS DEVELOPED IN ACCORDANCE WITH 3ELF CENSORSHIP REMAINS A PRACTICE IN "OSNIA AND %UROPEAN AND OTHER RELEVANT STANDARDS WAS ADOPTED BY (ERZEGOVINA MOST OFTEN AS A WAY TO AVOID CONmICT WITH ALL SIX OF "OSNIAS JOURNALISTIC ASSOCIATIONS MORE THAN INTEREST GROUPS OR TO MAINTAIN JOB SECURITY 3ELF CENSOR THREE YEARS AGO ! REPORT BY THE LOCAL ORGANIZATION -EDIA SHIP ALSO COMES INTO PLAY IN THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN 0LAN ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE #ODE IN THE /CTOBER JOURNALISTS AND THEIR EDITORS WHO EITHER SEEK TO SHAPE PRE ELECTION PERIOD SHOWED A DISAPPOINTINGLY HIGH CONTENT ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN VIEWS OR RESTRICT STORIES NUMBER OF VIOLATIONS BY ALL MONITORED PRINT MEDIA 4HE ON WHICH JOURNALISTS REPORT 0ANELISTS ALSO MENTIONED ANNUAL REPORT OF THE (ELSINKI (UMAN 2IGHTS #OM lNANCIAL PRESSURE FROM ADVERTISERS WHOSE CONTRACTS MAY MITTEE RAISED THE SAME CONCERN 7HILE SOME PANELISTS DEPEND ON FAVORABLE REPORTING 3ELF CENSORSHIP OUT OF FAULT A 0RESS #OUNCIL WHOSE ACTIVITIES WERE PRACTICALLY FEAR FOR SAFETY MAY BE MORE COMMON IN RURAL ENVIRON INVISIBLE OTHERS EXPRESSED THE NEED FOR SANCTIONS )N GEN MENTS AND IN SMALLER TOWNS WHERE THE POSSIBILITY OF ERAL JOURNALISTS ARE THOUGHT TO LACK EDUCATION AND AWARE REPERCUSSIONS IS MORE STRONGLY FELT THAN IN LARGER CITIES NESS OF PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR SOME CONTINUE TO ACCEPT !LTHOUGH THERE ARE CASES OF hSPECIAL TREATMENTv IN EXCHANGE FOR FAVORABLE COVERAGE CORRUPTION AMONG JOURNALISTS IN "OSNIA AND (ERZEGOVINA DOES NOT APPEAR TO *OURNALISM MEETS PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF BE WIDESPREAD 7HILE SALARY LEVELS REMAIN LOW AT ABOUT QUALITY ; TO ; PER MONTH THEY DO NOT NECESSARILY LEAVE Q 2EPORTING IS FAIR OBJECTIVE AND WELL SOURCED JOURNALISTS VULNERABLE TO BRIBES *OURNALISTS HOWEVER ARE SOMETIMES TEMPTED BY POSITIONS IN STATE INSTITUTIONS THAT Q *OURNALISTS FOLLOW RECOGNIZED AND ACCEPTED OFFER GREATER ECONOMIC SECURITY ETHICAL STANDARDS *OURNALISTS HAVE ACCESS TO MOST KEY EVENTS Q *OURNALISTS AND EDITORS DO NOT PRACTICE ALTHOUGH MANY OUTLETS CONTINUE TO DIVIDE FOCUS ALONG THE SELF CENSORSHIP BORDERS BETWEEN THE 23 AND THE &EDERATION 3OME OUTLETS CLEARLY IDENTIFY WITH A PARTICULAR ETHNIC GROUP AND TREAT Q *OURNALISTS COVER KEY EVENTS AND ISSUES COVERAGE OF OTHER ETHNICITIES WITH VARYING DEGREES OF Q 0AY LEVELS FOR JOURNALISTS AND OTHER MEDIA INDIFFERENCE OR BIAS !SIDE FROM NEWS AGENCIES .EZAVISNE PROFESSIONALS ARE SUFlCIENTLY HIGH TO DISCOURAGE .OVINE BASED IN THE 23 AND WITH BUREAUS IN THE &ED CORRUPTION ERATION IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE EFFORT TO PROVIDE A QUALITY Q %NTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING DOES NOT ECLIPSE PRODUCT EQUALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY 7ITH THE STRENGTHEN NEWS AND INFORMATION PROGRAMMING ING OF JOINT NATIONAL LEVEL INSTITUTIONS MEDIA INCREAS INGLY INCLUDE STORIES OF COUNTRY WIDE IMPORTANCE Q 4ECHNICAL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT FOR GATHERING PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING NEWS ARE MODERN -EDIA CONTENT PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON NEWS AND AND EFlCIENT INFORMATION AND MOST MEDIA lND SUCH PROGRAMMING IN DEMAND FROM THE PUBLIC )NFORMATION ACCOUNTS FOR Q 1UALITY NICHE REPORTING AND PROGRAMMING TO PERCENT OF TOTAL BROADCASTING AND UP TO EXISTS INVESTIGATIVE ECONOMICSBUSINESS LOCAL PERCENT AMONG PRINT MEDIA 0ANELISTS CITED ONLY A FEW 02/&%33)/.!, */52.!,)3- ).$)#!4/23 POLITICAL "/3.)! !.$ (%2:%'/6).! %STABLISHED MORE INSTANCES OF MEDIA DAILY CIRCULATION AVERAGES FEWER THAN SOLD COPIES THAT CONCENTRATE ON IN A COUNTRY OF MORE THAN MILLION !CCESS TO INTERNA TO ATTRACT AVAILABLE PURE ENTERTAINMENT TIONAL MEDIA AND THE )NTERNET IS UNRESTRICTED BUT EXPEN DONORS FUNDS MAINLY AMONG RADIO SIVE 4HE LIMITED SOURCES OF INFORMATION TEND TO RENDER STATIONS 5SE OF THE PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION RATHER UNIFORM A LARGE NUMBER FEE BASED INFORMA 0ANELISTS GENERALLY VIEWED PUBLIC MEDIA AS TRYING OF ASSOCIATIONS TION SOURCES SUCH TO PRESENT VIEWS ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM THOUGH IN AS NEWS AGENCIES SOME CASES ALLOWING MORE AIRTIME TO POLITICAL PARTIES IN HAVE FAILED TO REMAINS LIMITED POWER 5NDER THE CLOSE WATCH OF THE #2! PUBLIC PRO CONTRIBUTE TO BY ECONOMIC GRAMS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE CHARACTERIZED AS DISSEMINATING CONSTRAINTS UNBIASED INFORMATION WHICH AT TIMES RESULTS IN A hPASSIVEv THE PROTECTION OF $UE TO AND UNINTERESTING NEWS PRODUCT 3OME PANELISTS ATTRIBUTED PRODUCTION COSTS THE LOW SATISFACTION WITH PUBLIC BROADCASTERS TO THE LACK JOURNALISTS RIGHTS STUDIO BASED PRO OF A SOUND EDITORIAL POLICY AND A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE GRAMMING REMAINS ROLE OF PUBLIC BROADCASTING )N THE OPINION OF ONE PARTICI AN ESSENTIAL PART OF DOMESTIC PRODUCTIONALL OF IT IN SOME PANT PRIVATE MEDIA HAVE BEEN MORE ACTIVE IN FULlLLING THE CASESFOR MOST ELECTRONIC MEDIA /NE PANELIST NOTED THAT PUBLIC BROADCASTERS LEGAL MANDATE TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION HIGH COSTS ALSO ACCOUNT FOR THE LACK OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNAL MINORITY ISSUES AND CIVIL SOCIETY 4HIS TENDENCY ILLUSTRATES ISM AND OTHER NICHE AREAS OF REPORTING SUCH AS POLITICS ECO THE ONGOING DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER PUBLIC BROADCASTERS NOMICS BUSINESS AND AGRICULTURE -OST MEDIA DO NOT HAVE MAINTAIN TOO MUCH OF A MARKET ORIENTATION WHILE PRIVATE THE lNANCES TO SUPPORT THE DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF SPECIAL MEDIA PROVIDE THE DIVERSITY OF PROGRAMMING CONTENT IZED CONTENT PARTICULARLY WHEN IT IS SEEN AS MORE DIFlCULT 4HERE ARE TWO INDEPENDENT NEWS AGENCIES ON OFFER TO hSELLv TO POTENTIAL ADVERTISERS 0ANELISTS UNDERSCORED THE IN "OSNIA AND (ERZEGOVINA/.!3! AND 3%.3% "OTH NEED FOR TRAINING TO STRENGTHEN NICHE REPORTING SKILLS HAVE lNANCIAL PROBLEMS DUE TO COMPETITION FROM FREE -OST MEDIA OWN MODERN TECHNICAL FACILITIES AND INFORMATION SERVICES ON THE )NTERNET AND ELSEWHERE /NE EQUIPMENT FOR GATHERING PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING PARTICIPANT RAISED CONCERNS REGARDING THE QUALITY OF THE NEWS -ANY BROADCASTERS HOWEVER OPERATE WITHOUT BACKUP TRANSMISSION EQUIPMENT LEAVING THEM VULNER ABLE TO GOING OFF THE AIR DUE TO MALFUNCTIONS 4ECHNICAL -ULTIPLE NEWS SOURCES PROVIDE CITIZENS WITH CAPACITY IS ALSO BEING AFFECTED BY THE SHRINKING ADVERTIS RELIABLE AND OBJECTIVE NEWS ING MARKET AND DWINDLING MEDIA ASSISTANCE ALTHOUGH Q ! PLURALITY OF AFFORDABLE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NEWS A FEW SUCCESSFULLY MANAGED MEDIA OUTLETS STILL PLAN TO SOURCES EG PRINT BROADCAST )NTERNET EXISTS EXPAND AND UPDATE THEIR EQUIPMENT TO BETTER COMPETE &OR SMALLER MEDIA HOWEVER SUCH TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENT Q #ITIZENS ACCESS TO DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL IS OUT OF REACH )N ADDITION SOME PANELISTS RAISED THE DIF MEDIA IS NOT RESTRICTED lCULTIES CAUSED BY A LACK OF TRAINED SUPPORT STAFF /VERALL Q 3TATE OR PUBLIC MEDIA REmECT THE VIEWS OF THE PARTICIPANTS AGREED THAT IMPROVING EQUIPMENT STANDARDS ENTIRE POLITICAL SPECTRUM ARE NONPARTISAN AND COULD IMPROVE THE CONTENT OF BROADCAST MEDIA SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST Q )NDEPENDENT NEWS AGENCIES GATHER AND DISTRIB /BJECTIVE 0LURALITY OF .EWS 3OURCES UTE NEWS FOR PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA Q )NDEPENDENT BROADCAST MEDIA PRODUCE THEIR OWN "OSNIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE NEWS PROGRAMS !LL PANEL PARTICIPANTS AGREED THAT THE LARGE NUMBER Q 4RANSPARENCY OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP ALLOWS OF MEDIA OUTLETS IN "OSNIA AND (ERZEGOVINA DOES NOT CONSUMERS TO JUDGE OBJECTIVITY OF NEWS GUARANTEE DIVERSITY OF CONTENT !LTHOUGH MOST MEDIA ARE MEDIA OWNERSHIP IS NOT CONCENTRATED IN A FEW CONGLOMERATES CONCENTRATED IN URBAN CENTERS RURAL AREAS DO HAVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC AND REGIONAL TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS ! Q ! BROAD SPECTRUM OF SOCIAL INTERESTS ARE DISPERSED AND INCOHERENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM LEAVES PRINT REmECTED AND REPRESENTED IN THE MEDIA INCLUD MEDIA LESS AVAILABLE "Y SOME ESTIMATES THE TOTAL OF ALL 0,52!,)49 /& .%73 3/52#%3 ).$)#!4/23 ING MINORITY LANGUAGE INFORMATION SOURCES -%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI AGENCIES PRODUCT AND IN GENERAL MEDIA ARE NOT SEEN TO /BJECTIVE "USINESS -ANAGEMENT USE A VARIETY OF SUCH SOURCES )NDEPENDENT BROADCAST MEDIA PRODUCE THEIR OWN "OSNIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE NEWS PROGRAMS THOUGH PANELISTS NOTED A DECREASE IN DOMESTIC PRODUCTION 'ENERALLY THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT )NDEPENDENT MEDIA RARELY OPERATE AS WELL MANAGED DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NEWS PRODUCTS OF PUBLIC AND BUSINESSES THOUGH INCREASED COMPETITION SEEMS TO HAVE PRIVATE MEDIA 4HE WEEKLY NEWSCASTS OF PRIVATE .46 PROVIDED SOME MOMENTUM FOR IMPROVEMENT .EZAVISNE (AYAT AND DAILY NEWSCASTS OF !LTERNATIVNA 4ELEVISION .OVINE STANDS AS !46 GRADUALLY ARE BUILDING A REPUTATION FOR QUALITY ONE EXAMPLE OF SUC COVERAGE AND INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM !LL PANELISTS CESS IN GENERATING 4HE GENERALLY POOR AGREED THAT EVEN THE SMALLEST LOCAL MEDIA MAINTAIN PROlT THE COMPANY ECONOMY AFFECTS THE A FOCUS ON FOREIGN AND NATIONAL NEWS WHILE LOCAL AND PUBLISHES A NATIONAL SERVICE ORIENTED COVERAGE MAY BE NEGLECTED 0OTENTIAL DAILY AS WELL AS A OPERATION OF MEDIA AFFILIATIONS WITH DIFFERENT POLITICAL OR INTEREST GROUPS WEEKLY ENTERTAIN OUTLETSSTRONGER DO NOT APPEAR TO INFLUENCE THE NEWS PRODUCT OF MOST MENT TABLOID RUNS MEDIA OUTLETS THOUGH ONE PANELIST ARGUED THAT SUCH A RADIO STATION AND COMPETITION WILL FORCE INFLUENCE IS MORE VISIBLE IN SMALLER TOWNS WHEN THE RECENTLY OPENED A MORE DIFFERENTIATION CONNECTION BETWEEN LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND MEDIA TENDS PRINTING PLANT -OST TO BE STRONGER EXISTING PRINTING OF MEDIA AND THE 4HE QUESTION OF TRANSPARENCY AND MEDIA OWNER PLANTS SUCH AS !VAZ SLOW DISAPPEARANCE SHIP INTENSIlED IN WITH THE ENTRY OF FOREIGN MEDIA AND !LDEN 0RINT INTO THE "OSNIAN MARKET 7HILE CONGLOMERATES DO NOT APPEAR TO BE SELF OF THE WEAKEST APPEAR TO EXIST ONE PANELIST ARGUED THAT NEITHER THE SUSTAINABLE WITH POLITICAL SITUATION NOR THE INTERPRETATION OF MEDIA REGULA THE EXCEPTION OF THE SOON TO BE PRIVATIZED 'LAS 3RPSKI TIONS ENCOURAGES FULL TRANSPARENCY 7ITH STRONG COMPETI THE DAILY NEWSPAPER OF THE 23 THAT ALSO OPERATES ITS OWN TION IN THE MARKET MOST MEDIA WITHHOLD INFORMATION PRINTING FACILITY 7HILE MOST DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS ARE ON THEIR PROlT SHARES ACTUAL POSITION IN THE MARKET SIZE PRIVATE BUSINESSES THEIR GENERAL EFlCIENCY IS QUESTIONABLE OF OPERATIONS AND IN THE CASE OF PRINT MEDIA ACTUAL CIRCULATION !N ATTEMPT TO CREATE A CIRCULATION AUDIT )NDEPENDENT MEDIA ARE WELL MANAGED BUREAU FAILED BECAUSE PUBLISHERS SAW IT AS A THREAT TO BUSINESSES ALLOWING EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE THEIR BUSINESS INTERESTS !S IN OTHER INDUSTRIES FOREIGN CITIZENS ARE PREVENTED FROM BEING THE SOLE OWNER OF A Q -EDIA OUTLETS AND SUPPORTING lRMS OPERATE AS MEDIA OUTLET THOUGH THE SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR PARTNERSHIP EFlCIENT PROFESSIONAL AND PROlT GENERATING BETWEEN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN COMPANIES )N THE ABSENCE BUSINESSES OF A MECHANISM FOR VERIFYING OWNERSHIP THERE MAY BE A Q -EDIA RECEIVE REVENUE FROM A MULTITUDE OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LISTED AND ACTUAL MEDIA OWNERS SOURCES )N ADDRESSING COVERAGE OF MINORITY ISSUES PANEL Q !DVERTISING AGENCIES AND RELATED INDUSTRIES ISTS NOTED THAT MANY COMMUNITIES IN POSTWAR "OSNIA SUPPORT AN ADVERTISING MARKET AND (ERZEGOVINA HAVE EITHER SHRUNKEN OR CEASED TO EXIST -INORITY GROUPS ARE NOT SEEN AS WELL ORGANIZED AND MOST Q !DVERTISING REVENUE AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL MEDIA DO NOT CONSIDER THEIR NEEDS OR DEDICATE SPECIlC REVENUE IS IN LINE WITH ACCEPTED STANDARDS AT COMMERCIAL OUTLETS PROGRAMS TO THEM 4HERE ARE NO MINORITY LANGUAGE MEDIA "OSNIAN #ROATIAN AND 3ERBIAN ARE CONSIDERED Q )NDEPENDENT MEDIA DO NOT RECEIVE GOVERNMENT CONSTITUTIONAL LANGUAGES IN "OSNIA AND (ERZEGOVINA SUBSIDIES AND IT IS UP TO MEDIA TO DETERMINE WHICH TO USE ! FEW Q -ARKET RESEARCH IS USED TO FORMULATE STRATEGIC PRIVATE OUTLETS RECENTLY HAVE INTRODUCED SHOWS COVERING A PLANS ENHANCE ADVERTISING REVENUE AND TAILOR WIDER SPECTRUM OF SOCIAL ISSUES SUCH AS DISABLED PEOPLE PRODUCTS TO THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF WOMEN OR GAYS AND LESBIANS 4HERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTED AUDIENCES
THREATS TO JOURNALISTS OR MEDIA COVERING SUCH ISSUES "53).%33 -!.!'%-%.4 ).$)#!4/23 Q "ROADCAST RATINGS AND CIRCULATION lGURES ARE RELIABLY AND INDEPENDENTLY PRODUCED "/3.)! !.$ (%2:%'/6).! %VEN THE MEDIA 3OME PANELISTS CITED BUSINESS IN ORDER TO CLEAR ITS MILLION IN DEBT 0ANELISTS DIFlCULTIES IN DISTRIBU EMPHASIZED THAT THE PUBLIC BROADCASTERS ABILITY BOTH TO THAT INVEST IN TION ACROSS THE BORDERS COLLECT SUBSCRIPTIONS AND TAKE A SIGNIlCANT SHARE OF THE MANAGEMENT AND OF THE 23 AND THE ADVERTISING MARKET RENDERS IT ONE OF THE GREATEST THREATS TO &EDERATION ESPECIALLY THE MARKET ORIENTED PRIVATE MEDIA 4HIS IS EVEN TRUER WITH BUSINESS APPROACHES IN THE (ERZEGOVINA TWO NEW COUNTRY WIDE BROADCASTERS /"..OVA 46 AND DEPEND ON THE POOR AREA 7ITH DECREAS 0INK 46 /NLY BY SELLING ALL AVAILABLE ADVERTISING TIME CAN ING READERSHIP AND A BROADCASTERS PARTICULARLY TELEVISION BREAK EVEN MARKET ECONOMY HIGH RETURN RATE SOME 3OME PANELISTS QUESTIONED THE SUBSIDIES THAT MEDIA AND OPERATE ON DISTRIBUTORS ARE ABLE TO CAN RECEIVE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WHERE SUCH OUTLETS MAY BE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF STEEP USED AS A PROMOTIONAL VEHICLE FOR THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES THE BORDERLINE DISTRIBUTION COSTS OR !TTRIBUTING SUCH SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS TO THE AFlLIATION DELAYS IN DISTRIBUTION OF MEDIA MANAGERS WITH CERTAIN INTEREST GROUPS PANELISTS OF PROlTABILITY TO LIMIT THE DISTRIBU AGREED THAT THESE SUBSIDIES SOMETIMES RESEMBLE A SUBTLE TION OF POORLY SELLING BRIBE PARTICULARLY CONSIDERING THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN PUBLICATIONS THAT WOULD NOT BE WORTH THEIR TIME TO DELIVER THE APPROVAL PROCESS 4HEY SUGGESTED THAT GREATER TRANS -OST SEEM TO CONDUCT THEIR OPERATIONS WITH LITTLE TRANSPAR PARENCY AND OPENNESS WOULD ENCOURAGE PRIVATE LOCAL TELE ENCY 0ANELISTS VIEWED A LACK OF INITIATIVE IN ESTABLISHING A VISION AND RADIO STATIONS TO COVER NEWS OF LOCAL INTEREST PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION AS A SIGNIlCANT OBSTACLE TO DEVELOPING /NLY A FEW MEDIA COMPANIES CAN AFFORD PROFES A SOLID COUNTRY WIDE DISTRIBUTION MECHANISM FOR INDEPEN SIONAL RESEARCH (OWEVER IN CONTRAST WITH PREVIOUS YEARS DENT MEDIA PANELISTS NOTED INCREASED INTEREST AND CONlDENCE IN THE !DVERTISING CONSTITUTES TO PERCENT OF THE lNANC OBJECTIVITY OF SUCH RESEARCH ALTHOUGH THESE STUDIES ARE ING FOR COMMERCIAL MEDIA WITH DONATIONS ACCOUNTING FOR STILL USED PRIMARILY AS A REFERENCE POINT FOR COMPARISON THE REST 3OME PANELISTS EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT PARTICULAR WITH THE COMPETITION RATHER THAN AS A TOOL FOR DETERMIN MEDIA MAY BE lNANCED BY INTEREST GROUPS AS EVIDENCED BY ING PROGRAMMING AND BUSINESS STRATEGIES 3TILL MEMBER THEIR CONTINUED OPERATION DESPITE POOR MARKET SHARE )N STATIONS OF THE -REZA 0LUS TELEVISION NETWORK PARTICU AS IN THE MARKET GROSSED MILLION +- CON LARLY !46 CONSIDER MEDIA RESEARCH A NECESSITY FOR DAILY VERTIBLE MARKS APPROXIMATELY MILLION !LTHOUGH THE OPERATIONS AND FUTURE PLANS #OMMONLY HOWEVER MEDIA ADVERTISING MARKET WAS EXPECTED TO GROW UP TO PERCENT DISSATISlED WITH THE RESEARCH RESULTS SIMPLY IGNORE THEM YEARLY PART OF THIS BUDGET HAS BEEN REDIRECTED TO .OVA 46 -ARECO )NDEX "OSNIA -)" HAS ESTABLISHED ITSELF AND 0INK 46 4HUS WHILE THE SIZE OF THE MARKET REMAINS AS A RESPECTABLE MEDIA RESEARCH AGENCY FOR BROADCAST ABOUT THE SAME THE FUNDS REACHING "OSNIA AND (ERZEGOVINA ERS AND ADVERTISING AGENCIES CONTINUE TO USE AVAILABLE MEDIA BUSINESS ARE EXPECTED TO SHRINK )N COMPARISON WITH RESEARCH AS A BASE FOR THEIR MEDIA PLANNING (OWEVER LAST YEAR THE PREFERENCE OF ADVERTISING FUNDS HAS SOMEWHAT THERE IS NO RELIABLE RESEARCH ON PRINT MEDIA CIRCULATION OR SHIFTED IN FAVOR OF OUTDOOR ADVERTISING TELEVISION NOW PUBLISHING IN GENERAL PRIMARILY DUE TO A LACK OF WILL ON RECEIVES PERCENT RADIO AND PRINT SHARE PERCENT AND THE PART OF PUBLISHERS TO ESTABLISH AN UMBRELLA ORGANIZA OUTDOOR ADVERTISING TAKES THE REMAINING PERCENT -EDIA TION THAT COULD FURTHER THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE BUSINESS SEEK YEAR LONG CONTRACTS FROM AD AGENCIES WHICH THEY VIEW AS DESIRABLE PARTNERS -EDIA REMAIN VULNERABLE TO PRESSURE FROM THE THREAT OF LOSING A SIGNIlCANT ADVERTISING CLIENT AFlLI /BJECTIVE 3UPPORTING )NSTITUTIONS ATED WITH AN INTEREST GROUP IN CASE OF UNFAVORABLE COVERAGE "OSNIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE $EPENDING ON THE PROlLE OF THE PROGRAM ADS ON AVERAGE MAKE UP FROM TO PERCENT OF PRIVATE MEDIA CONTENT -ORE THAN PERCENT OF MEDIA EMPLOYEES WORK WITHOUT !BOUT PERCENT OF ADVERTISING COMES FROM VALID CONTRACTS AND MOST BUSINESSES WILL LIKELY CONTINUE BRANCH OFlCES OF INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES WITH ONLY ONE TO OPERATE IN A SEMI LEGAL FASHION UNTIL THERE IS ADMINIS STRONG COMPANY OPERATING DOMESTICALLY 4HE 0"3 CONTIN TRATIVE AND TAX REFORM 4RADE ASSOCIATIONS THUS FUNCTION UES TO ENJOY A SIGNIlCANT SHARE OF THE MARKET WHICH IS SEEN AS LITTLE MORE THAN A FORMALITY !%- HOWEVER SERVES AS AS UNFAIR COMPETITION BY OTHER ELECTRONIC MEDIA -UCH OF AN EXCEPTION 2EPRESENTING MORE THAN TELEVISION AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS ENCOURAGED THE PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS !%- HAS WELL ARTICULATED THE VIEWS OF ITS BROADCASTER TO OPERATE COMMERCIALLY AS A SUSTAINABLE
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI MEMBERS IN ISSUES INCLUDING COPYRIGHT FEES AND #2! AND OFTEN SUFFERS xWITHOUT THE AUTHORITY REGULATIONS AND DECISIONS FROM DISORGANIZA 4HERE WAS CLEAR IMPROVEMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TION 4WO WELL RUN TO SANCTION THE MEDIA INSTITUTIONS DURING WHEN THREE INDEPENDENT PROGRAMS MANAGED VIOLATIONS OF ACCEPTED JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATIONS JOINED TO CREATE A SINGLE NATIONAL BY THE ORGANIZA BODY CALLED THE #OORDINATION OF *OURNALISTS !SSOCIATIONS TIONS -EDIA 0LAN PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS 4HE ORGANIZATION IS REGISTERING AS A LEGAL ENTITY 0REVIOUSLY AND -EDIA #ENTER SOME PRINT MEDIA ARE "OSNIA AND (ERZEGOVINA HAD SIX SEPARATE JOURNALISTS DO PRODUCE STRONG ASSOCIATIONS DIVIDED BETWEEN THE 23 AND THE &EDERATION RESULTS $OMES USED AS PLATFORMS FOR AND SEEN AS ADVOCATING THE INTERESTS OF PARTICULAR ETHNIC TIC TRAINERS WHO DISCREDITING INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS /N THE WHOLE HOWEVER THE ASSOCIATIONS DO NOT GET HAVE SPECIALIZED IN MUCH RESPECT FROM JOURNALISTS WHO SEE TOO FEW CONCRETE PROFESSIONAL DEVEL CERTAIN POLITICAL GROUPS ACTIVITIES TO PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS OPMENT NOW CON "OSNIA AND (ERZEGOVINA HAS JOURNALISM FACULTIES STITUTE THE CORE STRENGTH IN THIS lELD 0ANELISTS SUGGESTED IN 3ARAJEVO 4UZLA AND -OSTAR AND TWO IN "ANJA ,UKA THAT FURTHER EFFORTS SHOULD FOCUS ON IN HOUSE TRAINING 4HE QUALITY OF THE INSTRUCTION IS NOT UNIFORMLY HIGH BUT BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COURSES AND THE SPECIlC NEEDS OF RECENT CURRICULA REFORMS SUGGEST POTENTIAL FOR IMPROVE MEDIA OPERATIONS MENT 0ANELISTS AGREED THE TRAINING MUST EMPHASIZE PRAC 7HILE MEDIA DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS AND PRINTING TICE AND THAT MEDIA SHOULD OFFER INTERNSHIPS FOR STUDENTS FACILITIES DO NOT APPEAR RESTRICTIVE THEIR SERVICES ARE SEEN 4HEY ALSO AGREED THAT AVAILABLE JOB OPPORTUNITIES CANNOT AS OVERPRICED -OST DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS ARE PRIVATE SUPPORT THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES MEANING MANY TRAINED SOMETIMES REmECTING THE VIEWS OF INTEREST GROUPS THROUGH JOURNALISTS SEEK POSITIONS ABROAD OR IN OTHER INDUSTRIES RESTRICTIVE PRICES DELAYS IN DISTRIBUTION OR POOR PLACE 4HERE ARE MANY SHORT TERM TRAINING OPTIONS IN MENT IN KIOSKS 2ECONSTRUCTION OF THE 0"3 WILL TRANSFER "OSNIA AND (ERZEGOVINA 7ITH THE DEPARTURE OF MOST THE TRANSMISSION SITES AND EQUIPMENT CURRENTLY IN THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS NON HANDS OF PUBLIC BROADCASTERS TO A SINGLE INDEPENDENT TO GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS .'/S HAVE ASSUMED THIS BE ESTABLISHED 4RANSMITTERS !GENCY ROLE WITH MIXED RESULTS !S ONE PANELIST ARGUED SHORT TERM TRAINING DOES NOT PROVIDE SUFlCIENT CONTINUITY 0ANEL 0ARTICIPANTS $ARKO !LEKSIC VICE PRESIDENT !SSOCIATION OF 3UPPORTING INSTITUTIONS FUNCTION IN THE %LECTRONIC -EDIA PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA -EHMED (ALILOVIC -EDIA /MBUDSMAN Q 4RADE ASSOCIATIONS REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF PRIVATE MEDIA OWNERS AND PROVIDE MEMBER $RAGAN *ERINIC EDITOR IN CHIEF .EZAVISNE .OVINE SERVICES #OORDINATION OF " ( *OURNALISTS !SSOCIATIONS Q 0ROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS WORK TO PROTECT *ASNA +ILALIC $EMOCRACY /FlCE 53!)$ JOURNALISTS RIGHTS !MIRA +REHIC #ENTER FOR &REE !CCESS TO )NFORMATION Q .'/S SUPPORT FREE SPEECH AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA "RANKO ,AZIC PROGRAM DIRECTOR !LTERNATIVE Q 1UALITY JOURNALISM DEGREE PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE 4ELEVISION !46 SUBSTANTIAL PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE EXIST :ORAN 3ARENAC 2ADIO &REE %UROPE2ADIO ,IBERTY Q 3HORT TERM TRAINING AND IN SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAMS ALLOW JOURNALISTS TO UPGRADE SKILLS OR !LEKSANDAR 4RIFUNOVIC "UKA MAGAZINE .ANSEN ACQUIRE NEW SKILLS $IALOGUE #ENTER Q 3OURCES OF NEWSPRINT AND PRINTING FACILITIES ARE -ODERATOR PRIVATE APOLITICAL AND UNRESTRICTED 0AVLE "ANJAC INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT Q #HANNELS OF MEDIA DISTRIBUTION KIOSKS TRANS MITTERS )NTERNET ARE PRIVATE APOLITICAL AND 3500/24).' ).34)454)/.3 ).$)#!4/23 UNRESTRICTED "/3.)! !.$ (%2:%'/6).! h4HE PUBLIC HASNT YET REALIZED THAT THE BATTLE JOURNALISTS ARE WAGING AGAINST CLASSIlED INFORMATION HAS A DIRECT BEARING ON THE PUBLIC ITSELF -ANY PEOPLE CONSIDER IT A PRIVATE CAUSE AN ISSUE FOR THE JOURNALISM INSIDERS RATHER THAN AN ATTEMPT TO DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF THE GENERAL SOCIETYv "ULGARIA "5,'!2)! S NT EBATE HAVE P E AD TO RE TERNA CAL STEPS RIME AINS SITION ITICAL SIONAL PANTS IN UNTRY THE WAR RS !ND TY /RGA ITUTIONS ANY LOCAL IN IGNIlCANT FOR "ULGARIAS TRAN
(OWEVER DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS IN DID NOT MATCH "UL $EVELOPMENTS IN THE "ULGARIAN MEDIA COMMUNITY ARE EQUALLY TION ESTABLISHING THE RULE OF LAW MAKING POLITICIANS AND INST MORE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND COMPLETING THE DIFlCULT TOWARD %5 MEMBERSHIP /N THE OTHER HAND "ULGARIAN MEDIA HAVE SHOWN SIGNIlCANT VULNERABILITY TO POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC PRESSU TYPICAL OF COUNTRIES WITH LESS ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT &OR EXAMPL ORGANIZED CRIME GANGS ARE NOW ATTEMPTING TO HARNESS MEDIA INmU ENCE BY BUYING OUTLETS OR STARTING THEIR OWN OPERATIONS 0ROFES )NTRODUCTION HE YEAR WAS ONE OF THE MOST S STRONGMEN ARE ALL BUT BUYING THEIR SEATS AS MAYORS OR LEGISLATO TIONAL ANTI TERRORISM COALITION OFFERING DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT TO IN )RAQ AND PARTICIPATING IN THE MULTINATIONAL FORCE THERE GARIAS PROGRESS IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA %VEN THOUGH THE CO HAS REMAINED STABLE AND THE ECONOMY IS SHOWING SOME ENCOURAGING SIGNS POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORMS HAVE SLOWED 4HE GOVERNME OF "ULGARIAS FORMER KING IN EXILE 3IMEON 3AXE #OBURG 'OTHA HAS LOST MUCH OF ITS PUBLIC SUPPORT $EVELOPING THE RULE OF LAW REM PROBLEMATIC SOCIAL TENSIONS EMERGE FREQUENTLY AND ORGANIZED C AND CORRUPTION POSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS ,OCAL ELECTIONS IN LATE INDICATED THAT MANY "ULGARIANS ARE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE POLITI ESTABLISHMENT WITH A SIGNIlCANT PORTION IGNORING THE POLL 0OL ANALYSTS SUGGEST THAT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN FOR THE lRST TIME BECOME A DECISIVE FACTOR IN LOCAL POLITICS - MEDIA OUTLETS ESPECIALLY LOCAL ONES HAVE BECOME EAGER PARTICI THIS PROCESS EQUIVOCAL /N THE ONE HAND INDEPENDENT MEDIA FOSTERED PUBLIC D ABOUT IMPORTANT POLICY ISSUES INCLUDING lGHTING CRIME AND CORRU "ULGARIA PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE IN TO DEMOCRACY )NDEED "ULGARIA ACHIEVED TWO IMPORTANT BENCHMARK RECEIVING AN OFlCIAL INVITATION TO JOIN THE .ORTH !TLANTIC 4REA NIZATION .!4/ IN AND PROGRESS TOWARD %UROPEAN 5NION %5 MEMBERSHIP IN 4HE COUNTRY SEEMS TO BE SAFELY ON TO THE RO ACHIEVING THE INSTITUTIONAL OBJECTIVES OF ITS TRANSITION !LSO 4 /BJECTIVE 3CORING )NDICATOR 3CORING 4HE AVERAGES OF ALL THE INDICATORS ARE AVERAGED TO OBTAIN A SINGLE %ACH INDICATOR IS SCORED USING THE FOLLOWING SYSTEM OVERALL SCORE FOR EACH OBJECTIVE /BJECTIVE SCORES ARE AVERAGED TO PROVIDE #OUNTRY DOES NOT MEET INDICATOR GOVERNMENT OR SOCIAL FORCES MAY ACTIVELY AN OVERALL SCORE FOR THE COUNTRY )2%8 INTERPRETS THE OVERALL SCORES AS FOLLOWS OPPOSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND ABOVE 3USTAINABLE AND FREE INDEPENDENT MEDIA #OUNTRY MINIMALLY MEETS ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR FORCES MAY NOT AC T IVELY OPPOSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION BUT BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT MAY NOT SUPPORT IT n )NDEPENDENT MEDIA APPROACHING SUSTAINABILITY AND GOVERNMENT OR PROFESSION DO NOT FULLY AND ACTIVELY SUPPORT CHANGE n 3IGNIlCANT PROGRESS REMAINS TO BE MADE #OUNTRY HAS BEGUN TO MEET MANY ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR BUT PROGRESS MAY SOCIETY OR GOVERNMENT IS NOT FULLY SUPPORTIVE BE TOO RECENT TO JUDGE OR STILL DEPENDENT ON CURRENT GOVERNMENT OR POLITICAL FORCES n #OUNTRY MEETS FEW INDICATORS GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY ACTIVELY OPPOSE CHANGE #OUNTRY MEETS MOST ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INDICA TOR HAS OCCURRED OVER SEVERAL YEARS ANDOR THROUGH CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT INDICATING LIKELY SUSTAINABILITY #OUNTRY MEETS THE ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR IMPLEMENTATION HAS REM AI NE D INTACT OVER MULTIPLE CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC mUCTUATIONS CHANGES IN PUBLIC OPINION ANDOR CHANGING SOCIAL CONVENTIONS
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI STANDARDS THOUGH WELL ESTABLISHED IN A FEW MAINSTREAM BUDGETS HAS FORCED MOST TO BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE AND PRINT AND BROADCAST OUTLETS STILL ARE NOT THE ACCEPTED BETTER MANAGED OR FACE BANKRUPTCY !S A RESULT RECENT INDUSTRY RULE 2EPORTING IS OFTEN BIASED FACTS AND OPIN TRENDS INCLUDE THE CONCENTRATION OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP IONS TOO RARELY DIFFERENTIATED AND TOLERANCE OF MINORITIES AND IMPROVED MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALISM "ULGARIAN MINIMAL -ANY PUBLICATIONS WILLINGLY PARTICIPATED IN MEDIA SUPPORT INSTITUTIONS ALSO DISPLAY OVERALL STABILITY CAMPAIGNS OF DIFFERENT INTEREST GROUPS INCLUDING THOSE $ESPITE THE REDUCTION IN INTERNATIONAL DONOR SUPPORT AND RALLYING AGAINST THE CLOSURE OF TWO OF THE OLD 3OVIET ERA THE NOTABLE DECREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF SERVICES PROVIDED NUCLEAR REACTORS AT THE +OZLODUY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT A TO THE MEDIA COMMUNITY SUPPORT INSTITUTIONS HAVE MADE PRECONDITION FOR "ULGARIAS %5 MEMBERSHIP SIGNIlCANT STEPS TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY "ULGARIAN MEDIA REGULATION SUFFERED A SERIOUS /VERALL THE -3) SCORES FOR "ULGARIA SHOW SETBACK IN WHEN A STALEMATE DEVELOPED BETWEEN THE THAT THE COUNTRY HAS RETAINED LAST YEARS LEVELS OF SUSTAIN MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT AND THE #OUNCIL FOR %LECTRONIC ABILITY BUT FAILED TO BUILD ON THEM -EDIA #%- 4HE STANDOFF RESULTED WHEN THE GOVERN MENT REALIZED IT COULD NOT CONTROL THE VERY REGULATORY BODY IT APPOINTED IN 4HE RULING MAJORITY TRIED TO /BJECTIVE &REE 3PEECH RESOLVE THE PROBLEM BY PASSING A NEW 2ADIO AND 4ELEVI "ULGARIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE SION ,AW WHICH WOULD HAVE DISSOLVED THE #%- AND CREATED A NEW REGULATORY BODY 4HE DRAFT WAS SO NONDEM 2ESPONSES TO THE INDICATORS MAKE CLEAR THAT FREE SPEECH OCRATIC THAT IT MANAGED TO UNITE VIRTUALLY EVERY MEDIA AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION IN "ULGARIA ARE CONSIDERED TO AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATION IN THE COUNTRY IN OPPOSITION BE MORE A MATTER OF OFlCIAL STATEMENT THAN SUBSTANCE 7ITH SIGNIlCANT PRESSURE FROM THE %5 AND THE #OUN CIL OF %UROPE THE DRAFT WAS ABANDONED (OWEVER THE ,EGAL AND SOCIAL NORMS PROTECT AND PROMOTE PARLIAMENT MANAGED TO PASS AMENDMENTS IN THE EXISTING FREE SPEECH AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION LEGISLATION THAT VIRTUALLY HALTED THE LICENSING PROCESS 4HE AUTHORITY OF THE REGULATORY BODY WAS FURTHER UNDERMINED Q ,EGALSOCIAL PROTECTIONS OF FREE SPEECH EXIST BY ITS INABILITY TO ENFORCE THE LAW ON STATE OWNED "ULGAR AND ARE ENFORCED IAN .ATIONAL 4ELEVISION ".4 Q ,ICENSING OF BROADCAST MEDIA IS FAIR COMPETITIVE %VEN THOUGH THE "ULGARIAN MEDIA ENVIRONMENT AND APOLITICAL IMPROVED SOMEWHAT IN SERIOUS MEDIA LAW IMPLE MENTATION PROBLEMS OVERSHADOWED THE OVERALL PICTURE Q -ARKET ENTRY AND TAX STRUCTURE FOR MEDIA ARE FAIR 7HEN -EDIA 3USTAINABILITY )NDEX -3) PANELISTS EVALU AND COMPARABLE TO OTHER INDUSTRIES ATED THE SITUATION THEY MEASURED IMPROVEMENT IN MOST Q #RIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS OR MEDIA OUTLETS ARE ASPECTS OF THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA BUT MANY OF THE ISSUES PROSECUTED VIGOROUSLY BUT OCCURRENCES OF SUCH RELATED TO FREE SPEECH AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION UNDER CRIMES ARE RARE MINED THESE POSITIVE RESULTS 4HUS "ULGARIA WAS SHOWN Q 3TATE OR PUBLIC MEDIA DO NOT RECEIVE PREFERENTIAL TO HAVE A LOWER DEGREE OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA SUSTAINABIL LEGAL TREATMENT AND LAW GUARANTEES EDITORIAL ITY IN THAN IN INDEPENDENCE -AJOR INDICATORS RELATED TO THE PLURALITY OF NEWS Q ,IBEL IS A CIVIL LAW ISSUE PUBLIC OFlCIALS ARE HELD SOURCES AND THE RELIABILITY OF INFORMATION CONTINUE ON TO HIGHER STANDARDS AND THE OFFENDED PARTY A STEADY AND POSITIVE TRACK 4HIS RESULTS PARTLY FROM AN MUST PROVE FALSITY AND MALICE INCREASE IN THE QUANTITY OF AVAILABLE NEWS SOURCES RATHER THAN THE QUALITY OF THE MATERIAL PROVIDED 4O ENSURE THEY Q 0UBLIC INFORMATION IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION IS EQUALLY ENFORCED FOR ALL HAVE A BALANCED AND COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING "ULGARIANS &2%% 30%%#( ).$)#!4/23 MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS STILL MUST REVIEW AND COMPARE SEVERAL INTERPRETATIONS OF THE SAME EVENT AS REPORTED BY THE MEDIA Q -EDIA OUTLETS HAVE UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO INFOR "ULGARIAN MEDIA DISPLAY SOME DEGREE OF EFFECTIVE MATION THIS IS EQUALLY ENFORCED FOR ALL MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS MANAGEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL AUTONOMY AS MEASURED BY PANEL RESPONSES TO THOSE INDICATORS 4HE HIGHLY COM Q %NTRY INTO THE JOURNALISM PROFESSION IS FREE AND PETITIVE MEDIA MARKET IN THE COUNTRY CHARACTERIZED GOVERNMENT IMPOSES NO LICENSING RESTRICTIONS BY THE GREAT NUMBER OF OUTLETS AND THIN ADVERTISING OR SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR JOURNALISTS "5,'!2)! h4HE "ULGARIAN OR IMPLEMENTA PARLIAMENT TO APPOINT THE DECISION MAKING MAJORITY IN TION 3TATE MEDIA THE COUNCIL !DDITIONALLY SOME REVISIONS IN THE MEDIA CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES OUTLETS ARE UTTERLY LEGISLATION WERE INTRODUCED RETROACTIVELY IN ORDER TO THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH LACKING IN INDE CHANGE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE REGULATORY BODY AND THE PENDENCE FROM HEAD OF STATE TELEVISION STATION ".4 BUT THE CONSTITUTION IS THE GOVERNMENT 4HE &REEDOM OF )NFORMATION LAWS AND THE NOT A GUARANTOR PER SE WHILE CRIMES !CCESS TO 0UBLIC )NFORMATION !CT GIVE JOURNALISTS AND AGAINST JOURNAL MEDIA OUTLETS THEORETICAL ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION )TS DIRECT ACTION IS ISTS ARE A HUGE 4HE #LASSIlED $ATA 0ROTECTION !CT AND THE 0ERSONAL BEING IGNOREDv CONCERN AND NO $ATA 0ROTECTION !CT ARE IN PLACE AND REGULATE ACCESS PROGRESS HAS BEEN TO RESTRICTED INFORMATION )N SOME CASES THE LAWS ARE MADE TOWARD BEING ENFORCED AND JOURNALISTS HAVE WON LAWSUITS WHEN DECRIMINALIZING LIBEL AND DEFAMATION %ASY ENTRY INTO THE INFORMATION HAS BEEN DENIED TO THEM 4HERE IS HOWEVER MEDIA PROFESSION AND UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL A GAP BETWEEN THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAW AND THE GENERAL NEWS SOURCES ARE SOME COMPENSATION FOR THE LEGAL AND LEVEL OF IMPLEMENTATION BY VARIOUS STATE INSTITUTIONS 4HE SOCIAL PROBLEMS FACED BY FREEDOM OF SPEECH REFORM IN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT ITS MINISTRIES AND AGENCIES THE "ULGARIA LEGISLATURE AT NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEVELS LOCAL GOVERNMENT ! MAJOR CONCERN OF THE -3) PANEL WAS THE POOR INSTITUTIONS AND ESPECIALLY THE JUDICIARY TEND TO DISRE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS FOR THE GARD OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE LAWS 4HE COURT SYSTEM IS NOT FREEDOM OF SPEECH 7HILE MANY PANELISTS AGREED THAT THE ALWAYS WILLING TO HANDLE MEDIA RELATED CASES EFFECTIVELY LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK IS CAPABLE OF ENSURING THE UNIN AND THE PROCEDURES IN PLACE TO SANCTION NONCOMPLIANT HIBITED DEVELOPMENT OF THE MEDIA INDUSTRY PROBLEMS OFlCIALS ARE SLOW AND INEFFECTIVE 4HE PUBLIC IS NOT FAMIL OCCUR WHEN IT COMES TO ENFORCEMENT /VERALL THE POLITI IAR WITH ITS RIGHTS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION !S ONE PANELIST CAL WILL IS DElCIENT WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING THE NEEDED EXPLAINED h4HE PUBLIC HASNT YET REALIZED THAT THE BATTLE LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND THE PUBLIC IS PASSIVE IN DEFENDING JOURNALISTS ARE WAGING AGAINST CLASSIlED INFORMATION FREEDOM OF SPEECH /NE PANEL MEMBER SAID h4HE "UL HAS A DIRECT BEARING ON THE PUBLIC ITSELF -ANY PEOPLE GARIAN CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH CONSIDER IT A PRIVATE CAUSE AN ISSUE FOR THE JOURNALISM BUT THE CONSTITUTION IS NOT A GUARANTOR PER SE )TS DIRECT INSIDERS RATHER THAN AN ATTEMPT TO DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF ACTION IS BEING IGNOREDv THE GENERAL SOCIETYv "ULGARIAN MEDIA LEGISLATION IS FORMALLY IN LINE WITH !LSO OF MAJOR CONCERN TO THE PANEL ARE THE LICENS %5 MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS "UT AMENDMENTS INTRO ING PROCEDURES AND THE INDEPENDENCE OF FORMER STATE DUCED IN HAVE PRODUCED VERY MIXED RESULTS /N THE MEDIA 7HILE THERE IS NO LICENSING PROCESS FOR PRINT ONE HAND THE 2ADIO AND 4ELEVISION ,AW ADOPTED IN LATE MEDIA BROADCAST LICENSING HAS BECOME COMPLETELY POLITI AND THE AMENDMENTS TO THE 4ELECOMMUNICATIONS CIZED h4HE WORST THING IS THAT LICENSING WAS PUT ON HOLD ,AW FROM HAVE MADE SIGNIlCANT PROGRESS TOWARD BECAUSE OF BLATANT POLITICAL AND CORPORATE FAVORITISM v LESS GOVERNMENT CONTROL IN THE REGULATORY PROCESS 4HE ONE PANELIST SAID h4HERE HAVE BEEN HALTS IN THE ISSUING SPECIALIZED COMMISSION RESPONSIBLE FOR THE lNAL STAGE OF LICENSES BEFORE BUT NEVER FOR SUCH OBVIOUS REASONSv OF THE LICENSING PROCESS UNDER THE PREVIOUS BROADCAST -EANWHILE THE TWO STATE OUTLETS "ULGARIAN .ATIONAL LAW WAS ELIMINATED MOVING THE REGULATORY PROCESS ONE 4ELEVISION AND "ULGARIAN .ATIONAL 2ADIO WERE DECLARED STEP FURTHER FROM DIRECT POLITICAL INTERVENTION 2ADIO hPUBLIC v AND BOTH HAD PUBLIC BOARDS APPOINTED TO OVER AND TELEVISION PROGRAMS FOR CABLE AND SATELLITE BROAD SEE THEM (OWEVER IN PRACTICE THEY ARE STILL RUN BY THE CASTERS ENJOY AN EASIER REGISTRATION PROCESS COMPARED STATE AND THEY ARE DIRECTLY FUNDED FROM THE GOVERNMENT WITH THE FORMER LICENSING PROCEDURES IDENTICAL TO THOSE BUDGET 0OLITICAL INmUENCE OVER ".4 AND ".2 IS VISIBLE FOR TERRESTRIAL DISTRIBUTION /N THE OTHER HAND SOME AND NEITHER STATION HAS MADE MUCH PROGRESS IN THE TRAN KEY SHORTCOMINGS OF THE OLD LAW WERE REPRODUCED IN THE SITION FROM STATE TO TRUE PUBLIC 4HERE IS NOTHING TO STOP NEW ONE DESPITE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM INDEPENDENT BOTH OUTLETS FROM SERVING AS GOVERNMENT MOUTHPIECES MEDIA ASSOCIATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS -OST AND STATE SUBSIDIES PUT THEM IN A FAVORED POSITION NOTABLY THE NEW #%- IS BEING ELECTED IN THE SAME WAY AS VIS Í VIS THE COMPETITION THE BODY IT SUPERSEDED THE .ATIONAL #OUNCIL FOR 2ADIO ,IBEL REMAINS A CRIMINAL ISSUE !LTHOUGH PRISON AND 4ELEVISION 4HIS STEP ALLOWS THE RULING MAJORITY IN TERMS FOR LIBEL AND DEFAMATION HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI HEAVY lNES CASES ARE STILL REVIEWED UNDER THE CRIMI ONE OF THE MOST h3ELF CENSORSHIP IS NAL CODE )N COURT JOURNALISTS MUST PROVE THEIR CLAIMS SERIOUS SHORTCOM AGAINST THE OFFENDED PARTIES 0UBLIC lGURES ARE GRANTED INGS OF "ULGARIAN EVERYWHEREIN ALL PRIVILEGED PROTECTION IN LIBEL AND DEFAMATION CASES ,IBEL NEWS REPORTINGIT MEDIA ON ALL LEVELS ALLEGATIONS ARE OFTEN USED TO HARASS JOURNALISTS ESPECIALLY IS OBJECTIVE BUT IN SMALLER TOWNS SELECTIVE -OST 4HERE IS A SIMPLE 4HESE ISSUES ASIDE THE POSITIVE SIGNS ARE THAT MEDIA OF THE PUBLISHED RELATIONSHIP THE BIGGER OUTLETS HAVE UNLIMITED ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL NEWS AND INFORMATION IS MORE INFORMATION SOURCES ALTHOUGH THE COST OF SUBSCRIPTIONS OR LESS ACCURATE THE OUTLET THE STRONGER AND )NTERNET FEES IS STILL A STRAIN FOR SMALL AND REGIONAL BUT INFORMATION THE SELF CENSORSHIP OUTLETS )N ADDITION THERE ARE NO BARRIERS OR ENTRY THAT DOES NOT lT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDIA PROFESSIONALS PUBLISHERS AGENDAS 4HERES HARDLY ANY IN USUALLY IS NOT PUB THE SMALLER OUTLETS SINCE /BJECTIVE 0ROFESSIONAL *OURNALISM LISHED AT ALL )N GENERAL NOT AS MUCH IS "ULGARIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE "ULGARIAN JOURNAL ISM IS BEGINNING AT STAKEv 4HE -3) PANEL DETERMINED THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO TO COMPLY WITH DRAMATIC CHANGE IN THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS BUT THE DEVELOP JOURNALISTS IN "ULGARIA SINCE (OWEVER COVERAGE IN MENTS ARE QUITE RECENT AND STILL DEPEND ON CURRENT SOCIAL THE MAJOR MAINSTREAM OUTLETS IS SEEN AS INCREASINGLY FAIR AND POLITICAL PROCESSES 4HERE ARE STILL CASES OF PUBLISHING OBJECTIVE AND WELL SOURCED 4HE RESPONSES SUGGEST BETTER UNVERIlED INFORMATION "LATANTLY SUBJECTIVE PROGRAMS SUSTAINABILITY IN THIS AREA ALTHOUGH THE MEDIA SECTOR IS ARE STILL AIRED ON STATE TELEVISION !N EXAMPLE IS THE STILL FACED WITH POLITICAL OBSTACLES IN DETERMINING CONTENT h!KTUALNOv PROGRAM WHICH IS AIRED WEEKLY ON PRIME 3ELF CENSORSHIP ON THE OTHER HAND DRAWS THE PANELS TIME TELEVISION 4HE PROGRAMS hFORMATv IS A MINISTER GREATEST CONCERN 4HIS APPARENT CONTRADICTION HIGHLIGHTS TALKING ABOUT HIS SUCCESSES OR A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT -0 TALKING ABOUT THE ADVANTAGES OF NEW LEGISLATION .O ALTERNATIVE OPINION EVER REACHES THE SCREEN *OURNALISM MEETS PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF 4HE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS STILL HAS QUALITY NOT REACHED SUSTAINABLE LEVELS -ANY CODES OF ETHICS EXIST BUT THEIR UTILITY IS QUESTIONABLE %MPLOYEES OF PRIVATE Q 2EPORTING IS FAIR OBJECTIVE AND WELL SOURCED PRINT MEDIA OUTLETS STILL LARGELY DEPEND ON THE OWNERS Q *OURNALISTS FOLLOW RECOGNIZED AND ACCEPTED INTERESTS AND POLITICAL CONVICTIONS 3OME PRINT MEDIA ETHICAL STANDARDS OUTLETS ARE RUN AS PROPAGANDA OUTLETS FOR THE SPECIAL INTERESTS OF THEIR OWNERS AND DO NOT EVEN PRETEND TO PRAC Q *OURNALISTS AND EDITORS DO NOT PRACTICE TICE PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM &OR EXAMPLE THE NEWSPAPER SELF CENSORSHIP 3TANDARD IS OWNED BY A 2USSIAN BUSINESSMAN EXPELLED Q *OURNALISTS COVER KEY EVENTS AND ISSUES FROM "ULGARIA AS A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY 4HE NEWS PAPER HAS BEEN USED AS A PROPAGANDA TOOL TO SUPPORT THE Q 0AY LEVELS FOR JOURNALISTS AND OTHER MEDIA PROFESSIONALS ARE SUFlCIENTLY HIGH TO DISCOURAGE OWNERS LUCRATIVE PRIVATIZATION BID FOR THE STATE TOBACCO CORRUPTION MONOPOLY 4HE PAPERS COVERAGE TRIED TO DISCREDIT THE MINISTER AND THE AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEAL AS WELL Q %NTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING DOES NOT ECLIPSE AS THE COMPETING BIDDERS 3UCH PUBLICATIONS ALSO HAVE NEWS AND INFORMATION PROGRAMMING BEEN INVOLVED IN OPEN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS !S A GENERAL Q 4ECHNICAL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT FOR GATHERING RULE THERE ARE NO lREWALLS BETWEEN THE MANAGEMENT PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING NEWS ARE MODERN SALES DEPARTMENTS AND EDITORIAL DEPARTMENTS OF MANY AND EFlCIENT PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA OUTLETS !S A RESULT REPORT Q 1UALITY NICHE REPORTING AND PROGRAMMING ING IS OFTEN BIASED NEWS IS DISTORTED AND READERS MUST EXISTS INVESTIGATIVE ECONOMICSBUSINESS LOCAL COMPARE THE CONmICTING VERSIONS OF DIFFERENT PUBLICATIONS
02/&%33)/.!, */52.!,)3- ).$)#!4/23 POLITICAL IN ORDER TO GET A MORE BALANCED PICTURE OF THE ACTUAL "5,'!2)! )N FACT A PANEL MEMBER DEVELOPMENTS LESS THAN THEIR COLLEAGUES IN THE REGIONAL BUREAUS OF THE 0OSITIVE PRACTICES STATE MEDIA 4HIS SALARY GAP STRONGLY AFFECTS THE QUALITY STATED THAT hMEDIA HAVE ONLY STARTED OF JOURNALISM THE OBJECTIVENESS OF REPORTING AND OVERALL EMPLOYEES ARE NOT TO EMERGE IN BIG MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEPENDENT !S IN PREVIOUS YEARS ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING JUST INCLINED TO RECEIVE BROADCAST MEDIA DOES NOT OVERSHADOW NEWS (OWEVER THERE IS A NOTICEABLE GIFTS AND PAYMENTS )N GENERAL ATTEMPT TO ATTRACT MORE VIEWERS BY OFFERING INCREASED QUALITY NICHE ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING WHICH INCREASED IN ALL FOR COVERAGE REPORTING AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA IN !S A BROAD TREND PANELISTS SAID THEYRE ADDICTEDv PROGRAMMING PRINT OUTLETS WITH PREDOMINANTLY INFORMATIONAL FORMATS ARE IN VERY SHORT ARE LOSING READERSHIP AND CUTTING CIRCULATION WHEREAS SUPPLY BUT WHAT SENSATIONALIST AND YELLOW PUBLICATIONS ARE INCREASING IS AVAILABLE IS OF REASONABLY GOOD QUALITY ! FEW PUBLI THEIR MARKET SHARE CATIONS INCLUDING SOME OF THE MOST INmUENTIAL ONES HAVE DEVELOPED GOOD INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AND SHOW A GROWING LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM IN COVERING POLITICAL /BJECTIVE 0LURALITY OF .EWS 3OURCES EVENTS LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE ECONOMY .EVERTHE "ULGARIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE LESS GOOD INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING IS STILL LIMITED TO A FEW MEDIA OUTLETS AND OFTEN DEPENDS ON DONOR SUPPORT 4HE "ULGARIAN MEDIA SECTOR HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES IN 4HERE ARE RELATIVELY FEW TRAINED INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS OFFERING A MULTITUDE OF NEWS SOURCES AND IN PROVIDING AND BEAT REPORTERS ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NO SPECIlC LEGAL OR THE PUBLIC WITH OBJECTIVE AND RELIABLE INFORMATION 4HE FORMAL CONSTRAINTS TO THIS KIND OF SPECIALIZED REPORTING HIGH SCORES FOR THIS OBJECTIVE SUGGEST THE COUNTRY HAS SUC #ONCURRENTLY THE PUBLIC DEMAND FOR SUCH PROGRAMMING CEEDED IN SHOWING SUFlCIENT STABILITY IN THIS AREA WITH IS NOT HIGH #ITIZENS DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE DElCIT OF NICHE SOME RELATIVELY MINOR EXCEPTIONS REPORTING AS A BIG PROBLEM 0RIVATE AND PUBLIC NEWS SOURCES INCLUDING 3ELF CENSORSHIP CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE FOR "UL INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ARE WIDELY AVAILABLE TO ANYONE GARIAN JOURNALISM BECAUSE OF THE STRONG DEPENDENCE OF EDITORIAL POLICY ON THE ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF PUBLISHERS AND OUTLET OWNERS !S ONE PANELIST EXPLAINED h3ELF CEN -ULTIPLE NEWS SOURCES PROVIDE CITIZENS WITH SORSHIP IS EVERYWHEREIN ALL MEDIA ON ALL LEVELS 4HERE RELIABLE AND OBJECTIVE NEWS IS A SIMPLE RELATIONSHIP THE BIGGER THE OUTLET THE STRON Q ! PLURALITY OF AFFORDABLE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NEWS GER THE SELF CENSORSHIP 4HERES HARDLY ANY IN THE SMALLER SOURCES EG PRINT BROADCAST )NTERNET EXISTS OUTLETS SINCE NOT AS MUCH IS AT STAKEv ! COMMONLY RECOGNIZED CODE OF ETHICS FOR "ULGAR Q #ITIZENS ACCESS TO DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL IAN JOURNALISTS IS STILL LACKING ALTHOUGH SOME OUTLETS MEDIA IS NOT RESTRICTED HAVE ADOPTED THEIR OWN %MPLOYEES OF PRIVATE OUTLETS Q 3TATE OR PUBLIC MEDIA REmECT THE VIEWS OF THE ESPECIALLY PRINT MEDIA MUST CONSIDER CLOSELY THE OWNERS ENTIRE POLITICAL SPECTRUM ARE NONPARTISAN AND PRIORITIES IN THEIR WORK 4HE DESK RULES ADOPTED AT SOME SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST OUTLETS FORCE JOURNALISTS TO CUSTOMIZE THEIR WORK TO Q )NDEPENDENT NEWS AGENCIES GATHER AND DISTRIB COINCIDE WITH THE PUBLISHERS INTERESTS 4HE PANELISTS UTE NEWS FOR PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA AGREE THAT MEDIA PROFESSIONALS ARE OPEN TO RECEIVING GIFTS Q )NDEPENDENT BROADCAST MEDIA PRODUCE THEIR OWN OR MONEY AS INCENTIVES TO COVER CERTAIN EVENTS )N FACT NEWS PROGRAMS A PANEL MEMBER STATED THAT hMEDIA EMPLOYEES ARE NOT JUST INCLINED TO RECEIVE GIFTS AND PAYMENTS FOR COVERAGE Q 4RANSPARENCY OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP ALLOWS THEYRE ADDICTEDv CONSUMERS TO JUDGE OBJECTIVITY OF NEWS 4HE INEQUALITY OF PAY LEVELS FOR JOURNALISTS IS ALSO MEDIA OWNERSHIP IS NOT CONCENTRATED IN A FEW CONGLOMERATES A CONCERN 4HE DISCREPANCY IN PAY BETWEEN STATE JOUR NALISTS AND THOSE IN PRIVATE OUTLETS STRONGLY FAVORS THE Q ! BROAD SPECTRUM OF SOCIAL INTERESTS ARE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES 3ECOND JOURNALISTS OUTSIDE REmECTED AND REPRESENTED IN THE MEDIA INCLUD 3OlA ARE MORE UNDERPAID 4HESE JOURNALISTS ARE PAID 0,52!,)49 /& .%73 3/52#%3 ).$)#!4/23 ING MINORITY LANGUAGE INFORMATION SOURCES
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI WHO WANTS THEM -OST MEDIA OUTLETS FACE NO LIMITA OWNERS ARE AND h4HE BIGGEST TIONS IN ATTAINING THE REACH OR TERRITORIAL COVERAGE THEY THERE IS NO SET PRO DESIRE 4HE SELECTION OF OPERATING MEDIA OUTLETS ALLOWS CEDURE ON HOW TO PROBLEM ABOUT CITIZENS TO COMPARE AND CHOOSE !CCESS TO PRINT AND REQUEST SUCH INFOR ADVERTISING BROADCAST MEDIA IS DRIVEN BY lNANCIAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC MATION h7E HAVE A CONSTRAINTS WITH BETTER OFF URBAN RESIDENTS HAVING SUSTAINABLE TREND OF REVENUE IS THE MORE ACCESS TO MEDIA THAN POORER RURAL CITIZENS !S ONE NONTRANSPARENCY ALREADY MONOPOLIZED PANELIST MENTIONED h4HERE ARE MANY NEWS SOURCES BUT ONE PANELIST SAID ITS MORE ABOUT WHAT COVERAGE DIFFERENT OUTLETS HAVE AND h&OR EXAMPLE THE ADVERTISING MARKET HOW AFFORDABLE THEY ARE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLICv -ANY PUBLIC DOESNT KNOW !DVERTISING BUDGETS ARE STILL UNABLE TO AFFORD ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL NEWS WHAT HAPPENED CHANNELS AND CABLE SUBSCRIPTIONS WITH THE OWNER ARE MANAGED ACCORDING )NTERNET USAGE MAINLY DEPENDS ON THE TECHNI SHIP OF "ULGARIAS CAL EDUCATIONAL AND LINGUISTIC CAPACITY OF THE PEOPLE BEST CIRCULATED TO THE INTEREST OF )N SEVERAL NEW )NTERNET NEWS OUTLETS APPEARED IN DAILY PAPERv 3UCH CERTAIN GROUPS AND "ULGARIA AND RAPIDLY GAINED INmUENCE WITHIN THE MEDIA CASES OF OWNERSHIP COMMUNITY 3OME TRY TO COMPETE WITH PRINT PUBLICA TURNOVER APPEAR TO SPENT IN SELECT OUTLETSv TIONS WHILE OTHERS OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE RELATIVELY HAVE TAKEN PLACE EXPENSIVE STATE NEWS AGENCY 'ENERAL ACCESS TO THEM DURING BUT NO DETAILS ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE 4HERE REMAINS LIMITED BECAUSE OF THE COUNTRYS LOW LEVEL OF ARE INDICATIONS THAT MEDIA OWNERSHIP APPEARS TO BE LEAD )NTERNET ACCESS ING TO THE CONCENTRATION OF OUTLETS INTO A FEW HANDS 4HIS -INORITY LANGUAGE MEDIA ARE AVAILABLE BUT STILL HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR THE PRINT INDUSTRY WHERE THE UNABLE TO ACHIEVE THE REACH DESIRED 4HEY ARE LIMITED 7ESTDEUTSCHE !LLGEMEINE :EITUNG 7!: PUBLISHING MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE FRAGMENTARY COMPOSITION OF GROUP ALMOST TOTALLY DOMINATES OWNERSHIP 4HE RESTRUC MINORITY COMMUNITIES AND LANGUAGE DIFlCULTIES 4HE TURING OF THE RADIO MARKET IN THE PAST YEAR ALSO OFFERS THE NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF MINORITY LANGUAGE PROGRAM POTENTIAL FOR CONSOLIDATION WITH OTHER MEDIA MING IS SLIGHTLY FROWNED UPON BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC 4HERE IS A GENERAL SENSE THAT COVERAGE OF ISSUES RELATED TO MINORITY GROUPS SHOULD BE LIMITED TO THEIR REPRESENTA /BJECTIVE "USINESS -ANAGEMENT TIVE COMMUNITIES "ULGARIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE 4HE -3) PANELISTS PRAISED THE POLITICAL PLURALITY AND NONPARTISANSHIP OF MEDIA COVERAGE 4HE PREVAILING 4HE CONDITIONS FOR "ULGARIAN MEDIA TO OPERATE AS WELL OPINION IS THAT MOST VIEWPOINTS ARE COVERED WITH THE MANAGED BUSINESSES HAVE NOT CHANGED SIGNIlCANTLY SINCE EXCEPTION OF THE STATE MEDIA THAT ARE STRONGLY SUBJECTIVE LAST YEAR 0ANEL RESPONSES INDICATE THAT THE INDEPENDENCE -ANY NEW PRIVATE NATIONAL CHANNELS ARE COMPENSATING OF PRIVATE OUTLETS WOULD BE GENERALLY SUSTAINABLE EVEN FOR THE INABILITY OF STATE MEDIA TO EXERCISE PUBLIC FUNC SHOULD THE POLITICAL HIERARCHY CHANGE TIONS #OMMERCIAL NATIONAL CHANNELS COVER THE POLITICAL 4HERE IS A WELL ESTABLISHED PRACTICE OF USING MARKET SPECTRUM IN A BALANCED MANNER AND THE VIEWS OF OPPOSI RESEARCH TO MANAGE REVENUE AND SHAPE PROGRAMMING TION PARTIES ARE OBJECTIVELY AND FAIRLY REmECTED WITH A VIEW TO AUDIENCE NEEDS h)T IS MY lRM BELIEF THAT 7HILE STATE CONTROLLED TELEVISION FAILS TO OFFER A AUDIENCE RESEARCH IS USED MORE ADEQUATELY AND MORE VARIETY OF UP TO DATE CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM OFTEN THAN BEFORE v ONE PANELIST SAID h%VEN PEOPLE MING COMMERCIAL OPERATORS ARE MEETING THE DEMAND METERS ARE MORE EFFECTIVE AND RELIABLEv /N THE OTHER 0UBLIC RADIO HAS MANAGED TO BUILD ON ITS TRADITIONS AND IS HAND THE RELIABILITY OF RATINGS SOMETIMES IS CONSIDERED OFFERING TRADEMARK PROGRAMMING IN THESE AREAS RATHER DUBIOUS 0ANELISTS STATED THAT MANIPULATION OF ! VARIETY OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NEWS AGENCIES ARE RATINGS AND OTHER DATA IN FAVOR OF SOME OUTLETS OCCURS AVAILABLE TO ALL OUTLETS ALTHOUGH SOME OUTLETS CANNOT MAINLY DUE TO COMBINED OWNERSHIP OF MEDIA OUTLETS AND AFFORD TO USE THEM LEGITIMATELY AUDIENCE RESEARCH AGENCIES 7HILE MEDIA MANAGERS USE 5NFORTUNATELY THE TRANSPARENCY OF MEDIA OWN RATINGS TO MARKET THEIR PRODUCT AND IMPROVE THEIR PRO ERSHIP DOES NOT INSTILL CONlDENCE IN THE OBJECTIVITY OF GRAMMING AD AGENCIES USE THE RATINGS TO SELL ADVERTISING NEWS 4HE PUBLIC IS NOT FULLY AWARE OF WHO THE REAL MEDIA TIME -EDIA MANAGERS ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY ARE DOING
"5,'!2)! )NDEPENDENT MEDIA ARE WELL MANAGED MEDIAS ADVERTISING REVENUE IN GENERAL BECAUSE A FEW BIG BUSINESSES ALLOWING EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE BROADCAST AND PRINT OUTLETS TAKE MOST OF THE NEW BUSI NESS !LL PRIVATE MEDIA BUSINESSES IN "ULGARIA CLAIM Q -EDIA OUTLETS AND SUPPORTING lRMS OPERATE AS ADVERTISING AS THEIR SOLE SOURCE OF REVENUE (OWEVER THE EFlCIENT PROFESSIONAL AND PROlT GENERATING -3) PANEL CONCLUDED THAT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF MANY BUSINESSES OUTLETS COULD BE IN DOUBT BECAUSE THE ADVERTISING MARKET Q -EDIA RECEIVE REVENUE FROM A MULTITUDE OF IS SO CONCENTRATED ! PANEL MEMBER STATED h4HE BIG SOURCES GEST PROBLEM ABOUT ADVERTISING REVENUE IS THE ALREADY MONOPOLIZED ADVERTISING MARKET !DVERTISING BUDGETS Q !DVERTISING AGENCIES AND RELATED INDUSTRIES SUPPORT AN ADVERTISING MARKET ARE MANAGED ACCORDING TO THE INTEREST OF CERTAIN GROUPS AND SPENT IN SELECT OUTLETSv 'ENERALLY THE OUTLETS WITH Q !DVERTISING REVENUE AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL NEWS AND TALK FORMATS ARE FACING MORE DIFlCULTIES IN GEN REVENUE IS IN LINE WITH ACCEPTED STANDARDS AT ERATING REVENUE COMPARED WITH THE MUSIC CHANNELS AND COMMERCIAL OUTLETS ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA Q )NDEPENDENT MEDIA DO NOT RECEIVE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES /BJECTIVE 3UPPORTING )NSTITUTIONS Q -ARKET RESEARCH IS USED TO FORMULATE STRATEGIC PLANS ENHANCE ADVERTISING REVENUE AND TAILOR "ULGARIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE PRODUCTS TO THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF AUDIENCES /VERALL INSTITUTIONS THAT SUPPORT MEDIA HAVE MADE
"53).%33 -!.!'%-%.4 ).$)#!4/23 Q "ROADCAST RATINGS AND CIRCULATION lGURES ARE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IN RECENT YEARS 4HE EVALUA RELIABLY AND INDEPENDENTLY PRODUCED TION SUGGESTS THAT INSTITUTIONS ARE IN PLACE AND PROTECTING THE INTERESTS OF MEDIA PROFESSIONALS AS WELL AS PROVIDING AN INCREASINGLY BETTER JOB OF RUNNING THEIR OUTLETS WHILE TRAINING PROGRAMS POLLING AND AD AGENCIES TEND TO MANIPULATE RATINGS IN -EDIA ASSOCIATIONS AND UNIONS SUCCESSFULLY FAVOR OF THEIR CLIENTS 4HE -3) PANEL ALSO NOTED THAT THERE OPPOSED POLITICIZED ATTEMPTS AT APPOINTING A PARTISAN ARE NO RELIABLE CIRCULATION lGURES FOR THE PRINT MEDIA IN DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE STATE RADIO STATION 3UCH ORGANI THE COUNTRY .O !UDIT "UREAU OF #IRCULATION EXISTS YET AND NEWSPAPERS OFTEN MANIPULATE THEIR CIRCULATION DATA TO ATTRACT ADVERTISERS 3UPPORTING INSTITUTIONS FUNCTION IN THE 4HE DISTRI PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA BUTION NETWORK h)T IS MY lRM BELIEF Q 4RADE ASSOCIATIONS REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF REPRESENTS ANOTHER PRIVATE MEDIA OWNERS AND PROVIDE MEMBER THAT AUDIENCE POSITIVE DEVELOP SERVICES MENT "IG PUBLISH RESEARCH IS USED MORE Q 0ROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS WORK TO PROTECT ING HOUSES OWN JOURNALISTS RIGHTS ADEQUATELY AND MORE MANY OF THE BIG DISTRIBUTION lRMS Q .'/S SUPPORT FREE SPEECH AND INDEPENDENT OFTEN THAN BEFORE v /VER THE PAST YEAR MEDIA ONE PANELIST SAID THE DISTRIBUTION Q 1UALITY JOURNALISM DEGREE PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE MARKET BEGAN CON SUBSTANTIAL PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE EXIST h%VEN PEOPLE METERS SOLIDATING AND THERE Q 3HORT TERM TRAINING AND IN SERVICE TRAINING ARE MORE EFFECTIVE WERE ATTEMPTS BY PROGRAMS ALLOW JOURNALISTS TO UPGRADE SKILLS OR FORMER STATE SECRET ACQUIRE NEW SKILLS AND RELIABLEv SERVICE AND SHADOW BUSINESSES TO GAIN Q 3OURCES OF NEWSPRINT AND PRINTING FACILITIES ARE PRIVATE APOLITICAL AND UNRESTRICTED CONTROL OF THE INDUSTRY .EVERTHELESS DISTRIBUTION AS A WHOLE IS NOT LIMITED OR HINDERED Q #HANNELS OF MEDIA DISTRIBUTION KIOSKS TRANS "ULGARIAS ADVERTISING MARKET HAS GROWN SIG MITTERS )NTERNET ARE PRIVATE APOLITICAL AND 3500/24).' ).34)454)/.3 ).$)#!4/23 NIlCANTLY IN 4HAT GROWTH HAS NOT INmUENCED THE UNRESTRICTED -%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI h)N FACT THE ZATIONS ALSO WERE APPRECIATED BY EMPLOYERS AND DOES NOT IMPROVE THE POSI ACTIVE IN HALTING TION OF THE EMPLOYEESv ENVIRONMENT THE PASSAGE OF )N THE PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF DISTRIBUTION DOES NOT ENCOURAGE REGRESSIVE CHANGES CHANNELS AND PRINTING FACILITIES CONTINUED TO LEND STRONG TO THE 2ADIO AND SUPPORT TO MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY IN "ULGARIA 4HERE ARE NO JOURNALISTS TO SEEK 4ELEVISION ,AW LIMITATIONS ON THE FREE AND UNOBSTRUCTED PUBLICATION AND ADDITIONAL TRAINING 4HE !SSOCIATION OF DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION "ULGARIAN "ROAD 4HE IMPROVEMENT IN CASTERS !""2/ 0ANEL 0ARTICIPANTS PROFESSIONAL SKILLS IS NOT OR THE "ULGARIAN -EDIA #OALITION 9ASSEN "OYADJIEV PROGRAM DIRECTOR )NFORADIO ADEQUATELY APPRECIATED "-# IS CONSULTED COFOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN &REE 3PEECH #IVIC &ORUM BY EMPLOYERS AND CONSISTENTLY ON ANY POTENTIAL CHANGES TO 6ESSELIN $IMITROV PROFESSOR &ACULTY OF *OURNALISM AND DOES NOT IMPROVE MEDIA LEGISLATION -ASS #OMMUNICATIONS AT 3OlA 5NIVERSITY 4HE NOTABLE SUCCESS THE POSITION OF OF !""2/ AND "-# 3TOYANA 'EORGIEVA HEAD -EDIAPOOL ELECTRONIC DAILY THE EMPLOYEESv IS PROOF THAT TRADE ASSOCIATIONS ARE 'EORGI +ORITAROV JOURNALIST AND POLITICAL ANALYST 2ADIO ABLE TO REPRESENT THE &REE %UROPE2ADIO ,IBERTY INTERESTS OF INDEPEN DENT MEDIA AND PROVIDE VALUABLE MEMBER SERVICES 'EORGI ,OZANOV PROFESSOR &ACULTY OF *OURNALISM AND 4HE NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS .'/S THAT -ASS #OMMUNICATIONS AT 3OlA 5NIVERSITY MEMBER SUPPORT MEDIA HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY SUCCESSFUL IN INTERACT #OUNCIL OF %LECTRONIC -EDIA #%- ING WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL FORCES INmUENCING THE MEDIA ENVIRONMENT (OWEVER THESE .'/S STILL ARE +ONSTANTIN -ARKOV GENERAL MANAGER 2ADIO 4ANGRA UNABLE TO PROVIDE ALL THE NEEDED PROTECTION FOR MEDIA CHAIRMAN !SSOCIATION OF "ULGARIAN "ROADCASTERS FREEDOMS 3UPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS ARE PARTICULARLY WEAK !""2/ IN THE PRINT MEDIA WHERE THEY OFTEN COMPETE AGAINST THE OWNERS INTERESTS 4HE OWNERS ARE PROTECTED BY THE VAGUELY 9OVO .IKOLOV SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT +APITAL DElNED EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS OF THE PRINT JOURNALISTS WEEKLY COFOUNDER "ULGARIAN !SSOCIATION OF THE 0ROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS THAT PROTECT THE RIGHTS )NVESTIGATIVE *OURNALISTS OF JOURNALISTS INCLUDE ONLY LIMITED MEMBERSHIPS WHICH LEAVE THEM WEAK h7E HAVE THE 5NION OF "ULGARIAN *OUR $IMITAR 3OTIROV JOURNALIST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NALISTS BUT IT DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY SERVICES TO NONMEM "ULGARIAN -EDIA #OALITION "-# BERS )T DOES NOT OFFER ANY PROTECTIONS v A PANEL MEMBER "OIKO 3TANKUSHEV TELEVISION ANCHOR EXECUTIVE SAID 4HERE ARE NO SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT DIRECTOR 5NION 46 "ULGARIAN UNIVERSITIES STILL DO NOT PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION OR THE SUBSTANTIAL PRACTICAL EXPERI 6ESSELA 4ABAKOVA PROFESSOR &ACULTY OF *OURNALISM AND ENCE NEEDED BY YOUNG JOURNALISTS /THER OPTIONS ARE -ASS #OMMUNICATIONS AT 3OlA 5NIVERSITY HEAD #ENTER EXTREMELY LIMITED IN "ULGARIA AND WOULD NOT EXIST AT ALL OF )NDEPENDENT *OURNALISM #)* WITHOUT DONOR SUPPORT 6ERY FEW MEDIA OUTLETS HAVE ANY KIND OF IN HOUSE TRAINING -IRA 9ANOVA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR -"-$ 0OLLING !GENCY 0ROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR "ULGARIAN JOURNALISTS IS GENERALLY AVAILABLE .EVERTHELESS SOME TRAINING PRO GRAMS ARE EITHER INEFFECTIVE OR IMPROPERLY TARGETED !S -ODERATOR ONE PANELIST EXPLAINED h)N FACT THE ENVIRONMENT DOES 2UMIANA "ACHVAROVA DIRECTOR -EDIA ,INKS NOT ENCOURAGE JOURNALISTS TO SEEK ADDITIONAL TRAINING 0OLLING !GENCY 4HE IMPROVEMENT IN PROFESSIONAL SKILLS IS NOT ADEQUATELY
"5,'!2)! h4HE FACT IS THAT NO MEDIA OUTLET CAN GIVE A READER FULL INFORMATION ON RELEVANT EVENTS IN THE COUNTRY v A PANELIST COMMENTED h)F ) DONT READ lVE NEWSPAPERS IN ONE DAY ) DONT KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENEDv #ROATIA
)NTRODUCTION HE MEDIA LANDSCAPE IN #ROATIA HAS CHANGED PROFOUNDLY SINCE THE n ELECTIONS AS #ROATIA HAS BUILT DEMOCRATIC STANDARDS AND IMPROVED ITS IMAGE WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY 4HERE NOW IS LITTLE EVIDENCE OF THE DIRECT PRESSURE HARASSMENT EXTORTIONS AND ARBITRARY PROSECUTIONS OF THE MEDIA THAT CHARACTERIZED THE S /VERALL MEDIA FREEDOM WAS BETTER PROTECTED IN THAN AT ANY TIME DURING THE YEARS SINCE #ROATIA WAS INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS AN INDEPENDENT STATE IN *ANUARY )N THE .OVEMBER GENERAL ELECTIONS PARTIES THAT FORMED THE CENTER LEFT COALITION GOVERNMENT WERE DEFEATED BY A RESURGENT #ROATIAN 4$EMOCRATIC 5NION ($: THE CENTER RIGHT PARTY THAT WAS DOMINANT IN THE S UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THEN 0RESIDENT &RANJO 4UD MAN !LTHOUGH SOME FEARED THAT THE ($:S RETURN TO POWER COULD RESULT IN INCREASED CONTROL OVER THE MEDIA THERE HAS BEEN NO IMMEDIATE EVI DENCE OF THIS HAPPENING 4HE NEW PARTY LEADERSHIP AT ($: IS PRESENT ING A NEW IMAGE OF THE PARTY TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITYONE THAT IS MORE DEMOCRATIC AND MORE RESPECTFUL OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND MEDIA FREEDOMS ($: HAS STATED ITS AMBITION TO BRING #ROATIA CLOSER TO THE %UROPEAN 5NION %5 WHICH IN RETURN SHOULD BE A STRONG GUAR ANTEE THAT IT WILL NOT REPEAT THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST (OWEVER THE START OF THE NEW GOVERNMENTS MANDATE WAS NOT WITHOUT INCIDENT FOR THE MEDIA 4HE -INISTER OF &OREIGN !FFAIRS INTERVENED WITH THE #ROATIAN NEWS AGENCY ().! ACCUSING A JOUR NALIST OF NOT REPORTING OBJECTIVELY ABOUT HIS VISIT TO THE %5 IN "RUSSELS 4HERE WERE ALSO PHYSICAL ATTACKS ON #ROATIAN NEWSPAPER EDITORS AND MEDIA OWNERS !LTHOUGH NONE WERE KILLED THE ASSAULTS WERE SEVERE ENOUGH TO RAISE CONCERN ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE POLICE FAILED TO MAKE ANY ARRESTS AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION WHENOR IFTHE CASES WOULD BE RESOLVED )N ADDITION THERE REMAINS CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE MAJOR NEW MEDIA STATUTES PASSED BY THE #ROATIAN 3ABOR OR PARLIA MENT AFTER THOROUGH DISCUSSION BY MEDIA PROFESSIONALS AND THE WIDER COMMUNITY !MONG THE LAWS PASSED WERE THOSE ON MEDIA ELECTRONIC MEDIA #ROATIAN 2ADIO 4ELEVISION AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION
#2/!4)! /BJECTIVE 3CORING )NDICATOR 3CORING 4HE AVERAGES OF ALL THE INDICATORS ARE AVERAGED TO OBTAIN A SINGLE %ACH INDICATOR IS SCORED USING THE FOLLOWING SYSTEM OVERALL SCORE FOR EACH OBJECTIVE /BJECTIVE SCORES ARE AVERAGED TO PROVIDE #OUNTRY DOES NOT MEET INDICATOR GOVERNMENT OR SOCIAL FORCES MAY ACTIVELY AN OVERALL SCORE FOR THE COUNTRY )2%8 INTERPRETS THE OVERALL SCORES AS FOLLOWS OPPOSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND ABOVE 3USTAINABLE AND FREE INDEPENDENT MEDIA #OUNTRY MINIMALLY MEETS ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR FORCES MAY NOT AC T IVELY OPPOSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION BUT BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT MAY NOT SUPPORT IT n )NDEPENDENT MEDIA APPROACHING SUSTAINABILITY AND GOVERNMENT OR PROFESSION DO NOT FULLY AND ACTIVELY SUPPORT CHANGE n 3IGNIlCANT PROGRESS REMAINS TO BE MADE #OUNTRY HAS BEGUN TO MEET MANY ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR BUT PROGRESS MAY SOCIETY OR GOVERNMENT IS NOT FULLY SUPPORTIVE BE TOO RECENT TO JUDGE OR STILL DEPENDENT ON CURRENT GOVERNMENT OR POLITICAL FORCES n #OUNTRY MEETS FEW INDICATORS GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY ACTIVELY OPPOSE CHANGE #OUNTRY MEETS MOST ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INDICA TOR HAS OCCURRED OVER SEVERAL YEARS ANDOR THROUGH CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT INDICATING LIKELY SUSTAINABILITY #OUNTRY MEETS THE ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR IMPLEMENTATION HAS REM AI NE D INTACT OVER MULTIPLE CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC mUCTUATIONS CHANGES IN PUBLIC OPINION ANDOR CHANGING SOCIAL CONVENTIONS
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI 4HE MOST SIGNIlCANT CHANGE IN THE MEDIA LAND FACTS 4HE OTHER OFl h7HY SHOULD WE HAVE SCAPE HAS BEEN INITIATED BY THE PRIVATIZATION OF THE THIRD CIAL SIDE WAS TRYING CHANNEL OF #ROATIAN 4ELEVISION (46 4HE COMPETITION TO PREVENT AND A JOURNALIST IN PRISON FOR THE PRIVATIZATION OF (46 WHICH TOOK THE FORM OF CONTROL IT "UT IN WHEN WE HAVE NO REALLOCATION OF THE FREQUENCIES IT USED TO A NEW CONCES THE LAST FOUR YEARS SIONAIRE WAS EXTREMELY INTENSE 4HE #OUNCIL ON 2ADIO YESTERDAYS LIBERALS CRIMINALS IN PRISON v AND 4ELEVISION ULTIMATELY AWARDED THE FREQUENCIES TO STARTED TO PREVENT (24, A #ROATIAN BASED COMPANY WITH 'ERMAN COM FREE SPEECHv MERCIAL TELEVISION CHANNEL 24, AS ITS PRINCIPAL INDIVIDUAL ,IBEL PERSISTS AS ONE OF THE CRUCIAL LEGAL PROBLEMS OWNER 4HE NEW TELEVISION STATION SHOOK UP THE BROAD FACING MEDIA MORE THAN CASES AGAINST #ROATIAN CAST MEDIA SCENE BY CREATING A MARKET FOR NEW SKILLS AND JOURNALISTS ARE STILL PENDING IN THE COURTS ,IBEL ALSO SERVICES )T REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF THE NEW CHANNEL WILL REMAINS A SERIOUS ISSUE BECAUSE OF LOW ETHICAL STANDARDS BECOME A SERIOUS COMPETITOR TO (46 AS THE STATE BROAD AND BLATANT PRIVACY VIOLATIONS ON THE PART OF THE MEDIA CASTER HAS NOW BEEN REDUCED TO TWO CHANNELS ,IBEL FALLS UNDER THE PENAL CODE IN #ROATIA ALTHOUGH )N THE PRINT MEDIA SECTOR NO NEW DAILIES OR WEEK THERE HAVE BEEN EFFORTS TO TRANSFER IT TO THE CIVIL CODE LIES LAUNCHED )N .OVEMBER THE #ATHOLIC PUBLISH !N INITIATIVE BY LOCAL NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ING HOUSE STARTED A MONTHLY NEWS MAGAZINE 0ULS BUT THE .'/S INTERNATIONAL MEDIA WATCHDOG INSTITUTIONS AND PUBLISHER CLOSED IT AFTER ONLY THREE EDITIONS 4HE EDITORS THE #ROATIAN *OURNALISTS !SSOCIATION #*! HAVE MADE CITED DISAGREEMENT WITH THE PUBLISHER ON EDITORIAL POLICY NO PROGRESS (OWEVER NO JOURNALIST HAS BEEN CONVICTED AS THE MAIN REASON OF LIBEL TO DATE !S ONE PANELIST QUIPPED h7HY SHOULD )NTERNET IN #ROATIA IS PLAYING AN INCREASINGLY SIG NIlCANT ROLE AS AN INFORMATION SOURCE WITH AN ESTIMATED ,EGAL AND SOCIAL NORMS PROTECT AND PROMOTE FOUR FOLD INCREASE IN USERS SINCE TO ABOUT FREE SPEECH AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION SUBSCRIBERS OF ONLINE SERVICES IN A COUNTRY OF APPROXI MATELY MILLION HOUSEHOLDS 4HE lRST )NTERNET NEWS SER Q ,EGALSOCIAL PROTECTIONS OF FREE SPEECH EXIST VICE WWWINDEXHR WAS FOUNDED IN *ULY PROVIDING NEWS AND ARE ENFORCED TAKEN FROM ABOUT #ROATIAN WEBSITES /PENING THE Q ,ICENSING OF BROADCAST MEDIA IS FAIR COMPETITIVE PORTAL THE CREATOR -ATIJA "ABIC| SAID h7E ARE CHALLENGING AND APOLITICAL THE TRADITIONAL MEDIA BECAUSE WE STARTED WITH A SERVICE THAT PROMOTES NEW AND ALMOST UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIESv Q -ARKET ENTRY AND TAX STRUCTURE FOR MEDIA ARE FAIR AND COMPARABLE TO OTHER INDUSTRIES
Q #RIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS OR MEDIA OUTLETS ARE /BJECTIVE &REE 3PEECH PROSECUTED VIGOROUSLY BUT OCCURRENCES OF SUCH #ROATIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE CRIMES ARE RARE Q 3TATE OR PUBLIC MEDIA DO NOT RECEIVE PREFERENTIAL -OST -EDIA 3USTAINABILITY )NDEX -3) PANELISTS AGREED LEGAL TREATMENT AND LAW GUARANTEES EDITORIAL THAT THERE IS A DETAILED LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR FREEDOM OF INDEPENDENCE SPEECH IN #ROATIA 3TILL CERTAIN OBSTACLES REMAIN 4HESE Q ,IBEL IS A CIVIL LAW ISSUE PUBLIC OFlCIALS ARE HELD INCLUDE CONTINUING ATTEMPTS FROM POLITICAL PARTIES TO TO HIGHER STANDARDS AND THE OFFENDED PARTY INmUENCE THE MEDIA ALTHOUGH NOT IN AS OPEN OR SYSTEM MUST PROVE FALSITY AND MALICE ATIC A FASHION AS DURING THE S *OURNALISTS REMAIN RELUCTANT TO SPEAK OPENLY IN MANY SITUATIONS A REMNANT Q 0UBLIC INFORMATION IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION IS EQUALLY ENFORCED FOR ALL OF THE FORMER SYSTEM h$ESPITE THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK &2%% 30%%#( ).$)#!4/23 MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS WHICH IS QUITE GOOD THE ATMOSPHERE IN SOCIETY MAKES IT SOMETIMES SEEM LIKE THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS BLOCKED v Q -EDIA OUTLETS HAVE UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO INFOR OBSERVED ONE PANELIST h"EFORE IN THE S WE HAD MATION THIS IS EQUALLY ENFORCED FOR ALL MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS POLARIZATION OF OPINIONS 7E HAD TWO SIDES ONE OF WHICH TRIED TO GET THROUGH WITH LIBERAL IDEAS AND EXPOSING THE Q %NTRY INTO THE JOURNALISM PROFESSION IS FREE AND GOVERNMENT IMPOSES NO LICENSING RESTRICTIONS OR SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR JOURNALISTS &ROM THE .ATIONAL 3TATISTICS "UREAU !NNUAL 3TATISTICS -ANUAL #2/!4)! h5NLIMITED ACCESS WE HAVE A JOURNALIST CAR OF .INOSLAV 0AVIC| OWNER OF THE BIGGEST PRIVATE #ROA IN PRISON WHEN WE TIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY %UROPA 0RESS (OLDING %0( TO VITAL PUBLIC HAVE NO CRIMINALS IN (E WAS NOT IN THE CAR AND THERE WERE NO OTHER VICTIMS INFORMATION IS PRISON v 0ANELISTS )N 3EPTEMBER UNKNOWN PERSONS ASSAULTED !NDREJ ALSO STRESSED THE NEED -AKSIMOVIC| A FORMER JOURNALIST AT THE WEEKLY .ACIONAL SOMETHING THAT TO CHANGE PROVISIONS AND FORMER EDITOR OF THE LOCAL TELEVISION STATION /46 IN STILL DOESNT EXIST IN THE ,AW ON %LEC :AGREB ! MONTH LATER -AKSIMOVIC| WAS BEATEN AGAIN TRONIC -EDIA AND /NLY DAYS LATER :DRAVKO *URAK ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF IN #ROATIAv THE ,AW ON #ROATIAN %0( WAS ATTACKED NEAR HIS HOUSE *URAK HAS NOT ACTIVELY 2ADIO 4ELEVISION TO PRACTICED JOURNALISM SINCE AND CURRENTLY RUNS HIS GIVE CIVIL SOCIETY MORE OF A ROLE IN ELECTING MEMBERS OF REGU OWN NON MEDIA BUSINESS /NE OF THE BEST KNOWN #ROA LATORY BODIES #URRENTLY APPOINTMENTS ARE MADE BY PARLIA TIAN JOURNALISTS $ENIS +ULJIÝ CURRENTLY EDITOR IN CHIEF MENT AND THE GOVERNMENT MAKING THE BODIES POTENTIALLY OF THE #ROATIAN EDITION OF 0LAYBOY WAS ASSAULTED AT HIS SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXTERNAL POLITICAL INmUENCE HOME /N $ECEMBER )VAN #ALETA A MEMBER OF ,ICENSING OF THE BROADCAST MEDIA IS CONSIDERED TO THE MANAGING BOARD AND CO OWNER OF PRIVATE NATIONAL BE FAIR COMPETITIVE AND APOLITICAL "UT AT THE REGIONAL TELEVISION CHANNEL .OVA 46 WAS SHOT IN THE LEGS WHILE HE AND LOCAL LEVEL MEDIA STILL ARE VULNERABLE TO POLITICAL DROVE HIS CAR IN :AGREB .O SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIlED PRESSURE /NE PANELIST COMMENTED h)T IS VERY HARD TO IN THESE CASES JUDGE IF THE LOCAL BROADCAST MEDIA ARE INDEPENDENT OR +ULJIÝ ACCUSES THE POLICE OF NOT INVESTIGATING THE NOT EVEN AFTER THE NEW ,AW ON %LECTRONIC -EDIA HAS BEEN INCIDENTS h4HEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING ) HAVE TALKED PASSED 4HE NEW LAW STIPULATES THAT PERCENT OF LICENSE WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN THE POLICE HIERARCHY INCLUDING FEES GO TO THE FUND FOR THE PLURALISM AND DIVERSITY OF THE HIGH RANKING OFlCERS 4HEY TOLD ME THAT IN SUCH CRIMES LOCAL AND REGIONAL MEDIA TO STIMULATE NEWS AND OTHER THEIR HANDS WERE TIED "UT WHEN TALKING TO POLITICIANS QUALITY PRODUCTION ON THE LOCAL LEVEL !T THE SAME TIME ABOUT THESE ATTACKS THEY DESCRIBED THESE CRIMES AS THERE IS NO COUNCIL OR BODY APPOINTED TO DECIDE WHO POLICE CASES OR SOMETHING THAT GOVERNMENT OR POLITI WOULD GET THOSE FUNDS AND WHAT THE CRITERIA ARE FOR THE CIANS SHOULDNT DEAL WITHv !NOTHER PANELIST AGREED THAT MEDIA TO DESERVE THAT FEEv PROSECUTION OF SUCH ATTACKS IS NOT EFlCIENT BUT REFERRED -3) PANELISTS DISAGREED ABOUT WHETHER MARKET TO OTHER CASES IN WHICH THE POLICE HAD PREVENTED CRIMES ENTRY RULES AND THE TAX STRUCTURE FOR MEDIA ARE FAIR AND AGAINST JOURNALISTS COMPARABLE WITH OTHER INDUSTRIES 4HE VALUE ADDED TAX 3TATE MEDIA CAN NOW GENERALLY BE CONSIDERED 6!4 OF PERCENT FOR NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS IS THE HIGH hPUBLICv BECAUSE THEY NO LONGER RECEIVE PREFERENTIAL LEGAL EST IN %UROPE -OST PANELISTS BELIEVED THAT THERE SHOULD OR lNANCIAL TREATMENT /NLY ONE NEWSPAPER 6JESNIK HAS BE NO 6!4 AT ALL FOR NEWSPAPERS NOTING THAT THERE IS NONE GOTTEN lNANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT BUT THERE ON BOOKS 4HE !SSOCIATION OF .EWSPAPER 0UBLISHERS HAS WAS NO INTERFERENCE IN THE EDITORIAL POLICY !NOTHER STATE STARTED AN INITIATIVE TO REDUCE THE 6!4 FOR NEWSPAPERS OWNED NEWSPAPER 3LOBODNA $ALMACIJA IS CLOSE TO PRIVA "Y CONTRAST SOME PANELISTS COMMENTED THAT MARKET TIZATION 4HE PUBLIC TELEVISION CHANNEL (46 EARNS ABOUT ENTRY SHOULD BE THE SAME FOR ALL INDUSTRIES INCLUDING HALF OF ITS REVENUES FROM ADVERTISING AND THE OTHER HALF MEDIA BUT GENERALLY THEY AGREED THAT IT IS RELATIVELY FAIR FROM A TAX THE GOVERNMENT COLLECTS FROM CITIZENS WHO !S ONE PANELIST STATED h) DONT BELIEVE THAT DOMESTIC OR OWN TELEVISIONS AND RADIOS 4HERE ARE NO DIRECT GOVERN FOREIGN INVESTORS WOULD BUY OR INVEST IN MEDIA HERE IF MENT SUBSIDIES TO (46 (OWEVER ONE PANELIST WARNED THEY BROUGHT ONLY LOSSES 2EGARDING THE PROlT THAT MEDIA THAT THE LAW GIVING POLITICAL PARTIES THE ABILITY TO APPOINT ENTERPRISES MAKE AND THE SALARIES OF THE JOURNALISTS IN MEMBERS TO THE #OUNCIL ON 2ADIO AND 4ELEVISION DOES #ROATIA THE SITUATION IS POSITIVEv NOT HAVE SUFlCIENT SAFEGUARDS TO PREVENT THE EXERCISE OF !TTACKS AGAINST JOURNALISTS EDITORS AND MEDIA THAT POWER h) AM NOT SAYING THAT IT HAPPENS BUT IT IS POS OWNERS INCREASED DURING BUT NO ASSAILANTS WERE SIBLE v THE PANELIST SAID CAPTURED /N -ARCH A BOMB EXPLODED UNDER THE /NE PANELIST NOTED THAT THE TWO LAST MEDIA RESEARCH PROJECTS CONDUCTED BY THE #ROATIAN (ELSINKI #OMMITTEE WERE QUITE POSITIVE REGARDING THE OBJECTIVITY AND IMPAR 4HE #ONSTITUTIONAL #OURT INVALIDATED AMENDMENTS TO THE PENAL CODE THAT CRIMINALIZED DEFAMATION !S OF *ANUARY DEFAMATION IS TREATED TIALITY OF PUBLIC MEDIA *UST FOUR YEARS AGO 0ULS AN INDE UNDER THE CIVIL CODE AGAIN PENDENT MARKET RESEARCH AGENCY FOUND THAT PERCENT
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI h)F YOU TAKE DAILY OR OF MEDIA CONSUMERS /BJECTIVE 0ROFESSIONAL *OURNALISM DID NOT TRUST THE WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS MEDIA 4HE LAST #ROATIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE THERE IS SUCH A LARGE RESEARCH BY 0ULS PUBLISHED AT THE END "ECAUSE ACCESS TO INFORMATION REMAINS DIFlCULT MANY AMOUNT OF ALL KINDS OF OF SHOWED THAT NEWS REPORTS ARE NOT COMPLETELY ACCURATE 0ANELISTS SAID DIFFERENT NEWS HAD REVERSED ALMOST THAT A LARGE NUMBER ARE EITHER PARTIALLY FACT BASED OR ENTIRELY WITH PURE FABRICATIONS AND THAT JOURNALISTS DO NOT ALWAYS SHOW BUSINESS PERCENT OF PEOPLE VERIFY AVAILABLE INFORMATION OR PROPERLY QUOTE THEIR ENTERTAINMENT SPORTS SAYING THEY BELIEVE SOURCES h4HE FACT IS THAT NO MEDIA OUTLET CAN GIVE A THE MEDIA /F THIS READER FULL INFORMATION ON RELEVANT EVENTS IN THE COUN ALL TYPES OF MARGINAL GROUP PERCENT TRY v A PANELIST COMMENTED h)F ) DONT READ lVE NEWSPA SAID THEY BELIEVE THE PERS IN ONE DAY ) DONT KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENEDv EVENTSTHAT IT IS ELECTRONIC MEDIA 4HE LACK OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS IN #ROATIAN JOURNAL DIFlCULT ANYMORE TO MORE THAN THE PRINT ISM IS A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE *OURNALISTS AND THE #*! HAVE MEDIA COME UP WITH THEIR OWN CODE IN RESPONSE TO PRESSURE REALIZE WHAT IS THE REAL !CCESS TO FROM GOVERNMENT LOBBYISTS AND lNANCIAL GROUPS *OUR AND RELEVANT NEWSv INFORMATION CONTIN NALISTS ARE OBLIGED TO WORK UNDER THESE ETHICS PROVISIONS UES TO BE PROBLEM WHICH WERE DESIGNED TO CONFORM TO THE BEST %UROPEAN ATIC )T IS GENERALLY PRACTICES 4HE #*! FORMED A COMMITTEE TO MONITOR DIFlCULT TO GET MATERIAL FROM THE MINISTRIES AND OTHER ETHICS RELATED ISSUES IN THE MEDIA BUT IT WAS NOT VERY GOVERNMENT SOURCES EXCEPT DURING PRESS CONFERENCES ACTIVE DURING DESPITE MANY OBVIOUS BREACHES OF -OST OF THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION IS STILL AVAILABLE ETHICAL CONDUCT IN THE PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA 4HE ONLY THROUGH PRIVATE SOURCES h5NLIMITED ACCESS TO VITAL PANELISTS ALSO DISCUSSED ONE OF THE MOST CRUCIAL ISSUES PUBLIC INFORMATION IS SOMETHING THAT STILL DOESNT EXIST OF ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS HATE SPEECH /NE IN #ROATIA v ONE PANELIST SAID #ITED AS AN EXAMPLE WAS INFORMATION RELATING TO THE PRIVATIZING OF FORMER STATE OR PUBLICLY OWNED COMPANIES A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT PROCESS *OURNALISM MEETS PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF DURING THE S ABOUT WHICH FULL INFORMATION STILL IS QUALITY NOT AVAILABLE h)N COMMUNICATING WITH GOVERNMENT OR MINISTRIES JOURNALISTS ALWAYS HAVE TO FACE THAT FAMOUS Q 2EPORTING IS FAIR OBJECTIVE AND WELL SOURCED 02 SITUATION v SAID A PANEL MEMBER h)N THIS COUNTRY THE Q *OURNALISTS FOLLOW RECOGNIZED AND ACCEPTED SPOKESPERSON USUALLY DOESNT KNOW OR DOESNT WANT TO ETHICAL STANDARDS ANSWER THE QUESTION &URTHERMORE ANSWERING QUESTIONS IS NOT ALWAYS WHAT A SPOKESPERSON IS SUPPOSED TO DO )T IS Q *OURNALISTS AND EDITORS DO NOT PRACTICE SELF CENSORSHIP MY FEELING THAT SPOKESPEOPLE ARE HIRED BY THE INSTITUTIONS ONLY AS A lREWALL AGAINST JOURNALISTS AND THE PUBLICv Q *OURNALISTS COVER KEY EVENTS AND ISSUES 4HERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS TO INTERNA Q 0AY LEVELS FOR JOURNALISTS AND OTHER MEDIA TIONAL NEWS AND FOREIGN NEWS SOURCES #.. ""# 2ADIO PROFESSIONALS ARE SUFlCIENTLY HIGH TO DISCOURAGE %UROPE 6OICE OF !MERICA $EUTSCHE 7ELLE AND MANY CORRUPTION OTHER GLOBAL NEWS PROVIDERS ARE AVAILABLE VIA SATELLITE OR ARE REBROADCAST BY LOCAL RADIO STATIONS )NTERNATIONAL Q %NTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING DOES NOT ECLIPSE NEWS AND INFORMATION PROGRAMMING NEWS AGENCIES SUCH AS 2EUTERS 4HE !SSOCIATED 0RESS AND OTHERS PROVIDE SERVICES ON A SUBSCRIPTION BASIS BUT Q 4ECHNICAL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT FOR GATHERING WITHOUT ANY LEGAL LIMITATIONS PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING NEWS ARE MODERN 4HERE ARE NO GOVERNMENT IMPOSED RESTRICTIONS ON AND EFlCIENT PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS AND ISSUING LICENSES TO JOURNALISTS Q 1UALITY NICHE REPORTING AND PROGRAMMING 4HE #*! ISSUES PRESS CREDENTIALS TO JOURNALISTS INDEPEN EXISTS INVESTIGATIVE ECONOMICSBUSINESS LOCAL
DENTLY OF THE GOVERNMENT OR ANY OTHER POLITICAL AUTHORITY 02/&%33)/.!, */52.!,)3- ).$)#!4/23 POLITICAL
#2/!4)! h4HE INDEPENDENT NEWS PANELIST STATED CAL NEWS ITEMS AND ALL THE REST ARE UNIMPORTANT FEATURES h#OMPARED TO JUST TO lLL THE MINUTE NEWS FORMATv "UT OTHER PANEL AGENCIES DISAPPEARED PREVIOUS YEARS HATE ISTS COUNTERED THIS ASSESSMENT SAYING THAT FOR TODAYS NOT BECAUSE SOMEONE SPEECH HAS BEEN READERS VIEWERS AND LISTENERS hRELEVANT INFORMATIONv ALMOST ELIMINATED DOES NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE LIMITED TO POLITICAL EVENTS STOPPED THEM BUT FROM THE PUBLIC )N GENERAL TECHNICAL FACILITIES AND PRINT AND BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DISCOURSE "UT SOME BROADCAST MEDIA EQUIPMENT ARE MODERN AND EFlCIENT JOURNALISTS HAVE TOO 4HERE ARE CERTAIN SPECIlC PROBLEMS ON THE LOCAL LEVEL ONE TO lNANCE THEIR MUCH INTEREST IN WITH SOME SMALLER PAPERS STILL STRUGGLING TO OBTAIN COM WORK AND NO INTEREST VIOLATING PEOPLES PUTER EQUIPMENT &OR LOCAL TELEVISION CHANNELS THE LACK PRIVACY INCLUDING OF MONEY AND EQUIPMENT IS OFTEN AN OBSTACLE IN PRODUC WITHIN THE MARKET TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO ING BETTER QUALITY PROGRAMS (OWEVER NEW TELEVISION ARE NOT IN THE PUBLIC CHANNELS ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH A NATIONAL OR REGIONAL SUPPORT THEMv EYEv &OR EXAMPLE BROADCASTING LICENSE DO NOT FACE THIS DILEMMA ONE WEEKLY MAGA !MONG THE MORE THAN PRINT TITLES MANY ARE ZINE PUBLISHED SEXUALLY EXPLICIT PHOTOS OF A FEMALE JOUR SPECIALIZED AND PROVIDE QUALITY NICHE REPORTING (OW NALIST IN HER OWN BEDROOM AND A TELEVISION BROADCAST EVER PANELISTS SAID SPECIALIZED REPORTING IS MORE LIMITED REVEALED PERSONAL INFORMATION OF AN ()6 POSITIVE GIRL AT BROADCAST OUTLETS IN PART BECAUSE JOURNALISTS AND h3ELF CENSORSHIP IS A WAY OF SURVIVAL BECAUSE OUR EDITORS HAVE NOT LEARNED HOW TO PROVIDE IT WITHIN THE MEDIA ARE STILL UNDER THE EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF POLITICAL LOB TELEVISION NEWS FORMAT BIES v ONE PANELIST CONTENDED !NOTHER DISAGREED SAYING THAT WHILE SELF CENSORSHIP OCCURS IT RESULTS MORE FROM FEAR AMONG MEDIA OUTLET OWNERS THAN FROM POLITICAL PRESSURE /BJECTIVE 0LURALITY OF .EWS 3OURCES )N ANY CASE MANY JOURNALISTS ARE STILL AFRAID TO REPORT ALL #ROATIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE THE FACTS "UT COMPARED WITH THE S AND PREVIOUS YEARS PANELISTS AGREED THE SITUATION HAS IMPROVED -ULTIPLE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NEWS SOURCES ARE AVAILABLE *OURNALISTS COVER MOST KEY POLITICAL ECONOMIC AND IN #ROATIA &INANCIAL RESOURCES GOVERN HOW PEOPLE MAKE SOCIAL ISSUES SUFlCIENTLY THE PANEL CONCLUDED ALTHOUGH USE OF THESE SOURCES WITH TELEVISION PROVIDING INFORMA SOME MEMBERS REPEATED CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL TION TO A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE POPULATION DUE TO QUALITY OF THE COVERAGE THE RELATIVELY HIGH COST OF PRINT MEDIA &OREIGN PRESS 3ALARY LEVELS FOR MEDIA PROFESSIONALS ARE RELATIVELY TITLES ARE FREELY AVAILABLE BUT NOT MANY CAN AFFORD THEM HIGH BUT THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY PRECLUDE THE POSSIBIL /N THE OTHER HAND THE )NTERNET HAS BEGUN TO PLAY AN ITY OF CORRUPTION PANEL MEMBERS SAID .ONETHELESS IT INCREASINGLY SIGNIlCANT ROLE AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION IN WAS NOTEWORTHY THAT EVEN JOURNALISTS WORKING ON A PART #ROATIA TIME BASIS CAN EARN MORE THAN MEDICAL SPECIALISTS WITH 0ANEL MEMBERS SAID THAT PUBLIC MEDIA STILL ARE EXTENSIVE TRAINING h/F COURSE WE CANNOT COMPARE OUR NOT OPEN ENOUGH TO ALTERNATIVE VIEWS WITH EDITORS AND SALARIES WITH %UROPEAN WAGES BUT WE CAN COMPARE THEM JOURNALISTS NOT SEEING THEIR ROLE AS SERVING THE PUBLIC WITH THE SALARIES OF OTHER PROFESSIONS IN #ROATIADOCTORS INTEREST IN A NONPARTISAN MANNER 0UBLIC MEDIA ALSO WERE OR ENGINEERS FOR EXAMPLE v SAID ONE PANEL MEMBER CRITICIZED FOR NOT BEING OPEN ENOUGH TO MINORITIES AND )NDEPENDENT MEDIA OUTLETS GENERALLY PLACE GREATER MINORITY ISSUES (OWEVER PUBLIC MEDIA WERE SEEN AS PAR EMPHASIS ON ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING AS COMPARED TIALLY COVERING A GAP BY OFFERING EDUCATIONAL CHILDRENS WITH NEWS AND INFORMATION AND SOME PANEL MEMBERS AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMING )NDEPENDENT BROADCAST EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THIS TREND h7E ARE WITNESSING MEDIA ON BOTH THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL LEVELS ARE OBLIGED TO A PROCESS OF THE TOTAL TRIVIALIZATION OF THE PUBLIC SCENE v PRODUCE AND BROADCAST THEIR OWN NEWS PROGRAMS ONE SAID h)F YOU TAKE DAILY OR WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS THERE IS 4HE #ROATIAN MEDIA MARKET IS NOT LARGE ENOUGH SUCH A LARGE AMOUNT OF ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT NEWSSHOW TO SUPPORT MULTIPLE NEWS AGENCIES 4HIS IS DUE PARTIALLY BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT SPORTS ALL TYPES OF MARGINAL TO THE SUCCESS OF ().! A LARGE FORMERLY GOVERNMENT EVENTSTHAT IT IS DIFlCULT ANYMORE TO REALIZE WHAT IS OWNED NEWS AGENCY THAT PROVIDES DOMESTIC AND INTERNA THE REAL AND RELEVANT NEWSv !NOTHER PANEL MEMBER TIONAL NEWS STORIES AND FEATURES FOR RADIO AND TELEVISION DESCRIBED TELEVISION NEWS AS hONE OR TWO RELEVANT POLITI STATIONS AND NEWSPAPERS !LTHOUGH ().! IS NOT COM
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI -ULTIPLE NEWS SOURCES PROVIDE CITIZENS WITH VISION FEATURES ETHNIC MINORITIES IN #ROATIA AND REPORTS RELIABLE AND OBJECTIVE NEWS ON EVENTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES (OWEVER MINORITY ISSUES ARE NOT PRESENT AT ALL IN OTHER PROGRAMS ESPECIALLY Q ! PLURALITY OF AFFORDABLE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NEWS NEWSCASTS h4HE MINORITIES ARE DRIVEN TO THE GHETTO v ONE SOURCES EG PRINT BROADCAST )NTERNET EXISTS PANELIST OBSERVED h4HEY GET SOME lNANCIAL AID FROM Q #ITIZENS ACCESS TO DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENT TO DO SOME MAGAZINES THAT NO ONE READS AND MEDIA IS NOT RESTRICTED HAVE ZERO IMPACT 4HEY ARE EXCLUDED FROM GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS SOMETIMES BY THEIR OWN WILLv Q 3TATE OR PUBLIC MEDIA REmECT THE VIEWS OF THE ENTIRE POLITICAL SPECTRUM ARE NONPARTISAN AND SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST /BJECTIVE "USINESS -ANAGEMENT Q )NDEPENDENT NEWS AGENCIES GATHER AND DISTRIB #ROATIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE UTE NEWS FOR PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA
Q )NDEPENDENT BROADCAST MEDIA PRODUCE THEIR OWN 4ISAK THE MAJOR NATIONAL MEDIA DISTRIBUTOR IS EFlCIENT NEWS PROGRAMS DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT IS THE ONLY LARGE OPERATION IN THE COUNTRY 4VORNICA $UHARA 2OVINJ 6ECERNJI ,IST THE Q 4RANSPARENCY OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP ALLOWS CONSUMERS TO JUDGE OBJECTIVITY OF NEWS NATIONAL DAILY WITH THE HIGHEST CIRCULATION AND %0( EACH MEDIA OWNERSHIP IS NOT CONCENTRATED IN A HOLD A PERCENT SHARE IN 4ISAK 4HE REMAINING PERCENT FEW CONGLOMERATES IS HELD BY THE GOVERNMENT AND SMALLER SHAREHOLDERS /THER DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS SUCH AS THE REGIONAL DAILIES 3LOBODNA Q ! BROAD SPECTRUM OF SOCIAL INTERESTS ARE REmECTED AND REPRESENTED IN THE MEDIA INCLUD $ALMACIJA .OVI ,IST AND 'LAS 3LAVONIJE ALSO ARE ACTIVE
0,52!,)49 /& .%73 3/52#%3 ).$)#!4/23 ING MINORITY LANGUAGE INFORMATION SOURCES 0ANELISTS AGREED THAT THE MEDIA RECEIVE REVENUE FROM A MULTITUDE OF SOURCES (OWEVER LOCAL RADIO AND PLETELY INDEPENDENT IT PROVIDES A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE TELEVISION STATIONS IN THE REGIONS ARE SOMETIMES SUP THAT IS RELATIVELY AFFORDABLE 4HERE ARE SMALLER NEWS PORTED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS APPARENTLY IN EXCHANGE AGENCIES INCLUDING 34).! AND !)- BUT THEY WOULD NOT FOR FAVORABLE COVERAGE OF THE AUTHORITIES 7HILE THIS IS BE LIKELY TO SURVIVE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS h4HE INDEPENDENT NEWS AGENCIES DISAP PEARED NOT BECAUSE SOMEONE STOPPED THEM BUT BECAUSE )NDEPENDENT MEDIA ARE WELL MANAGED THERE WAS NO ONE TO lNANCE THEIR WORK AND NO INTEREST BUSINESSES ALLOWING EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE WITHIN THE MARKET TO SUPPORT THEM v A PANELIST SAID Q -EDIA OUTLETS AND SUPPORTING lRMS OPERATE AS !LTHOUGH OWNERSHIP TRANSPARENCY IS REQUIRED BY EFlCIENT PROFESSIONAL AND PROlT GENERATING LAW IT REMAINS DIFlCULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE THE BUSINESSES REAL OWNERS OF SOME MEDIA OUTLETS 4HIS APPLIES TO SOME OF THE LARGER AND MORE INmUENTIAL OUTLETS SUCH AS THE ONLY Q -EDIA RECEIVE REVENUE FROM A MULTITUDE OF SOURCES PRIVATE NATIONAL BROADCASTER .OVA 46 !N ONGOING CASE BEFORE THE #OMMERCIAL #OURT IN :AGREB SEEKS TO DETER Q !DVERTISING AGENCIES AND RELATED INDUSTRIES MINE WHO THE REAL OWNERS AND MANAGERS OF THE COMPANY SUPPORT AN ADVERTISING MARKET ARE %VEN WHEN THE FORMER #OUNCIL FOR 2ADIO AND 46 Q !DVERTISING REVENUE AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL AWARDED .OVA 46 ITS NATIONAL BROADCASTING LICENSE THERE REVENUE IS IN LINE WITH ACCEPTED STANDARDS AT WAS NO REPORTED OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE OF THE COMPANY COMMERCIAL OUTLETS 4HERE ARE NO SPECIlC REGULATIONS REGARDING THE Q )NDEPENDENT MEDIA DO NOT RECEIVE GOVERNMENT SHARE OF BROADCAST MEDIA OWNERSHIP IN #ROATIA !NTIMO SUBSIDIES NOPOLY RULES ARE BASED ON GENERAL COMPETITION LEGISLATION THAT IS VALID FOR ALL COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES 4HE !GENCY Q -ARKET RESEARCH IS USED TO FORMULATE STRATEGIC FOR THE 0ROTECTION OF -ARKET #OMPETITION IS THE OFlCIAL PLANS ENHANCE ADVERTISING REVENUE AND TAILOR PRODUCTS TO THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF STATE AUTHORITY REGULATING MARKET MONOPOLIES WHICH ALSO AUDIENCES INCLUDES MONITORING OF THE MEDIA SECTOR "OTH SOCIAL AND HUMAN INTEREST STORIES CONTINUE "53).%33 -!.!'%-%.4 ).$)#!4/23 Q "ROADCAST RATINGS AND CIRCULATION lGURES ARE TO INCREASE IN VOLUME ! WEEKLY PROGRAM ON PUBLIC TELE RELIABLY AND INDEPENDENTLY PRODUCED #2/!4)! h7E ORGANIZE WORKSHOPS A FAIRLY ESTABLISHED &ROM EVERYONE ) SPOKE TO ) GOT DIFFERENT lGURES v SAID PRACTICE PANELISTS A PANELIST !NOTHER ADDED h4HE 7ORLD !SSOCIATION OF BUT THERE IS LITTLE FOUND IT WORRI .EWSPAPERS LISTS AN ESTIMATED PRINTED COPIES FOR INTEREST ESPECIALLY SOME !CCORDING THE DAILY NEWSPAPERS IN #ROATIA !FTER DEDUCTING ABOUT TO THE NEW ,AW ON PERCENT OF THE RETURNS THE NUMBER OF SOLD COPIES AMONG OWNERS AND %LECTRONIC -EDIA WOULD BE !CCORDING TO THE STATISTICS EACH NEWS EDITORS TO SEND LOCAL RADIO AND PAPER IS READ BY ALMOST THREE PEOPLE SO THE TOTAL NUMBER TELEVISION STA OF THE READERS SHOULD BE AROUND MILLION 4HIS NUMBER PEOPLE v ONE PANEL TIONS ARE TO RECEIVE IS MORE THAN PERCENT OF THE #ROATIAN POPULATION 4HIS MEMBER SAID lNANCIAL SUPPORT MEANS THAT POLITICIANS ARE LYING WHEN THEY SAY THAT ONLY IN ORDER TO FULlLL PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IN #ROATIA READS NEWSPAPERSv h4HIS IS EXTREMELY THEIR PUBLIC SERVICE 4HE AUDIENCE DATA FOR BROADCAST MEDIA TEND TO BE AND TO MAINTAIN MORE TRANSPARENT AND RELIABLE ESPECIALLY AFTER THE INTRO SURPRISING )T LOOKS THEIR INDEPENDENCE DUCTION OF 0EOPLE -ETER TECHNOLOGY WHICH SHOWS EXACTLY LIKE THERE IS NO NEED FOR )N REGIONAL PRINT HOW MANY VIEWERS WATCH A CERTAIN PROGRAM %VEN SO MEDIA AND LARGER THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERNS ABOUT THE RELIABILITY AND LOCAL BETTER EDUCATED NATIONAL DAILIES BY LEVEL MARKET RESEARCH IS MUCH LESS DEVELOPED JOURNALISTS BECAUSE CONTRAST REVENUE IS OBTAINED FROM YOU CAN ALWAYS SELL A VARIED SOURCES /BJECTIVE 3UPPORTING )NSTITUTIONS LESSER QUALITY PRODUCTv WHICH RESULTS IN #ROATIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE MORE OBJECTIVE COVERAGE 4RADE AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS SUPPORT VARIOUS !DVERTISING AGENCIES AND RELATED lRMS THAT SUP INTERESTS WITHIN THE MEDIA SECTOR /NE EXAMPLE IS THE PORT THE ADVERTISING MARKET IN #ROATIA ARE RELATIVELY !SSOCIATION OF THE #OMMERCIAL "ROADCASTERS WHICH WELL DEVELOPED 4HE ,AW ON %LECTRONIC -EDIA LIMITS ACTIVELY LOBBIED FOR THE NEW ,AW ON %LECTRONIC -EDIA ADVERTISING TIME FOR THE COMMERCIAL TELEVISION STATIONS 4HIS LAW ALLOCATES PERCENT OF THE TAX ON TELEVISION AND TO MINUTES PER HOUR !DVERTISING INCOME DOES NOT MAKE UP MORE THAN HALF OF AN OUTLETS OVERALL INCOME IN THE PRINT SECTOR (OWEVER MANY PUBLICATIONS ARE EXPE 3UPPORTING INSTITUTIONS FUNCTION IN THE RIENCING GROWING AD REVENUES )N THE BROADCAST MEDIA PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA COMMERCIAL OUTLETS DERIVE ALL OF THEIR INCOME FROM ADS Q 4RADE ASSOCIATIONS REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF WHILE (24 EARNS PERCENT FROM ADS AND THE REST FROM PRIVATE MEDIA OWNERS AND PROVIDE MEMBER THE MANDATORY SUBSCRIPTION FEE 4HE TOTAL VOLUME OF THE SERVICES ADVERTISING MARKET FOR PRINT AND BROADCAST IS ESTIMATED Q 0ROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS WORK TO PROTECT AT MILLION FOR 4HIS NUMBER REPRESENTS JOURNALISTS RIGHTS PERCENT GROWTH FROM 7HILE NOT ENOUGH MARKET RESEARCH IS USED BY Q .'/S SUPPORT FREE SPEECH AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN #ROATIA IT IS STARTING TO BE TAKEN MORE SERIOUSLY MEDIA -ARKET RESEARCH ON THE LOCAL LEVEL IS MUCH LESS DEVELOPED Q 1UALITY JOURNALISM DEGREE PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE %0( USES A VARIETY OF RESEARCH TOOLS AND AGENCIES INCLUD SUBSTANTIAL PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE EXIST ING 0ULS AND -EDIA -ETER 2ECENTLY (46 HAS BEEN USING Q 3HORT TERM TRAINING AND IN SERVICE TRAINING 0EOPLE -ETER TECHNOLOGY IN AUDIENCE SURVEYS WHICH HAS PROGRAMS ALLOW JOURNALISTS TO UPGRADE SKILLS OR SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED THE ACCURACY OF THE DATA ACQUIRE NEW SKILLS )T IS VERY DIFlCULT TO OBTAIN THE EXACT CIRCULATION NUMBERS FROM THE PUBLISHERS AS THE #*! HAS DISCOVERED Q 3OURCES OF NEWSPRINT AND PRINTING FACILITIES ARE PRIVATE APOLITICAL AND UNRESTRICTED ,ACK OF CIRCULATION DATA IS ONE OF THE MAIN OBSTACLES FOR #ROATIAN PUBLISHERS TO JOIN INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ORGANI Q #HANNELS OF MEDIA DISTRIBUTION KIOSKS TRANS ZATIONS h)N THE THREE AND A HALF YEARS THAT )VE WORKED MITTERS )NTERNET ARE PRIVATE APOLITICAL AND 3500/24).' ).34)454)/.3 ).$)#!4/23 IN #ROATIA ) COULD NEVER GET RELIABLE CIRCULATION lGURES UNRESTRICTED -%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI RADIO SETS TO LOCAL BROADCASTERS WHICH SHOULD INCREASE 4HERE ARE SHORT TERM TRAINING INSTITUTIONS AND THE QUALITY OF LOCAL PRODUCTIONS AND PREVENT REGIONAL PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW WORKING JOURNALISTS TO ENHANCE THEIR GOVERNMENTS FROM CONTROLLING MEDIA IN THEIR AREAS SKILLS h7E ORGANIZE WORKSHOPS BUT THERE IS LITTLE INTEREST "OTH THE #*! AND THE *OURNALISTS 4RADE 5NION ESPECIALLY AMONG OWNERS AND EDITORS TO SEND PEOPLE v *45 WORK TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS RIGHTS 7HILE THE #*! ONE PANEL MEMBER SAID h4HIS IS EXTREMELY SURPRISING )T CONCENTRATES ON THE ,AW ON !CCESS TO )NFORMATION THE LOOKS LIKE THERE IS NO NEED FOR BETTER EDUCATED JOURNAL *45 FOCUSES ON EMPLOYMENT AND THE NATIONAL COLLECTIVE ISTS BECAUSE YOU CAN ALWAYS SELL A LESSER QUALITY PRODUCTv LABOR CONTRACT "OTH GROUPS ARE RELATIVELY EFlCIENT AND 3OME PANELISTS NOTED THE NEED FOR MORE TRAINING FOR MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONS WITH COUNTERPART ORGANIZATIONS MANAGERS SUGGESTING THAT THEIR RELUCTANCE TO SEND STAFF IN THE %5 AND OTHER TRANSITIONAL COUNTRIES IN #ENTRAL TO WORKSHOPS SIGNALED CONCERN THAT THEY WOULD BE FOUND %UROPE #*! HAS A NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL CENTER IN /PATIJA TO BE LESS KNOWLEDGEABLE THAN THEIR EMPLOYEES WHICH REGULARLY ORGANIZES MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS /NE OF THE PANEL MEMBERS STATED THAT #ROATIA HAS THE BEST LEGAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN TERMS OF MEDIA LAW IN %ASTERN 0ANEL 0ARTICIPANTS %UROPE #URRENTLY THE COLLECTIVE LABOR AGREEMENT APPLIES !LESSANDRO &RACASSETTI /3#% #ROATIA ONLY TO BIG PUBLISHING GROUPS LIKE %0( AND 6ECERNJI ,IST (OWEVER ORGANIZATIONS ARE NOW WORKING WITH TRADE !NTE 'AVRANOVIC PRESIDENT !SSOCIATION OF 0UBLISHERS UNIONS ON A NATIONAL LABOR AGREEMENT THAT APPLIES TO ALL INDEPENDENT MEDIA %MIL (AVKIC LAWYER MEDIA LAW SPECIALIST 4HE #*! TOOK PART IN DRAFTING SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MEDIA LAWS INCLUDING THE ,AW ON -EDIA $ENIS +ULJIS JOURNALIST THE ,AW ON 2ADIO AND 0UBLIC 4ELEVISION THE ,AW ON %LECTRONIC -EDIA AND THE ,AW ON !CCESS TO )NFORMA $RAGUTIN ,UCIC PRESIDENT #ROATIAN *OURNALISTS TION 0ANELISTS MENTIONED THE PROTECTION THAT #*! IS !SSOCIATION PROVIDING FOR JOURNALISTS AS ONE OF ITS MOST IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENTS #*! ALSO HAS ESTABLISHED A PENSION FUND 4ENA 0ERISIN EDITOR (46 PROFESSOR &ACULTY OF FOR MEDIA WORKERS *OURNALISM 5NIVERSITY OF :AGREB 4HERE ARE NUMEROUS MEDIA SUPPORT .'/S WORKING TO ENSURE THAT FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS GUARANTEED 4HE #ROA !NJA 0ICELJ 53 %MBASSY TIAN (ELSINKI #OMMITTEE HAS A SPECIAL BODY FOR MEDIA MONITORING INCLUDING TRACKING INCIDENTS OF HATE SPEECH /MER 2AK MEDIA SPECIALIST #ROATIAN (ELSINKI AND NONPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR BY THE MEDIA IN GENERAL #OMMITTEE 4HE QUALITY OF JOURNALISM DEGREE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE IN #ROATIA VARIES 3OME PANELISTS BELIEVED THAT -ODERATOR THE NUMBER OF QUALITY PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM PROGRAMS 4ENA 0ERISIN PROFESSOR &ACULTY OF *OURNALISM 5NIVER IS INSUFlCIENT /THERS POINTED TO IMPROVEMENTS DURING SITY OF :AGREB THE PAST TWO YEARS IN THE *OURNALISM 3TUDIES PROGRAM AT THE $EPARTMENT OF 0OLITICAL 3CIENCE AT :AGREB 5NIVERSITY 3INCE FOR EXAMPLE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SPE CIALIZE IN PRINT RADIO OR TELEVISION JOURNALISM A RADIO STATION AND TELEVISION STUDIO AT THE JOURNALISM DEPART MENT GIVE STUDENTS PRACTICAL TRAINING .ONETHELESS ONE PANELIST WAS VERY CRITICAL OF THIS PROGRAM ESPECIALLY THE THEORETICAL INSTRUCTION WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS hUNCLEARv AND hUSELESSv
#2/!4)! h+OSOVO MEDIA OUTLETS HAVE NOT YET INCORPORATED MODERN MARKET RESEARCH AND PROMOTIONAL METHODOLOGIES TO HELP STEER THEIR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES BUT THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY TO ADOPTING THEM v A PANELIST SAID +OSOVO +/3/6/ A ER AND RGED OM URE N E THE ENTUAL AND NS FOUR E THE +OSOVO VISION REGION E .ORTH SIGNIl PECIlC OF FORMER MEDIA ES PROTEC ADMINIS Y NEWSPAPERS SEVERAL MAGAZINES
+OSOVO A REGION WITH APPROXIMATELY MILLION INHABITANTS )NTRODUCTION HE 5NITED .ATIONS )NTERIM !DMINISTRATION -ISSION IN +OSOVO 5.-)+ WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE 5. 3ECURITY #OUNCIL 2ESOLUTION OF *UNE ENDING A DECADE OF OPPRESSION UNDER THE RULE 9UGOSLAV PRESIDENT 3LOBODAN -ILOSEVIC AND A YEAR OF CONmICT IN 5.-)+ IS HEADED BY A 3PECIAL 2EPRESENTATIVE OF THE 3ECRETARY 'E ERAL OF THE 5. THE 323' WHO IS ENDOWED WITH A MANDATE TO ENS hSUBSTANTIAL AUTONOMYv /THER CURRENT GOVERNING INSTITUTIONS AR +OSOVO 0ROVISIONAL )NSTITUTIONS OF 'OVERNMENT 0)3' WHICH EME AS A RESULT OF ELECTIONS IN .OVEMBER 7HILE THE 0)3' HAVE CANT GOVERNING RESPONSIBILITIES THE 323' RETAINS A NUMBER OF S RESERVED POWERS ON VITAL ISSUES SUCH AS EXTERNAL RELATIONS THE TRATION OF PUBLIC STATE AND SOCIALLY OWNED PROPERTYENTERPRIS TION OF THE RIGHTS OF COMMUNITIES AND SECURITY 4HE STRONGEST OUTLET IN +OSOVO THE SINGLE PUBLIC BROADCASTER 24+ 2ADIO 4ELE +OSOVO IS ALSO A RESERVED POWER OF THE 323' HOSTS ONE OF THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS OF MEDIA OUTLETS IN THE 4HE MEDIA MAP INCLUDES lVE DAIL
BROADCASTERS INCLUDING THREE +OSOVO WIDE TELEVISION STATIO +OSOVO WIDE RADIO STATIONS MORE WITH RELATIVELY BROAD REACH OTHER BROADCASTERS WITH LOCAL AUDIENCES &OUR YEARS AFTER TH !TLANTIC 4REATY /RGANIZATION .!4/ BOMBING AND THE RETREAT OF 3ERBIAN FORCES THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO OVERSE REGULATION OF MEDIA !UTHORITY RESTS WITH THE 4EMPORARY -EDIA # MISSIONER 4-# RUN BY THE 5NITED .ATIONS 5. AND THE /RGANIZ TION FOR 3ECURITY AND #OOPERATION IN %UROPE /3#% UNTIL ITS EV SUCCESSOR AN INDIGENOUS )NDEPENDENT -EDIA #OMMISSION TAKES OV MEDIA REGULATION FOR THE LONG TERM 4 /BJECTIVE 3CORING )NDICATOR 3CORING 4HE AVERAGES OF ALL THE INDICATORS ARE AVERAGED TO OBTAIN A SINGLE %ACH INDICATOR IS SCORED USING THE FOLLOWING SYSTEM OVERALL SCORE FOR EACH OBJECTIVE /BJECTIVE SCORES ARE AVERAGED TO PROVIDE #OUNTRY DOES NOT MEET INDICATOR GOVERNMENT OR SOCIAL FORCES MAY ACTIVELY AN OVERALL SCORE FOR THE COUNTRY )2%8 INTERPRETS THE OVERALL SCORES AS FOLLOWS OPPOSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND ABOVE 3USTAINABLE AND FREE INDEPENDENT MEDIA #OUNTRY MINIMALLY MEETS ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR FORCES MAY NOT AC T IVELY OPPOSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION BUT BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT MAY NOT SUPPORT IT n )NDEPENDENT MEDIA APPROACHING SUSTAINABILITY AND GOVERNMENT OR PROFESSION DO NOT FULLY AND ACTIVELY SUPPORT CHANGE n 3IGNIlCANT PROGRESS REMAINS TO BE MADE #OUNTRY HAS BEGUN TO MEET MANY ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR BUT PROGRESS MAY SOCIETY OR GOVERNMENT IS NOT FULLY SUPPORTIVE BE TOO RECENT TO JUDGE OR STILL DEPENDENT ON CURRENT GOVERNMENT OR POLITICAL FORCES n #OUNTRY MEETS FEW INDICATORS GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY ACTIVELY OPPOSE CHANGE #OUNTRY MEETS MOST ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INDICA TOR HAS OCCURRED OVER SEVERAL YEARS ANDOR THROUGH CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT INDICATING LIKELY SUSTAINABILITY #OUNTRY MEETS THE ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR IMPLEMENTATION HAS REM AI NE D INTACT OVER MULTIPLE CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC mUCTUATIONS CHANGES IN PUBLIC OPINION ANDOR CHANGING SOCIAL CONVENTIONS
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI /BJECTIVE &REE 3PEECH WHICH IS STILL MOSTLY LACKING IN +OSOVO *OURNALISTS WHO COVER MUNICIPALITIES AND WHO LIVE OUTSIDE URBAN AREAS +OSOVO /BJECTIVE 3CORE ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE )N TOO MANY CASES JOURNALISTS HAVE TURNED INTO hPROTOCOLv REPORTERS SIMPLY RELAYING 4HE LATEST INDICATORS REGARDING FREE SPEECH IN +OSOVO OFlCIAL ACTIONS IN WHAT -3) PANELISTS DElNED AS A FORM REVEAL SIGNIlCANTLY INCREASED OPTIMISM IN COMPARISON OF SELF CENSORSHIP 4HE PANELISTS CONCLUDED THAT DESPITE WITH PREVIOUS YEARS 4HE -EDIA 3USTAINABILITY )NDEX LEGAL GUARANTEES THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND LEAVES MUCH -3) PANEL AGREED THAT +OSOVO HAS BEGUN TO MEET MANY TO BE IMPROVED OF THE LEGAL AND SOCIAL NORMS THAT PROTECT AND PROMOTE 7HILE VIOLENT ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS RARELY OCCUR FREE SPEECH INCLUDING ACCESS TO INFORMATION PUBLIC OUTRAGE AGAINST SUCH INCIDENTS REMAINS ALARMINGLY (OWEVER ALTHOUGH THE +OSOVO #ONSTITUTIONAL LOW /BVIOUS PROGRESS HAS BEEN NOTED CONCERNING SERIOUS &RAMEWORK GUARANTEES FREEDOM OF SPEECH INTIMIDA CRIMES IN A YEAR IN WHICH NO JOURNALISTS WERE KILLED TION AND PRESSURE DO OCCUR *OURNALISTS OFTEN RECEIVE IN +OSOVO (OWEVER THE DEATHS OF JOURNALISTS KILLED IN VERBAL THREATS THOUGH FORTUNATELY THESE RARELY RESULT THE IMMEDIATE POSTCONmICT PERIOD REMAIN UNSOLVED IN ACTION 4HERE WERE CASES DURING IN WHICH BOTH WITH NO FOLLOWUP ON WHETHER THESE DEATHS WERE RELATED TO INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE SECURITY MEDIA COVERAGE OR OTHER MOTIVES FORCES VIOLATED THE RIGHTS OF +OSOVARS TO THE FREE mOW OF )N THE 3PECIAL 2EPRESENTATIVE SIGNED THE INFORMATION 4HE LACK OF SAFETY AND SOCIAL PROTECTION HAS !SSEMBLY OF +OSOVOS LAW ON ACCESS TO OFlCIAL DOCU HAD A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE OVERALL QUALITY OF JOURNAL MENTS 3EVERAL AREAS REMAIN OFF LIMITS TO THE PUBLIC ISM PARTICULARLY IN THE lELD OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM HOWEVER MATTERS RELATED TO THE 3PECIAL 2EPRESENTATIVES AREAS OF JURISDICTION INFORMATION RELATED TO THE GOV ,EGAL AND SOCIAL NORMS PROTECT AND PROMOTE ERNMENTS VITAL INTERESTS INCLUDING SECURITY DEFENSE THE MILITARY AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND DATA ON THE FREE SPEECH AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION PERCENT INCOME TAX PAID INTO THE +OSOVO BUDGET Q ,EGALSOCIAL PROTECTIONS OF FREE SPEECH EXIST THAT THE 5.-)+ ADMINISTRATION CONTROLS )N ADDITION AND ARE ENFORCED JOURNALISTS WHO FALL OUT OF FAVOR WITH GOVERNMENT MIN ISTRIES OR EVEN INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITIES OFTEN ENCOUNTER Q ,ICENSING OF BROADCAST MEDIA IS FAIR COMPETITIVE AND APOLITICAL BARRIERS TO THEIR NEWS GATHERING )N MANY CASES ACCESS TO INFORMATION DEPENDS ON THE QUALITY OF THE CONNEC Q -ARKET ENTRY AND TAX STRUCTURE FOR MEDIA ARE FAIR TIONS A JOURNALIST CULTIVATES WITHIN SUCH INSTITUTIONS AND COMPARABLE TO OTHER INDUSTRIES QUITE OFTEN WITH SOURCES WHOSE DEMANDS FOR ANONYMITY Q #RIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS OR MEDIA OUTLETS ARE DAMAGE THE CREDIBILITY OF THE REPORTING PROSECUTED VIGOROUSLY BUT OCCURRENCES OF SUCH 4HE -3) PANELISTS STRESSED HOWEVER THAT BOTH CRIMES ARE RARE 5.-)+ AND THE 0)3' HAVE ESTABLISHED A PROMISING LEGAL Q 3TATE OR PUBLIC MEDIA DO NOT RECEIVE PREFERENTIAL FRAMEWORK 3EVERAL PANELISTS EMPHASIZED THAT THE LAWS LEGAL TREATMENT AND LAW GUARANTEES EDITORIAL AND REGULATIONS TECHNICALLY MEET THE NORMS OF %UROPEAN INDEPENDENCE STANDARDS WHILE OTHERS SUGGEST THAT TWO 5.-)+ REGULA TIONS AND GOVERNING THE CONDUCT OF Q ,IBEL IS A CIVIL LAW ISSUE PUBLIC OFlCIALS ARE HELD TO HIGHER STANDARDS AND THE OFFENDED PARTY PRINT MEDIA RESTRICT PRINT MEDIA ! NUMBER OF LAWS MUST PROVE FALSITY AND MALICE STILL MUST BE PASSED TO ENSURE SUSTAINABLE MEDIA DEVELOP MENT &OR EXAMPLE COPYRIGHT GUIDELINES WERE INTRODUCED 0UBLIC INFORMATION IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE RIGHT OF Q RECENTLY IN RESPONSE TO THE COMPLAINTS OF COMPOSERS AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION IS EQUALLY ENFORCED FOR ALL &2%% 30%%#( ).$)#!4/23 MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS WRITERS THAT THE MEDIA HAD BEEN USING THEIR MATERIAL WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION OR COMPENSATION Q -EDIA OUTLETS HAVE UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO INFOR -EDIA REGULATION REMAINS THE DOMAIN OF THE MATION THIS IS EQUALLY ENFORCED FOR ALL MEDIA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY 4WO YEARS AFTER THE START OF AND JOURNALISTS EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH A DOMESTIC BODY FORMATION OF THE Q %NTRY INTO THE JOURNALISM PROFESSION IS FREE AND )NDEPENDENT -EDIA #OMMISSION )-# CONTINUES TO BE GOVERNMENT IMPOSES NO LICENSING RESTRICTIONS DELAYED 4HIS CAN BE LARGELY ATTRIBUTED TO MAJOR DISAGREE OR SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR JOURNALISTS MENTS BETWEEN COMMERCIAL AND PUBLIC TELEVISION AS WELL +/3/6/ AS INTERNATIONAL DONORS ON WHETHER THE PUBLIC BROAD PORT !CCORDING TO THE MEDIA COMMISSIONER HOWEVER THE CASTER WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO SELL ADVERTISING /PPONENTS INmUENCE OF DONORS IS OVERESTIMATED /NLY PERCENT OF MAINTAIN THIS WOULD PUT COMMERCIAL BROADCASTERS AT A MEDIA OUTLETS RECEIVE SUCH SUPPORT AND FUNDING CONTINUES DISADVANTAGE TO DECLINE -OST PANELISTS HOWEVER EMPHASIZED THAT THE 4HE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE CRUCIAL +OSOVO WIDE BROADCASTERS 24+ +46 AND 46 FOR MEDIA LICENSING 4HESE PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN DEEMED RECEIVE THIS PERCENT MAKING IT A MORE IMPORTANT FACTOR FAIR OVERALL AND THE CRITERIA SOLID THOUGH BOTH THE IN CONSIDERING DONORS INmUENCE OVER EDITORIAL POLICIES PROCESS AND SELECTION HAVE BEEN DEEMED LESS TRANSPAR -AJOR PRINT MEDIA OUTLETS ARE IN A BETTER SITUATION ENT THAN WOULD BE IDEAL 3EVERAL PANELISTS POINTED OUT AS THEY ARE BECOMING MORE ECONOMICALLY SUSTAINABLE THAT A MONOPOLY EXISTS IN LICENSING AS THE INTERNATIONAL %VEN SO PRINT OUTLETS CANNOT ALWAYS RESIST THE INmUENCE BODIES AWARDED INITIAL BROADCAST LICENSES BEHIND CLOSED OF VARIOUS INTEREST GROUPS DOORS AND WITHOUT ESTABLISHING A FAIR BIDDING PROCESS )N 4HE PANEL AGREED THAT MEDIA OUTLETS HAVE UNRE ADDITION OWNERS OF LOCAL RADIO STATIONS BELIEVE THAT THE STRICTED ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL NEWS AND NEWS SOURCES LICENSING PROCEDURES ARE UNCOMPETITIVE DUE TO THE SMALL ALTHOUGH BROADCASTERS TEND NOT TO MAKE USE OF THIS MATE NUMBER OF NATIONAL FREQUENCIES ALLOCATED TO +OSOVO RIAL CHOOSING INSTEAD TO RELY ON PRESS RELEASES AND NEWS 7ITH THEIR NATIONAL COVERAGE MAKING THESE OUTLETS THE CONFERENCES TO SET THE COVERAGE AGENDA 4HERE ARE NO PREFERRED VEHICLES FOR ADVERTISING SMALL PRIVATE RADIO STA RESTRICTIONS ON ENTERING THE PROFESSION OF JOURNALISM TIONS SAY THEY ARE IN A DISADVANTAGEOUS POSITION 3O FAR NO RENEWAL OF CURRENT LICENSES IS SEEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE +OSOVO MEDIA OUTLETS OPERATE UNDER THE SAME CONDI /BJECTIVE 0ROFESSIONAL *OURNALISM TIONS FOR MARKET ENTRY AS OTHER INDUSTRIES 4HE 4EMPORARY +OSOVO /BJECTIVE 3CORE -EDIA #OMMISSIONER EMPHASIZES THAT THERE ARE NEITHER SPE CIAL EXEMPTIONS NOR RESTRICTIONS FOR MEDIA .O HEAVIER TAX +OSOVARS VIEW LOCAL MEDIA WITH STRIKINGLY DIFFERENT BURDEN FOR MEDIA HAS BEEN APPLIED ALTHOUGH MEDIA OWNERS DEGREES OF TRUST AND SATISFACTION A SITUATION THAT IS COM BELIEVE THAT THE VALUE ADDED TAX 6!4 IS UNUSUALLY HIGH FOR POUNDED BY MEDIAS VARYING SENSE OF THEIR OWN RESPON NEWSPAPERS 3OME MEDIA PROFESSIONALS FEEL THAT A LOWER TAX SIBILITIES TO THE PUBLIC 3URPRISINGLY A RECENT SURVEY RATE SHOULD APPLY FOR MEDIA TO COMPENSATE FOR PROlTS LOST TO POWER OUTAGES AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS 4HE NEW CRIMINAL CODE DElNES LIBEL AND DEFAMA *OURNALISM MEETS PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF TION AS CRIMINAL OFFENSES !CCORDING TO THE PANELISTS QUALITY DEFAMATION SHOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE CIVIL LAW AS IT IS WITH MOST 7ESTERN %UROPEAN COUNTRIES #URRENTLY Q 2EPORTING IS FAIR OBJECTIVE AND WELL SOURCED HOWEVER LIBEL IS STILL PUNISHABLE BY PRISON SENTENCES Q *OURNALISTS FOLLOW RECOGNIZED AND ACCEPTED /PINIONS WERE DIVIDED REGARDING THE EDITORIAL ETHICAL STANDARDS INDEPENDENCE OF MEDIA OUTLETS !CCORDING TO ONE PANELIST Q *OURNALISTS AND EDITORS DO NOT PRACTICE PUBLIC MEDIA HAVE NOT YET ESTABLISHED THE CHECKS AND BAL SELF CENSORSHIP ANCES NECESSARY FOR PRESERVING THEIR INDEPENDENCE FROM POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INmUENCES !CCORDING TO THE MEDIA Q *OURNALISTS COVER KEY EVENTS AND ISSUES COMMISSIONER HOWEVER 24+ +OSOVOS ONLY PUBLIC TELEVI Q 0AY LEVELS FOR JOURNALISTS AND OTHER MEDIA SION STATION IS GENERALLY INSULATED BY THE INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONALS ARE SUFlCIENTLY HIGH TO DISCOURAGE COMMUNITY FROM PARTISAN POLITICAL INmUENCE 4HE -3) CORRUPTION PANEL STRESSED THAT +OSOVO SOCIETY IS EXCLUDED FROM THE Q %NTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING DOES NOT ECLIPSE DECISION MAKING PROCESS REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT OF NEWS AND INFORMATION PROGRAMMING THE 24+ BOARD OF DIRECTORSTWICE IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS THE /3#% AND THE 5. UNILATERALLY RENEWED CONTRACTS OF Q 4ECHNICAL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT FOR GATHERING SOME MEMBERSAND THE BROADCASTERS INDEPENDENCE WILL PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING NEWS ARE MODERN AND EFlCIENT REMAIN UNCLEAR UNTIL THIS IS REMEDIED !LTHOUGH INTERNA TIONAL ASSISTANCE IS DECREASING SOME PANELISTS DOUBTED THE Q 1UALITY NICHE REPORTING AND PROGRAMMING FULL INDEPENDENCE OF +OSOVO MEDIA OUTLETS BECAUSE MOST EXISTS INVESTIGATIVE ECONOMICSBUSINESS LOCAL CONTINUE TO RELY HEAVILY ON THE REMAINING DONOR SUP 02/&%33)/.!, */52.!,)3- ).$)#!4/23 POLITICAL -%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI CONDUCTED BY A PRIVATE MARKETING RESEARCH COMPANY 3HE RECENTLY WAS h%LECTRONIC MEDIA ).$%8 +OSOVA REVEALED THAT A SIGNIlCANT PERCENTAGE DESIGNATED PERSONA OF RESPONDENTS PLACED GREATER TRUST IN THE MEDIA THAN NON GRATA IN ONE CONTINUE TO RUN IN SOME OF +OSOVOS GOVERNING INSTITUTIONS INCLUD GOVERNMENT MINIS PRIMARILY POLITICAL ING 5.-)+ AND THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT 4HE -3) TRY AND SEVERAL YEARS PANEL HOWEVER CAST THE SITUATION QUITE DIFFERENTLY 7HILE AGO WAS ACCUSED BY TOPICS FROM THE QUALITY REPORTING EXISTS IN +OSOVO BIASED AND UNPROFES 5.-)+ OF FABRICAT OFlCIAL GOVERNMENT SIONAL JOURNALISM DOES AS WELL ING A STORY ABOUT 0ANELISTS AGREED THAT THE PROCESS OF CREATING AN ILLEGAL PIPELINES ON POINT OF VIEW v INDEPENDENT OBJECTIVE AND PROFESSIONAL MEDIA IS A WORK THE BORDER BETWEEN SAID ONE PANELIST IN PROGRESS WITH SOME IMPROVEMENT IN THE TIMELINESS +OSOVO AND -ON AND ACCURACY OF REPORTING DURING (OWEVER THE TENEGRO ONLY TO QUALITY OF CONTENT IN BOTH ELECTRONIC AND PRINT OUTLETS HAVE THE STORY PROVEN TRUE A NUMBER OF MONTHS LATER STILL SUFFERS DUE TO UNETHICAL CONDUCT AND A LACK OF PRO /THER MEDIA OUTLETS HOWEVER OFTEN DISCOURAGE JOURNAL FESSIONALISM ON THE PART OF JOURNALISTS -ANY REPORTERS ISTS FROM TACKLING ISSUES IN DEPTH AND INTERNATIONAL AND REMAIN SUBJECTIVE BIASED AND POLITICIZED )N MANY CASES NATIONAL AUTHORITIES IN +OSOVO ALSO DO NOT SUPPORT THOR THE SELF CENSORSHIP PRACTICED BY BOTH JOURNALISTS AND EDI OUGH AIRING OF ISSUES BY REFUSING FOR EXAMPLE TO PRO TORS HAS BECOME MORE A HABIT THAN A NECESSITY 0ANELISTS VIDE DATA ON CORRUPTION CASES /N THAT ISSUE DESPITE THE ALSO MENTIONED THAT LARGE AD PURCHASES CAN LEAD TO FAVOR AUTHORITIES CLAIMS TO BE BATTLING CORRUPTION THE MEDIA ABLE PRINT MEDIA COVERAGE OF COMPANIES ARE MOST OFTEN THE lRST TO REVEAL SPECIlC CASES ONLY TO h%LECTRONIC MEDIA CONTINUE TO RUN PRIMAR HEAR OFlCIAL DENIALS IN RESPONSE ILY POLITICAL TOPICS FROM THE OFlCIAL GOVERNMENT POINT -ANY JOURNALISTS lND THEIR WORK CONTROLLED BY OF VIEW v SAID ONE PANELIST 4HE PERCEPTION EXISTS THAT POLITICAL AND BUSINESS INTERESTS !CCORDING TO THE PANEL SOME GENERALLY BORING ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMS QUALIFY THREE OF +OSOVOS lVE NEWSPAPERS EXHIBIT BIAS OR CARELESS AS NEWS BULLETINS ,OCAL BROADCAST NEWS ALSO IS POORLY NESS 0ANELISTS EMPHASIZED THAT FEW JOURNALISTS PRODUCE BALANCED )N GENERAL THE PANEL SUGGESTED THAT REPORTING OBJECTIVE MATERIALS FAILING TO CHECK FACTS OR INCLUDE LACKS ORIGINALITY AND A CRITICAL APPROACH TOWARD ISSUES MULTIPLE SOURCES $URING THE MEDIA COMMISSIONER IN PARTICULAR FAILING TO SELECT TOP STORIES WELL OR HANDLE RECEIVED COMPLAINTS PERCENT OF WHICH CONCERNED BREAKING NEWS -ANY FOCUS ON ROUTINE POLITICAL EVENTS PRINT MEDIA AND OVERWHELMINGLY ADDRESSED THE RIGHT OF NO MATTER WHAT OTHER PRESSING SUBJECTS MORE DRAMATI REPLY -ANY OF THE COMPLAINTS CAME FROM ORDINARY CITI CALLY AFFECT THEIR AUDIENCES &OR EXAMPLE COVERAGE OF ZENS WHO SOUGHT TO PROTECT THEIR INTEGRITY FROM WHAT THEY THE HIGH RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT MORE THAN PERCENT SAW AS CARELESS JOURNALISM AND IMPROPER SOURCING IN +OSOVO WILL RARELY BE THE MATERIAL FOR A HEADLINE THE !LTHOUGH THE AVERAGE JOURNALISTS INCOME IS ABOUT FREQUENT 5.-)+ OR GOVERNMENT NEWS CONFERENCES ARE DOUBLE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE THE PANELISTS AGREED THAT REGULARLY GIVEN PROMINENT POSITIONING !CCORDING TO A IT IS NOT SUFlCIENT TO INCREASE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS PANEL MEMBER h)N MOST CASES JOURNALISTS ARE LOYAL TO AND DISCOURAGE CORRUPTION .OT ONLY DO PAY LEVELS LAG POLITICIANS AND POLITICAL PARTIES AND FORGO PROFESSIONAL BEHIND THOSE FOR MEDIA PROFESSIONALS IN OTHER PARTS OF REPORTING IN ORDER TO SERVE AS A POLITICIANS MOUTHPIECEv THE WORLD BUT THERE IS ALSO A STRIKING DISPARITY IN THE 7HILE SPECIALTY REPORTING GENERALLY REMAINS SALARY LEVELS OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC MEDIA !T PRIVATE EMBRYONIC +OSOVOS MAJOR NEWSPAPERS HAVE BEGUN MEDIA OUTLETS SALARIES ARE LOWER AND SOMETIMES NOT PAID TO DEVELOP BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC BEATS AND DO SOME FOR SEVERAL MONTHS (OWEVER PANELISTS NOTED THAT COR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AS WELL 4HE LACK OF STRONG LAW RUPTION IS MORE OF AN ISSUE AMONG MEDIA OWNERS THAN ENFORCEMENT AND AN INEFlCIENT JUDICIARY SYSTEM DISCOUR INDIVIDUAL JOURNALISTS AGE INVESTIGATIONS PARTICULARLY WHEN NEITHER JOURNALISTS &ACILITIES AT MAJOR MEDIA AND MANY SMALLER LOCAL NOR THEIR SOURCES lND PROTECTION !ND SOME OUTLETS lND OUTLETS ARE LIMITED BUT ADEQUATE 4HERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE COST OF SUCH REPORTING TOO HIGH /NE OF +OSOVOS OUTDATED TECHNICAL FACILITIES WITH LITTLE INVESTMENT IN FEW INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS &ATMIRE 4ÔRDEVCI HAS THE NEWER TECHNOLOGY IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE MODERN STANDARDS SUPPORT OF HER NEWSPAPER THE DAILY +OHA $ITORE WHEN OF NEWS GATHERING AND DISTRIBUTION 7ITH MANY JOURNAL SHE FACES PRESSURE AFTER SOME OF HER STORIES ARE PUBLISHED ISTS STILL LACKING NECESSARY SKILLS THE PANEL CITED QUALITY
+/3/6/ JOURNALISM TRAINING AS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN DEVELOPING 7ITH lVE DAILIES AND A VARIETY OF WEEKLIES THERE PROFESSIONALISM AND RECOMMENDED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF IS SOME DIVERSITY AMONG THE +OSOVO WIDE NEWSPAPERS AN ACADEMIC JOURNALISM PROGRAM 4WO NEWSPAPERS ARE CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH POLITICAL PAR TIES WHILE TWO OTHERS ARE CLEARLY INDEPENDENT 2EmECTING THE POOR ECONOMYTHE 'ROSS $OMESTIC 0RODUCT PER /BJECTIVE 0LURALITY OF .EWS 3OURCES CAPITA IS BELOW ;CIRCULATION IS LOW BUT READERSHIP +OSOVO /BJECTIVE 3CORE IS HIGHER 4HE ESTIMATES FOR DAILY CIRCULATION VARY DUE TO LACK OF TRANSPARENCY BY MEDIA OWNERS IN PRESENTING THESE 4HE NUMBER OF MEDIA OUTLETS IN +OSOVO HAS GROWN SIG NUMBERS /NE PANELIST DECLARED THAT DESPITE REMARKABLE NIlCANTLY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS .OT ALL MEDIA OUTLETS JOINT EFFORTS TO REBUILD THE MEDIA AND ATTRACT READERS IN ARE SELF SUSTAINABLE AND MANY RELY ON DONOR SUPPORT POSTCONmICT +OSOVO OVERALL SALES OF ALL lVE NEWSPA ALTHOUGH THE PANEL CONCLUDED THAT MOST HAVE A GOOD PERS HAVE NOT REACHED THE hPEAK LEVELv OF A SINGLE DAILY CHANCE TO SURVIVE IN THE LONG TERM 7HILE +OSOVO WIDE !LBANIAN LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN THE REGION MEDIA OUTLETS HAVE RECEIVED MUCH ASSISTANCE REGIONAL YEARS AGO )LLITERACY AND LOW SCHOOL ENROLLMENT ALSO MEDIA OUTLETS ESPECIALLY A NUMBER OF REGIONAL TELEVISION ACCOUNT FOR REDUCED SALES AND READERSHIP STATIONS WITH SIZEABLE AUDIENCES HAVE BENElTED LITTLE 0ANELISTS SUGGESTED THAT +OSOVARS TRADITIONALLY ARE FROM AN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THAT IS SEEN AS UNDER INCLINED TO WATCH TELEVISION AND LISTEN TO THE RADIO GIVING ESTIMATING THEM h-EDIA IN +OSOVO ARE AT A VERY EARLY BROADCAST MEDIA AN ADVANTAGE COMPARED WITH PRINT 4HE STAGE OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT AS THE WATCHDOGS OF THE PUBLIC PANEL BELIEVED THAT BROADCAST PLURALITY IS HIGH WITH GOOD BUT MOST ARE LEARNING QUICKLY HOW THEY CAN AND BROADCASTERS INCLUDING THREE +OSOVO WIDE TELEVISION SHOULD OPERATE v ONE PANELIST SAID &OR SOME OUTLETS IT STATIONS AND FOUR +OSOVO WIDE RADIO STATIONS (OWEVER HAS BEEN MORE IMPORTANT TO KEEP AmOAT THAN TO PROVIDE PERCENT OF +OSOVARS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO NATIONAL OBJECTIVE ACCURATE INFORMATION +OSOVO WIDE TELEVISION STATIONS BECAUSE THE TERRESTRIAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM HAS NOT YET FULLY DEVELOPED IN CER TAIN AREAS 24+ IS STILL THE MOST WATCHED TELEVISION STA TION FOLLOWED BY 46 AND +46 !MONG RADIO STATIONS PRIVATE STATION RADIO $UKAGJINI REMAINS THE MAJOR PLAYER -ULTIPLE NEWS SOURCES PROVIDE CITIZENS WITH )N GENERAL URBAN RESIDENTS ENJOY GREATER ACCESS TO RELIABLE AND OBJECTIVE NEWS A LARGER VARIETY OF MEDIA SOURCES THAN THOSE WHO LIVE IN MORE REMOTE AREAS 4HIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE OF NEWSPAPERS Q ! PLURALITY OF AFFORDABLE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NEWS SOURCES EG PRINT BROADCAST )NTERNET EXISTS AND )NTERNET NEWS SOURCES 4HERE ARE NO LEGAL OR POLITI CAL BARRIERS PREVENTING ACCESS TO FOREIGN NEWS SOURCES Q #ITIZENS ACCESS TO DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL )N ADDITION MAJOR INTERNATIONAL !LBANIAN LANGUAGE MEDIA IS NOT RESTRICTED PROGRAMMING THROUGH 2ADIO &REE %UROPE 6OICE OF Q 3TATE OR PUBLIC MEDIA REmECT THE VIEWS OF THE !MERICA ""# 2ADIO &RANCE )NTERNATIONAL AND $EUTSCHE ENTIRE POLITICAL SPECTRUM ARE NONPARTISAN AND 7ELLE IS REBROADCAST BY +OSOVO STATIONS #ABLE TELEVISION SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST IS NEITHER WELL DEVELOPED NOR REGULATED THOUGH SATEL Q )NDEPENDENT NEWS AGENCIES GATHER AND DISTRIB LITE TELEVISION IS COMMON %CONOMIC FACTORS INHIBIT THE UTE NEWS FOR PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA INmUENCE OF INTERNATIONAL NEWS SOURCES ESPECIALLY THE )NTERNET BUT LESS SO EVERY YEAR 7HILE ONLY PERCENT OF Q )NDEPENDENT BROADCAST MEDIA PRODUCE THEIR OWN +OSOVO HOUSEHOLDS HAD ACCESS TO THE )NTERNET FOUR YEARS NEWS PROGRAMS AGO EXPERTS ESTIMATE THIS NUMBER COULD BE lVE TIMES Q 4RANSPARENCY OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP ALLOWS HIGHER TODAY CONSUMERS TO JUDGE OBJECTIVITY OF NEWS 4HE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT THE WIDE SPECTRUM OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP IS NOT CONCENTRATED IN A PUBLIC OPINION EXISTS PANELISTS SAID BUT THE MEDIA DOES FEW CONGLOMERATES NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT ! PARTICIPANT EMPHASIZED THAT Q ! BROAD SPECTRUM OF SOCIAL INTERESTS ARE hMOST JOURNALISTS AND EDITORS HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED BASED REmECTED AND REPRESENTED IN THE MEDIA INCLUD ON THEIR AFlLIATION RATHER THAN THROUGH AN OPEN COM 0,52!,)49 /& .%73 3/52#%3 ).$)#!4/23 ING MINORITY LANGUAGE INFORMATION SOURCES PETITIVE PROCESS OF SELECTIONv 5.-)+ THE 0)3' POLITI
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI CAL PARTIES BUSINESS h-EDIA IN +OSOVO TIONS DURING +OSOVOS POSTCONmICT PERIOD 7HILE THERE IS INTERESTS AND TO A A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY REGARDING lNANCIAL TRANSACTIONS CERTAIN EXTENT CIVIL ARE AT A VERY EARLY THERE APPEARS TO BE NO MONOPOLY OF MEDIA OUTLETS /WN SOCIETY WERE AMONG STAGE OF THEIR ERSHIP OF SMALL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS IS AS DIVERSE AS THE GROUPS PANELISTS THE STATIONS THEMSELVES /BJECTIVITY THE PANELISTS CON SAW AS INmUENCING DEVELOPMENT AS THE CLUDED IS BEST JUDGED BY PROGRAM CONTENT NOT OWNERSHIP EDITORIAL POLICY WATCHDOGS OF THE ! BROAD SPECTRUM OF SOCIAL INTERESTS ARE REmECTED IN /F THESE 5.-)+ LEADING OUTLETS ALTHOUGH BIAS IS CLEAR IN THE TWO PARTY MAINTAINS PER PUBLIC GOOD BUT MOST ALIGNED NEWSPAPERS %POKA E 2E AND "OTA 3OT WHICH SOME HAPS THE STRONGEST ARE LEARNING QUICKLY TIMES PURSUE A PROPAGANDISTIC APPROACH 0ROGRAMMING IS INmUENCE ON THE ALSO AVAILABLE IN ALL LOCAL LANGUAGES 4HE PUBLIC BROADCAST THREE +OSOVO WIDE HOW THEY CAN AND 24+ IS REQUIRED TO ALLOCATE TIME TO MINORITY LANGUAGE TELEVISION STATIONS BROADCASTS IN 3ERBIAN "OSNIAK 4URK AND 2OMA NOT THROUGH DIRECT SHOULD OPERATE v INTERFERENCE BUT ONE PANELIST SAID RATHER BECAUSE INEX /BJECTIVE "USINESS -ANAGEMENT PERIENCED STAFF TEND TO FOLLOW THE AUTHORITIES BLINDLY 4HE +OSOVO /BJECTIVE 3CORE 0)3' WIELDS LESS INmUENCE THOUGH CERTAIN INTEREST GROUPS WITHIN POLITICAL PARTIES AND ESPECIALLY THEIR LEADERS HAVE 4HERE HAVE BEEN DRAMATIC CHANGES IN +OSOVO MEDIA IN SOUGHT TO DETERMINE THE JOURNALISTIC AGENDA !CCORD RECENT YEARS .EW TECHNOLOGIES HAVE ALTERED FOREVER THE ING TO ANOTHER PANELIST THE PUBLIC BROADCASTER GENER WAY THE PUBLIC ACCESSES INFORMATION 4HE MOST SIGNIl ALLY STRIVES TO BALANCE ITS COVERAGE OF THE MAIN POLITICAL CANT CHALLENGE IN MEASURING THE IMPACT OF THIS HOWEVER PARTIES THOUGH ITS EFFORTS TO GIVE ALL PARTIES EQUAL AIRTIME IS THE LACK OF ACCURATE DATA 'ENERALLY THE PANEL BELIEVED AT TIMES SEEMS hARTIlCIALv TO SOME VIEWERS 24+ DEVOTES THAT SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS DISTRIBUTION NET SIGNIlCANT TIME TO CULTURE BUT AT PRESENT OFFERS VERY LITTLE WORKS AND PRINTING HOUSES ARE OPEN STABLE AND SUCCESS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING 4HE MAIN PRIVATE BROADCAST FUL -EDIA OUTLETS THEMSELVES FACE GREATER DIFlCULTIES ! ERS ARE ALSO ORIENTED TOWARD PUBLIC SERVICE AND THROUGH COMPETITIVE PRESSURE HELP ENSURE THAT 24+ IS AS WELL +OSOVA,IVE AND +OSOVAPRESS ARE THE MOST ACTIVE )NDEPENDENT MEDIA ARE WELL MANAGED NEWS AGENCIES THAT GATHER AND DISTRIBUTE NEWS FOR PRINT BUSINESSES ALLOWING EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE AND BROADCAST MEDIA +OSOVA,IVE IS INDEPENDENT AND Q -EDIA OUTLETS AND SUPPORTING lRMS OPERATE AS CONSIDERED REASONABLY PROFESSIONAL (OWEVER RELATIVELY EFlCIENT PROFESSIONAL AND PROlT GENERATING FEW NEWS OUTLETS CAN AFFORD THIS SERVICE WITHOUT DONOR BUSINESSES ASSISTANCE OR OTHER lNANCIAL SUPPORT )NSTEAD MANY NEWS MEDIA OUTLETS USE SOURCES WITHOUT PROPER RIGHTS Q -EDIA RECEIVE REVENUE FROM A MULTITUDE OF SOURCES 4HE LEADING INDEPENDENT COMMERCIAL BROADCAST ERS PRODUCE EXTENSIVE NEWS AND TALK SHOW PROGRAMMING Q !DVERTISING AGENCIES AND RELATED INDUSTRIES WHICH MEET THE BASIC STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM ! SUPPORT AN ADVERTISING MARKET NUMBER OF LOCAL BROADCASTERS ALSO PRODUCE THEIR OWN NEWS Q !DVERTISING REVENUE AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL IN ADDITION TO USING BROADCASTS OF FOREIGN NEWS INCLUDING REVENUE IS IN LINE WITH ACCEPTED STANDARDS AT PROGRAMMING OF THE 3ERBIAN STATE BROADCASTER 243 COMMERCIAL OUTLETS /WNERSHIP OF THE MAJOR BROADCASTERS IS CLEAR BUT Q )NDEPENDENT MEDIA DO NOT RECEIVE GOVERNMENT THAT IS LESS TRUE FOR MAJOR NEWSPAPERS 4HERE IS CROSS SUBSIDIES OWNERSHIP BETWEEN THE LEADING AND MOST PROFESSIONAL NEWSPAPER IN +OSOVO +OHA $ITORE AND THE +OSOVO WIDE Q -ARKET RESEARCH IS USED TO FORMULATE STRATEGIC COMMERCIAL TELEVISION NETWORK +46 BOTH HOWEVER ARE PLANS ENHANCE ADVERTISING REVENUE AND TAILOR PRODUCTS TO THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF POLITICALLY INDEPENDENT 3IMILARLY 46 HAS THE SAME AUDIENCES OWNERSHIP AS 2ADIO 3OME PANELISTS NOTED THAT OWNER SHIP OF PRIVATE MEDIA IS CONCENTRATED MAINLY IN FAMILY "53).%33 -!.!'%-%.4 ).$)#!4/23 Q "ROADCAST RATINGS AND CIRCULATION lGURES ARE BUSINESSES THOUGH MOST FORMED WITH THE HELP OF DONA RELIABLY AND INDEPENDENTLY PRODUCED +/3/6/ 2ADIO ENTERPRISES IN VARIETY OF FUNDING RECEIVE lNANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT NOR CAN SOURCES HAS NOT THEY COLLECT LICENSE FEES 9ET WHILE PROBLEMS IN MANAG +OSOVO ARE SIMPLY NECESSARILY PRO ING MEDIA AS FOR PROlT ORGANIZATIONS PERSIST THE PANEL SURVIVING 4HE PANEL MOTED BETTER RUN EXPRESSED OPTIMISM ABOUT MEDIA BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MEDIA 4HUS WHILE 4HE -3) PANEL AGREED THAT INDEPENDENT MEDIA IS GENERALLY BELIEVED THAT SOME SEE A DECLIN A CORNERSTONE OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IN +OSOVO 4HE INTER STATIONS WITH LOCAL ING DEPENDENCE NATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS SUPPORTED THE ESTABLISHMENT ON DONORS OTHERS OF THE ONLY PUBLIC BROADCASTER IN +OSOVO WHICH ALSO IS LICENSES ARE MORE FEAR A FURTHER SET MANDATED TO ENSURE MINORITY RIGHTS ARE UPHELD AND IT IS ORIENTED TO THEIR OF PROBLEMS 0RINT IMPORTANT TO ENSURE IT HAS SUFlCIENT CAPACITY TO BECOME MEDIA APPEARS MORE FULLY SUSTAINABLE 4HE PANEL AGREED THAT OTHER LEADING SPONSOR RATHER THAN SUCCESSFUL THAN MEDIA INCLUDING +46 AND 46 WHICH BOTH RECEIVE MOST BROADCASTERS SUPPORT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOLLOW THE THEIR LISTENER A RESULT IN REACHING SUSTAIN STANDARDS OF INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM PERHAPS OF THE STRUGGLE ABILITY &OR EXAMPLE !DVERTISING AGENCIES IN +OSOVO GENERALLY LACK +OSOVOS LARGEST CAPACITY PROFESSIONALISM AND APPROPRIATE MANAGE FOR THE ADVERTISING DAILY NEWSPAPER MENT EDUCATION ! SMALL NUMBER PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL THAT TRADITIONALLY +OHA $ITORE IS MARKETING SERVICES EVEN FEWER OFFER A COMPLETE RANGE OF CONSIDERED WELL COMMUNICATIONS BRAND AND MEDIA STRATEGY ADVERTISING GOES TO NATIONWIDE MANAGED AND IS NEW MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS ,IMITED DATABASES BROADCASTERS GENERATING A PROlT FROM THESE AGENCIES PROVIDE SOME RELEVANT INFORMATION 4HE DAILY :ERI IS FOR MAJOR INDUSTRIES -OST SERVICES HOWEVER ARE AD HOC MOVING TOWARD AIMED TOWARD PARTICULAR MARKETING PROJECTS OR CON PROlTABILITY AS WELL 4HERE IS A LACK OF DATA ON WHERE CERNED WITH BRAND BUILDING 4HE GOVERNMENT STATISTICS OTHER DAILY NEWSPAPERS AND SEVERAL MAGAZINES STAND AND OFlCE CONDUCTS SOME RESEARCH AS DO LOCAL COMPANIES IT IS ASSUMED THAT THOSE WHO OPENLY LEAN TOWARD CERTAIN 2IINVEST )NDEX +OSOVA AND 'ANI "OBI POLITICAL PARTIES ARE NOT lNANCIALLY INDEPENDENT 4HE PANEL VIEWED MOST MEDIA MANAGERS AS NEEDING 4HE LOW CIRCULATION OF NEWSPAPERS REMAINS A SIG FURTHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PARTICULARLY IN THEIR NIlCANT PROBLEM /VERALL DAILY CIRCULATION IS ESTIMATED ABILITY TO DELEGATE RESPONSIBILITIES AND TO PRACTICE lNANCIAL BETWEEN AND DOMESTICALLY NOT INCLUDING TRANSPARENCY -EDIA HOWEVER DO NOT LIMIT ADVERTISING DISTRIBUTION IN THE !LBANIAN DISAPORA 7ITH THE AVER 4HEY PUBLISH AND AIR AS MANY ADS AS AGENCIES AND OTHER AGE PRICE OF A NEWSPAPER IN +OSOVO AT ; ADVERTISING STAKEHOLDERS CAN OFFER THOUGH THE PRICE OF THE ADS IS HIGH SPONSORSHIP AND SALES ACCOUNT FOR MOST REVENUE #OSTS AND THEIR QUALITY BELOW CONVENTIONALLY ACCEPTED STAN OF NEWSPRINT PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION POSE PARTICULAR DARDS -EDIA DO NOT OFFER MARKETING AGENCIES ATTRACTIVE PROBLEMS FOR PUBLICATIONS THAT STRUGGLE WITH SUSTAINABIL CONCRETE STRATEGIES AIMED AT SECURING LONG TERM BUSINESS ITY AS DOES THE SYSTEM OF DISTRIBUTION AND DELIVERY AND RELATIONSHIPS !T THE SAME TIME MARKETING AGENCIES DID HIGH TAXES NOT EXAMINE MEDIA READERSHIP OR AUDIENCE UNTIL RECENTLY 2ADIO ENTERPRISES IN +OSOVO ARE SIMPLY SURVIV h+OSOVO MEDIA OUTLETS HAVE NOT YET INCORPORATED MODERN ING 4HE PANEL GENERALLY BELIEVED THAT STATIONS WITH LOCAL MARKET RESEARCH AND PROMOTIONAL METHODOLOGIES TO HELP LICENSES ARE MORE ORIENTED TO THEIR SPONSOR RATHER THAN STEER THEIR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES BUT THEY ARE THEIR LISTENER A RESULT PERHAPS OF THE STRUGGLE FOR THE ON THEIR WAY TO ADOPTING THEM v A PANELIST SAID ADVERTISING THAT TRADITIONALLY GOES TO NATIONWIDE BROAD 0ANELISTS RECOMMENDED ESTABLISHING STANDARDS CASTERS #LAIMS OF DISADVANTAGE EXIST NOT JUST BETWEEN TO ENCOURAGE A MATURE SUSTAINABLE INDEPENDENT MEDIA LOCAL AND NATIONAL BROADCASTERS BUT ALSO AMONG +OSOVO INCLUDING AN ASSOCIATION FOR MEDIA STANDARDS THAT WOULD WIDE TELEVISION STATIONS GIVEN THAT THE PUBLIC BROADCASTER WORK TOWARD AMONG OTHER GOALS BANNING CIGARETTE ADVER 24+ ENJOYS UNLIMITED ACCESS TO ADVERTISING 3OME BELIEVE TISEMENTS AND ADVERTISING THAT SPECIlCALLY TARGETS CHILDREN THAT 24+S ABILITY TO RECEIVE REVENUES FROM THE GOVERN .O RATINGS RESEARCH HAS YET BEEN CONDUCTED AND MENT DONORS LICENSING FEES AND ADVERTISING PLACES THERE IS LITTLE RELIABLE DATA FROM INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PRIVATE MEDIA IN AN UNFAVORABLE POSITION 4HE TWO OTHER +OSOVO WIDE TELEVISION STATIONS +46 AND 46 NEITHER
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI /BJECTIVE 3UPPORTING )NSTITUTIONS LED TO THE !SSOCIA /NE PANEL MEMBER TION OF 0ROFESSIONAL +OSOVO /BJECTIVE 3CORE *OURNALISTS OF +OSOVO STATED THAT !-0%+ !0*+ A FUNCTION IS hPERCEIVED AS AN )NDEPENDENT ASSOCIATIONS EXISTED IN +OSOVO BEFORE THE ING ASSOCIATION WITH A FALL OF COMMUNISM WHEN MOST JOURNALISTS WERE MEM MEMBERSHIP OF MORE ACTIVE ASSOCIATION THAT BERS OF THE )NTERNATIONAL &EDERATION OF *OURNALISTS )&* THAN JOURNALISTS SUCCESSFULLY ARTICULATES BASED IN "RUSSELS 4HEY RECEIVED MEMBERSHIP THROUGH !0*+ DOES NOT YET THE +OSOVO !SSOCIATION OF *OURNALISTS WHICH WAS ALSO COLLECT MEMBERSHIP THE INTERESTS OF PRIVATE A MEMBER OF THE )&* IN THE EARLY S *OURNALISTS THEN FEES MAKING IT RELI BROADCASTERS WHILE SOUGHT TO REPLACE THE MONOPOLISTIC SYSTEM WITH A PLURAL ANT ON INTERNATIONAL IST ONE JOINING IN NEW MOVEMENTS INDEPENDENT TRADE DONORS 4HE ORGANI ALSO SERVING AS A STRONG UNIONS AND POLITICAL PARTIES ! NUMBER OF THESE JOURNAL ZATION HOWEVER IS ISTS CURRENTLY HEAD THE LARGEST COMMERCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO VOICE FOR DRAFTING AND IN +OSOVO TODAY BETTER MEET JOURNAL IMPLEMENTING COPYRIGHT 4HROUGHOUT THE DECADE OF CONTROL UNDER THE ISTS NEEDS WHILE -ILOSEVIC REGIME THE +OSOVO !SSOCIATION OF *OURNALISTS BECOMING FULLY LAW AMONG THE MEDIA AND THE )NDEPENDENT 4RADE 5NION OF *OURNALISTS SURVIVED INDEPENDENT AND DESPITE ECONOMIC STRUGGLES AND DAILY DANGERS $URING SUSTAINABLE ,AST YEAR THE ASSOCIATION FOCUSED ON ATTRACTING THE n CONmICT SUPPORTING MEDIA INSTITUTIONS A BROADER MEMBERSHIP RESPONDING TO THREATS TO THE RIGHTS WERE PARALYZED WHILE ASSOCIATION MEMBERS FELL VICTIM TO OF JOURNALISTS AND PROVIDING LEGAL AND PROFESSIONAL ADVICE -ILOSEVICS MASS EXPULSIONS AS WELL AS ADVOCACY !0*+ ALSO OPERATED UNDER AN APPROVED )N POSTCONmICT +OSOVO INDEPENDENT SUPPORTING ORGA ETHICS CODE 4HE ASSOCIATION IS DEVELOPING BUT REMAINS AT A NIZATIONS HAVE HAD TO START FROM SCRATCH TO UNITE A VARIETY OF STARTING STAGE PANELISTS SAID AND FROM A REACTIVE TO PROAC JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA MANAGERS /VER THE PAST FOUR YEARS TIVE APPROACH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND LOCAL JOURNALISTS FAILED +OSOVO HAS TWO OTHER MEDIA SUPPORT INSTITUTIONS TWICE TO CREATE A WORKABLE ASSOCIATION 4HE THIRD ATTEMPT THE !SSOCIATION OF )NDEPENDENT %LECTRONIC -EDIA OF +OSOVO !-0%+ AND A NEWLY ORGANIZED ASSOCIATION OF PUBLISHERS !-0%+S MISSION IS TO REPRESENT THE INTERESTS 3UPPORTING INSTITUTIONS FUNCTION IN THE OF INDEPENDENT BROADCAST OWNERS WHILE THE NEW PUBLISH PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA ERS ASSOCIATION IS EXPECTED TO REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF Q 4RADE ASSOCIATIONS REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF THEIR COLLEAGUES IN PRINT MEDIA /NE PANEL MEMBER STATED PRIVATE MEDIA OWNERS AND PROVIDE MEMBER THAT !-0%+ IS hPERCEIVED AS AN ACTIVE ASSOCIATION THAT SERVICES SUCCESSFULLY ARTICULATES THE INTERESTS OF PRIVATE BROADCAST ERS WHILE ALSO SERVING AS A STRONG VOICE FOR DRAFTING AND Q 0ROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS WORK TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS RIGHTS IMPLEMENTING COPYRIGHT LAW AMONG THE MEDIA -OST OTHER PANELISTS HOWEVER BELIEVED THAT THESE ASSOCIATIONS Q .'/S SUPPORT FREE SPEECH AND INDEPENDENT ARE TOO NASCENT TO OFFER MUCH SUPPORT OR PROTECTION MEDIA -OST NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS .'/S Q 1UALITY JOURNALISM DEGREE PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE BLOSSOMED DURING THE IMMEDIATE POSTCONmICT EMERGENCY SUBSTANTIAL PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE EXIST PHASE AND HAVE FACED THEIR OWN PROBLEMS OF CONSOLIDA TION .OW FOUR YEARS LATER THE SITUATION IS IMPROVING Q 3HORT TERM TRAINING AND IN SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAMS ALLOW JOURNALISTS TO UPGRADE SKILLS OR GIVING HOPE THAT THEY SOON WILL BE MORE DEEPLY ENGAGED ACQUIRE NEW SKILLS IN MEDIA AND ADVOCACY WORK 3OME +OSOVO .'/S SUCH AS THE +OSOVO .'/ !DVOCACY 0ROGRAM ACTIVELY PROMOTE Q 3OURCES OF NEWSPRINT AND PRINTING FACILITIES ARE THE &REEDOM OF 3PEECH !CT AND HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR PRIVATE APOLITICAL AND UNRESTRICTED ESTABLISHMENT OF THE )NDEPENDENT -EDIA #OMMISSION Q #HANNELS OF MEDIA DISTRIBUTION KIOSKS TRANS 4HE +OSOVO EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM STILL DOES NOT OFFER MITTERS )NTERNET ARE PRIVATE APOLITICAL AND A FORMAL UNIVERSITY DEGREE IN MEDIA OR COMMUNICATIONS 3500/24).' ).34)454)/.3 ).$)#!4/23 UNRESTRICTED 3HORT TERM TRAINING IS AVAILABLE PRIMARILY THROUGH +/3/6/ THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WHILE SOME LARGER MEDIA ING SOME RURAL AREAS WITHOUT COVERAGE AND ADDING ANOTHER OUTLETS HAVE DEVELOPED IN HOUSE PROGRAMS ! PANELIST KEY REASON FOR LOW READERSHIP 4WENTY YEARS AGO 2ILINDJA MENTIONED THAT SHORT TERM TRAINING CAN POLISH THE SKILLS +OSOVOS SINGLE NEWSPAPER DISTRIBUTION COMPANY HAD OF ACTIVE JOURNALISTS BUT THE -3) PANEL COUNTERED THAT KIOSKS ACROSS THE ENTIRE +OSOVO REGION TODAY THIS IS THE SUCH COURSES ARE TOO SHORT TO HAVE ANY SUFlCIENT IMPACT NUMBER OF KIOSKS IN 0RISTINA ALONE ON THE OVERALL QUALITY OF JOURNALISM #URRENTLY ONE !LTHOUGH THERE ARE THREE NATIONAL TELEVISION STA SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM EXISTS BUT ACCORDING TO THE PANEL TIONS DISTRIBUTION OF NEWS FOR ELECTRONIC MEDIA REMAINS ISTS IT DOES NOT OFFER AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF EDUCATION PROBLEMATIC 4HE NONGOVERNMENTAL +OSOVO 4ERRESTRIAL -OST PANELISTS AGREED ON THE IMMEDIATE NEED TO ESTABLISH 4RANSMISSION .ETWORK +44. WAS INITIALLY CREATED AN ACADEMIC AND MID CAREER JOURNALISM DEGREE AND TO TO SERVE THE THREE +OSOVO WIDE TELEVISION STATIONS 4HE DEVELOP JOURNALISM CURRICULA NETWORK IS EXPANDING ITS SERVICES BUT AT PRESENT ITS TOWERS #HANNELS OF MEDIA DISTRIBUTION KIOSKS TRANSMIT ONLY COVER APPROXIMATELY PERCENT OF +OSOVOS TERRITORY TERS AND )NTERNET ARE IN PRIVATE HANDS AND IN MOST CASES &REQUENT POWER CUTS ALSO AFFECT THE MEDIAS REACH !CCORD ARE APOLITICAL AND UNRESTRICTED "ROADCAST TRANSMITTERS ARE ING TO RECENT AUDIENCE RESEARCH PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS PROTECTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY 0RINTING FACILI EXPERIENCED POWER CUTS DURING THE WEEK THE SURVEY WAS TIES ARE RARELY SUBJECTED TO POLITICAL INmUENCE AND MOSTLY CONDUCTED !T TIMES ALMOST ONE THIRD OF THOSE SURVEYED ARE RECENTLY ESTABLISHED FOR PROlT ORGANIZATIONS .EWSPA COULD NOT VIEW TELEVISION PROGRAMS DUE TO POWER OUTAGES PER DISTRIBUTION IS NOT GEOGRAPHICALLY PROPORTIONAL LEAV
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)BRAHIM "ERISHA JOURNALIST AND MEDIA ANALYST 2OBERT 'ILLETTE 4EMPORARY -EDIA #OMMISSIONER !RGJENTINA 'RAZHDANI /FlCE OF $EMOCRACY 53!)$ 6ISAR (OTI GENERAL MANAGER 2ADIO 4%-! "LERIM +RASNIQI MEDIA ADVISOR )2%8+OSOVO 'ENC -ERAKU CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFlCER #)49 'ROUP !DVERTISING !GENCY .ASER -IFTARI PRESIDENT !SSOCIATION OF 0ROFESSIONAL *OURNALISTS OF +OSOVA 2AMUSH 4AHIRI POLITICAL AND MEDIA ADVISOR PARLIAMENT OF +OSOVA &ATMIRE 4ÔRDEVCI INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST +OHA $ITORE
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#OORDINATOR "EHAR :OGIANI TRAINING COORDINATOR )2%8+OSOVO
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&LAKA THE !LBANIAN LANGUAGE THUS ENDING A LENGTHY COURT BATTLE AND ALLOWING
4HEN IN /CTOBER THE -ACEDONIAN COURTS DECLARED AS (OWEVER FOR -ACEDONIAS MEDIA COMMUNITY WAS ANYTHING AND A NUMBER OF MAGAZINES TOGETHER WITH PRINTING AND DISTRI $NEVNIK 5TRINSKI 6ESNIK $$" A MARKETING COMPANY BOUGHT "IRLIK BUTION FACILITIES WERE PUT OU -AKEDONIJA 6EÝER OF THE THREE PAPERS IS ABOUT COPIES COMPRISING ABOUT OF THE MARKET (OWEVER IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT CIRCULATIO LARGE 4URKISH COMPANY BOUGHT FOR )NFORMATION TOOK ON )NTRODUCTION OR -ACEDONIA WAS AN IMPORTANT YEAR OF STABILITY AND POLIT ARE UNRELIABLE AS THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RE PRINT RUN TOTALS AND ACTUAL SOLD COPIES 4HE TRANSACTION GENER OF DOMINANCE BOTH EDITORIALLY AND IN MARKETING BY 7!: INVALID THE BOTCHED PRIVATIZATION OF THE STATE PUBLISHING BROTHER 6IAT !IRO IS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE GOVERNMENTS !G CAL CONSOLIDATION 4HE 3EPTEMBER NATIONAL ELECTIONS BROUGH POWER A COALITION GOVERNMENT DOMINATED BY THE 3OCIAL $EMOCRATIC 5NION FOR -ACEDONIA 3$3- LED BY "RANKO #RVENKOVSKI AND THE $EMOCRATIC 5NION FOR )NTEGRATION $5) THE !LBANIAN PARTY FORM BY THE LEADERSHIP OF THE FORMER !LBANIAN .ATIONAL ,IBERATION !R .,! AND LED BY !LI !HMETI $ESPITE A NUMBER OF MINOR INCIDENT THE COALITION HAS HELD AND THE &RAMEWORK !GREEMENT THAT ENDED T CONmICT OF IS BEING SLOWLY IMPLEMENTED BUT STABLE 3IGNIlCANT CHANGES HAVE TAKEN PLACE THAT ALTERED TH LANDSCAPE MOST NOTABLY IN THE P CONGLOMERATE 7ESTDEUTSCHE !LLGEMEINE :EITUNG 7!: BOUGHT A CONTROLLING STAKE IN THE THREE MAIN DAILY -ACEDONIAN LANGUAGE N .OVA -AKEDONIJA THE GOVERNMENT TO TRY AGAIN TO SELL IT !S A RESULT ITS MAIN T RESPECTIVE PAPERS )N ADDITION A GROUP OF -ACEDONIAN BUSINESSM LED BY 46 !S OWNER 6ELIJA 2AMKOVSKI AND FORMER
PERS & /BJECTIVE 3CORING )NDICATOR 3CORING 4HE AVERAGES OF ALL THE INDICATORS ARE AVERAGED TO OBTAIN A SINGLE %ACH INDICATOR IS SCORED USING THE FOLLOWING SYSTEM OVERALL SCORE FOR EACH OBJECTIVE /BJECTIVE SCORES ARE AVERAGED TO PROVIDE #OUNTRY DOES NOT MEET INDICATOR GOVERNMENT OR SOCIAL FORCES MAY ACTIVELY AN OVERALL SCORE FOR THE COUNTRY )2%8 INTERPRETS THE OVERALL SCORES AS FOLLOWS OPPOSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND ABOVE 3USTAINABLE AND FREE INDEPENDENT MEDIA #OUNTRY MINIMALLY MEETS ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR FORCES MAY NOT AC T IVELY OPPOSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION BUT BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT MAY NOT SUPPORT IT n )NDEPENDENT MEDIA APPROACHING SUSTAINABILITY AND GOVERNMENT OR PROFESSION DO NOT FULLY AND ACTIVELY SUPPORT CHANGE n 3IGNIlCANT PROGRESS REMAINS TO BE MADE #OUNTRY HAS BEGUN TO MEET MANY ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR BUT PROGRESS MAY SOCIETY OR GOVERNMENT IS NOT FULLY SUPPORTIVE BE TOO RECENT TO JUDGE OR STILL DEPENDENT ON CURRENT GOVERNMENT OR POLITICAL FORCES n #OUNTRY MEETS FEW INDICATORS GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY ACTIVELY OPPOSE CHANGE #OUNTRY MEETS MOST ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INDICA TOR HAS OCCURRED OVER SEVERAL YEARS ANDOR THROUGH CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT INDICATING LIKELY SUSTAINABILITY #OUNTRY MEETS THE ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR IMPLEMENTATION HAS REM AI NE D INTACT OVER MULTIPLE CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC mUCTUATIONS CHANGES IN PUBLIC OPINION ANDOR CHANGING SOCIAL CONVENTIONS
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI 3AÝO $AMOVSKI LAUNCHED A NEW -ACEDONIAN LANGUAGE 0ROTECTIONS ! PANELIST SAID DAILY 6REME IN EARLY -OREOVER AT LEAST THREE FOR FREE SPEECH WERE GROUPS ARE ATTEMPTING TO RAISE FUNDS TO LAUNCH ANOTHER NOT CONSIDERED AS h4HE DRAFT LAW DEALS PRIVATELY OWNED !LBANIAN DAILY $ESPITE THE FEARS OF STRONG AS NECESSARY WITH PROCEDURES IN A A MONOPOLY ON THE MARKET BY 7!: THE PRINT MARKET REmECTING THE FACT APPEARS VIBRANT ALTHOUGH IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST A YEAR TO THAT THE BROADCAST WAY THAT CITIZENS CAN ASSESS THE LONG TERM VIABILITY OF THE NEW PRINT MEDIA LAW HAD NOT BEEN EXERCISE THE RIGHT TO ENTERPRISES PASSED THE DRAFT )N THE BROADCAST SECTOR THE GREATEST CHANGE HAS ING OF A ,AW ON SEEK INFORMATION BUT TAKEN PLACE AT STATE RUN -246 'ORDANA 3TOÝIC WAS !CCESS TO )NFORMA IT DOES NOT TELL THE STATE APPOINTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BY THE NEW GOVERNMENT TION UNDERTAKEN BY AND SHE HAS LAUNCHED AN AMBITIOUS PROGRAM OF REFORM 4RANSPARENCY )NTER WHAT ITS OBLIGATIONS INCLUDING JOB CUTS 4HE GOVERNMENT ALSO ACCEPTED A NEW NATIONAL -ACEDONIA DRAFT LAW ON BROADCASTING THAT WAS DRAWN UP BY THE WAS UNlNISHED AND ARE IN PROVIDING THAT -EDIA $EVELOPMENT #ENTRE -$# A NONPROlT ORGA SELF CENSORSHIP AND INFORMATIONv NIZATION THAT FOCUSES ON NATIONAL MEDIA LEGISLATION AND INTERFERENCE MADE ASSURANCES THAT IT WILL PASS THE LEGISLATION LARGELY IN EDITORIAL INDE UNCHANGED IN 4HIS WOULD RESULT IN MAJOR POSITIVE PENDENCE CONTINUED TO BE PREVALENT CHANGES FOR THE MEDIA INDUSTRY INCLUDING REAL INDEPEN )N SUM MEDIA REFORM IN -ACEDONIA IS PROGRESSING DENCE FOR -246 CLEAR INDEPENDENCE FOR A STRENGTHENED 4HE -3) REmECTS STEADY IMPROVEMENT AND THE LOCAL INSTI REGULATORY "ROADCASTING #OUNCIL AND A GREATER LIKELI TUTIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENT HOOD THAT A COPYRIGHT LAW AND OTHER REGULATORY CONTROLS ING AND SUPPORTING THIS DEVELOPMENT REMAIN STRONG WILL BE IMPLEMENTED (OWEVER PANELISTS WARNED THAT REGRESSION IS STILL VERY 4HESE CHANGES HAVE BEEN REmECTED IN THIS YEARS POSSIBLE 0OWERFUL RADICAL GROUPS EXIST WITH LITTLE INTER -EDIA 3USTAINABILITY )NDEX -3) WHICH RECORDS SIGNIl EST IN A POLITICALLY UNITED AND STABLE -ACEDONIA OR IN THE CANT IMPROVEMENTS !CCORDING TO THE PANEL INSTITUTIONS INDEPENDENT MEDIA THAT WOULD BE FUNDAMENTAL TO THIS SUPPORTING THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA MADE THE GREATEST &UNDING FOR MEDIA ASSOCIATIONS AND SUPPORTING INSTITU PROGRESS TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY 4HE PANEL ACKNOWLEDGED TIONS REMAINS VOLATILE AND THE INDUSTRY IS TOO WEAK TO THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF GROUPS SUCH AS THE -$# AND ITS SUSTAIN THEM ALONE -3) PARTICIPANTS SAID CONTINUED WORK ON THE BROADCAST LAW AS WELL AS THE !SSOCIATION STRONG ASSISTANCE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS OF 0RIVATE %LECTRONIC -EDIA OF -ACEDONIA !0%-- ESSENTIAL FOR AT LEAST TWO AND POSSIBLY MORE YEARS TO PRE WHICH HAS MEMBERS OUT OF A POSSIBLE COMPANIES VENT BACKSLIDING THAT COULD ALL TOO EASILY OCCUR AND EFFECTIVELY LOBBIES FOR THE INDUSTRY 4HE -ACEDO NIAN )NSTITUTE FOR THE -EDIA -)- SUCCESSFULLY RAN LONG TERM TRAINING PROGRAMS IN PREPARATION FOR THE /BJECTIVE &REE 3PEECH LAUNCH OF A ONE YEAR JOURNALISM DIPLOMA COURSE IN -ACEDONIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE PARTNERSHIP WITH )2%8 4HERE WAS ALSO MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANAGE !RTICLE OF THE -ACEDONIAN #ONSTITUTION PROTECTS FREE MENT CAPACITY OF MEDIA BUSINESSES 4HE PANEL NOTED THE DOM OF SPEECH ! LAW ON BROADCASTING LAW EXISTS CHANGES IN PRINT MEDIA OWNERSHIP THE INCREASING PROFES AND ALTHOUGH WEAK IT IS NOT WITHOUT PROTECTIONS 4HE SIONALISM OF THE BROADCAST MEDIA THE REFORMS AT -246 AND CRIMINAL CODE IS RIGOROUS (OWEVER ENFORCEMENT OF THE THE WIDESPREAD USE OF MARKET RESEARCH MATERIAL LAWS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF EXISTING REGULATIONS REMAINS 4HERE WAS A MIXED EVALUATION OF THE PLURALITY OF A SERIOUS PROBLEM 0ANELISTS WARN THAT EVEN IF PARLIAMENT NEWS SOURCES CONSIDERED RATHER DIVERSE FOR -ACEDONIAN PASSES AN EFFECTIVE BROADCAST LAW IN PUTTING IT INTO LANGUAGE MEDIA BUT NOT FOR !LBANIAN LANGUAGE PRINT PRACTICE WILL BE DIFlCULT BECAUSE OF INEFlCIENT BUREAUCRA MEDIA AND THE NATIONAL PRIVATE !LBANIAN LANGUAGE BROAD CIES AND A WEAK JUDICIAL SYSTEM CASTER 4HE PROFESSIONALISM OF JOURNALISM PRACTICE WAS $ESPITE !RTICLE JOURNALISTS COMPLAIN THAT THERE SEEN AS IMPROVING DUE TO A GENERAL RISE IN STANDARDS AND IS NO EFFECTIVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION /LD SOCIALIST TRADI THE -)-S INCREASINGLY SUCCESSFUL TRAININGS TIONS AND A CORRUPT INEFlCIENT CIVIL SERVICE MAKE IT VERY
-!#%$/.)! ,EGAL AND SOCIAL NORMS PROTECT AND PROMOTE MEDIA ADVOCATES /NE PANELIST DESCRIBED FREE SPEECH AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION BECAUSE OF THE APPARENT INTENT TO -ACEDONIA AS Q ,EGALSOCIAL PROTECTIONS OF FREE SPEECH EXIST ALLOW FOR IMPOSI hA CLOSED STATE FOR AND ARE ENFORCED TION OF JAIL TERMS IN INFORMATIONv AND Q ,ICENSING OF BROADCAST MEDIA IS FAIR COMPETITIVE CASES OF DEFAMATION AND APOLITICAL LIBEL AND SLANDER SAID THIS HAS INCREASED 4HE !SSOCIATION OF Q -ARKET ENTRY AND TAX STRUCTURE FOR MEDIA ARE FAIR *OURNALISTS OF -ACE WITH THE NEW AND COMPARABLE TO OTHER INDUSTRIES DONIA !*- INTER GOVERNMENT BECAUSE Q #RIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS OR MEDIA OUTLETS ARE VENED AND APPEARED PROSECUTED VIGOROUSLY BUT OCCURRENCES OF SUCH TO PERSUADE THE GOV hTHEY HAVE APPOINTED CRIMES ARE RARE ERNMENT TO RElNE ITS SPOKESPERSONS IN ORDER Q 3TATE OR PUBLIC MEDIA DO NOT RECEIVE PREFERENTIAL REFORMS AND MEET LEGAL TREATMENT AND LAW GUARANTEES EDITORIAL #OUNCIL OF %UROPE TO GIVE STATEMENTS INDEPENDENCE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CONTAIN NO Q ,IBEL IS A CIVIL LAW ISSUE PUBLIC OFlCIALS ARE HELD BY KEEPING DEFA TO HIGHER STANDARDS AND THE OFFENDED PARTY MATION LIBEL AND INFORMATIONv MUST PROVE FALSITY AND MALICE SLANDER UNDER THE CIVIL CODE ELIMINATING THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPRISONMENT Q 0UBLIC INFORMATION IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION IS EQUALLY ENFORCED FOR ALL 4HE LICENSING REGIME FOR THE BROADCASTING INDUS &2%% 30%%#( ).$)#!4/23 MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS TRY REMAINS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT 4HE "ROADCAST #OUNCIL MERELY RECOMMENDS TO THE GOVERN Q -EDIA OUTLETS HAVE UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO INFOR MENT WHO SHOULD GET A CONCESSION (OWEVER THE NEW MATION THIS IS EQUALLY ENFORCED FOR ALL MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS BROADCAST LAW SENT TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL CONTAINS DElNITE REFORMS THAT INCREASE THE Q %NTRY INTO THE JOURNALISM PROFESSION IS FREE AND INDEPENDENCE OF THE "ROADCAST #OUNCIL AND ITS ABILITY TO GOVERNMENT IMPOSES NO LICENSING RESTRICTIONS FUNCTION AS AN EFFECTIVE REGULATORY BODY OR SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR JOURNALISTS $URING THERE WAS DEBATE ABOUT THE PERCENT BROADCAST FEE PAID BY THE PUBLIC VIA THEIR ELECTRICITY BILL WHICH IS ALLOTTED TO hPRIVATEv BROADCASTERS FOR WHAT IS PURPORTED TO BE PUBLIC INTEREST PROGRAMMING 4HIS PRO DIFlCULT FOR WORKING JOURNALISTS TO OBTAIN GOVERNMENT CESS INVOLVES THE "ROADCAST #OUNCILS RECOMMENDING TO INFORMATION /NE PANELIST DESCRIBED -ACEDONIA AS hA THE GOVERNMENT WHICH PRIVATE BROADCASTERS PROJECTS HAVE CLOSED STATE FOR INFORMATIONv AND SAID THIS HAS INCREASED MERIT AND HOW MUCH SHOULD BE PAID FOR THEM )N PRAC WITH THE NEW GOVERNMENT BECAUSE hTHEY HAVE APPOINTED TICE HOWEVER THE GOVERNMENT STRONGLY INmUENCES WHICH SPOKESPERSONS IN ORDER TO GIVE STATEMENTS THAT CONTAIN STATIONS GET THE BIGGEST SLICES OF THE PIE 3OME SMALL LOCAL NO INFORMATIONv 0ANELISTS ALSO PUT RESPONSIBILITY ON THE BROADCASTERS VIRTUALLY LIVE OFF THEIR SHARES OF THE BROAD MEDIA h4HE CONSTITUTION GIVES WHAT JOURNALISTS NEED FOR CAST FEES 4HE WHOLE SYSTEM IS VIEWED AS OPEN TO CORRUP A FREE MEDIA BUT JOURNALISTS DONT lGHT ENOUGH DONT TION AND IS A USEFUL TOOL FOR MANIPULATION OF THE MEDIA DEMAND INFORMATION ON THE BASIS OF THE #ONSTITUTION v BY GOVERNMENTS AND POLITICAL PARTIES ESPECIALLY IN LOCAL SAID ONE PANELIST COMMUNITIES -OST OF -ACEDONIAS BROADCASTERS ARE $RAFTING OF AN ACCESS TO INFORMATION LAW HAS BEEN LOBBYING HARD TO KEEP THE PERCENT AND ARE FURIOUS THAT TAKEN ON BY 4RANSPARENCY )NTERNATIONAL -ACEDONIA BUT THE BROADCAST LAW SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNMENT CONTAINS NOT COMPLETED ! PANELIST SAID h4HE DRAFT LAW DEALS WITH NO SUCH FUND )NTERNATIONAL MEDIA SUPPORT ORGANIZA PROCEDURES IN A WAY THAT CITIZENS CAN EXERCISE THE RIGHT TIONS ARE ADVOCATING REMOVAL OF THE FUND BUT IT REMAINS TO SEEK INFORMATION BUT IT DOES NOT TELL THE STATE WHAT ITS TO BE SEEN IF THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE COURAGE TO GIVE UP OBLIGATIONS ARE IN PROVIDING THAT INFORMATIONv SUCH A USEFUL POLITICAL TOOL 4HE GOVERNMENT BEGAN AMENDING -ACEDONIAS &OR THE PRINT MEDIA THE PRIVATIZATION OF THE STATE CRIMINAL LEGISLATION CAUSING CONCERN FOR INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING HOUSE .OVA -AKEDONIJA HAS DRAMATICALLY
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI REDUCED THE GOVERNMENTS TRADITIONAL INmUENCE 4HE "UT THEY SHARED h*OURNALISTS IN BROADCASTER -246 REMAINS STATE OWNED BUT IT IS IN THE THE OPINION THAT THROES OF MAJOR REFORM 4HE INITIATIVE LED BY %XECUTIVE OWNERS MANAG -ACEDONIA ARE AFRAID $IRECTOR 'ORDANA 3TOÝIC APPOINTED BY THE PARLIAMENT ERS AND EDITORS OF POLITICIANS AFRAID AND EFFECTIVELY THE GOVERNMENTS CHOICE HAS PRODUCED STILL EXERT FAR TOO REAL CHANGE WITH STAFF AND BUDGET CUTS AND AN ATTEMPT TO MUCH INmUENCE OVER FOR THE lNANCIAL SET UP A SINGLE NEWS GATHERING SERVICE FOR THE MULTILAN EDITORIAL CONTENT EXISTENCE OF THEIR GUAGE BROADCASTER 4HE NEW BROADCAST LAW ALSO INCLUDES -OST JOURNALISM REMOVING GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER MANAGEMENT AND WAS VIEWED AS BEING MEDIA AND AFRAID TO EDITORIAL APPOINTMENTS AND CREATING AN INDEPENDENT TOO POLITICAL WITH LOSE THEIR JOBS v SAID TRULY PUBLIC BROADCASTER NOT ENOUGH ISSUE .OTWITHSTANDING THE DESCRIBED LIMITATIONS THE BASED REPORTING A PANEL MEMBER LEGISLATIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE MEDIA REMAINS REASONABLY 4HE MEDIA ALSO WERE GOOD WITH POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE SIGNIlCANTLY IN CRITICIZED FOR NOT SETTING THEIR OWN AGENDA IN TERMS OF 4HE MEDIA CAN AND DO DIRECTLY CRITICIZE THE GOVERNMENT NEWS COVERAGE *OURNALISTS ARE LARGELY FREE TO DO THEIR WORK WITHOUT FEAR /PINIONS DIFFERED ON THE SUBJECT OF JOURNALISTS OF RETRIBUTION 4HE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT IS NOT SLANTED PAY WITH SOME SAYING JOURNALISTS ARE REASONABLY WELL AGAINST THE PRIVATE MEDIA BY UNFAIR TAXES 4HERE ARE NO PAID IN A COUNTRY WHERE SALARIES ARE GENERALLY LOW !N SIGNIlCANT RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF THE )NTERNET 4HE AVERAGE JOURNALISTS SALARY IN THE REGIONS IS ABOUT ; REBROADCAST OF FOREIGN NEWS PROGRAMMING IS WIDESPREAD PER MONTH AND IN 3KOPJE ABOUT ; MONTHLY 4HE 4HERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON ENTRY INTO THE lELD OF JOUR NATIONAL AVERAGE MONTHLY WAGE IS ABOUT ; BY COM NALISM !ND THE GOVERNMENT IS INVOLVED IN WHAT SEEM TO PARISON !LBANIAN AND 2OMA JOURNALISTS USUALLY ARE PAID BE GENUINE EFFORTS TO REFORM MEDIA LEGISLATION AND BETTER LESS ALTHOUGH IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE OWNERS AND IMPLEMENT EXISTING LEGISLATION MANAGERS OF THESE MEDIA HOUSES ARE !LBANIAN AND 2OMA -246 THE STATE BROADCASTER ALSO PAYS GENERALLY LESS THAN /BJECTIVE 0ROFESSIONAL *OURNALISM -ACEDONIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE *OURNALISM MEETS PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF 0ANEL MEMBERS HAD DIVERGENT OPINIONS ABOUT WHETHER QUALITY REPORTING BY -ACEDONIAN MEDIA IS FAIR OBJECTIVE AND BASED ON GOOD SOURCES 3OME TOOK THE POSITION THAT Q 2EPORTING IS FAIR OBJECTIVE AND WELL SOURCED THE MEDIA COVER ALL MAIN EVENTS ESPECIALLY POLITICAL Q *OURNALISTS FOLLOW RECOGNIZED AND ACCEPTED ISSUES AND THAT THERE IS OPEN CRITICISM OF THE GOVERN ETHICAL STANDARDS MENT /THERS ARGUED THAT THE QUALITY OF COVERAGE IS POOR DUE TO A LACK OF MOTIVATION CAUSED MAINLY BY LOW WAGES Q *OURNALISTS AND EDITORS DO NOT PRACTICE SELF CENSORSHIP AND WEAK EDITORS AND LEADERSHIP 4HEY ALSO ARGUED THAT STEREOTYPES EXIST ESPECIALLY REGARDING ETHNIC ISSUES AND Q *OURNALISTS COVER KEY EVENTS AND ISSUES RELATIONSHIPS AND POINTED OUT THE DIFFERENCES IN HOW Q 0AY LEVELS FOR JOURNALISTS AND OTHER MEDIA DIFFERENT LANGUAGE GROUPS REPORT THE SAME EVENTS !S A PROFESSIONALS ARE SUFlCIENTLY HIGH TO DISCOURAGE RESULT THEY CONTENDED THERE IS NO FAIR OR OBJECTIVE JOUR CORRUPTION NALISM 3AID A PANELIST h$O WE ALWAYS HAVE BOTH SIDES ) AGREE GENERALLY YES "UT IF A -ACEDONIAN WRITES ABOUT A Q %NTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING DOES NOT ECLIPSE NEWS AND INFORMATION PROGRAMMING SUBJECT CONNECTED TO !LBANIANS HE WRITES ABOUT IT NEGA TIVELY )F HE USES AN !LBANIAN SOURCE HE MISREPRESENTS Q 4ECHNICAL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT FOR GATHERING IT "UT IT IS EVEN WORSE WITH !LBANIAN JOURNALISTS 4HEY PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING NEWS ARE MODERN WRITE WITHOUT ASKING FOR A STATEMENT FROM THE -ACEDO AND EFlCIENT NIAN SOURCEv Q 1UALITY NICHE REPORTING AND PROGRAMMING 4HE GROUP SAID CASES OF OUTRIGHT CORRUPTION EXISTS INVESTIGATIVE ECONOMICSBUSINESS LOCAL
SUCH AS hPREWRITTENv AND hPREPAIDv ARTICLES WERE RARE 02/&%33)/.!, */52.!,)3- ).$)#!4/23 POLITICAL -!#%$/.)! THE PRIVATE SECTOR 4HE PANEL DID NOT lND A DIRECT CONNEC /BJECTIVE 0LURALITY OF .EWS 3OURCES TION BETWEEN THE LOW WAGE AND CORRUPTION 4HE PANEL AGREED THAT SELF CENSORSHIP EXISTED -ACEDONIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE MOSTLY BECAUSE OUTLETS FEAR LOSING REVENUE 4HE MEDIA ARE AFRAID TO REPORT NEGATIVELY ABOUT COMPANIES DUE TO !T THE END OF THERE WERE PRIVATE BROADCASTERS CONCERN ABOUT LOSING ADVERTISING AND THE SAME CAN HOLD THREE NATIONAL STATE TELEVISION CHANNELS THREE NATIONAL TRUE FOR REPORTING ABOUT GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS THAT STATE RADIO STATIONS AND STATE OWNED LOCAL BROADCAST MIGHT ADVERTISE IN OR HAVE INmUENCE OVER THE MEDIA !S ERS 4HERE WERE PRIVATE DAILY NEWSPAPERS ALTHOUGH A RESULT MOST MEDIA ARE LOYAL TO A hCIRCLEv OF BUSINESS AND THE NEWLY PRIVATIZED DAILIES 6EÝER .OVA -AKEDONIJA AND POLITICAL INTERESTS h*OURNALISTS IN -ACEDONIA ARE AFRAID &LAKA WERE BARELY FUNCTIONAL AND THE BIG THREE $NEVNIK OF POLITICIANS AFRAID FOR THE lNANCIAL EXISTENCE OF THEIR 5TRINSKI 6ESNIK AND 6EST WERE ALL OWNED BY 7!: 4HERE MEDIA AND AFRAID TO LOSE THEIR JOBS v SAID A PANELIST h!S WERE ABOUT MAGAZINES OF WHICH ABOUT WEEKLIES MUCH AS THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT TRANSPARENT NEITHER ARE HAD SERIOUS WEEKLY NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS CONTENT !S JOURNALISTS 4HE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT THE MEDIA IS POLITI A RESULT PLURALITY DOES EXISTAUGMENTED BY WIDESPREAD CALLY INmUENCED AND ECONOMICALLY DEPENDENTv AND GROWING ACCESS TO THE )NTERNET 4HERE ARE NO SERIOUS %NTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING DOES NOT DOMINATE OR BARRIERS TO ACCESS PRINTED OR BROADCASTED MATERIAL APART ECLIPSE NEWS PROGRAMMING /NE OF THE MOST HIGHLY RATED FROM THE GENERAL POVERTY OF THE POPULATION 4HERE ARE PROGRAMS IN -ACEDONIA REMAINS ! 46S EVENING NEWS SHOW NO SIGNIlCANT RESTRICTIONS ON INTERNATIONAL MEDIA AND 4HE STATE OF TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT IN -ACEDONIA INFORMATION SOURCES REMAINS MIXED 3OME BROADCASTERS NOTABLY #HANNEL 0LURALITY IS WEAKER IN THE NONMAJORITY LANGUAGE 46 IN 3KOPJE 46 4ERA IN "ITOLA AND RADIO STATION MEDIA !LTHOUGH -246 NOW BROADCASTS NINE HOURS +ANAL HAVE EXCELLENT FACILITIES !LBANIAN BROADCASTERS A DAY IN THE !LBANIAN LANGUAGE AND CONTAINS MINOR ARE GENERALLY LESS ADVANCED AND LESS WELL EQUIPPED BUT ITY PROGRAMMING IN 4URKISH 2OMA 3ERBIAN 6LACH HAVE MADE PROGRESS THROUGH DONOR FUNDING AND PRIVATE AND "OSNIAN THERE IS STILL NO PRIVATE NATIONAL !LBANIAN INVESTMENT &OR EXAMPLE 46 %RA IN 3KOPJE INVESTED BROADCASTER &AKTI REMAINS THE ONLY SIGNIlCANT PRIVATE IN MODERN FACILITIES PARTLY THROUGH A SMALL GRANT FROM DAILY NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN THE !LBANIAN LANGUAGE THE )NTERNATIONAL -EDIA &UND A DONOR GROUP OF SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS /VERALL THE QUALITY OF TECH NICAL EQUIPMENT IS NOT A SERIOUS BARRIER TO THE DISSEMINA -ULTIPLE NEWS SOURCES PROVIDE CITIZENS WITH TION OR COLLECTION OF INFORMATION IN -ACEDONIA RELIABLE AND OBJECTIVE NEWS 6ERY LITTLE NICHE BROADCASTING EXISTS DUE TO THE Q ! PLURALITY OF AFFORDABLE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NEWS HIGH COSTS OF INVESTIGATIVE AND IN DEPTH TELEVISION REPORT SOURCES EG PRINT BROADCAST )NTERNET EXISTS ING (OWEVER 3ITEL 46 WON A NOMINATION FOR ITS INVESTI GATIVE REPORTING ON HUMAN TRAFlCKING AS PART OF A PROJECT Q #ITIZENS ACCESS TO DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL ADMINISTERED BY THE -)- 4HE )NTERNATIONAL -ONETARY MEDIA IS NOT RESTRICTED &UND SUPPORTS AN ISSUE BASED JOURNALISM PROJECT WHICH Q 3TATE OR PUBLIC MEDIA REmECT THE VIEWS OF THE IS A MONTHLY SERIES OF REPORTS FROM A CORE GROUP OF LOCAL ENTIRE POLITICAL SPECTRUM ARE NONPARTISAN AND BROADCASTERS 3EARCH FOR #OMMON 'ROUND FUNDS A SIMI SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST LAR PROJECT CALLED h#ARAVANSv THAT PRODUCES LOCAL STORIES Q )NDEPENDENT NEWS AGENCIES GATHER AND DISTRIB FROM AROUND -ACEDONIA 4HE PRINT MEDIA GENERALLY DO A UTE NEWS FOR PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA BETTER JOB OF NICHE REPORTING AND ALTHOUGH THE QUALITY IS NOT OUTSTANDING THE RESULTS DO ADD TO PUBLIC AWARENESS Q )NDEPENDENT BROADCAST MEDIA PRODUCE THEIR OWN NEWS PROGRAMS OF KEY ISSUES 3OME OF THIS MATERIAL RESULTS FROM DONOR SPONSORED ACTIVITY SUCH AS REPORTS IN ,OBI AND +APITAL Q 4RANSPARENCY OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP ALLOWS MAGAZINES ON TOPICS INCLUDING HOMOSEXUALITY CORRUP CONSUMERS TO JUDGE OBJECTIVITY OF NEWS TION IN NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS .'/S HUMAN MEDIA OWNERSHIP IS NOT CONCENTRATED IN A FEW CONGLOMERATES TRAFlCKING AND THE PLIGHT OF 2OMA PEOPLE Q ! BROAD SPECTRUM OF SOCIAL INTERESTS ARE REmECTED AND REPRESENTED IN THE MEDIA INCLUD
0,52!,)49 /& .%73 3/52#%3 ).$)#!4/23 ING MINORITY LANGUAGE INFORMATION SOURCES -%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI $ESPITE ONGO ! PANELIST ARGUED THAT !LL AGREED THAT THERE IS NO MEDIA CONCENTRATION ING REFORMS IN THE IN THE BROADCAST SECTOR AND THAT IN FACT WITH SOME STATE MEDIA THE hACCORDING TO ALL WORLD BROADCASTERS THE SITUATION MORE APPROXIMATED CHAOS PANEL WAS SKEPTICAL STANDARDS IF TO ABOUT HOW IT REmECTS VIEWS ACROSS THE PERCENT OF TOTAL /BJECTIVE "USINESS -ANAGEMENT POLITICAL SPECTRUM CIRCULATION IS IN THE -ACEDONIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE 4HIS IS INDICATIVE OF THE GOVERNMENTS HANDS OF ONE COMPANY 4HERE IS A RATHER LARGE NUMBER OF BOTH PRINT AND BROAD ABILITY TO APPOINT THAT IS A MONOPOLYv CAST MEDIA RELATIVE TO -ACEDONIAS POPULATION !T THE THE MANAGERIAL AND SAME TIME THE -ACEDONIAN ECONOMY IS WEAK 7HILE EDITORIAL LEADER THE MARKET HAS BECOME MORE SOPHISTICATED BETTER USES SHIP AT -246 4HERE WAS LITTLE FAITH IN THE GOVERNMENTS MARKET RESEARCH AND GENERALLY FUNCTIONS IN A MORE CLAIMS THAT IT WILL KEEP TO THE PROVISIONS FOR AN INDEPEN PROFESSIONAL MANNER EVERY YEAR THERE REMAIN MANY DENT BROADCASTER CONTAINED WITHIN THE NEW BROADCAST LAW WEAKNESSES 3OME OF THE LARGER MEDIA ARE PROlTABLE! 4HE PANEL RAISED THE ISSUE OF hETHNIC REPRESENTA 46 46 3ITEL 5TRINSKI 6ESNIK AND $NEVNIK IN PARTICU TIONv AT THE STATE BROADCASTER !TTITUDES VARIED BUT SOME LAR -OST OF THE SMALL PUBLICATIONS AND BROADCASTERS SAW A TREND TOWARD IMPROVEMENT BLAMING EXISTING STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE THEY DEPEND ON THEIR BUSINESS AND WEAKNESSES ON A LACK OF TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT AND MONEY POLITICAL AFlLIATIONS AS WELL AS DONATIONS AND SUPPORT /THERS HOWEVER VIEWED THE INCREASE IN !LBANIAN LAN FROM GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES SUCH AS THE PERCENT OF THE GUAGE PROGRAMMING AS INSUFlCIENT BECAUSE ITS QUALITY BROADCAST FEE IS TOO POOR TO SATISFY THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY 4HE 4HE PLIGHT OF THE 2OMA MEDIA IS PARTICULARLY BAD GROUP AGREED THOUGH THAT THE 2OMA WERE MOST DISCRIM ! PANELIST SAID 46 3HUTEL hIS SELF lNANCING THROUGH ITS INATED AGAINST WITH JUST HALF AN HOUR OF PROGRAMMING SHARE OF THE PERCENT OF THE BROADCAST FEE SUPPORT FROM THREE TIMES A WEEK AT AN INCONVENIENT TIME OF DAY INTERNATIONAL DONORS AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF REVENUE 4HE PANEL FELT THERE WAS A LACK OF SOURCES OF EARNED FROM GREETINGS PROGRAMS "UT AS FOR ADVERTISE NEWS AGENCY INFORMATION WITH ONLY ONE WEAK PRI VATE AGENCY -AKFAX WHICH IS POORLY ORGANIZED AND SUPPORTS ONLY A FEW PART TIME hSTRINGERSv 4HE PANEL )NDEPENDENT MEDIA ARE WELL MANAGED AGREED THAT THE LARGE GOVERNMENT RUN NEWS AGENCY BUSINESSES ALLOWING EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE -)! WAS QUITE GOOD ALTHOUGH CRITICS SUGGESTED IT IS Q -EDIA OUTLETS AND SUPPORTING lRMS OPERATE AS TOO CLOSE TO THE GOVERNMENT EFlCIENT PROFESSIONAL AND PROlT GENERATING !LL AGREED THAT TRANSPARENCY OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP BUSINESSES EXISTED AND THAT THE PUBLIC WAS AWARE OF WHO OWNED WHAT AS WELL AS THE BASIC POLITICAL AFlLIATIONS OF EACH Q -EDIA RECEIVE REVENUE FROM A MULTITUDE OF SOURCES MEDIA 4HERE WAS CONCERN THOUGH THAT THE PUBLIC OUT SIDE THE CAPITAL 3KOPJE WAS LESS AWARE OF THE MEDIAS BIAS Q !DVERTISING AGENCIES AND RELATED INDUSTRIES AND AFlLIATIONS SUPPORT AN ADVERTISING MARKET #ONCENTRATION OF OWNERSHIP SPARKED A HEATED Q !DVERTISING REVENUE AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL DEBATE FOCUSING ON WHETHER 7!:S ENTRY INTO THE MARKET REVENUE IS IN LINE WITH ACCEPTED STANDARDS AT HAD CREATED A MONOPOLY /NE PANELIST ARGUED THAT COMMERCIAL OUTLETS hACCORDING TO ALL WORLD STANDARDS IF TO PERCENT OF Q )NDEPENDENT MEDIA DO NOT RECEIVE GOVERNMENT TOTAL CIRCULATION IS IN THE HANDS OF ONE COMPANY THAT IS SUBSIDIES A MONOPOLYv !NOTHER SAID HIS COMPANY HAD MANAGED hTO DO WHAT $NEVNIK 5TRINSKI 6ESNIK AND 6EST COULDNT Q -ARKET RESEARCH IS USED TO FORMULATE STRATEGIC PLANS ENHANCE ADVERTISING REVENUE AND TAILOR CREATE A JOINT DISTRIBUTION AND PRINTING HOUSE 4HE PAPERS PRODUCTS TO THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF EACH HAVE THEIR OWN EDITORIAL POLICY 7!: HAS ONLY AUDIENCES PERCENT OF THE MANAGEMENT AND THAT IS NOT A MONOPOLYv "53).%33 -!.!'%-%.4 ).$)#!4/23 Q "ROADCAST RATINGS AND CIRCULATION lGURES ARE RELIABLY AND INDEPENDENTLY PRODUCED
-!#%$/.)! ! PANELIST SAID MENTS NO -OST $ISTRIBUTION IS NOT A SIGNIlCANT BARRIER IN ACCESS DONT USE USv ING NEWS AND INFORMATION ! VARIETY OF DISTRIBUTION NEWSPAPERS hFACE 4HE ARRIVAL OF lRMS EXIST WITH NO VISIBLE GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE lNANCIAL CRISIS IF THEY 7!: TO THE PRINT 6REME THE NEW -ACEDONIAN DAILY HAS EASILY SET UP ITS MEDIA INDUSTRY SUG OWN DISTRIBUTION NETWORK USING BOOTHS SHOPS AND STREET DONT HAVE BIG BACKERS GESTS THERE IS POTEN VENDORS ! RANGE OF PRINTING PRESSES EXIST AND ACCESS TO AS REVENUE FROM TIAL PROlT IN THE PRESSES OUTSIDE -ACEDONIA IS VERY FEASIBLE MARKET AND THAT THE "ROADCAST RATINGS ARE INCREASINGLY RELIABLE AND ADVERTISING IS TOO MEDIA CONGLOMER ARE GENERALLY VIEWED WITH CONSIDERABLE TRUST )2%8 LOW AND THE PRICE ATE IS LIKELY TO BRING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE !0%-- HAS FUNDED A MAJOR MORE EFFECTIVE BUSI PROJECT PROVIDING RATINGS TO THE BROADCAST MEDIA OF NEWSPAPERS IS NESS MANAGEMENT "ROADCASTERS AND ADVERTISERS ARE INCREASINGLY USING 7ITH THE CONSOLIDA RATINGS AS THE BASIS FOR PROGRAMMING CHOICES AND FOR SET TOO LOWv TION OF PRINTING AND PLACING ADS (OWEVER SERIOUS ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS DISTRIBUTION UNDER REMAIN A POLITICAL CHOICE BASED ON THE AFlLIATION OF A 7!: FURTHER EFlCIENCIES ARE EXPECTED )NTERNATIONAL PARTICULAR BROADCASTER AND PUBLISHER DONATIONS AND SUBSIDIES TO THE MEDIA HAVE DECREASED AS THE COUNTRY HAS STABILIZED BUT SOME OUTLETS STILL SECURE A SIGNIlCANT PART OF THEIR FUNDING THROUGH THE DONOR /BJECTIVE 3UPPORTING )NSTITUTIONS COMMUNITY (OWEVER PANEL MEMBERS EXPRESSED CONCERN -ACEDONIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE ABOUT THE RELATIVELY WEAK ADVERTISING MARKET ! PANELIST SAID NEWSPAPERS hFACE lNANCIAL CRISIS IF THEY DONT HAVE 4HE PANEL GAVE ITS HIGHEST SCORE TO THIS OBJECTIVE RECOG BIG BACKERS AS REVENUE FROM ADVERTISING IS TOO LOW AND NIZING THE REMARKABLE DEVELOPMENT OF MEDIA ASSOCIA THE PRICE OF NEWSPAPERS IS SET TOO LOWv TIONS AND INSTITUTIONS 4HE -)- CARRIES OUT EXTENSIVE 3TATE SUBSIDIES STILL EXIST BUT THERE IS A TREND AND COORDINATED TRAINING AND WAS WIDELY COMPLIMENTED TOWARD THEIR REDUCTION AND REMOVAL )N THE GOV ESPECIALLY FOR EFFECTIVELY CATERING TO THE NEEDS OF SMALLER ERNMENT PROVIDED -+$ MILLION ROUGHLY MEDIA HOUSES AND MINORITY MEDIA SUCH AS THE 2OMA FROM THE STATE BUDGET TO THE PRIVATE PRINTED PRESS -UCH 4HE -$# FOCUSES ON LEGAL REFORM AND IS RESPONSIBLE LIKE THE PERCENT OF THE BROADCAST TAX THAT GOES TO PRI FOR BRINGING THE NEW BROADCAST LAW BEFORE THE GOVERN VATE BROADCASTERS THIS MONEY IS GENERALLY ACCEPTED AS A MENT 4HE !0%-- IS RECOGNIZED AS AN EFFECTIVE LOBBY MEANS BY WHICH THE GOVERNMENT MAY STRONGLY INmUENCE FOR ITS MEMBERS (OWEVER THE !SSOCIATION OF *OURNALISTS EDITORIAL POLICY (OWEVER THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROMISED OF -ACEDONIA !*- AND THE !SSOCIATION OF 0UBLISHERS THIS SUBSIDY WILL CEASE AND NO PROVISIONS FOR IT ARE BEING AND .EWS !GENCIES OF -ACEDONIA !0.!- WERE BOTH MADE IN THE BUDGET CRITICIZED FOR BEING TOO WEAK 4HE PANEL ACKNOWLEDGED 4HE PANEL AGREED THAT ALTHOUGH THE OVERALL AD THAT THE !*- OFFERED REAL PROTECTION TO JOURNALISTS BUT MARKET IS WEAK THE ADVERTISING AGENCIES WORK WELL IN FELT IT SHOULD MORE ACTIVELY PRESS FOR LEGAL REFORM 4HE -ACEDONIA WITH NEARLY ALL AD PLACEMENTS GOING THROUGH !*- WAS ALSO CRITICIZED BECAUSE ITS SECRETARY GENERAL THEM 4HE PANEL ASSERTED THAT THE AVAILABLE MARKET 3AÝA #OLAKOVSKI LEFT THE ASSOCIATION TO BECOME A GOVERN RESEARCH IS RELIABLE EXCEPT FOR DATA CONCERNING THE SIZE MENT SPOKESMAN IN LATE 4HIS MOVE DAMAGED THE OF THE ADVERTISING MARKET "EST ESTIMATES COMPILED FROM REPUTATION OF THE ASSOCIATION WHICH IS STILL STRUGGLING TO SEVERAL SOURCES PLACE THE TOTAL AD MARKET FOR -ACEDO OVERCOME THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS NIA AT ; MILLION TO ; MILLION PER YEAR 3OME IN THE ! FOUR YEAR JOURNALISM DEGREE IS OFFERED AT THE INDUSTRY BELIEVE TOTAL AD REVENUE COULD TOP ; MILLION 5NIVERSITY OF 3AINT #YRIL AND -ETODIUS IN 3KOPJE AND A PER YEAR BUT THIS lGURE LIKELY INCLUDES THE ESTIMATED COMMUNICATIONS DEGREE IS BEING DEVELOPED AT THE 3OUTH VALUE OF UNPAID ADS AND ADS GIVEN THROUGH BARTER DEALS %AST %UROPEAN 5NIVERSITY IN 4ETOVO WHICH OFFERS SOME $ESPITE THE CONlDENCE EXPRESSED BY PANEL MEMBERS JOURNALISM COURSES 4HE DEGREE PROGRAM IN 3KOPJE WAS LOCAL ADVERTISING GENERALLY IS NOT PLACED THROUGH AGENCIES CRITICIZED FOR PROVIDING NO EFFECTIVE PRACTICAL TEACHING AND LOCAL BROADCASTERS STRUGGLE TO SELL TIME IN AN INDUSTRY BEING CLOSED TO INNOVATIONS AND UNABLE TO CARRY OUT NEC THAT IS TOO CENTRALLY FOCUSED #IRCULATION lGURES TOO ARE ESSARY REFORMS 0ANELISTS ALSO REPORTED THAT NO !LBANIAN STILL NOT ENTIRELY RELIABLE STUDENTS HAVE ATTENDED THE COURSE RECENTLY DESPITE THE
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI 3UPPORTING INSTITUTIONS FUNCTION IN THE 0ANEL 0ARTICIPANTS PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA -ELITA #OKREVSKA 53!)$ Q 4RADE ASSOCIATIONS REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF PRIVATE MEDIA OWNERS AND PROVIDE MEMBER !CO +ABRANOV JOURNALIST AND EDITOR OF NEWS AND INFOR SERVICES MATION PROGRAMS #HANNEL 46
Q 0ROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS WORK TO PROTECT 3AÝO /RDANOSKI EDITOR IN CHIEF &ORUM JOURNALISTS RIGHTS
Q .'/S SUPPORT FREE SPEECH AND INDEPENDENT %ROL 2IZALV EDITOR IN CHIEF 5TRINSKI 6ESNIK MEDIA .ASER 3ELMANI JOURNALIST 6EST Q 1UALITY JOURNALISM DEGREE PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE EXIST %LEONORA 3ERAlMOVSKA PSYCHOLOGIST AND ASSISTANT Q 3HORT TERM TRAINING AND IN SERVICE TRAINING )NSTITUTE FOR 3OCIOLOGICAL 0OLITICAL AND *URIDICAL 2ESEARCH PROGRAMS ALLOW JOURNALISTS TO UPGRADE SKILLS OR )30*2 ACQUIRE NEW SKILLS
Q 3OURCES OF NEWSPRINT AND PRINTING FACILITIES ARE -UHAREM 3ULEJMAN EDITOR 46 3HUTEL PRIVATE APOLITICAL AND UNRESTRICTED ,JUPCO ÌIKOV MANAGER AND EDITOR IN CHIEF +APITAL Q #HANNELS OF MEDIA DISTRIBUTION KIOSKS TRANS MITTERS )NTERNET ARE PRIVATE APOLITICAL AND 3500/24).' ).34)454)/.3 ).$)#!4/23 UNRESTRICTED -ODERATOR 6ESNA ±OPAR 0H$ )NSTITUTE FOR 3OCIOLOGICAL 0OLITICAL AND *URIDICAL 2ESEARCH )30*2 GENERAL CONSENSUS THAT THE !LBANIAN LANGUAGE MEDIA DESPERATELY NEED WELL TRAINED JOURNALISTS 4HE COMMU /BSERVERS NICATIONS STUDIES COURSE IN 4ETOVO WAS COMPLIMENTED FOR BEING MODERN BUT IT IS TOO NEW TO BE EVALUATED FOR THE 3HEENA 4HOMSON SPOKESPERSON /FlCE OF THE 3PECIAL QUALITY OF ITS GRADUATES 2EPRESENTATIVE OF THE %UROPEAN 5NION IN 3KOPJE
-IKE DE 6ILLIERS RESIDENT ADVISOR )2%8-ACEDONIA
-!#%$/.)! h!LL WHO STOOD IN FAVOR OF THESE LAWS DURING THEIR ADOPTION WERE EXPOSED TO STRONG PRESSURETHE POLITICIANS REMAINED THE DECISION MAKERS IN THE DOMAIN OF MEDIAv -ONTENEGRO
)NTRODUCTION ESPITE THE OPPOSITIONS WITHDRAWAL FROM GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION IN -AY BROUGHT RELATIVE STABILITY TO THE -ONTENEGRIN GOVERNMENT 4HE DEFEAT OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN LATE AND THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN EARLY MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE RULING COALITION TO WORK WITHIN A DEMOCRATIC MANDATE 0OLITICS WERE THE -ONTENEGRIN MEDIAS CENTER OF ATTENTION DURING WITH REPORTS FOCUSED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION QUESTIONS OF LEGITIMACY RAISED RELATIVE TO THE WORK OF THE PARLIAMENT POLITICAL SCAN DALS AND STATE POLICY ON DOMESTIC REFORMS FOREIGN POLICY TOWARD THE %UROPEAN 5NION %5 AND 3ERBIA AND OTHER KEY ISSUES 4HE INCREAS $INGLY ACTIVE CIVIL SOCIETYTHE NUMBER OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZA TIONS .'/S GREW TO ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO A MORE DEMOCRATIC CLIMATE IN THE COUNTRY 4HERE WERE MIXED ECONOMIC INDICATORS HOWEVER 4HE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT GREW BY PERCENT FOREIGN TRADE INCREASED THE INmATION RATE FELL TO PERCENT THE JOB MARKET GREW TO LEGALLY EMPLOYED WORKERS AND BANK INTEREST RATES DECLINED TO APPROXIMATELY PERCENT /N THE DOWNSIDE THE AVERAGE MONTHLY SALARY STAGNATED AT ; PER WORKER WITH PERCENT OF THE POPULATION BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL AND PERCENT POTENTIALLY VULNERABLE -EANWHILE FOREIGN INVEST MENT FELL TO AROUND ; MILLION AS THE GRAY ECONOMY mOURISHED &OR THE MEDIA INDUSTRY THERE WERE FEW POSITIVE STEPS DURING !LTHOUGH -ONTENEGRO WON ADMISSION TO THE #OUNCIL OF %UROPE THROUGH ADOPTION OF LIBERAL MEDIA LAWS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE LAWS CONTINUES TO BE SLOW AND DIFlCULT 7ITH MORE MEDIA OUTLETS OPENING COMPETITION HAS STIFFENED -EDIA PROFESSIONALISM REMAINS INADEQUATE AND ETHICAL STANDARDS ARE LOW 4HERE HAVE BEEN DISPUTES RELATED TO THE PUBLIC BROADCASTING SERVICE AND DIFlCULTIES IN ESTABLISH ING AN INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 0ROGRESS IN INCLUDED GREATER PLURALISM IN TERMS OF AVAILABLE INFORMATION GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK INCLUDING A CRIMINAL LAW THAT RESTRICTS PENALTIES FOR LIBEL TO lNES RATHER THAN PRISON SENTENCES AND BETTER INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE MEDIA COMMUNITY
-/.4%.%'2/ /BJECTIVE 3CORING )NDICATOR 3CORING 4HE AVERAGES OF ALL THE INDICATORS ARE AVERAGED TO OBTAIN A SINGLE %ACH INDICATOR IS SCORED USING THE FOLLOWING SYSTEM OVERALL SCORE FOR EACH OBJECTIVE /BJECTIVE SCORES ARE AVERAGED TO PROVIDE #OUNTRY DOES NOT MEET INDICATOR GOVERNMENT OR SOCIAL FORCES MAY ACTIVELY AN OVERALL SCORE FOR THE COUNTRY )2%8 INTERPRETS THE OVERALL SCORES AS FOLLOWS OPPOSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND ABOVE 3USTAINABLE AND FREE INDEPENDENT MEDIA #OUNTRY MINIMALLY MEETS ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR FORCES MAY NOT AC T IVELY OPPOSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION BUT BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT MAY NOT SUPPORT IT n )NDEPENDENT MEDIA APPROACHING SUSTAINABILITY AND GOVERNMENT OR PROFESSION DO NOT FULLY AND ACTIVELY SUPPORT CHANGE n 3IGNIlCANT PROGRESS REMAINS TO BE MADE #OUNTRY HAS BEGUN TO MEET MANY ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR BUT PROGRESS MAY SOCIETY OR GOVERNMENT IS NOT FULLY SUPPORTIVE BE TOO RECENT TO JUDGE OR STILL DEPENDENT ON CURRENT GOVERNMENT OR POLITICAL FORCES n #OUNTRY MEETS FEW INDICATORS GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY ACTIVELY OPPOSE CHANGE #OUNTRY MEETS MOST ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INDICA TOR HAS OCCURRED OVER SEVERAL YEARS ANDOR THROUGH CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT INDICATING LIKELY SUSTAINABILITY #OUNTRY MEETS THE ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR IMPLEMENTATION HAS REM AI NE D INTACT OVER MULTIPLE CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC mUCTUATIONS CHANGES IN PUBLIC OPINION ANDOR CHANGING SOCIAL CONVENTIONS
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI /BJECTIVE &REE 3PEECH POLITICIANS REMAINED h!RE THESE LAWS THE DECISION MAKERS -ONTENEGRO /BJECTIVE 3CORE IN THE DOMAIN OF A STEP FORWARD MEDIAv ARE THEY BETTER !LL -EDIA 3USTAINABILITY )NDEX -3) PANEL PARTICIPANTS 0ANELISTS CONSIDERED THE NEW MEDIA LEGISLATION THE -EDIA ,AW NOTED THE LACK OF /F COURSE THEY ARE THE "ROADCASTING ,AW AND THE ,AW ON 0UBLIC "ROADCAST LAWS ON FREE ACCESS !RE THEY GOOD ENOUGH ING 3ERVICES h2ADIO #RNA 'OREv AND h46 #RNA 'ORAv TO INFORMATION AS MARKING TREMENDOUS PROGRESS TOWARD CREATION OF A SAYING IT REDUCES ) DONT THINK SO v MODERN LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE MEDIA IN THE OBLIGATION OF SAID ONE PANELIST -ONTENEGRO !LTHOUGH THE NEW LEGISLATION STILL HAS SOME THE AUTHORITIES TO DElCIENCIES IT IS GENERALLY SEEN AS A BODY OF LAW CONTRIB ENSURE THE MEDIA UTING TO MODERNIZATION OF THE SECTOR /NE IMPORTANT CAN INFORM THE EXAMPLE IS THE REDElNITION OF DEFAMATION IN THE NEW PUBLIC /NE PARTICIPANT NOTED THAT THE PROPOSED LAW IN CRIMINAL CODE WHICH NOW LIMITS PENALTIES TO lNES h!RE DRAFT FORM DID NOT SET ANY TIME LIMITS FOR STATE OFlCIALS THESE LAWS A STEP FORWARD ARE THEY BETTER /F COURSE TO SUPPLY REQUESTED INFORMATION !NOTHER STATUTORY THEY ARE !RE THEY GOOD ENOUGH ) DONT THINK SO v SAID ISSUE THE PANELISTS NOTED CONCERNED THE POTENTIAL CON ONE PANELIST h!LL WHO STOOD IN FAVOR OF THESE LAWS DURING CENTRATION OF MEDIA OUTLET OWNERSHIP 0ANELISTS SAID THE THEIR ADOPTION WERE EXPOSED TO STRONG PRESSURETHE ABSENCE OF ANTIMONOPOLY LAWS ENCOURAGES THE OWNER SHIP OF MANY OUTLETS BY A SMALL NUMBER OF OWNERS -3) PARTICIPANTS ALSO SAID THE CURRENT COPYRIGHT LAW IS INAD ,EGAL AND SOCIAL NORMS PROTECT AND PROMOTE EQUATE AND THE FAILURE TO IMPLEMENT EXISTING LEGISLATION FREE SPEECH AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION IS EVEN MORE PROBLEMATIC !LTHOUGH THE EXISTING MEDIA LEGISLATION WAS PASSED Q ,EGALSOCIAL PROTECTIONS OF FREE SPEECH EXIST IN PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTATION HAS BEEN SLOW DUE AND ARE ENFORCED TO RESISTANCE AND MANIPULATION BY THE MEDIA COMMUNITY Q ,ICENSING OF BROADCAST MEDIA IS FAIR COMPETITIVE ITSELF 4HE DELAY IN ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND APOLITICAL SERVICE AT THE NATIONAL AND MUNICIPAL LEVELS IS OF PARTICU LAR CONCERN 4HE TRANSFORMATION OF THE 2ADIO ) 4ELEVIZIJA Q -ARKET ENTRY AND TAX STRUCTURE FOR MEDIA ARE FAIR #RNA 'ORE 24#' INTO A VIABLE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN AND COMPARABLE TO OTHER INDUSTRIES A CHALLENGING PROCESS 4HE ORGANIZATION HAS EXPERIENCED Q #RIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS OR MEDIA OUTLETS ARE MANAGEMENT DIFlCULTIES INCLUDING UNCLEAR PROVISIONS PROSECUTED VIGOROUSLY BUT OCCURRENCES OF SUCH FOR SELECTING MEMBERS OF THE 24#' #OUNCIL &INDING CRIMES ARE RARE SKILLED PROGRAM MANAGERS AND OTHER STAFF MAKING THE Q 3TATE OR PUBLIC MEDIA DO NOT RECEIVE PREFERENTIAL NECESSARY CHANGES IN ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE IMPROVING LEGAL TREATMENT AND LAW GUARANTEES EDITORIAL EQUIPMENT AND PLANNING A STRATEGY FOR lNANCIAL SUS INDEPENDENCE TAINABILITY HAVE BEEN MAJOR PROBLEMS FOR -ONTENEGROS Q ,IBEL IS A CIVIL LAW ISSUE PUBLIC OFlCIALS ARE HELD LARGEST MEDIA HOUSE TO HIGHER STANDARDS AND THE OFFENDED PARTY !LSO THE TRANSFORMATION OF LOCAL MEDIA INTO MUST PROVE FALSITY AND MALICE PUBLIC SERVICE OUTLETS HAS BEEN INEFlCIENT PANELISTS SAID 4HE MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES IN -ONTENEGRO APPEAR UNABLE Q 0UBLIC INFORMATION IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION IS EQUALLY ENFORCED FOR ALL AND UNWILLING POLITICALLY TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS h7E &2%% 30%%#( ).$)#!4/23 MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS HAVE TRIED TO MAKE PERHAPS THE MOST LIBERAL MEDIA LAWS IN %UROPE v SAID ONE PANEL MEMBER h!FTER THE ADOP Q -EDIA OUTLETS HAVE UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO INFOR TION OF THE LAWS A NUMBER OF US HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN MATION THIS IS EQUALLY ENFORCED FOR ALL MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS THEIR IMPLEMENTATION THROUGHOUT THE PAST YEAR 7E HAVE BEEN ALL AROUND -ONTENEGRO SEVERAL TIMES AND MET WITH Q %NTRY INTO THE JOURNALISM PROFESSION IS FREE AND ALMOST EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN CONNECTED TO MEDIA IN GOVERNMENT IMPOSES NO LICENSING RESTRICTIONS ANY WAY )T IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED THAT IMPLEMENTATION OR SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR JOURNALISTS WOULD BE BETTER IF THE LAWS WERE MORE COERCIVE 4HE BIG
-/.4%.%'2/ h4HERE WERE GEST PROBLEM IS THE FOR GENERALLY ACCEPTED STANDARDS ,AST YEARS #ODE OF LACK OF POLITICAL WILL %THICS ALTHOUGH SUPPORTED BY TRADE ASSOCIATIONS AND PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER PRIMARILY AT THE MEDIA OUTLETS HAS NOT BECOME A BINDING DOCUMENT FOR -ONTENEGRO WHO LOCAL LEVEL BECAUSE JOURNALISTS )T WAS THE GENERAL IMPRESSION OF THE PANEL THERE WAS MUCH THAT JOURNALISTS IN -ONTENEGRO ARE TORN BETWEEN RESPECT RESPONDED TO THE MANIPULATION OF ING PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND REJECTING THEM h0ROFES ADVERTISEMENT THE PROCESS IN SOME SIONAL STANDARDS ARE LOW DUE TO THE CHANGING NATURE OF MUNICIPALITIESv SOCIETY AND BASIC lNANCIAL LIMITATIONS v SAID ONE PAR PUBLISHED IN A DAILY 0ARTICIPANTS TICIPANT WHO NOTED h4HERE WERE PEOPLE FROM ALL PAPER UNDER THE TITLE ALSO SAID THE "ROAD OVER -ONTENEGRO WHO RESPONDED TO THE ADVERTISEMENT CASTING !GENCY "! PUBLISHED IN A DAILY PAPER UNDER THE TITLE @$O 9OU 7ANT @$O 9OU 7ANT TO MUST WORK EFlCIENTLY TO "ECOME A 46 3TAR !T THE SAME TIME ONLY ONE PERSON TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY APPLIED FOR A JOURNALISM COURSE ENTITLED @(OW A *OURNAL "ECOME A 46 3TAR THAT WILL STIMULATE IST 3HOULD "EHAVE IN FRONT OF 46 #AMERASv !T THE SAME TIME MEDIA DEVELOPMENT 3UBJECTIVE AND BIASED REPORTING IS EVIDENT -ANY AND REGULATE THE OUTLETS IGNORE A WIDER SPECTRUM OF RELEVANT SOURCES OF ONLY ONE PERSON INDUSTRY BY MONITOR INFORMATION !LTHOUGH THERE IS NO OFlCIAL CENSORSHIP APPLIED FOR A JOURNALISM ING THE NUMBER OF EDITORS CREATE FORBIDDEN TOPICS OR JOURNALISTS EXERCISE OUTLETS AND CONTROL SELF CENSORSHIP TO AVOID COVERING DIFlCULT OR CONTROVER COURSE ENTITLED @(OW LING DISTRIBUTION AND SIAL ISSUES 0ROBLEMS SUCH AS SELECTIVE REPORTING POLITICIZ A *OURNALIST 3HOULD PRICING OF BROADCAST ING EVENTS AVOIDING DIFlCULT NICHE TOPICS LIKE ECONOMICS FREQUENCIES !LONG AND EMPHASIZING SUPERlCIAL DETAILS ARE COMMONPLACE "EHAVE IN &RONT OF THESE LINES THE "! IS 4HERE IS AN INCREASING TREND TOWARD MARGINALIZING 46 #AMERASv TASKED WITH CREATING NEWS AND INFORMATION IN FAVOR OF ENTERTAINMENT AND A FREQUENCY PLAN AND COMMERCIAL PROGRAMMING -EDIA COMMERCIALIZATION A BROADCASTING STRAT HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE EVIDENT IN -ONTENEGRO h)N EGY THAT WILL ALLOW A FAIR TENDER OF BROADCAST LICENSES 7HILE WORK ON A FREQUENCY PLAN ONLY STARTED IN /CTOBER THE "! HAS BEEN DRAGGING ITS FEET ON THE STRATEGY #RITICS OF THE *OURNALISM MEETS PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF "! SUSPECT THAT POLITICAL MOTIVES HAVE SLOWED THE PROCESS QUALITY 3UCH CRITICS ARGUE THAT THE "! HAD PROBLEMS IN ADOPTING AN OPEN SKIES POLICY TOWARD 3ERBIA AND HAS NOT YET DECIDED ON Q 2EPORTING IS FAIR OBJECTIVE AND WELL SOURCED LICENSES FOR -ONTENEGRIN APPLICANTS Q *OURNALISTS FOLLOW RECOGNIZED AND ACCEPTED .O SIGNIlCANT LEGISLATIVE BARRIERS APPEAR TO DISCOUR ETHICAL STANDARDS AGE CREATION OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA 4HERE ARE A GROWING Q *OURNALISTS AND EDITORS DO NOT PRACTICE NUMBER OF SUCH OUTLETS IN -ONTENEGRO )N PRACTICE HOW SELF CENSORSHIP EVER EDITORIAL POLICIES ARE UNDER THE INmUENCE OF POLITICAL FORCES EITHER THE RULING AUTHORITIES OR THOSE SUPPORTING Q *OURNALISTS COVER KEY EVENTS AND ISSUES THE OPPOSITION 4HE MATURING OF THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA IS Q 0AY LEVELS FOR JOURNALISTS AND OTHER MEDIA HAMPERED BY POLITICAL INmUENCE AS WELL AS BY lNANCIAL AND PROFESSIONALS ARE SUFlCIENTLY HIGH TO DISCOURAGE TECHNICAL LIMITATIONS &AIRLY STRICT CORPORATE AND TAX REGULA CORRUPTION TIONS ALSO AFFECT MEDIA BUT NOT MORE SO THAN OTHER INDUS Q %NTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING DOES NOT ECLIPSE TRIES AND BUSINESSES NEWS AND INFORMATION PROGRAMMING
Q 4ECHNICAL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT FOR GATHERING /BJECTIVE 0ROFESSIONAL *OURNALISM PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING NEWS ARE MODERN AND EFlCIENT -ONTENEGRO /BJECTIVE 3CORE Q 1UALITY NICHE REPORTING AND PROGRAMMING -ONTENEGRIN JOURNALISM CAN BE CHARACTERIZED BY A LOW EXISTS INVESTIGATIVE ECONOMICSBUSINESS LOCAL LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM AND A LACK OF NECESSARY RESPECT 02/&%33)/.!, */52.!,)3- ).$)#!4/23 POLITICAL -%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI ALL PRIVATE TELEVISION h)T SEEMS THAT EITHER /BJECTIVE 0LURALITY OF .EWS 3OURCES STATIONS IN -ON TENEGRO NEWS HAS NEWS IS NOT PROlTABLE -ONTENEGRO /BJECTIVE 3CORE BECOME LESS AND LESS ENOUGH OR IT IS EASIER INTERESTING v SAID -ONTENEGROS MEDIA MARKET IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED TO ONE PARTICIPANT h)T TO MAKE OTHER TYPES BE OVERSATURATED .UMEROUS PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA SEEMS THAT EITHER OF PROGRAMS ) AM OPERATE AT NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEVELS INCLUDING THREE NEWS IS NOT PROlT NATIONAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOUR NATIONAL DAILIES SEVERAL ABLE ENOUGH OR IT IS NOT AGAINST REGIONAL TELEVISION STATIONS MORE THAN LOCAL MEDIA EASIER TO MAKE OTHER ENTERTAINMENT OUTLETS AND ONE NATIONAL NEWS AGENCY !DDITIONALLY TYPES OF PROGRAMS FOREIGN PRESS FROM 3ERBIA IS WIDELY AVAILABLE #ITIZENS USE ) AM NOT AGAINST PROGRAMS BUT ) THESE MULTIPLE SOURCES TO OBTAIN ADEQUATE INFORMATION ENTERTAINMENT PRO -ARKET EVOLUTION WILL EVENTUALLY DECREASE THE NUMBER GRAMS BUT ) WOULD WOULD LIKE TO SEE NEWS OF MEDIA OUTLETS PANELISTS SAID h4WO DAILY PAPERS HAVE LIKE TO SEE NEWS SEGMENTS DEVELOPED ALREADY CEASED TO EXIST AND THE POSSIBLE CONSOLIDATION SEGMENTS DEVELOPED OF SMALL RADIO AND 46 STATIONS IN THE NORTH AND SOUTH BECAUSE THAT WOULD BECAUSE THAT WOULD OF -ONTENEGRO HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED v SAID ONE PANEL PRESS OUTLETS TO PRESS OUTLETS TO MEMBER (OWEVER THIS PARTICIPANT NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH MAKE THE NEWS MORE SOME OUTLETS PRIMARILY LOCAL ONES ARE LIKELY TO CLOSE NEW PROFESSIONALv MAKE THE NEWS TELEVISION STATIONS FROM 3ERBIA HAVE ENTERED THE MARKET 4HE LACK OF MORE PROFESSIONALv AND POSE A SIGNIlCANT COMPETITIVE BLOW FOR DOMESTIC PROFESSIONALISM IS STATIONS PARTICULARLY NOTICEABLE IN THE SENSATIONALIST REPORTING !LTHOUGH ACCESS TO DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL CARRIED IN THE DAILY PAPERS AND BROADCASTS #OMPETITION MEDIA IS UNRESTRICTED WITH NO CENSORSHIP OR RESTRICTIONS FOR HIGHER CIRCULATION AMONG PRINT MEDIA AND THE ELEC IMPOSED BY AUTHORITIES THEIR COST CREATES SOME LIMITA TRONIC MEDIAS RATINGS BATTLES OFTEN RESULT IN SACRIlCING TIONS -ANY CITIZENS CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY MORE THAN ONE QUALITY REPORTING FOR COMMERCIAL GAIN )N THIS WAY THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT MEDIA CULTURE IS SERI OUSLY THREATENED -ULTIPLE NEWS SOURCES PROVIDE CITIZENS WITH -EDIA PROFESSIONALSWHETHER REPORTERS OR TECHNI RELIABLE AND OBJECTIVE NEWS CAL STAFFRECEIVE LOW SALARIES WHICH UNDERMINES MORALE Q ! PLURALITY OF AFFORDABLE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NEWS AND THE DESIRE TO PRODUCE QUALITY WORK AS WELL AS MAKES SOURCES EG PRINT BROADCAST )NTERNET EXISTS THEM SUSCEPTIBLE TO CORRUPTION -OST MEDIA EMPLOYEES CANNOT SUPPORT THEMSELVES BASED ON THEIR MEAGER SALA Q #ITIZENS ACCESS TO DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL MEDIA IS NOT RESTRICTED RIES (OWEVER THE PREVAILING OPINION IS THAT CORRUPTION AMONG JOURNALISTS IS NOT A SERIOUS CONCERN AND LACK OF Q 3TATE OR PUBLIC MEDIA REmECT THE VIEWS OF THE PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE POSES THE MORE SERIOUS BARRIER TO ENTIRE POLITICAL SPECTRUM ARE NONPARTISAN AND QUALITY JOURNALISM SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST !LTHOUGH THE 3CHOOL OF ,AW RECENTLY ESTABLISHED A Q )NDEPENDENT NEWS AGENCIES GATHER AND DISTRIB JOURNALISM DEPARTMENT THE LACK OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATED UTE NEWS FOR PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA JOURNALISTS IN -ONTENEGRO IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM /NE Q )NDEPENDENT BROADCAST MEDIA PRODUCE THEIR OWN PANELIST EXPLAINED h/UR AGENCY EMPLOYS JOURNALISTS NEWS PROGRAMS OF WHOM ONLY ONE COMPLETED JOURNALISM SCHOOL 4HE OTHERS ARE LAWYERS ECONOMISTS OR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES Q 4RANSPARENCY OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP ALLOWS ) NEED TO EMPLOY JOURNALISTS BUT ) CANNOT lND THEMv CONSUMERS TO JUDGE OBJECTIVITY OF NEWS MEDIA OWNERSHIP IS NOT CONCENTRATED IN A $URING ITS TWO YEARS OF WORK THE -ONTENEGRO -EDIA FEW CONGLOMERATES )NSTITUTE --) HAS ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM BY OFFERING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND ITS INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED Q ! BROAD SPECTRUM OF SOCIAL INTERESTS ARE $IPLOMA #OURSES REmECTED AND REPRESENTED IN THE MEDIA INCLUD 0,52!,)49 /& .%73 3/52#%3 ).$)#!4/23 ING MINORITY LANGUAGE INFORMATION SOURCES
-/.4%.%'2/ h4WO DAILY PAPERS DAILY NEWSPAPER PROBLEM IS THE ABSENCE OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN -ONTE )NTERNET ACCESS IS NEGRIN MEDIA DURING UNLIKE THE INVESTMENT IN HAVE ALREADY CEASED TO RELATIVELY EXPENSIVE THE DAILY 6IJESTI EXIST AND THE POSSIBLE AND THE NUMBER OF )NTERNET USERS IS LESS CONSOLIDATION OF SMALL THAN PERCENT OF /BJECTIVE "USINESS -ANAGEMENT RADIO AND 46 STATIONS IN THE POPULATION -ONTENEGRO /BJECTIVE 3CORE $ESPITE THE THE NORTH AND SOUTH OF PLETHORA OF MEDIA 0ANEL PARTICIPANTS AGREED THAT -ONTENEGRIN INDEPENDENT -ONTENEGRO HAS BEEN OUTLETS SOURCES OF MEDIA DERIVE INCOME FROM SEVERAL SOURCES INCLUDING INFORMATION ARE CIRCULATION EG 6IJESTI AND $AN FOREIGN DONATIONS AND ANNOUNCED v SAID ONE LIMITED AND THIS ADVERTISING 4HE PRESENCE OF .'/S AND FOREIGN GOVERN OFTEN LEADS THE MENT AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE BOTH lNANCIAL AND TECHNICAL PANEL MEMBER BROADCAST AND PRINT SUPPORT TO THE -ONTENEGRIN PRIVATE MEDIA SECTOR REMAINS MEDIA TO REPORT EXTREMELY IMPORTANT (OWEVER MOST -ONTENEGRIN MEDIA ON IDENTICAL NEWS TOPICS ! STRIKING EXAMPLE CONCERNS ARE STILL IN A DIFlCULT lNANCIAL POSITION A REALITY REmECTED THE SOLE NATIONAL NEWS AGENCY -).! -).! IS IN DIRECT DIRECTLY IN THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THE MEDIA SECTOR AND COMPETITION WITH AGENCIES FROM 3ERBIA THE MAIN PRO THE QUALITY OF ITS WORK VIDERS OF AGENCY NEWS TO LOCAL -ONTENEGRIN OUTLETS 2ELATIVE TO IT IS DIFlCULT TO NOTE ANY SIGNIl 4HE INDEPENDENT -).! IS WIDELY REGARDED AS A CREDIBLE CANT IMPROVEMENT REGARDING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF MEDIA SOURCE OF IMPARTIAL BALANCED AND ACCURATE NEWS .ONE (OWEVER AN INCREASE IN THE CIRCULATION OF THE DAILY NEWS THELESS SOME OUTLETS DO NOT MAKE MUCH USE OF -).! PAPER 6IJESTI A GENERALLY GOOD QUALITY PUBLICATION WAS AND ARE THEREFORE HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON THE SAME AGENCY CONSIDERED PROMISING &OR THE ELECTRONIC MEDIA THERE SOURCES )T IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR AGENCY INFORMATION TO WAS CONCERN ABOUT BEING SUBJECT TO THE FUTURE PRICING BE INTERPRETEDOR PERHAPS DISTORTEDIN DIFFERENT WAYS OF BROADCASTING SERVICES AS ESTABLISHED BY "ROADCASTING BY DIFFERENT MEDIA #ENTER "# AUTHORITIES 4HE NEW PUBLIC "# MAINTAINS -3) PANELISTS FELT THERE IS MORE FOCUS ON POLITI CAL COVERAGE AND SENSATIONALISM THAN ON IN DEPTH )NDEPENDENT MEDIA ARE WELL MANAGED REPORTING ABOUT SOCIAL ISSUES ECONOMICS CULTURE AND JUDICIAL REFORM (OWEVER THERE HAS BEEN PROGRESS WITH BUSINESSES ALLOWING EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE ECONOMIC AND lNANCIAL COVERAGE AS ALL DAILIES NOW OFFER Q -EDIA OUTLETS AND SUPPORTING lRMS OPERATE AS DEDICATED BUSINESS PAGES 4HREE YEARS AGO THIS REPORT EFlCIENT PROFESSIONAL AND PROlT GENERATING ING DID NOT EXIST "ALANCED BUSINESS REPORTING IS A BIG BUSINESSES MARKET FOR -).! AND THE CHALLENGE NOW PANELISTS SAID Q -EDIA RECEIVE REVENUE FROM A MULTITUDE OF IS TO ADD QUALITY COVERAGE OF OTHER SPECIALIZED TOPICS SOURCES 0ANEL PARTICIPANTS EMPHASIZED THE LACK OF TRANS PARENCY OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP !S ONE PANELIST EXPLAINED Q !DVERTISING AGENCIES AND RELATED INDUSTRIES h4HERE ARE lGUREHEAD AND ACTUAL MEDIA OWNERS 4HE SUPPORT AN ADVERTISING MARKET PROBLEM IS HOW TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ISSUE 7E ALL KNOW THAT Q !DVERTISING REVENUE AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL SOME MEDIA HAVE POWERFUL SPONSORS 7E ALL AGREE THAT REVENUE IS IN LINE WITH ACCEPTED STANDARDS AT THE MEDIA CANNOT SUBSIST SIMPLY ON PROlTS AS THE MARKET COMMERCIAL OUTLETS IS TOO SMALL AND OVERSATURATED 3O ) AM SURE THAT THEY Q )NDEPENDENT MEDIA DO NOT RECEIVE GOVERNMENT ;MEDIA= TRY TO GAIN CAPITAL OF SUSPICIOUS ORIGIN ) SEE THIS SUBSIDIES AS A BARRIER TO OBTAINING LEGITIMATE CAPITAL 3USPICIOUS FUNDING SOURCES GIVE BIRTH TO SUSPICIOUS STRATEGIES AND Q -ARKET RESEARCH IS USED TO FORMULATE STRATEGIC PLANS ENHANCE ADVERTISING REVENUE AND TAILOR UNFAIR COMPETITIONv )N PARTICULAR PANELISTS NOTED THE PRODUCTS TO THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF hMYSTERIOUSv ENTRY OF 3ERBIAN MEDIA INTO THE MARKET AND AUDIENCES SAID QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDIA OWNERSHIP TEND TO DAMAGE "53).%33 -!.!'%-%.4 ).$)#!4/23 THE OVERALL REPUTATION OF MEDIA OUTLETS AND BRING CHARGES Q "ROADCAST RATINGS AND CIRCULATION lGURES ARE RELIABLY AND INDEPENDENTLY PRODUCED OF POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL MANIPULATION !NOTHER
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI h2EGARDLESS OF THE AND MANAGES 4HE DISTRIBUTION AND PRINTING OF MEDIA IS FAIRLY -ONTENEGROS WELL ESTABLISHED IN -ONTENEGRO 7HILE PRINTING PLANTS PRINCIPLES OF EQUAL BROADCASTING INFRA AND MEDIA IMPORT NEWSPRINT FROM OTHER COUNTRIES THE COMPETITION AND EQUAL STRUCTURE )T SETS DAILY NEWSPAPERS 6IJESTI $AN AND 0OBJEDA OWN THREE RELATIVELY REASON LARGE PRINTING HOUSES 4HESE THREE FACILITIES ALONG WITH LEGAL STATUS FOR ALL ABLE FEES FOR THE USE SEVERAL SMALLER PRINTING HOUSES ARE ALL MARKET ORIENTED MEDIA THE NONCHALANT OF ITS INFRASTRUCTURE AND GENERALLY OPERATE WITHOUT BIAS $ISTRIBUTION CHAN AND OPERATES UNDER NELS ARE APOLITICAL AND MOSTLY WELL MANAGED /F SEVERAL BEHAVIOR OF THE PUBLIC THE SUPERVISION OF DISTRIBUTION lRMS "EGA 0RESS STANDS OUT AS A SUCCESSFUL AUTHORITIES IN THE "! PRIVATELY OWNED COMPANY /VERALL ! PROFESSIONAL ADVERTISING MARKET IS STILL THE STEP DETERMINING MEDIA THE MEDIA SECTOR CHILD OF MEDIA ACTIVITY IN -ONTENEGRO AND IS ESTIMATED EMPLOYS ABOUT TO HAVE A TOTAL VOLUME OF BETWEEN ; AND ; MILLION .O POLICY IS UNACCEPTABLE PEOPLE 24#' MAJOR ADVERTISING AGENCY SUCH AS ""$/ OR 3AATCHI 3AA ESPECIALLY SINCE IT EMPLOYS MORE THAN TCHI HAS OPENED AN OFlCE IN 0ODGORICA 4HESE lRMS ARE AND ABOUT THE STILL BASED IN "ELGRADE AND ARE MAINLY BUILDING RELATIONS MAY LEAD TO UNFAIR SAME NUMBER WORK WITH 3ERBIAN RATHER THAN -ONTENEGRIN MEDIA OUTLETS COMPETITION lNANCIAL FOR PRIVATE MEDIA !S A RESULT EXPERTS FEAR THAT ANY ADDITIONAL EXPANSION 0RIVATE MEDIA CON OF 3ERBIAN TELEVISION STATIONS INTO -ONTENEGRO WOULD HARDSHIP FOR DOMESTIC TINUE TO GROW IN SIZE REDUCE POTENTIAL ADVERTISING FOR LOCAL COMPETITORS MEDIA OR THE AIRING OF (OWEVER INCREASING -ARKET RESEARCH IS BEGINNING TO AFFECT -ONTENE COMPETITION AND THE GRIN BROADCASTING ,OCAL AGENCY $AMAR MEASURES TRUST CONTROVERSIAL CONTENTv PRESENCE OF POWERFUL RATINGS WHILE 3TRATEGIC -ARKETING IN "ELGRADE PROVIDES MEDIA COMPANIES SHARE RATINGS 3TRATEGIC -ARKETING HAS BEEN COOPERATING FROM 3ERBIA SUCH AS 46 0INK COULD LEAD TO SIGNIlCANT WITH THE --) ON ITS RESEARCH (OWEVER SOPHISTICATED CONSOLIDATION IN THE INDUSTRY 4HE PROSPECTS OF MANY INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS PEOPLE METERS ARE NOT USED IN -ON STATIONS ARE UNCERTAIN AND IN CERTAIN CASES ARE LINKED TO TENEGRO BECAUSE OF THE SMALL MARKET SIZE THE SUCCESS OF FUTURE MERGERS OR THE FAILURE OF THEIR COM 4HERE IS NO ACCEPTED MECHANISM TO MEASURE CIRCU PETITORS h) WOULD UNDERLINE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PUBLIC LATION NUMBERS 6IJESTI IS BELIEVED TO HAVE THE HIGHEST PRINT AUTHORITIES IN DEALING WITH NON -ONTENEGRINESPECIALLY RUN WITH CLOSE TO COPIES DAILY $AN IS THE LIKELY BROADCASTMEDIA WHICH INTEND TO WORK IN THE -ONTENE RUNNER UP WITH AROUND COPIES DAILY WHILE CIR GRIN MARKET v ONE PANELIST SAID h2EGARDLESS OF THE PRIN CULATION lGURES FOR THE FORMER GOVERNMENT DAILY 0OBJEDA CIPLES OF EQUAL COMPETITION AND EQUAL LEGAL STATUS FOR ALL WHICH IS NOW PRIVATIZING ARE PROBABLY BELOW MEDIA THE NONCHALANT BEHAVIOR OF THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES IN DETERMINING MEDIA POLICY IS UNACCEPTABLE ESPECIALLY SINCE IT MAY LEAD TO UNFAIR COMPETITION lNANCIAL HARDSHIP /BJECTIVE 3UPPORTING )NSTITUTIONS FOR DOMESTIC MEDIA OR THE AIRING OF CONTROVERSIAL CONTENTv -ONTENEGRO /BJECTIVE 3CORE 'IVEN THE NASCENT STATE OF THE -ONTENEGRIN MEDIA SECTOR SOME PANELISTS SUGGESTED THAT DONOR SUPPORT STILL IS 4HE DEVELOPMENT OF INSTITUTIONS SUPPORTING MEDIA IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR A NUMBER OF MEDIA PARTICULARLY THOSE UNEVEN !SSOCIATIONS DO EXIST TO PROMOTE THE INTERESTS OF TRYING TO PRODUCE THEIR OWN NEWS AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS CERTAIN PRINT OR ELECTRONIC MEDIA OUTLETS &OR EXAMPLE h7HEN FOREIGN DONORS LEAVE US AT SOME POINT IN THE -ONTENEGRO 0RESS WAS FOUNDED IN TO SUPPORT ITS FUTURE WE WILL INEVITABLY BECOME DEPENDENT ON ADVERTISE MEMBERSHIP OF SEVERAL MAJOR INDEPENDENT PUBLICA MENTS AND DOMESTIC DONORS v A PARTICIPANT SAID h7HEN TIONS -EANWHILE THE 5NION OF )NDEPENDENT %LECTRONIC THE NEW ELITE WHICH WERE CREATED IN THE SHADOW OF THE -EDIA OF -ONTENEGRO 5.%- ALSO CREATED IN WARS TRANSFORM THEIR ECONOMIC POWER INTO SOCIAL POWER HAS SUCCESSFULLY DRIVEN MEDIA LEGISLATION REFORM AND THEY WILL INVEST PART OF THEIR CAPITAL IN THE MEDIA 4HERE ADVOCATED FOR THE RIGHTS OF ITS INDEPENDENT RADIO AND LIES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE POLITICAL ELITE TO CREATE AN TELEVISION STATIONS .EVERTHELESS THERE IS NO EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THIS SOCIETY CAN HAVE FREE MEDIAv NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENT MEDIA OR PROTECT THE PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS OF THEIR MEMBERS
-/.4%.%'2/ h)T SEEMS TO ME THAT h7ITH BUT A COUPLE ISM AT THE 3CHOOL OF ,AW REPRESENTS AN ENCOURAGING STEP OF EXCEPTIONS MEDIA TOWARD IMPROVING THE PROFESSIONAL QUALITY OF JOURNALISM WE ARE SLOWLY MAKING ASSOCIATIONS ACT IN -ONTENEGRO /NE PANEL PARTICIPANT EXPRESSED OPTI STEPS FORWARD WITHOUT GROUNDS v MISM h)T SEEMS TO ME THAT WE ARE SLOWLY MAKING STEPS SAID ONE PANELIST FORWARD ) DISAGREE THAT OUR JOB IS A 3ISYPHEAN TASK ) ) DISAGREE THAT OUR JOB h4HEY ARE OFTEN AM SURE THAT YOUNG JOURNALISTS ARE BRINGING CHANGES IS A 3ISYPHEAN TASK INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS AS MUCH AS THEY CAN 9OUNG JOURNALISTS DO NOT PRACTICE WITH SOME KIND OF A SELF CENSORSHIP AND THAT IS GOODv (OWEVER THE PANELIST ) AM SURE THAT YOUNG CENTRAL COMMITTEE SAID THE INABILITY OF MEDIA OUTLETS TO PROVIDE SUFlCIENT JOURNALISTS ARE BRINGING FUNCTIONING IN VIR SALARIES DIVERTS YOUNG REPORTERS WITH GOOD EDUCATION AND TUAL REALITY 4HEY DO TRAINING TO BETTER PAID WORK IN OTHER SECTORS 4HE SHIFTS CHANGES AS MUCH AS NOT HAVE PROPER REP ARE VISIBLE BUT WHAT AFFECTS JOURNALISTS THE MOST IS THE THEY CAN 9OUNG RESENTATION IN THE POOR lNANCIAL SITUATION MEDIA AND AMONG 0ANELISTS AGREED THAT STEADY COOPERATION BETWEEN JOURNALISTS DO NOT JOURNALISTS 4HOSE MEDIA AND CIVIL SOCIETY INVOLVING MEDIA COVERAGE OF WHICH HAVE A CLEAR ACTIVITIES OF THE .'/S IS A POSITIVE STEP &OR EXAMPLE PRACTICE SELF CENSORSHIP VISION OF WHAT THEIR LOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA AND MORE THAN .'/S AND THAT IS GOODv MISSION IS FUNCTION FORMED THE NETWORK !CTION TO SUPPORT ACTIVITIES ON ISSUES WELL /THERS HAVE INCLUDING THE PROMOTION OF FREE PRESS AND PROFESSIONAL PROBLEMS DElNING THEIR OWN ROLE 4HEY DO NOT HAVE COM DEVELOPMENT OF JOURNALISM MUNICATION WITH THOSE WHOM THEY REPRESENTv 0RINTING PRESSES OPERATE WITHOUT DEMONSTRAT ! SIGNIlCANT EXCEPTION IS THE TWO YEAR OLD --) ING ANY POLITICAL AFlLIATION OR BIAS WHEN WORKING WITH RUN BY MANAGING DIRECTOR 6OJISLAV 2AONIC AND A DIVERSE PRIVATE MEDIA (OWEVER THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR PRINT BOARD OF MEDIA PROFESSIONALS --) HAS CONTRIBUTED TO MEDIA IS STILL POOR DESPITE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE SERVICE THE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OF YOUNG REPORTERS AND THE -EDIA COMPANIES HAVE PROBLEMS BEING PAID BY DISTRIBU DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM STANDARDS !DDI TION SERVICES FOR COPIES SOLD BUT WITH MORE COMPETI TIONALLY THE FOUNDATION OF THE $EPARTMENT OF *OURNAL TION IN THE DISTRIBUTION MARKET THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT 4HE SIGNIlCANT ROLE OF THE )NTERNET SHOULD BE EMPHASIZED )NDEED ALMOST ALL RELEVANT -ONTENEGRIN 3UPPORTING INSTITUTIONS FUNCTION IN THE MEDIA ARE PRESENTED ON THE )NTERNET ALLOWING )NTERNET PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA USERS MOSTLY FREE ACCESS TO DAILY NEWS Q 4RADE ASSOCIATIONS REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF PRIVATE MEDIA OWNERS AND PROVIDE MEMBER SERVICES
Q 0ROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS WORK TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS RIGHTS
Q .'/S SUPPORT FREE SPEECH AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA
Q 1UALITY JOURNALISM DEGREE PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE EXIST
Q 3HORT TERM TRAINING AND IN SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAMS ALLOW JOURNALISTS TO UPGRADE SKILLS OR ACQUIRE NEW SKILLS
Q 3OURCES OF NEWSPRINT AND PRINTING FACILITIES ARE PRIVATE APOLITICAL AND UNRESTRICTED
Q #HANNELS OF MEDIA DISTRIBUTION KIOSKS TRANS MITTERS )NTERNET ARE PRIVATE APOLITICAL AND 3500/24).' ).34)454)/.3 ).$)#!4/23 UNRESTRICTED
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI 0ANEL 0ARTICIPANTS 3ASA "RAJOVIC 0$! INFORMATION ASSISTANT 53 #ONSULATE
$USKO *OVANOVIC DIRECTOR AND EDITOR IN CHIEF DAILY $AN
*ASA *OVICEVIC DIRECTOR -).! NEWS AGENCY
%SAD +OCAN EDITOR IN CHIEF WEEKLY -ONITOR
$USKA -ICUNOVIC NEWS EDITOR 46 #RNE 'ORE
6LADAN -ICUNOVIC DEPUTY EDITOR IN CHIEF DAILY 6IJESTI
3NEZANA .IKCEVIC BOARD MEMBER /PEN 3OCIETY )NSTITUTE /3)
$ORA 0LAVETIC DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE ADVISOR 53!)$
"OJANA 2ADULOVIC EDITOR 46 -"#
6OJISLAV 2AONIC DIRECTOR -ONTENEGRO -EDIA )NSTITUTE --)
3AMIR 2ASTODER NEWS EDITOR 46 ).
$ARKO 3UKOVIC EDITOR IN CHIEF 2ADIO !NTENNA -
$JURO 6UCINIC FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR .46 -ONTENA
2ANKO 6UJOVIC COORDINATOR 5NION OF )NDEPENDENT %LECTRONIC -EDIA OF -ONTENEGRO 5.%-
-ODERATOR 2ADE "OJOVIC -EDIA DOO
-/.4%.%'2/ h4HE AVERAGE -0 ;MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT= SEES HIMSELF AS A VICTIM OF THE PRESS AND HE OR SHE REQUESTS TO BE PROTECTED BY SPECIAL LAWS v SAID ONE PANEL MEMBER 2OMANIA
)NTRODUCTION OMANIA HAS HUNDREDS OF LICENSED RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS AND ABOUT PRINT OUTLETS FOR ITS POPULATION OF MILLION (OWEVER THE MEDIA STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL IN THE NASCENT MARKET ECONOMY !DVERTIS ING MONEY IS SCARCE AND CLAIMED MOSTLY BY TELEVISION OUTLETS LEAVING THE PRINT MEDIA HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON DIRECT SALES AND VULNERABLE TO POLITICAL PRESSURE /F PARTICULAR CONCERN TO THE -EDIA 3USTAINABILITY )NDEX -3) PANEL WERE THE THREATS TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION DETECTED DURING 0ANELISTS DESCRIBED THE GOVERNING 3OCIAL $EMOCRATIC 0ARTYS STRONG CONTROL OVER THE JUDICIAL BRANCH MOST ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS AND ALL STATE RESOURCES AND SAID THE MEDIA HAD BEGUN TO 2 BE A POLITICAL BATTLEGROUND IN THE RUN UP TO THE PRESIDENTIAL PARLIAMENTARY AND MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS 7ITH GOVERNMENT HARASSMENT OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA ALREADY RECORDED AT THE END OF THE PANEL PREDICTED THAT THE NEXT YEAR WOULD BE EVEN MORE DIFlCULT FOR 2OMA NIAN JOURNALISTS 4HE GOVERNMENT RULES WITH A SLIM PARLIAMENTARY MAJORITY AND THE ELECTIONS ALREADY DOMINATED THE DOMESTIC AGENDA BY THE END OF $ESPITE RECENT ECONOMIC GROWTH THE ECONOMY IS STILL WEAK OVER ALL AND IN ITS LATEST REPORT THE %UROPEAN #OMMISSION DID NOT APPROVE hMARKET ECONOMYv STATUS FOR 2OMANIA !LTHOUGH SOME PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE MAJOR REFORMS STILL ARE REQUIRED (IGH TAXES AND FREQUENTLY CHANGING LEGISLATION MAKE BUSINESS PLANS UNRELIABLE AND FORCE MANY COMPANY OWNERS INCLUDING THOSE IN THE MEDIA TO GUESS THEIR WAY AROUND BANKRUPTCY -EANWHILE THE GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD LIKE TO ACCEDE TO THE %UROPEAN 5NION %5 DURING CLOS ING OUT THE NEGOTIATIONS IN
2/-!.)! /BJECTIVE 3CORING )NDICATOR 3CORING 4HE AVERAGES OF ALL THE INDICATORS ARE AVERAGED TO OBTAIN A SINGLE %ACH INDICATOR IS SCORED USING THE FOLLOWING SYSTEM OVERALL SCORE FOR EACH OBJECTIVE /BJECTIVE SCORES ARE AVERAGED TO PROVIDE #OUNTRY DOES NOT MEET INDICATOR GOVERNMENT OR SOCIAL FORCES MAY ACTIVELY AN OVERALL SCORE FOR THE COUNTRY )2%8 INTERPRETS THE OVERALL SCORES AS FOLLOWS OPPOSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND ABOVE 3USTAINABLE AND FREE INDEPENDENT MEDIA #OUNTRY MINIMALLY MEETS ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR FORCES MAY NOT AC T IVELY OPPOSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION BUT BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT MAY NOT SUPPORT IT n )NDEPENDENT MEDIA APPROACHING SUSTAINABILITY AND GOVERNMENT OR PROFESSION DO NOT FULLY AND ACTIVELY SUPPORT CHANGE n 3IGNIlCANT PROGRESS REMAINS TO BE MADE #OUNTRY HAS BEGUN TO MEET MANY ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR BUT PROGRESS MAY SOCIETY OR GOVERNMENT IS NOT FULLY SUPPORTIVE BE TOO RECENT TO JUDGE OR STILL DEPENDENT ON CURRENT GOVERNMENT OR POLITICAL FORCES n #OUNTRY MEETS FEW INDICATORS GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY ACTIVELY OPPOSE CHANGE #OUNTRY MEETS MOST ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INDICA TOR HAS OCCURRED OVER SEVERAL YEARS ANDOR THROUGH CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT INDICATING LIKELY SUSTAINABILITY #OUNTRY MEETS THE ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR IMPLEMENTATION HAS REM AI NE D INTACT OVER MULTIPLE CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC mUCTUATIONS CHANGES IN PUBLIC OPINION ANDOR CHANGING SOCIAL CONVENTIONS
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI /BJECTIVE &REE 3PEECH REGISTERED IN THEIR h"EGINNING WITH THE CRIMINAL RECORDS 2OMANIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE 4HE DRAFT PRESIDENT AND THE PRIME DOES INCLUDE SOME MINISTER EVERYBODY 4HE 2OMANIAN #ONSTITUTION GUARANTEES THE FREEDOM OF IMPROVEMENTS FOR EXPRESSION AND SPEECH (OWEVER A SEPARATE ARTICLE LIMITS MEDIA FREEDOM THINKS THEY ARE ALLOWED THIS FREEDOM BY EXCLUDING SOME INFORMATION FROM CON SUCH AS ALLOWING TO BE AGGRESSIVE WITH STITUTIONAL PROTECTION INCLUDING FOR EXAMPLE THAT WHICH JOURNALISTS THE hCOULD AFFECT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUNGER GENERATIONv DEFENSE OF TRUTH IF THE JOURNALISTS v SAID OR THAT WHICH RELATES TO NATIONAL SECURITY THEY CAN PROVE THAT ONE PANEL MEMBER )NSULT AND CALUMNY REMAINED CRIMINAL OFFENSES THE MATERIAL UNDER IN !LTHOUGH THE PENAL CODE WAS MODIlED IN CHALLENGE IS FACT SO THAT PRISON SENTENCES FOR INSULT WERE DROPPED AND BASED (OWEVER THE DRAFT IS NOT A PRIORITY FOR PARLIA SENTENCES FOR CALUMNY REDUCED THE GOVERNMENT DRAFTED A MENT AND BY THE END OF FEW OF ITS PROVISIONS HAD NEW CODE IN !ND DESPITE PROTESTS BY DOMESTIC AND BEEN DISCUSSED 3OME -3) PANELISTS EXPRESSED CONCERN INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ADVOCACY GROUPS CALUMNY REMAINED THAT THE FEW PROGRESSIVE CLAUSES WOULD BE DROPPED h4HE A FELONY PUNISHABLE BY PRISON !LTHOUGH NO JOURNALISTS AVERAGE -0 ;MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT= SEES HIMSELF AS A WERE IN JAIL FOR SUCH VIOLATIONS IN SEVERAL RECEIVED VICTIM OF THE PRESS AND HE OR SHE REQUESTS TO BE PRO SUSPENDED PRISON SENTENCES -ORE COMMONLY JOURNALISTS TECTED BY SPECIAL LAWS v SAID ONE PANEL MEMBER 4HIS ARE GIVEN SUBSTANTIAL lNES OF TO THAT ARE VIEW LED TO MEASURES RESTRICTING MEDIA CORRESPONDENTS IN PARLIAMENT INCLUDING REQUIRING THAT THEY CIRCULATE IN ,EGAL AND SOCIAL NORMS PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE BUILDING ONLY WITH ESCORTS 4HERE ALSO WERE CASES IN FREE SPEECH AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION WHICH JOURNALISTS WERE EXPELLED FROM SPECIAL COMMISSION SESSIONS AND THESE STEPS AGAINST THE PRESS REPRESENTED A Q ,EGALSOCIAL PROTECTIONS OF FREE SPEECH EXIST RARE CASE IN WHICH BOTH THE GOVERNING PARTY AND OPPOSI AND ARE ENFORCED TION -0S WERE UNITED 4HE STATE RUN .ATIONAL #OUNCIL OF "ROADCAST Q ,ICENSING OF BROADCAST MEDIA IS FAIR COMPETITIVE AND APOLITICAL ING #.! CONTROLS LICENSING IN 2OMANIA /PERATING SINCE IT REPORTS TO PARLIAMENT AND ITS MEMBERS Q -ARKET ENTRY AND TAX STRUCTURE FOR MEDIA ARE FAIR ARE APPOINTED TO FOUR YEAR TERMS BY THE PRESIDENT AND AND COMPARABLE TO OTHER INDUSTRIES BY LEGISLATIVE BODIES 4HE PROCEDURES FOR LICENSING ARE Q #RIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS OR MEDIA OUTLETS ARE COMPETITIVE BUT NOT TRANSPARENT MANY DOUBT THE FAIRNESS PROSECUTED VIGOROUSLY BUT OCCURRENCES OF SUCH OF THE PROCESS AND NOTE THAT THE COUNCIL DOES NOT HAVE TO CRIMES ARE RARE EXPLAIN ITS DECISIONS PUBLICLY /NE #.! MEMBER ACCUSED Q 3TATE OR PUBLIC MEDIA DO NOT RECEIVE PREFERENTIAL THE REGULATORY BODY OF FAVORITISM IN ISSUING A LICENSE TO LEGAL TREATMENT AND LAW GUARANTEES EDITORIAL 2EALITATEA 46 A MINOR "UCHAREST BASED TELEVISION STA INDEPENDENCE TION $ESPITE POOR VIEWERSHIP AND LOW QUALITY PROGRAMS Q ,IBEL IS A CIVIL LAW ISSUE PUBLIC OFlCIALS ARE HELD IT IS SEEN AS AN INmUENTIAL NEWS STATION AND SOME OBSERV TO HIGHER STANDARDS AND THE OFFENDED PARTY ERS CONSIDERED ITS SALE A CONCERTED EFFORT BY THE GOVERN MUST PROVE FALSITY AND MALICE MENT TO CONTROL THE STATION DURING AN ELECTION YEAR )N OTHER CASES HOWEVER #.! PROVED MORE TRANSPARENT Q 0UBLIC INFORMATION IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION IS EQUALLY ENFORCED FOR ALL INCLUDING WHEN IT ORGANIZED PUBLIC MEETINGS TO DISCUSS &2%% 30%%#( ).$)#!4/23 MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS POLITICAL COVERAGE ON TELEVISION 4HE ,AW ON "ROADCASTING WAS ENACTED IN *ULY Q -EDIA OUTLETS HAVE UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO INFOR ACCORDING TO %5 STANDARDS AND WITH BROADCASTERS AND MATION THIS IS EQUALLY ENFORCED FOR ALL MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS SOME NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS .'/S INVOLVED IN SHAPING THE BILL !FTER ADOPTION HOWEVER THE LAW Q %NTRY INTO THE JOURNALISM PROFESSION IS FREE AND WAS CHANGED BY THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH AN EMERGENCY GOVERNMENT IMPOSES NO LICENSING RESTRICTIONS ORDER LEAVING THE #OMMUNICATIONS -INISTRY IN CHARGE OR SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR JOURNALISTS OF ALLOTTING THE FREQUENCIES 4HE INDEPENDENT REGULATORY
2/-!.)! h5NFORTUNATELY AGENCY OUTLINED SEE A CLEAR AGGRAVATION OF THE MEDIA SITUATION DUE TO THE IN THE ORIGINAL LAW FORTHCOMING ELECTIONv CERTAIN KINDS OF MEDIA WAS NEVER CREATED )N MANY REGIONS OF 2OMANIA LOCAL BUSINESSMEN COMPANIES PROLIFERATE v AND THE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICIANS HAVE TAKEN CONTROL OF THE LOCAL NEWSPA NOW HAS A POWERFUL PERS AND RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS AS POLITICAL PRESSURE SAID ONE PANELIST MEANS OF INmUENC ON THE MEDIA INTENSIlES 3OME OF THEM OPENLY DECLARE h4HEY ARE NOT ING THE LICENSING THAT MEDIA BRING THEM VOTES 2EGIONS SUCH AS 4ELEORMAN PROCESS h4ECHNI #ALARASI "RASOV AND #ONSTANTA LACK INDEPENDENT PRESS PROlT ORIENTED BUT CALLY SPEAKING THE BECAUSE ALL MEDIA OUTLETS ARE OWNED BY LOCAL POLITI USED AS MEANS FOR COMMUNICATIONS CIANS )N AREAS LIKE 6RANCEA "ACAU AND 4IMISOARA LOCAL MINISTER CONTROLS THE AUTHORITIES OPENLY FAVOR OBEDIENT MEDIA OUTLETS h5NFOR EXERCISING THE ENTIRE PROCESS v SAID TUNATELY CERTAIN KINDS OF MEDIA COMPANIES PROLIFERATE v ONE PANEL MEMBER SAID ONE PANELIST h4HEY ARE NOT PROlT ORIENTED BUT USED GOVERNMENTS INmUENCE &ROM *ULY TO AS MEANS FOR EXERCISING THE GOVERNMENTS INmUENCE PRO PROTECTING OWNERS .OVEMBER THE TECTING OWNERS BUSINESSES AND ATTACKING ECONOMIC AND MINISTRY DID NOT POLITIC ADVERSARIESv BUSINESSES AND PRESENT ITS STRATEGY 4HERE ARE NO STATE OWNED NEWSPAPERS IN 2OMA ATTACKING ECONOMIC AND FOR ALLOTTING FRE NIA 2OMANIAN 4ELEVISION 462 IS PUBLIC AND INCLUDES QUENCIES PROMPTING ONE MAIN TELEVISION CHANNEL AND THREE SMALLER STATIONS POLITICAL ADVERSARIESv PROTESTS FROM OPERA 4HE STATE ALSO OPERATES FOUR RADIO CHANNELS AND THE NEWS TORS AND OWNERS AND AGENCY 2OMPRES 3TATE MEDIA RECEIVE NO SPECIAL TREAT POSTPONED THE EXTENSION OF SOME LICENSES FUELING SUSPI MENT IN TERMS OF INFORMATION (OWEVER PUBLIC OUTCRY CION THAT THESE DELAYS WERE POLITICAL BLACKMAIL EMERGED IN AFTER THE GOVERNMENT CHANGED THE %NTRY INTO THE MEDIA MARKET IS AS DIFlCULT AS IT IS CONDITIONS FOR PAYING THE SUBSCRIPTION FEE FOR PUBLIC FOR ANY OTHER BUSINESS 4AXATION IS UNIFORMLY HIGH WITH TELEVISION AND RADIO 4HE FEE WAS INCREASED AND THE STATE MEDIA AND ALL OTHER PRODUCTS SUBJECT TO A PERCENT MANDATED THAT THE ELECTRIC COMPANY WOULD COLLECT THE VALUE ADDED TAX 6!4 7HILE A PREFERENTIAL TAX SYSTEM FEE LEAVING CONSUMERS WITH NO OPTION BUT TO PAY 0RO FOR MEDIA EXISTED BEFORE THE ELECTIONS THE NEW GOV TESTS BY THE POLITICAL OPPOSITION PRINT MEDIA COMPANIES ERNMENT DROPPED IT IN ORDER TO MEET )NTERNATIONAL -ON AND TAXPAYERS ABOUT THE FEE AND THE EDITORIAL INDEPEN ETARY &UND )-& REQUESTS 4HE GOVERNMENT PROMISED TO DENCE AND QUALITY OF THE STATE BROADCASTERS PROGRAM REINTRODUCE THE INCENTIVES WHEN THE ECONOMY IMPROVED MING FOLLOWED BUT THE DECISION STOOD BUT THIS SHIFT HAS YET TO OCCUR DESPITE THE PROTEST OF THE 4HE PRESIDENT AND PARLIAMENT APPOINT THE BOARD 2OMANIAN 0RESS #LUB COMPOSED OF MEDIA OWNERS AND OF DIRECTORS FOR STATE RADIO AND TELEVISION 4HE INmUENCE DIRECTORS 4HE GOVERNMENT DID ELIMINATE THE LOCAL hTAX OF THE POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS SOMETIMES IS APPARENT IN ON ADVERTISINGv OF PERCENT WHICH WAS VIEWED AS DOUBLE THE PROGRAMMING 7HEN THE BOARD OF .ATIONAL 2ADIO TAXATION OF MEDIA PRODUCTS CHANGED AFTER THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS EDITO 4HE NUMBER OF SERIOUS CRIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS RIAL POLICY CLEARLY SHIFTED AS WELL 4WO RESPECTED RADIO INCREASED IN ESPECIALLY IN THE lNAL QUARTER OF THE PRODUCERS RESIGNED FROM THE RADIO STATION CLAIMING YEAR !T LEAST MEDIA WORKERS WERE ASSAULTED IN MANAGEMENT INTERFERENCE 4HE STATE TELEVISION STATION HAS INCLUDING )NO !RDELEAN A JOURNALIST FROM 4IMISOARA NOT SUCCEEDED IN BECOMING AN INDEPENDENT AND CRED WHO WAS GRAVELY INJURED -ORE THAN JOURNALISTS IBLE PUBLIC VOICE h4HERE IS NO POLITICAL WILL FOR HAVING SIGNED A PETITION CONDEMNING THAT ATTACK BUT THESE CASES AN INDEPENDENT PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION !CTUALLY IT DID NOT ELICIT MUCH PUBLIC OUTRAGE OR GOVERNMENT EFFORTS REMAINED A STATE OWNED TELEVISION AND NOT A PUBLIC ONE v TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS -ANY JOURNALISTS PARTICULARLY IN ONE PANELIST SAID 3TATE OWNED TELEVISION DOMINATES IN THE COUNTRYSIDE REPORT HARASSMENT OFTEN AT THE HANDS OF RURAL AREAS WHERE NEARLY HALF THE 2OMANIAN POPULATION WHAT ARE DESCRIBED AS hGOVERNMENT THUGSv h"EGINNING LIVES BECAUSE OF POOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE VIEWERS WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER EVERYBODY LIMITED lNANCIAL RESOURCES -ORE THAN MILLION 2OMA THINKS THEY ARE ALLOWED TO BE AGGRESSIVE WITH THE JOURNAL NIANS WATCH THE NEWS ON 462 A SERIOUS INCENTIVE FOR THE ISTS v SAID ONE PANEL MEMBER !DDED ANOTHER h7E CAN GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE STATION
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI h7E CAN SEE A 4HE NATIONAL /BJECTIVE 0ROFESSIONAL *OURNALISM NEWS AGENCY IS IN CLEAR AGGRAVATION A DIFlCULT SITUA 2OMANIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE OF THE MEDIA TION $UE TO POOR MANAGEMENT AND -ANY 2OMANIAN JOURNALISTS DO NOT CLEARLY DISTINGUISH SITUATION DUE TO THE POLITICAL CONTROL BETWEEN FACTS AND OPINIONS )N TURN READERS ARE CONDI FORTHCOMING ELECTIONv THAT DAMAGED ITS TIONED TO LOOK FOR hGUIDANCEv IN THEIR MEDIA PRODUCTS CREDIBILITY 2OM EXPECTING JOURNALISTS TO PRESENT SOLUTIONS AND A WAY TO PRES HAS LOST MARKET SHARE TO THE PRIVATELY OWNED AGENCY INTERPRET NEWS /VERALL THERE IS IMPROVEMENT HOWEVER -EDIAFAX )N 0RIME -INISTER !DRIAN .ASTASE SUB *OURNALISTS MORE FREQUENTLY PROVIDE SOURCES CHECK THEM ORDINATED THE NEWS AGENCY TO THE NEW 0UBLIC )NFORMATION AND PRESENT BALANCED COVERAGE "UT TOO OFTEN REPORTS -INISTRY MAKING IT A GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND ITS EMPLOY ARE SUPERlCIAL OR RELY SOLELY ON NEWS AGENCY DISPATCHES EES hPUBLIC SERVANTSv 0ROTEST LED TO PASSAGE OF A LAW OR PRESS RELEASES !S A RESULT 2OMANIAN NEWSPAPERS OR PLACING THE AGENCY UNDER PARLIAMENTARY CONTROL BUT THAT NEWSCASTS CAN APPEAR TO BE A COLLECTION OF UNRELATED FACTS HAS NOT SALVAGED THE AGENCYS STANDING AND IT REMAINS A 'IVEN THE lERCE COMPETITION IN A FULL BUT STRUG SECONDARY PLAYER IN THE NEWS MARKET GLING MARKET MEDIA OUTLETS OFTEN YIELD TO SENSATIONALISM 4HE ADOPTION OF THE &REEDOM OF )NFORMATION !CT 3CANDALS CRIMES ACTS OF VIOLENCE OR CELEBRITY EVENTS &/)! IN LATE REPRESENTED A STEP FORWARD BUT THE ARE FRONT PAGE NEWS 4RAFlC ACCIDENTS ARE FEATURED ON IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS HAS PROVEN DIFlCULT !N UNRE THE MAIN NEWSCASTS OF MOST TELEVISION CHANNELS 7ITH FORMED ADMINISTRATION AND INDIFFERENT OFlCIALS MEANT CRITICISM OF THE RULING PARTY ESSENTIALLY TABOO ENTERTAIN THAT INFORMATION WAS NOT WIDELY AVAILABLE $ESPITE MENT IS THE CONTENT OF CHOICE !S ONE PANELIST EXPLAINED PUBLIC CAMPAIGNS BY THE RULING AND OPPOSITION PARTIES h%NTERTAINMENT BECAME NEWS !FTER RENOUNCING MANY THE LAW WAS ONLY PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED IN TWO THIRDS SENSITIVE ISSUES THE 46 STATIONS HAVE TO lLL THIS EMPTY OF THE GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS A YEAR AFTER IMPLEMENTA SPACE SOMEHOWv TION ACCORDING TO A NATIONWIDE SURVEY &URTHERMORE #ASES OF CORRUPTION ARE REVEALED ALMOST EVERY DAY IN THE LAW IS NOT CLEAR REGARDING THE SO CALLED NATIONAL THE PRINT MEDIA (OWEVER INVESTIGATIONS ARE OFTEN SUPERl COMPANIES THAT RECEIVE PUBLIC FUNDS AND SOME REFUSED TO GIVE INFORMATION 4HERE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL LAWSUITS SEEKING *OURNALISM MEETS PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF ENFORCEMENT OF &/)! LEGISLATION 4HE 2OMANIAN (EL QUALITY SINKI #OMMITTEE WON A SUIT AGAINST THE STATE PROSECUTOR Q 2EPORTING IS FAIR OBJECTIVE AND WELL SOURCED GRANTING THE ORGANIZATION ACCESS TO STATISTICAL DATA ABOUT PHONE TAPPING h*UST HAVING THESE SUCCESSFUL LAWSUITS REP Q *OURNALISTS FOLLOW RECOGNIZED AND ACCEPTED RESENTS CLEAR PROGRESS v A PANELIST SAID ETHICAL STANDARDS )N LATE HOWEVER PARLIAMENT DEPUTIES ISSUED Q *OURNALISTS AND EDITORS DO NOT PRACTICE AN INTERNAL RULE PROHIBITING RELEASE OF INFORMATION ON SELF CENSORSHIP PUBLIC SPENDING FOR OFlCIAL TRAVEL 4HAT GAVE THE LEGISLA TURE TWO CONTRADICTORY INTERNAL RULES ONE IN LINE WITH Q *OURNALISTS COVER KEY EVENTS AND ISSUES THE &/)! AND THE OTHER CONTRARY h4HE SAME PARLIAMENT Q 0AY LEVELS FOR JOURNALISTS AND OTHER MEDIA THAT VOTED FOR THE LAW IS CLASSIFYING THE VERY INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS ARE SUFlCIENTLY HIGH TO DISCOURAGE THAT SHOULD BE PUBLIC )T LOOKS TO ME THAT THE PARLIA CORRUPTION MENT DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE LAWS PHILOSOPHY v A PANEL Q %NTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING DOES NOT ECLIPSE MEMBER SAID NEWS AND INFORMATION PROGRAMMING !CCESS TO INTERNATIONAL MEDIA IS UNRESTRICTED (OW EVER INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS AND PROGRAMMING ARE VERY Q 4ECHNICAL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT FOR GATHERING PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING NEWS ARE MODERN EXPENSIVE MAKING IT UNREALISTIC EVEN FOR SOME MEDIUM AND EFlCIENT SIZED OUTLETS TO RELY ON FOREIGN SOURCES OF INFORMATION Q 1UALITY NICHE REPORTING AND PROGRAMMING EXISTS INVESTIGATIVE ECONOMICSBUSINESS LOCAL h,AST 9EAR OF /BSCURITY &IRST 9EAR OF 4RANSPARENCY v 2EPORT BY 4HE
02/&%33)/.!, */52.!,)3- ).$)#!4/23 POLITICAL 2OMANIAN !CADEMIC 3OCIETY WWWSARORGRO
2/-!.)! h%NTERTAINMENT BECAME CIAL AND THEIR LEVEL ING NUMBER OF JOURNALISTS ACCEPT hlNANCIAL SUPPORTv DETERIORATES DUE TO FROM POLITICAL PARTIES OR BUSINESSES FOR WRITING POSITIVE NEWS !FTER RENOUNCING THE EXPENSE RISK ARTICLES OR FOR NOT WRITING AN ARTICLE %VERYBODY SEEMS AND TIME REQUIRED TO KNOW WHICH JOURNALIST IS SUPPORTING WHICH PARTY OR MANY SENSITIVE ISSUES 4HERE HAVE BEEN POLITICIAN AND SUCH PRACTICES HAVE LED TO THE WIDESPREAD THE 46 STATIONS HAVE EXCEPTIONAL CASES IMPRESSION THAT PUBLIC TRUST IN THE MEDIA IS DECLINING THOUGH /NE -ANY MEDIA OUTLETS DO NOT OFlCIALLY HIRE THEIR TO lLL THIS EMPTY SPACE INVOLVED CHARGES JOURNALISTS DUE TO THE HIGH TAXES EMPLOYERS HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMEHOWv AGAINST A GOVERN PERMANENT JOBS )NSTEAD JOURNALISTS ARE HIRED PART TIME MENT MINISTER FOR OR AS hCONTRIBUTORS v EVEN IF THEY WORK IN THE NEWSROOM BRIBING A PUBLIC SERVANT IN HIS MINISTRY WHEN HE WAS )N SOME MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS JOURNALISTS GET PAID SMALL DISMISSED AFTER MONTHS OF CONTROVERSY IT WAS CONSID lXED AMOUNTS TAXABLE TO THE EMPLOYERS AS WELL AS LARGER ERED AMONG THE lRST NOTABLE SUCCESSES OF 2OMANIAN hBONUSES PER ARTICLEv TAXABLE TO THE JOURNALIST 4HIS SYSTEM PRESS AND CIVIC SOCIETY IN ADDRESSING CORRUPTION CASES TENDS TO FORCE JOURNALISTS TO FOCUS MORE ON THE QUANTITY !LTHOUGH PANELISTS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE LEVEL RATHER THAN THE QUALITY OF THEIR ARTICLES h!LSO THERE IS NO OF PROFESSIONALISM MEDIA HAVE SHOWN THE CAPACITY TO CLEAR CAREER GUIDE COVER IMPORTANT ISSUES WITH THE CENTRAL NEWSPAPERS FOR JOURNALISTS AND h4HE COMMON PLAYING A CLEAR CIVIC ROLE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR *OURNALISM ETHICS REMAIN MORE A SEMINAR TOPIC THAN THEM TO KNOW IF JOURNALIST KNOWS WHAT A DAILY STANDARD FOR THE MEDIA COMMUNITY h4HEY KNOW THEYLL HAVE THE SAME THE ETHICAL STANDARDS BUT THEY DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO JOB NEXT YEAR v ONE HE HAS TO WRITE AND HE THEM v ONE PANEL PARTICIPANT SAID !SSOCIATIONS AND TRADE PANELIST SAID &OR ACTS ACCORDINGLY 4HOSE UNIONS HAVE PROPOSED APPROXIMATELY DIFFERENT PROFES MANY JOURNALISM SIONAL CODES BUT FAILED TO lND AN EFFECTIVE AND WIDELY IS A CAREER STARTING WHO DO NOT PLAY THE ACCEPTED VERSION )N /CTOBER THE #ONVENTION OF PROFESSION AND MOST GAME ARE EXCLUDEDv -EDIA /RGANIZATIONS PUBLICLY DISCUSSED MEDIA CORRUPTION JOURNALISTS LEAVE FOR THE lRST TIME /NE PANEL MEMBER ESTIMATED THAT h AFTER A FEW YEARS PERCENT OF 2OMANIAN MEDIA ARE USED FOR THE OWNERS INTER !LTHOUGH THE NEWS IS STILL THE MAIN EDITORIAL PROD ESTSv 4HERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CASES OF JOURNALISTS QUIT UCT OF TELEVISION STATIONS IN THE PAST TWO YEARS ENTERTAIN TING DUE TO EDITORIAL CENSORSHIP &OR EXAMPLE THREE NEWS MENT PROGRAMS HAVE GAINED IN POPULARITY 4HE THREE MANAGERS AT %UROPA &- THE LARGEST PRIVATE RADIO STATION LARGEST TELEVISION STATIONSPRIVATE !NTENA AND 0RO 46 RESIGNED IN !PRIL TO PROTEST PRESSURE TO ALTER NEWS AND THE STATES 462COMPETE TO AIR THE BEST EVENING CONTENT 3IMILAR RESIGNATIONS HAVE OCCURRED AT VARIOUS NEWSCASTS 4HE PRIVATE TELEVISION STATIONS DOMINATE THE LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS SUCH AS THE LOCAL STATE TELEVISION URBAN AUDIENCE WHILE 462 HAS ITS CAPTIVE RURAL AUDIENCE STATION IN 4IMISOARA AND AT !LPHA 46 STATION IN 0ETROSANI /THER TELEVISION STATIONS INCLUDING .ATIONAL 46 "46 )N EACH CASE LOCAL POLITICIANS OR BUSINESSMEN PRESSURED AND 2EALITATEA 46 ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES MORE lRMLY IN THE STATION MANAGEMENT TO CENSOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS THE MARKET IN BUT THEY ARE NOT YET COMPETITIVE -OST JOURNALISTS DO NOT PROTEST THEIR DIFlCULT 4ECHNICAL CAPABILITIES OF MEDIA VARY GREATLY BUT AS WORK ENVIRONMENTS !CCORDING TO ONE PANELIST h4HE ONE PARTICIPANT SAID h4HE PROBLEM IS NOT THE EQUIPMENTv COMMON JOURNALIST KNOWS WHAT HE HAS TO WRITE AND HE 4HE MOST POWERFUL OUTLETS HAVE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY WHILE ACTS ACCORDINGLY 4HOSE WHO DO NOT PLAY THE GAME ARE MORE MODEST OPERATIONS USE OUTDATED TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS EXCLUDEDv 4HE POOR ECONOMIC AND PROFESSIONAL STATUS OF (IGH FOR TELEVISION AND TAPE RECORDERS FOR RADIO EDIT 2OMANIAN JOURNALISTS LIMITS RESISTANCE TO OUTSIDE INmU ING 4HE HIGH COST OF COMMUNICATIONS DRASTICALLY LIMITS ENCE AND CENSORSHIP 4HE AVERAGE SALARY OF A JOURNALIST THE ACCESS TO INFORMATION FOR THE SMALLER NEWSROOMS /N HOVERS AT THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF TO PER MONTH AVERAGE HOWEVER MOST NEWSROOMS HAVE COMPUTERS AND WITH JOURNALISTS AT LOCAL MEDIA EARNING FAR LESS THAN )NTERNET ACCESS -ANY RURAL NEWSPAPERS HAVE PURCHASED THOSE BASED IN "UCHAREST /NLY A FEW OF THE LARGE PUBLI SECOND HAND PRINTING PRESSES FROM ABROAD ALLOWING THEM CATIONS PAY REPORTERS DECENT WAGES BY 2OMANIAN STAN TO GAIN IN INDEPENDENCE WHAT THEY LOSE IN PRINT QUALITY DARDS n #URRENTLY STATE BROADCASTERS TEND TO OFFER HIGHER SALARIES THAN PRIVATE OUTLETS !N INCREAS
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI /BJECTIVE 0LURALITY OF .EWS 3OURCES FOR THE lRST TIME -ORE THAN PERCENT IN $ECEMBER 2OMANIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE 4HEY WERE JOINED IN OF 2OMANIANS ARE BY 0RIMA 46 LIVING IN RURAL AREAS 2OMANIA HAS A CLEAR PLURALITY OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE )N TWO TELEVI NEWS SOURCES THAT BEGAN TO DEVELOP IMMEDIATELY AFTER SION STATIONS " 46 WHERE THE )NTERNET IS THE $ECEMBER REVOLUTION 4HE LACK OF INFORMATION AND 2EALITATEA 46 AN UNDISCOVERED WORLD DURING THE COMMUNIST ERA WAS REPLACED ALMOST OVERNIGHT BEGAN OPERATIONS BY A VAST ARRAY OF MEDIA 9ET WITHIN THE PAST TWO YEARS .ATIONAL TELEVI !N ONGOING GOVERNMENT PROTECTING FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION HAS BEEN A SIGNIl SION APPEARED IN PROJECT TO CONNECT RURAL CANT PROBLEM 4HE RULING 3OCIAL $EMOCRAT 0ARTY 03$ AND TWO OTHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY CONTROLS MOST OF THE PRESS AND NATIONAL STATIONS SCHOOLS TO THE )NTERNET PANEL PARTICIPANTS AGREE THAT THIS CONTROL PROBABLY WILL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN COULD HELP IN THE FUTURE TIGHTEN MORE AS ELECTIONS APPROACH IN /NLY !NTENA "EFORE THE 2OMANIAN MEDIA LANDSCAPE WAS AND 02/ 46 HAVE COMPOSED OF NATIONAL TELEVISION NATIONAL RADIO THREE EARNED SIGNIlCANT MARKET SHARE BY ATTRACTING ADVERTISING CHANNELS AND TWO NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS 4HERE WAS A -ANY BELIEVE THAT THE ADVERTISING MARKET IS TOO SMALL TO LOCAL NEWSPAPER FOR EACH OF THE COUNTIES 4HE #OM SUSTAIN ALL CURRENT OUTLETS MUNIST 0ARTY STRONGLY CONTROLLED ALL MEDIA /NE YEAR !CCORDING TO A .ATIONAL "ROADCASTING #OUN AFTER THE REVOLUTION THERE WERE NEW MEDIA OUTLETS CIL #.! REPORT THERE ARE OPERATIONAL TELEVISION #URRENTLY SOME "UCHAREST BASED DAILY NEWSPAPERS LICENSES IN COUNTIES AND LOCALITIES 3TATE TELEVISION ARE AVAILABLE )N OTHER CITIES THERE ARE THREE TO FOUR LOCAL HAS FOUR CHANNELS THE lRST OF WHICH IS RECEIVED ALL OVER DAILY NEWSPAPERS !LMOST A HUNDRED MAGAZINES AND THE COUNTRY AND BROADCASTS MAINLY NEWS CURRENT AFFAIRS MONTHLY PUBLICATIONS ARE NATIONALLY DISTRIBUTED AND ENTERTAINMENT 4HE SECOND STATE TELEVISION STATION 0RIVATE BROADCAST MEDIA HAVE MULTIPLIED RAPIDLY AIRS MORE EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS WHILE SINCE !NTENA BEGAN TO BROADCAST IN THE FALL OF THE THIRD 462 )NTERNATIONAL KEEPS 2OMANIANS ABROAD 4ELE h ABCv STARTED IN 02/ 46 STATION AIRED CONNECTED TO NATIONAL EVENTS AND INFORMATION )N A NEW CULTURAL CHANNEL OPENED BUT IT FAILED TO ATTRACT A -ULTIPLE NEWS SOURCES PROVIDE CITIZENS WITH SUBSTANTIAL AUDIENCE RELIABLE AND OBJECTIVE NEWS $URING THE PAST YEARS THE GOVERNMENT HAS RECEIVED REQUESTS FOR RADIO LICENSES 4HE #.! Q ! PLURALITY OF AFFORDABLE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NEWS GRANTED RADIO FREQUENCIES IN LOCALITIES )N SOURCES EG PRINT BROADCAST )NTERNET EXISTS RADIO STATIONS WERE OPERATIONAL 3TATE RADIO BROAD Q #ITIZENS ACCESS TO DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL CASTS ON FOUR CHANNELS REPRESENTING NEWS CULTURE MEDIA IS NOT RESTRICTED YOUTH AND MUSIC PROGRAMMING 4RADITIONALLY PUBLIC RADIO WAS MORE BALANCED IN ITS REPORTING THAN STATE Q 3TATE OR PUBLIC MEDIA REmECT THE VIEWS OF THE TELEVISION AND CLOSER TO SERVING AS A TRUE PUBLIC BROAD ENTIRE POLITICAL SPECTRUM ARE NONPARTISAN AND SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST CAST SERVICE (OWEVER ITS CREDIBILITY WAS DAMAGED BY THE ABRUPT REPLACEMENT OF THE BOARD AND THE RESIGNATIONS OF Q )NDEPENDENT NEWS AGENCIES GATHER AND DISTRIB PRODUCERS PROTESTING MANAGEMENT INTERFERENCE UTE NEWS FOR PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA -ORE THAN PERCENT OF 2OMANIANS ARE LIVING Q )NDEPENDENT BROADCAST MEDIA PRODUCE THEIR OWN IN RURAL AREAS WHERE THE )NTERNET IS AN UNDISCOVERED NEWS PROGRAMS WORLD !N ONGOING GOVERNMENT PROJECT TO CONNECT RURAL SCHOOLS TO THE )NTERNET COULD HELP IN THE FUTURE )N RURAL Q 4RANSPARENCY OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP ALLOWS CONSUMERS TO JUDGE OBJECTIVITY OF NEWS AREAS PRINT PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT EASILY AFFORDABLE 4HE MEDIA OWNERSHIP IS NOT CONCENTRATED IN A NATIONAL AVERAGE SALARY IS PER MONTH WHILE A DAILY FEW CONGLOMERATES NEWSPAPER COSTS UP TO CENTS AND A WEEKLY OR MONTHLY MAGAZINE COSTS AN AVERAGE OF -OREOVER THE DISTRIBU Q ! BROAD SPECTRUM OF SOCIAL INTERESTS ARE REmECTED AND REPRESENTED IN THE MEDIA INCLUD TION SYSTEM IS RATHER SLOW .EWSPAPERS OFTEN REACH RURAL
0,52!,)49 /& .%73 3/52#%3 ).$)#!4/23 ING MINORITY LANGUAGE INFORMATION SOURCES VILLAGES AFTER MORE THAN A HOUR DELAY 2/-!.)! -EDIAFAX IS NOW !NYONE IN *ANUARY )NTERNET CAF£S ARE A mOURISHING BUSINESS WITH A TELEVISION RATES STAY AT PER HOUR BUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THE MAIN NEWS IN 2OMANIA CAN WITH HOME )NTERNET CONNECTIONS IS LOW 4HE )NTERNET IS PROVIDER TO ALL PUBLIC RECEIVE STATE TELEVI USED MORE FOR E MAIL CHAT AND GAMES THAN FOR INFORMA SION STATE RADIO STA TION )T IS NOT GENERALLY PERCEIVED AS A SOURCE OF NEWS AND PRIVATE MEDIA IN TIONS ARE SIMILARLY EXCEPT FOR MEDIA OR BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS 2OMANIA (OWEVER ACCESSIBLE 5RBAN 4HERE ARE TWO POWERFUL MEDIA CONGLOMERATES VYING AREAS RECEIVE OTHER FOR CONTROL OF RATINGS AND AUDIENCES /NE IS -EDIA0RO ITS PRICES ARE RATHER TELEVISION STATIONS FOUNDED BY !DRIAN 3ARBU A FORMER MOVIE DIRECTOR TURNED HIGH AT TO VIA CABLE AND SUCCESSFUL MEDIA BOSS 4HE OTHER IS ).4!#4 #/20/ DURING n 2!4)/. OWNED BY $AN 6OICULESCU A CONTROVERSIAL PER MONTH 0ANEL MORE CABLE COMPA BUSINESSMAN AND POLITICIAN "OTH MEDIA COMPANIES NIES OFFERED SERVICE FEATURE THEIR OWN TELEVISION CHANNELS VIA A NATIONWIDE PARTICIPANTS MENTIONED IN RURAL AREAS -OST NETWORK NATIONAL RADIO STATIONS NEWSPAPERS MAGAZINES THAT -EDIAFAX COULD PEOPLE CANNOT AND DISTRIBUTION AND PRINTING lRMS (OWEVER ECONOMIC AFFORD SATELLITE DIFlCULTIES AND THE POLITICAL POWER OF MOST MEDIA OWNERS SERVE SOME BUSINESS OR DISHES WHICH COST HAVE ALLOWED EVEN PRIVATE OUTLETS TO BE INmUENCED BY POLITICAL INTERESTS 3INCE ABOUT POLITICAL AND BUSINESS INTERESTS !FTER THE ELECTIONS !CCORDING TO MEDIA GENERALLY SUPPORTED THE GOVERNMENT AND THE THE AGENCY IS A PART OF STATISTICS PRESENTED PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENT BECAME OMNIPRESENT lGURES -EDIA0RO IT IS SOMEHOW AT THE #ABLE #OM IN THE NEWS 0RIME -INISTER !DRIAN .ASTASE APPEARED IN MUNICATION #ON MANY EVENING NEWSCASTS IN FOUR OR lVE SEPARATE STORIES TIED UP IN THE lNANCIAL VENTION IN /CTOBER "UT MOST OF THE COVERAGE WAS SUPERlCIAL WITH ALMOST PROBLEMS LINKED TO CABLE NO INQUIRIES CONCERNING OFlCIAL STATEMENTS OR POLICIES COMPANIES OPER /PPOSITION POLITICAL lGURES RECEIVED FAR LESS MEDIA ATTEN THE CONGLOMERATE ATE IN 2OMANIA TION 4HE MEDIA MONITORING AGENCY !CADEMIA #ATAVENCU 4HE #OMMUNICA ANALYZED THE POLITICAL TRENDS OF NEWS COVERAGE AND SHOWED TION -INISTRY ESTIMATES THE NUMBER OF CABLE SUBSCRIBERS THAT MOST STATIONS REFERRING TO THE RULING PARTY OFFERED IN AT MILLIONS HOUSEHOLDS ABOUT PERCENT NEUTRAL OR POSITIVE COVERAGE )N CONTRAST 0RIMA 46 4HE REAL PENETRATION RATE COULD ACTUALLY BE HIGHER DUE BROADCASTS ONLY NEGATIVE NEWS ABOUT 4RAIAN "ASESCU THE TO CABLE SERVICE THEFT 2OMANIA HAS THE CHEAPEST CABLE hPUBLIC ENEMYv OF THE PRIME MINISTER ACCESS IN %UROPE AS A MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COSTS AROUND 4HE EXTENT OF POLITICAL INmUENCE IN THE MEDIA ; 4HIS INDUSTRY IS RATHER CONCENTRATED PERCENT OF IT SECTOR IS DISPLAYED BY THE ACTIVITIES OF SEVERAL STATIONS BEING OWNED BY SEVEN LARGE COMPANIES AND DISTRIBUTES 02/ 46 OWNED BY THE -EDIA0RO GROUP HAS ACCUMU MORE THAN NEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT CHANNELS LATED LARGE TAX DEBTS TO THE STATE 9ET A PERMISSIVE TAX 0RINT MEDIA ARE REGULARLY DISTRIBUTED TO CITIES POLICY NEGOTIATED BY THE OWNER APPEARS TO EXPLAIN THE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY 3OME PAPERS PRINT TWO EDITIONS LACK OF GOVERNMENT CRITICISM IN NEWSCASTS 7HEN THE EACH DAY ONE FOR THE MOST REMOTE CITIES AND ANOTHER TO &INANCE -INISTRY MADE PUBLIC THE LIST OF lRMS WITH BE DISTRIBUTED IN "UCHAREST AND ENVIRONS 0UBLICATIONS DEBTS ALL CENTRAL TELEVISION STATIONS WERE REPRESENTED FROM THE REGIONS HAVE DIFlCULTY DISTRIBUTING IN "UCHAREST 4HE LIST PRODUCED NO PUBLIC SCANDAL AND NEWS COVERAGE OR IN REGIONS OTHER THAN THEIR OWN REMAINS LARGELY PRO GOVERNMENT #URRENT LEGISLATION SETS NO RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS TO 4HE OWNER OF !NTENA THE SECOND LARGEST COM FOREIGN MEDIA 4HE ONLY LIMITATIONS ARE THE HIGH PRICES MERCIAL TELEVISION STATION IS ALSO THE LEADER OF THE 4HE USE OF THE )NTERNET AS A NEWS SOURCE IS LIMITED AS 2OMANIAN (UMANIST 0ARTY 052 5NTIL 052 WAS RELATIVELY FEW PEOPLE OWN COMPUTERS AND THE COSTS FOR A MINORITY PARTNER IN THE RULING COALITION 7HEN 052 ACCESS ARE RATHER HIGH $IAL UP ACCESS IS ESPECIALLY EXPEN DECIDED TO QUIT THE MAJORITY 03$ PARTY OPENLY ADMIT SIVE DUE TO THE FORMER STATE OWNED COMPANY 2/-4%,% TED THAT IT NEEDED 052 FOR ITS MEDIA EMPIRE !FTER 052 #/- WHICH HAD A MONOPOLY ON lXED LINES THAT ENDED
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-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI DROPPED OUT OF THE COALITION !NTENA BECAME MORE STATION A NEWSPA 4HERE IS AN OBVIOUS CRITICAL OF THE GOVERNMENT PER AND A DISTRIBU 4O COUNTERACT THIS TREND THE .ATIONAL "ROADCAST TION NETWORK )N THE TENDENCY TO FORM #OUNCIL RECOMMENDED TO TELEVISION STATIONS THAT THEY CITY OF "ACAU THE MEDIA CONGLOMERATES MAINTAIN PROPORTIONAL NEWS COVERAGE OF TWO THIRDS MAYOR ALSO CON FOR THE RULING PARTIES AND ONE THIRD FOR THE OPPOSITION TROLS A LOCAL MEDIA AND THERE IS NO PARTIES $ESPITE ITS GOOD INTENTIONS THE COUNCILS MAN CONGLOMERATE GOVERNMENT POLICY ON DATE STILL ALLOWS INTERFERENCE IN THE EDITORIAL POLICIES OF 2ECENTLY HE BOUGHT PRIVATE MEDIA 5NDAUNTED THE #.! ALSO STARTED ITS OWN THE ONLY PAPER PLANT MEDIA CONCENTRATION MONITORING PROJECT "ASED ON A CONTROVERSIAL METHODOL IN 2OMANIA !T THE OGY MONITORING REVEALED THAT THE GOVERNMENT PARTY AND LOCAL LEVEL THIS TREND TOWARD CONSOLIDATION CAN BE EVEN !DRIAN .ASTASE REMAINED THE LEADERS IN NEWS APPEAR MORE OBVIOUS THAN AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL ANCES 4HE #.! ORGANIZED PUBLIC DEBATES ABOUT BALANCED 4HE MINORITY PRESS IS NOT RESTRICTED IN 2OMANIA POLITICAL COVERAGE BUT NO OFlCIAL POLICY WAS ADOPTED AND NATIONAL MINORITIES OUT OF RECOGNIZED MINOR 4HERE ARE SEVERAL ACTIVE NEWS AGENCIES IN 2OMANIA ITY GROUPS HAVE STATE SUBSIDIZED PUBLICATIONS 3INCE 4HE MOST IMPORTANT IS THE PRIVATELY OWNED -EDIAFAX SOME OF THE MINORITY PUBLICATIONS ARE WRITTEN IN THE )N A MATTER OF YEARS -EDIAFAX HAS MANAGED TO CAPTURE MINORITY LANGUAGE THIS LIMITS THE WIDER DISTRIBUTION THE MARKET AWAY FROM THE PUBLIC NEWS AGENCY 2OMPRES *OURNALISTS REPRESENTING MINORITY MEDIA COMPLAIN ABOUT -EDIAFAX IS NOW THE MAIN NEWS PROVIDER TO ALL PUBLIC THE LACK OF INTEREST THE MORE ESTABLISHED MEDIA HAVE IN AND PRIVATE MEDIA IN 2OMANIA (OWEVER ITS PRICES MINORITY ISSUES ARE RATHER HIGH AT TO PER MONTH 0ANEL PAR 4HE (UNGARIAN MINORITYREPRESENTING UP TO TICIPANTS MENTIONED THAT -EDIAFAX COULD SERVE SOME PERCENT OF 2OMANIAS POPULATIONIS A SPECIAL CASE BUSINESS OR POLITICAL INTERESTS 3INCE THE AGENCY IS A PART 2OMANIAN PUBLIC TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS HAVE OF -EDIA0RO IT IS SOMEHOW TIED UP IN THE lNANCIAL SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR (UNGARIANS 4HERE ARE (UNGAR PROBLEMS LINKED TO THE CONGLOMERATE 0ANEL PARTICIPANTS IAN LANGUAGE NEWSPAPERS MOST BASED IN 4RANSYLVANIA DESCRIBED SOME CASES IN WHICH -EDIAFAX DISTRIBUTED THAT ARE RUN AS FOR PROlT BUSINESSES %VEN 2OMANIAN PREFERENTIAL INFORMATION OR REFUSED TO COVER SOME TOPICS OWNED COMPANIES OPERATING IN PREDOMINANTLY (UNGAR /THER AGENCIES SUCH AS !- 0RESS !2 0RESS AND 2OM .ET IAN REGIONS PUBLISH (UNGARIAN LANGUAGE PUBLICATIONS HAVE LITTLE INmUENCE 3OMETIMES (UNGARIAN NEWSPAPERS ARE QUOTED BY THE 4HERE IS NO HARD DATA ON MEDIA OWNERSHIP IN 2OMANIAN MEDIA ESPECIALLY REGARDING ISSUES DEALING 2OMANIA BUT THE PUBLIC AND THE MEDIA GENERALLY KNOW WITH 2OMANIAN (UNGARIAN RELATIONS 4HE (UNGARIAN THE KEY PLAYERS /NLY THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA CONGLOM STATION $UNA 46 CHANNEL CAN BE RECEIVED THROUGHOUT ERATES THAT HAVE BOUGHT 2OMANIAN NEWSPAPERS DECLARE 4RANSYLVANIA THEIR SHAREHOLDING STRUCTURES &OREIGN COMPANIES SUCH AS 7ESTDEUTSCHE !LLGEMEINE :EITUNG AND 2INGIER OWN FOUR OF THE TOP 2OMANIAN NEWSPAPERS 4HESE PUBLICATIONS ARE /BJECTIVE "USINESS -ANAGEMENT SUCCESS STORIES AS FAR AS MAINTAINING EDITORIAL SEPARATION 2OMANIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE BETWEEN THE OWNERS AND THE LOCAL MANAGEMENT 4HERE IS AN OBVIOUS TENDENCY TO FORM MEDIA !FTER PRINTING HOUSES WERE PRIVATIZED 4HE BUYERS CONGLOMERATES AND THERE IS NO GOVERNMENT POLICY ON WERE hINSIDERSv WITHIN THE PRESS ARENA TYPOGRAPHERS MEDIA CONCENTRATION 4HE "ROADCAST ,AW STIPULATES ONLY FAMOUS JOURNALISTS AND OTHER MEDIA PROFESSIONALS !S THAT ONE OWNER CANNOT HAVE A DOMINANT POSITION IN MEDIA OUTLETS GREW THEY ACQUIRED THEIR OWN PRINTING THE INDUSTRY WHICH MEANS OWNERSHIP IS LIMITED TO A FACILITIES THEREBY SECURING THEIR INDEPENDENCE (EALTHY PERCENT SHARE OF THE MARKET (OWEVER STATE STATIONS ARE COMPETITION HAS RESULTED h'ENERALLY SPEAKING BUSI EXPLICITLY EXCLUDED FROM THIS PROVISION !DDITIONALLY NESS BEHAVIOR IS MORE PROFESSIONAL IN SUPPORTING INDUS AN INDIVIDUAL OR lRM CAN BE THE MAIN SHAREHOLDER IN TRIES LIKE PRINTING THAN IN MEDIA OUTLETS v ONE PANELIST ONLY ONE STATION ALTHOUGH THE PRINT MEDIA HAVE NO SUCH OBSERVED h0OLITICAL PRESSURE IS INEFFECTIVE BECAUSE THERE RESTRICTIONS !T THE LOCAL LEVEL MOST MEDIA ARE POLITICALLY IS COMPETITIONv CONTROLLED 4HE MAYOR OF #ONSTANTA 2OMANIAS SECOND 4HE DISTRIBUTION NETWORK OPERATES DIFFERENTLY LARGEST CITY HAS A COMPANY COMPOSED OF A LOCAL TELEVISION 4HERE ARE NO STATE OWNED PRINT MEDIA IN 2OMANIA
2/-!.)! h'ENERALLY SPEAKING (OWEVER 2/$)0%4 AREAS RECEIVE NEWSPAPERS THAT ARE ALREADY OUTDATED 4O THE LARGEST DISTRIBU OBTAIN SUBSCRIPTION REVENUES AND BUILD READER LOYALTY BUSINESS BEHAVIOR IS TION NETWORK WAS SOME NEWSPAPERS HAVE DEVELOPED THEIR OWN DISTRIBUTION MORE PROFESSIONAL IN PRIVATIZED ONLY IN NETWORKS 'AZETA DE 3UD A LOCAL NEWSPAPER FROM /LTE $ECEMBER )T NIA MANAGED TO DISTRIBUTE PERCENT OF ITS SUBSCRIPTIONS SUPPORTING INDUSTRIES REACHES THROUGHOUT THROUGH ITS OWN NETWORK 0RIVATE MEDIA DISTRIBUTION LIKE PRINTING THAN IN THE COUNTRY EVEN COMPANIES ALSO OPERATE IN 2OMANIA REACHING MANY PARTS THE REMOTE VILLAGES OF THE COUNTRY MEDIA OUTLETS v ONE .EWSPAPER EXECU 0RINTING FACILITIES AND DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS DO TIVES COMPLAIN THAT NOT RECEIVE STATE SUBSIDIES 2/$)0%4 FOUND ITSELF IN PANELIST OBSERVED THE COMPANY IS DISASTROUS ECONOMIC SHAPE AND IT BECAME ONE OF THE LAST h0OLITICAL PRESSURE IS SLOW IN ITS DELIV STATE OWNED COMPANIES TO BE PRIVATIZED ERY AS NEWSPAPERS 2OMANIAN INEFFECTIVE BECAUSE REACH SOME AREAS MEDIA GENERALLY ARE THERE IS COMPETITIONv AFTER DELAYS OF UP NOT PROlT GENERAT -ANY OWNERS HAVE TO HOURS 3OME ING BUSINESSES )N OTHER BUSINESSES IN BELIEVE 2/$)0%4 FAVORS PARTICULAR CLIENTS AND DELIBER AN OVERCROWDED ATELY DELAYS RETURNING MONEY FROM SALES TO MEDIA OUTLETS MARKET WITH A ORDER TO INJECT FUNDS &URTHERMORE THE COMPANY DOES NOT PROVIDE NEWSPAPERS POOR CONSUMER INTO THEIR MEDIA WITH KEY DATA SUCH AS HOW MANY COPIES ARE SOLD PER DAY BASE MEDIA OUTLETS AND PER REGION 7HEN 2/$)0%4 WAS STATE OWNED IT HAD STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE OPERATIONS TO KEEP A LEGACY OF POLITICALLY MOTIVATED ACTIVITY &OR EXAMPLE THE -ANY OWNERS HAVE THEM AmOAT h4HEY ARE LOCAL 2/$)0%4 BRANCH IN 6RANCEA SIDED WITH THE LOCAL OTHER BUSINESSES IN AUTHORITIES AGAINST THE INDEPENDENT :IARUL DE 6RANCEA ORDER TO INJECT FUNDS LOOKING OUT FOR THEIR 3UBSCRIPTIONS ARE USUALLY DISTRIBUTED BY THE 2OMA INTO THEIR MEDIA NIAN 0OSTAL 3ERVICE -OST SUBSCRIBERS ESPECIALLY IN RURAL OPERATIONS TO KEEP OTHER INTERESTS THEM AmOAT h4HEY 4HEY SURELY DO NOT ARE LOOKING OUT FOR )NDEPENDENT MEDIA ARE WELL MANAGED THEIR OTHER INTER EXPECT TO MAKE MONEY BUSINESSES ALLOWING EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE ESTS 4HEY SURELY OUT OF MEDIA !ND THIS Q -EDIA OUTLETS AND SUPPORTING lRMS OPERATE AS DO NOT EXPECT TO EFlCIENT PROFESSIONAL AND PROlT GENERATING MAKE MONEY OUT OF IS BECOMING THE USUAL BUSINESSES MEDIA !ND THIS IS MODEL ESPECIALLY FOR BECOMING THE USUAL Q -EDIA RECEIVE REVENUE FROM A MULTITUDE OF LOCAL MEDIAv SOURCES MODEL ESPECIALLY FOR LOCAL MEDIA v A Q !DVERTISING AGENCIES AND RELATED INDUSTRIES PANELIST SAID -OST SUPPORT AN ADVERTISING MARKET LOCAL NEWSPAPERS ARE NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE BUT BUSI Q !DVERTISING REVENUE AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL NESSMEN SUSTAIN THEM AS TOOLS TO FACILITATE BUSINESS DEALS REVENUE IS IN LINE WITH ACCEPTED STANDARDS AT ESPECIALLY WHEN PUBLIC MONEY IS CONCERNED -ANY LOCAL COMMERCIAL OUTLETS POLITICIANS SET UP NEWSPAPERS TO IMPROVE THEIR IMAGE "UT Q )NDEPENDENT MEDIA DO NOT RECEIVE GOVERNMENT THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE RARELY READ AND DO NOT HAVE THE SUBSIDIES PUBLIC TRUST h4HERE ARE NEWSPAPERS GENERATED OVERNIGHT AND PRINTED IN ONLY COPIES "UT YOU CAN BLACKMAIL Q -ARKET RESEARCH IS USED TO FORMULATE STRATEGIC WITH SUCH GARBAGEv PLANS ENHANCE ADVERTISING REVENUE AND TAILOR PRODUCTS TO THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF /THERWISE NEWSPAPERS MUST RELY HEAVILY ON SALES AUDIENCES 3UBSCRIPTIONS ACCOUNT FOR JUST A SMALL PART OF CIRCULATION NUMBERS SO NEWSPAPERS CANNOT COUNT ON STEADY SALES "53).%33 -!.!'%-%.4 ).$)#!4/23 "ROADCAST RATINGS AND CIRCULATION lGURES ARE Q REVENUES -OREOVER NEWSPAPERS OFFER BIG DISCOUNTS TO RELIABLY AND INDEPENDENTLY PRODUCED ENCOURAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI !NOTHER lNANCIAL SOURCE FOR 2OMANIAN MEDIA IS NATIONAL MINORITIES RECOGNIZED IN 2OMANIA AND TO ADVERTISING (OWEVER BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC SITUATION SOME CULTURAL MAGAZINES THE ADVERTISING MARKET IS DEPRESSED COMPARED WITH OTHER -ARKET RESEARCH IS NOT ESTABLISHED IN 2OMANIA COUNTRIES IN THE REGION !2"/MEDIA ESTIMATED THAT FOR 7HILE POLLING COMPANIES DO EXIST THEIR RESEARCH IS AD REVENUES ACCOUNTED FOR A TOTAL OF MILLION VERY EXPENSIVE AND FEW MEDIA OUTLETS CAN AFFORD IT FOR TELEVISION PRINT MEDIA OUTDOOR RADIO )NTERNET .EWSPAPERS PUBLISH POLLS AND ASK THEIR READERS TO lLL IN AND CINEMA QUESTIONNAIRES BUT THE RESULTS CAN HARDLY BE SEEN AS PRO 4HERE ARE MANY ADVERTISING AGENCIES ACTIVE FESSIONAL &OREIGN MEDIA COMPANIES LIKE 2INGIER "ERTELS IN 2OMANIA INCLUDING LARGE GROUPS SUCH AS MANN 2OMANIAN 0UBLISHING 'ROUP AND 6.5 (EARST 3AATCHI3AATCHI ,EO "URNETT ""$/ AND 9OUNG HAVE CONDUCTED MARKET RESEARCH AND CONTINUE TO MONITOR 2UBICAM $ESPITE NUMEROUS LOCAL AGENCIES SOME PER THEIR READERSHIPS CENT OF THE ADVERTISING MONEY IN THE 2OMANIAN MARKET 4HE 2OMANIAN !UDIT "UREAU OF #IRCULATION IS CIRCULATED BY THE INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES 0REFERENCE IS "2!4 WAS FOUNDED IN AS AN INDEPENDENT NON GIVEN TO BIG MEDIA WITH NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION WHILE THE PROlT ORGANIZATION %RNST 9OUNG TOOK OVER THE AUDIT LOCAL MEDIA ARE LARGELY NEGLECTED !CCORDING TO !2"/ ING ACTIVITIES ON BEHALF OF "2!4 IN 3EPTEMBER MEDIA LESS THAN PERCENT OF AD REVENUES IN PRINT MEDIA -ANY ADVERTISING AGENCIES REQUIRE A CIRCULATION CERTIl GO TO LOCAL PUBLICATIONS 4HIS STATISTIC BELIES THE FACT CATE ISSUED BY "2!4 AS A PRECONDITION FOR ANY ADVERTIS THAT THE COMBINED LOCAL MEDIA HAVE LARGER CIRCULATION ING CONTRACT AND PUBLICATIONS ARE AUDITED BY "2!4 NUMBERS AND A GREATER READERSHIP THAN "UCHAREST BASED !SSISTED BY THE #ENTER FOR )NDEPENDENT *OURNALISM AND PUBLICATIONS THE 0RO-EDIA )) 0ROGRAM "2!4 CONDUCTED THE .ATIONAL $URING AND THE STATE BECAME AN IMPOR 2EADERSHIP 3URVEY 3.! THE lRST SUCH STUDY CONDUCTED TANT PLAYER IN THE ADVERTISING MARKET 0UBLIC INSTITUTIONS IN 2OMANIA THAT MET INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS PUBLIC COMPANIES AND STATE OWNED COMPANIES BOUGHT ! FEW YEARS AGO SEVERAL MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES ADS PARTICULARLY IN THE PRINT MEDIA !LMOST DAILY NEWS REACHED AN AGREEMENT TO SET UP A UNIQUE RATINGS SYSTEM FOR PAPERS FEATURED PROMOTIONS FOR STATE RAILWAYS AIRPORTS BROADCAST MEDIA 4WO RATINGS SYSTEMS EMERGED GENERATING TOURIST PROJECTS YOUTH INITIATIVES AND THE NATIONAL COM MARKET COMPETITION (OWEVER THE STATE INTERFERED WITH MUNICATIONS lRM (OWEVER GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING IS THIS NEW MARKET BY ALLOWING THE #.! TO SELECT A SINGLE A COMPLICATED ISSUE 4HE 2OMANIAN !CADEMIC 3OCIETY RATING SYSTEM THAT WILL BEGIN IN ! POLLING INSTITUTE 3!2 ISSUED A STUDY THAT REVEALED THAT STATE SPONSORED )-!3 STARTED CONDUCTING RESEARCH USING ITS OWN lNANCES ADVERTISING WAS NOT A TRANSPARENT PROCESS AND A MAJOR -UCH OF THE DATA ISSUED BY VARIOUS POLLING lRMS ARE NOT SOURCE OF POLITICAL PRESSURE AGAINST THE MEDIA )NDEED FULLY TRUSTED BY THE MEDIA INDUSTRY -OREOVER THE HEAD THE 3!2 STUDY SHOWED THAT THE STATE HAD NO COHERENT OF THE )-!3 POLL INSTITUTE WAS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERN STRATEGY FOR PROMOTION NOR WAS IT CLEAR WHY GOVERNMENT MENT TO MANAGE THE REFORM OF THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES 4HIS INITIATIVES SHOULD BE PROMOTED THROUGH THE MEDIA &OR APPOINTMENT STIRRED EVEN MORE CONTROVERSY REGARDING THE THE MOST PART PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS DEPEND MORE ON POLITI OBJECTIVITY OF THE INSTITUTES RESEARCH 3IMILARLY THE FORMER CAL INmUENCE THAN ON BALANCED STUDIES OF WHICH INITIA HEAD OF ANOTHER POLLING COMPANY -ETRO -EDIA 4RANSYLVA TIVES NEED PROMOTION NIA IS A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNMENT 3TATE RADIO AND TELEVISION HAVE THREE SOURCES OF FUNDING STATE SUBSIDIES SUBSCRIPTIONS AND ADVERTISING 3UBSCRIPTIONS TO STATE MEDIA ARE COMPULSORY FOR ALL RADIO /BJECTIVE 3UPPORTING )NSTITUTIONS OR TELEVISION SET OWNERS WHETHER THE hSUBSCRIBERSv TUNE 2OMANIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE IN OR NOT )N THE GOVERNMENT INCREASED THIS MANDA TORY TAX AND CHANGED THE COLLECTION MECHANISM /PPOSI 4HERE ARE MORE THAN MEDIA ASSOCIATIONS IN 2OMANIA TION PARTIES PRIVATE ELECTRONIC MEDIA AND NEWSPAPERS REPRESENTING PUBLISHERS BROADCASTERS JOURNALISTS EDI PROTESTED TO NO AVAIL 4HERE ARE NO STATE SUBSIDIES FOR TORS AND DISTRIBUTORS 3OME OF THEM ARE PROFESSIONAL PRIVATE MEDIA ALTHOUGH PRO GOVERNMENT MEDIA OBTAINS ASSOCIATIONS WHILE OTHERS ARE TRADE UNIONS 4HEY ARE BOTH INDIRECT SUBSIDIES THROUGH PRIVILEGED ADVERTISING 3TATE NATIONAL AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND SOME ASSOCIATIONS OF SUBSIDIES ARE GIVEN ONLY TO PUBLICATIONS BELONGING TO THE JOURNALISTS SPECIALIZE IN A CERTAIN lELDS LIKE THE ENVIRON MENT HEALTH SPORTS AND PHOTOJOURNALISM HTTPWWWARBOMEDIARO
2/-!.)! 3UPPORTING INSTITUTIONS FUNCTION IN THE DOES NOT DEAL WITH 'RADUATING JOURNALISM PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA EDITORIAL MATTERS BUT CONCENTRATES ON STUDENTS ARE NOT Q 4RADE ASSOCIATIONS REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF TECHNICAL AND BUSI PREPARED FOR MEDIA PRIVATE MEDIA OWNERS AND PROVIDE MEMBER NESS ISSUES !2#! SERVICES WAS VERY SUCCESS CAREERS !CCORDING Q 0ROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS WORK TO PROTECT FUL IN BRINGING THE TO ONE PANELIST JOURNALISTS RIGHTS GOVERNMENT TO ALLOT MORE FREQUENCIES h4HE QUALITY OF THE Q .'/S SUPPORT FREE SPEECH AND INDEPENDENT FOR PRIVATE BROAD MEDIA PROGRAMS HAS DECREASED CASTERS Q 1UALITY JOURNALISM DEGREE PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE 4HERE ARE 4HE SCHOOLS WANT MORE SUBSTANTIAL PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE EXIST MANY JOURNALIST STUDENTS EVEN IF THAT Q 3HORT TERM TRAINING AND IN SERVICE TRAINING ASSOCIATIONS BUT PROGRAMS ALLOW JOURNALISTS TO UPGRADE SKILLS OR MOST OF THEM ARE MEANS DAMAGING THE ACQUIRE NEW SKILLS LOW PROlLE INAC QUALITY OF THE PROGRAMSv Q 3OURCES OF NEWSPRINT AND PRINTING FACILITIES ARE TIVE OR IMMATURE PRIVATE APOLITICAL AND UNRESTRICTED ! COUPLE EXIST ONLY ON PAPER INCLUDING THE !SSOCIATION OF THE 2OMA Q #HANNELS OF MEDIA DISTRIBUTION KIOSKS TRANS NIAN *OURNALISTS !:2 /THERS FUNCTION AS BRANCHES OF MITTERS )NTERNET ARE PRIVATE APOLITICAL AND 3500/24).' ).34)454)/.3 ).$)#!4/23 UNRESTRICTED OTHER LOCAL .'/S SUCH AS THE 35$ %34 2EGIONAL #ENTRE FOR *OURNALISM IN 'ALATI 4HE STRONGEST ASSOCIATIONS ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN ISSUES PERTAINING TO JOURNALISM STAN 4HE 2OMANIAN 0RESS #LUB #20 IS ONE OF THE DARDS JOURNALISTS PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL BENElTS MOST INmUENTIAL MEDIA ASSOCIATIONS 4HE #20 STARTED 4HE !SSOCIATION FOR THE 0ROMOTION AND 0ROTECTION OF THE AS AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB FOR MEDIA OWNERS PUBLISHERS AND &REEDOM OF %XPRESSION !00,% CONDUCTED A PROGRAM MEDIA DIRECTORS 2ECENTLY THE #20 BEGAN ADMITTING EDI CALLED &2%%%8 WHICH MONITORS THE INSTANCES OF ATTACKS TORS !ND ACCORDING TO #20 INTERNAL DATA MORE THAN OR HARASSMENT OF JOURNALISTS !00,% STARTED AN E COMMU INDIVIDUAL JOURNALISTS ARE MEMBERS AS WELL 4HE #20 NITY WITH A MEMBERSHIP OF MORE THAN ACTIVE JOURNAL IS ACTIVE IN LOBBYING THE GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS ISSUES ISTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY RELATING TO THE MEDIA INDUSTRY ESPECIALLY TAXATION /NE 3EVERAL TRADE UNIONS REPRESENT THE NATIONAL RADIO PANELIST EXPLAINED h4HEY ARE POWERFUL PEOPLE AND THE AND TELEVISION MEDIA BUT FEW SUPPORT THE PRIVATE SECTOR GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATES WITH THE #20 "UT THE REAL OUT OUTLETS 3OME OF THE EXISTING TRADE UNIONS HAVE SECURED COME IS INSIGNIlCANT *UST LOOK AT THE TAXATION LEVELv 4HE BENElTS FOR THEIR MEMBERS SUCH AS SALARY NEGOTIATIONS #20 ADOPTED A CODE OF ETHICS WHICH THEY PRESENTED TO AND HOLIDAY BONUSES /VER THE PAST YEAR MORE TRADE THE JOURNALISM COMMUNITY "UT THE CODE WAS NOT WIDELY UNIONS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED TO SUPPORT THE PRIVATE ACCEPTED AND IT HAS NOT BEEN ENFORCED 2EPRESENTING THE MEDIA 4HE IMMEDIATE CONCERN OF SUCH GROUPS IS IMPROV TOP EXECUTIVES FROM THE MOST IMPORTANT MEDIA OUTLETS ING THE WORK CONDITIONS OF JOURNALISTS 4HE LARGEST UNIONS THE #20 ENJOYS GOOD VISIBILITY AND TRIES TO PASS AS THE ARE THE 2OMANIAN *OURNALISTS 3OCIETY WHICH CLAIMS ONLY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MEDIA COMMUNITY IN 2OMANIA MEMBERS AND 4HE *OURNALISTS AND 0RINTERS &EDERA &RUSTRATED BY THE #20 THE EDITORS OF THE LOCAL TION WHICH SAYS IT HAS 4HE MEMBERSHIP ESTIMATES MEDIA ESTABLISHED OTHER ASSOCIATIONS 4HE !SSOCIATION OF ARE THOUGHT TO BE EXAGGERATED HOWEVER THE ,OCAL .EWSPAPER %DITORS IN "RASOV AND THE !SSO 4HERE ARE NUMEROUS HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL SOCIETY CIATION OF THE %DITORS IN #LUJ ALSO TRY TO PROMOTE THE .'/S THAT WORK IN COOPERATION WITH THE MEDIA COM INTERESTS OF THEIR MEMBERS (OWEVER THEY OPERATE ON A MUNITY TO PROTECT FREEDOM OF SPEECH RIGHTS 4HE !SSOCIA SMALLER SCALE AND CONSEQUENTLY HAVE LESS OF AN IMPACT TION FOR THE $EFENSE OF (UMAN 2IGHTS IN 2OMANIAn4HE -EANWHILE BROADCASTERS HAVE THEIR OWN ORGANIZATION (ELSINKI #OMMITTEE !0!$/2 #( IS PARTICULARLY THE !SSOCIATION OF "ROADCASTERS !2#! 4HE ASSOCIATION ACTIVE !0!$/2 #( AND THE -EDIA -ONITORING !GENCY PUBLISHED A VERY USEFUL JUDICIAL GUIDE FOR JOURNALISTS HTTPCRPDIGIRONET WITH A SECOND EDITION PUBLISHED IN /THER .'/S
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI LIKE THE 0RO $EMOCRACY !SSOCIATION THE &OUNDATION FOR IMPORTED NEWSPRINT -ANY PANELISTS STATED THAT THE THE $EVELOPMENT OF #IVIL 3OCIETY THE 2OMANIAN !CA PRINTING SECTOR NOW HAS HEALTHY MARKET COMPETITION 4HE DEMIC 3OCIETY AND 4RANSPARENCY )NTERNATIONALn2OMANIA SAME HOLDS FOR BROADCASTING 7HILE BROADCASTING TRANS ARE ALL ACTIVE IN DEFENDING THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION )N MITTERS ARE STILL STATE CONTROLLED SATELLITES HAVE MADE THE %5 ALLOCATED SPECIAL FUNDING FOR SUPPORTING BROADCASTING FAR MORE INDEPENDENT #ABLE TELEVISION THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT PRESS IN 2OMANIA DISTRIBUTORS ARE PRIVATE AND DISTRIBUTE A LARGE VARIETY OF 4HIS INITIATIVE SOMEWHAT UNUSUAL FOR THE %5 REmECTED CHANNELS INCLUDING NATIONAL TELEVISION )NTERNET PROVID INTERNATIONAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION ERS ARE ALSO INDEPENDENT IN 2OMANIA 4WENTY FOUR JOURNALISM PROGRAMS OPERATE WITHIN STATE AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES ACROSS 2OMANIA 4HE AVERAGE 0ANEL 0ARTICIPANTS NUMBER OF STUDENTS PER CLASS IS SO A LARGE NUMBER OF "RANDUSA !RMANCA FORMER DIRECTOR 4IMISOARA BRANCH hLICENSEDv JOURNALISTS mOOD THE MEDIA MARKET EVERY YEAR OF 2OMANIAN 0UBLIC 4ELEVISION (OWEVER GRADUATING JOURNALISM STUDENTS ARE NOT PREPARED FOR MEDIA CAREERS !CCORDING TO ONE PANELIST h4HE QUALITY )OANA !VADANI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR #ENTER FOR OF THE PROGRAMS HAS DECREASED 4HE SCHOOLS WANT MORE )NDEPENDENT *OURNALISM STUDENTS EVEN IF THAT MEANS DAMAGING THE QUALITY OF THE PROGRAMSv #URRICULA ARE MOSTLY THEORETICAL WHILE THE ,IVIU !VRAM HEAD OF )NVESTIGATIVE $EPARTMENT FACULTY IS RARELY COMPOSED OF ACTIVE JOURNALISTS 3TUDENTS !DEVARUL DAILY "UCHAREST DO NOT GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE HANDS ON TRAINING EVEN IF THEY PARTICIPATE IN A THREE WEEK hPRACTICAL TRAIN ,IANA 'ANEA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR !SSOCIATION FOR THE INGv SESSION IN PROFESSIONAL NEWSROOMS 4HESE INTERNSHIPS 0ROMOTION AND 0ROTECTION OF &REEDOM OF %XPRESSION OFFER LITTLE MENTORSHIP AND MOST STUDENTS DO NOT KNOW OR !00,% DO NOT CARE TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR OPPORTUNITY -EAN WHILE THE MEDIA MARKET CAN ABSORB ONLY A SMALL FRACTION :OLTAN +OVACS JOURNALIST DIRECTOR !'%.$! MEDIA OF THE GRADUATES WHILE THE REST GO INTO PUBLIC RELATIONS OR GROUP 4IMISOARA OTHER COMMUNICATION RELATED JOBS 4HE -EDIA0RO GROUP STARTED ITS OWN JOURNALISM SCHOOL BY OFFERING ITS STUDENTS !LEXANDRU ,AZESCU JOURNALIST TRAINING AND POSITIONS WITHIN THE COMPANY *OURNALISM STUDENTS HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDY 6IRGIL .ITULESCU PARLIAMENTARY EXPERT #ULTURE !RTS ABROAD (OWEVER 2OMANIAN STUDENTS ARE NOT WELL AND -ASS -EDIA #OMMISSION OF THE $EPUTY #HAMBER INFORMED ABOUT EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITIES )N OTHER CASES PROGRAMS ASK THE APPLICANTS TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES -ANUELA 3TEFANESCU DEPUTY DIRECTOR !SSOCIATION FOR WHICH LIMITS THE NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES -ANY OF THE $EFENSE OF (UMAN 2IGHTS IN 2OMANIAn4HE (ELSINKI THOSE WHO STUDY ABROAD PREFER TO WORK FOR INTERNATIONAL #OMMITTEE MEDIA OR TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION RATHER THAN RETURN !DRIAN 6OINEA DIRECTOR 3# -EDIA 3UD %UROPA 3! MEDIA TO 2OMANIA GROUP #RAIOVA 'AZETA DE 3UD DAILY #RAIOVA 2ADIO 3UD !FTER THE CLOSING OF THE ""# 3CHOOL *UNE #RAIOVA 2ADIO 3UD 3EVERIN 2ADIO 0ROMT "EIUS THE #ENTER FOR )NDEPENDENT *OURNALISM REMAINED THE ONLY SHORT TERM TRAINING PROVIDER 4HE #ENTER PROVIDES COURSES FOR JOURNALISTS AND JOURNALISM STUDENTS BUT ALSO FOR STU DENTS IN RELATED lELDS LIKE ECONOMICS AND LAW 4HE #ENTER -ODERATOR ALSO PROVIDES TARGETED ASSISTANCE TO MEDIA OUTLETS #OURSES #RISTIAN 'HINEA JOURNALIST IN NEWS PRODUCTION FOR RADIO AND TELEVISION INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AND PHOTOJOURNALISM ARE IN HIGH DEMAND -EDIA DISTRIBUTION IS CHANGING IN 2OMANIA 4HE MAIN PRINTING FACILITY IS STILL STATE OWNED DESPITE ATTEMPTS TO PRIVATIZE IT 4HE GROUP THAT OWNS THE PRINTING FACILITY NOW HAS STRONG LINKS TO THE RULING POLITICAL FORCES (OWEVER MANY NEWSPAPERS ARE ADAPTING TO BUYING
2/-!.)! h4HE "ROADCASTING #OUNCIL IS A lRST CLASS SCANDAL AND HUMILIATING TO THE PROFESSION v SAID A PANELIST 3ERBIA
)NTRODUCTION HINGS WENT FROM BAD TO WORSE IN 3ERBIA IN 4HE -ARCH ASSAS SINATION OF 0RIME -INISTER :ORAN $JINDJIC REVEALED EXTENSIVE LINKS BETWEEN THE 3ERBIAN STATE APPARATUS AND THE CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD THE RULING COALITION COLLAPSED IN .OVEMBER AFTER MANY MONTHS OF SQUABBLING AND INlGHTING A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FAILED BECAUSE OF LOW VOTER TURNOUT THE POLITICAL SCENE REMAINED MIRED IN CORRUPTION SCANDALS AND BY YEARS END THE ULTRANATIONALIST RIGHTWING 3ERBIAN 2ADICAL 0ARTY HAD EXPERIENCED A STRONG REVIVAL 4HE AILING ECONOMY OFFERED NO GLIMMER OF HOPE AND THE )NTERNATIONAL #RIMINAL 4RIBUNAL OF THE &ORMER 9UGOSLAVIA IN 4HE (AGUE INCREASED ITS PRESSURE ON 3ERB 4AUTHORITIES TO ARREST AND EXTRADITE SCORES OF INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS STILL ON THE RUN IN 3ERBIA !FTER $JINDJICS ASSASSINATION BY A HIGH RANKING MEMBER OF A CRACK POLICE UNIT THE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED A DAY STATE OF EMER GENCY 4HIS EFFECTIVELY GAGGED THE MEDIA WHICH WAS BANNED FROM RUNNING ANALYSES OF EMERGENCY MEASURES QUESTIONING THEIR METHOD AND IMPLEMENTATION AND QUOTING ANY SOURCES BUT OFlCIAL GOVERNMENT ONES 4HE GOVERNMENT TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION TO MOVE AGGRES SIVELY ON THE PARLIAMENTARY FRONT )T SUDDENLY ADOPTED A NEW 0UBLIC )NFORMATION !CT INTRODUCING LAST MINUTE RESTRICTIONS ON THE MEDIA WITHOUT CONSULTING THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA EXPERTS WHO HAD CO WRITTEN THE LAW )T ALSO ELECTED THE "ROADCAST !DVISORY #OUNCIL OVERNIGHT AND IN CONTRAVENTION OF THE "ROADCAST !CT PROVOKING ANGRY REACTIONS FROM THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA !FTER THE STATE OF EMERGENCY WAS LIFTED RELA TIONS BETWEEN THE AUTHORITIES AND THE MEDIA WORSENED /NE RESULT WAS A mURRY OF LAWSUITS AGAINST 3ERBIAN JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS lLED BY POLITICIANS AND OTHER PUBLIC lGURES INVOKING THE NEW 0UBLIC )NFORMATION !CT !FTER LEADING EDITORS PETITIONED THE GOVERNMENT IN A WIDELY PUBLICIZED MOVE THAT ATTRACTED INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION THE GOV ERNMENT REPRIMANDED THE PRESS FOR RESORTING TO PRESSURE TACTICS 4HE INDEPENDENT MEDIA ENVIRONMENT IN 3ERBIA DETERIORATED DURING AS MEASURED BY THE PROTECTION OF FREE SPEECH AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION AREAS PANEL MEMBERS AGREED "ROADCAST REGULA
3%2")! /BJECTIVE 3CORING )NDICATOR 3CORING 4HE AVERAGES OF ALL THE INDICATORS ARE AVERAGED TO OBTAIN A SINGLE %ACH INDICATOR IS SCORED USING THE FOLLOWING SYSTEM OVERALL SCORE FOR EACH OBJECTIVE /BJECTIVE SCORES ARE AVERAGED TO PROVIDE #OUNTRY DOES NOT MEET INDICATOR GOVERNMENT OR SOCIAL FORCES MAY ACTIVELY AN OVERALL SCORE FOR THE COUNTRY )2%8 INTERPRETS THE OVERALL SCORES AS FOLLOWS OPPOSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND ABOVE 3USTAINABLE AND FREE INDEPENDENT MEDIA #OUNTRY MINIMALLY MEETS ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR FORCES MAY NOT AC T IVELY OPPOSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION BUT BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT MAY NOT SUPPORT IT n )NDEPENDENT MEDIA APPROACHING SUSTAINABILITY AND GOVERNMENT OR PROFESSION DO NOT FULLY AND ACTIVELY SUPPORT CHANGE n 3IGNIlCANT PROGRESS REMAINS TO BE MADE #OUNTRY HAS BEGUN TO MEET MANY ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR BUT PROGRESS MAY SOCIETY OR GOVERNMENT IS NOT FULLY SUPPORTIVE BE TOO RECENT TO JUDGE OR STILL DEPENDENT ON CURRENT GOVERNMENT OR POLITICAL FORCES n #OUNTRY MEETS FEW INDICATORS GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY ACTIVELY OPPOSE CHANGE #OUNTRY MEETS MOST ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INDICA TOR HAS OCCURRED OVER SEVERAL YEARS ANDOR THROUGH CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT INDICATING LIKELY SUSTAINABILITY #OUNTRY MEETS THE ASPECTS OF THE INDICATOR IMPLEMENTATION HAS REM AI NE D INTACT OVER MULTIPLE CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC mUCTUATIONS CHANGES IN PUBLIC OPINION ANDOR CHANGING SOCIAL CONVENTIONS
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI TION LIBEL SUITS AGAINST JOURNALISTS AND PAY FOR JOURNALISTS THE YEAR BEFORE BUT h4HE GOVERNMENT WERE SEEN AS GRAVE PROBLEMS 2ECENT MEDIA LEGISLATION WAS ONLY BECAUSE ANY CRITICIZED AS OVERLY RESTRICTIVE AND PROGRESS REMAINED TO BE THING IS BETTER THAN LOWERED TAXES FOR MADE IN TERMS OF THE PROFESSIONAL QUALITY OF JOURNALISM A LEGAL VACUUMv MEDIA BUT STILL THE .EVERTHELESS THE ABILITY OF JOURNALISTS TO COVER A 4HE FAIR BROAD SPECTRUM OF EVENTS AND DISTRIBUTE THIS COVERAGE VIA LICENSING OF BROAD KILLERS OF 0ANTIC AND READILY AVAILABLE PUBLICATIONS AND BROADCASTS WAS SEEN CAST MEDIA WAS #URUVIJA HAVE NOT AS AN INDICATION THAT 3ERBIA IS APPROACHING A SUSTAIN DIRECTLY TIED TO ABLE INDEPENDENT MEDIA 4HERE ARE MANY NEWSPAPERS THE CONTROVERSIAL BEEN FOUND YET v IN PRIVATE HANDS THE PANELISTS SAID AS WELL AS BROADCAST "ROADCAST #OUN SAID A PANELIST AND PRINT OUTLETS THAT ARE CONSIDERED TO BE PROVIDING CIL APPOINTMENTS GOOD COVERAGE 4HERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON INTERNATIONAL 4HE COUNCIL IS MEDIA )N ADDITION INDEPENDENT MEDIA WERE SEEN AS RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING WHICH OF THE ESTIMATED INCREASINGLY WELL MANAGED WITH EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE BROADCAST OUTLETS THAT JAM 3ERBIAS RADIO AND TELEVISION DIALS WILL SURVIVE A GOVERNMENT CLEANUP OF THE CLUTTERED BROADCAST SPECTRUM &OR THREE YEARS BROADCASTERS HAVE /BJECTIVE &REE 3PEECH BEEN PROMISED THAT LICENSES WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED TO 3ERBIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE DESERVING STATIONS MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO OPERATE LEGALLY (OWEVER NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE AND THERE IS NO ANTICI 4WO ASPECTS OF THE LEGAL AND REGULATORY SITUATION WERE PATED RESOLUTION 0ARTICIPANTS SUGGESTED THAT GOVERNMENT OF EXTREME CONCERN DURING THE RECENTLY ENACTED 0UBLIC )NFORMATION !CT AND THE GOVERNMENTS APPOINT ,EGAL AND SOCIAL NORMS PROTECT AND PROMOTE MENT OF A "ROADCAST !DVISORY #OUNCIL FREE SPEECH AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION h4HE "ROADCASTING !DVISORY #OUNCIL IS A lRST CLASS SCANDAL AND HUMILIATING TO THE PROFESSION v SAID A Q ,EGALSOCIAL PROTECTIONS OF FREE SPEECH EXIST PANELIST (E REFERRED TO THE GOVERNMENTS HASTY CREATION AND ARE ENFORCED OF A REGULATORY BROADCAST COUNCIL IN -AY WHICH Q ,ICENSING OF BROADCAST MEDIA IS FAIR COMPETITIVE PANELISTS SAID WAS IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF THE NEWLY RATIlED AND APOLITICAL "ROADCAST !CT THAT REQUIRES PUBLIC SCRUTINY OF NOMINATED COUNCIL MEMBERS 3OME APPOINTED MEMBERS QUIT THE Q -ARKET ENTRY AND TAX STRUCTURE FOR MEDIA ARE FAIR AND COMPARABLE TO OTHER INDUSTRIES BOARD IN REACTION AND A NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANI ZATIONS INDICATED THEY WOULD NOT SUPPORT IT #RITICS SAID Q #RIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS OR MEDIA OUTLETS ARE THE NEW LAW APPEARED TO BE A GOVERNMENT EFFORT TO RETAIN PROSECUTED VIGOROUSLY BUT OCCURRENCES OF SUCH CONTROL OVER THE BROADCAST MEDIA CRIMES ARE RARE 4HE NEW LAW ON PUBLIC ACCESS TO INFORMATION ALSO Q 3TATE OR PUBLIC MEDIA DO NOT RECEIVE PREFERENTIAL DREW CRITICISM REmECTING THE LACK OF PROGRESS DURING THE LEGAL TREATMENT AND LAW GUARANTEES EDITORIAL THREE YEARS SINCE THE DEMISE OF THE REPRESSIVE -ILOSEVIC INDEPENDENCE REGIME h4HE NEW LAW ON ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION Q ,IBEL IS A CIVIL LAW ISSUE PUBLIC OFlCIALS ARE HELD CONTAINS A PROVISION ALLOWING THE GOVERNMENT TO DENY TO HIGHER STANDARDS AND THE OFFENDED PARTY INFORMATION IF IT INVOLVES THE GOVERNMENT POLICE OR THE MUST PROVE FALSITY AND MALICE ARMY x)F WE CANT GET INFORMATION ON THE MAIN INSTITU Q 0UBLIC INFORMATION IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE RIGHT OF TIONS OF GOVERNMENT WHAT IMPORTANT INFORMATION WILL ACCESS TO INFORMATION IS EQUALLY ENFORCED FOR ALL WE GET v SAID ANOTHER PANELIST &2%% 30%%#( ).$)#!4/23 MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS 4HERE WAS GENERAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE GROUP THAT LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR FREE SPEECH EXIST ON PAPER BUT Q -EDIA OUTLETS HAVE UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO INFOR MATION THIS IS EQUALLY ENFORCED FOR ALL MEDIA ARE NOT ENFORCED AND THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC REMAINS AND JOURNALISTS UNAPPRECIATIVE OF THESE PROTECTIONS 0ROGRESS IS MUCH LESS THAN COULD BE EXPECTED SAID AN ATTORNEY FOR 4HE !SSOCIA Q %NTRY INTO THE JOURNALISM PROFESSION IS FREE AND TION OF )NDEPENDENT %LECTRONIC -EDIA !.%- 7ITH THE GOVERNMENT IMPOSES NO LICENSING RESTRICTIONS OR SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR JOURNALISTS ADOPTION OF NEW MEDIA LAWS hTHE SITUATION IS BETTER THAN
3%2")! h)F YOU ANALYZE SOME FORCES MAY BE WORK FROM THE PRIOR YEAR -ANY SUITS WERE LODGED BY ING IN OPPOSITION TO POLITICIANS WHO NOW FOUND IT CONVENIENT TO lLE CHARGES NEWSPAPERS YOU CAN A FAIR LICENSING PLAN UNDER THE NEW 0UBLIC )NFORMATION !CT -EDIA ORGANI SEE THAT SOME HAVE h&ROM A %UROPEAN ZATIONS WERE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED WHEN DURING THE POINT OF VIEW IT IS SPRING AND SUMMER OF THE 3ERBIAN GOVERNMENTS ACCESS TO INFORMATION EQUALLY IMPORTANT #OMMUNICATIONS "UREAU #HIEF 6LADIMIR "EBA 0OPOVIC WHICH OTHERS DO NOT TO HAVE A LAW AS IT IS lLED LIBEL SUITS AGAINST SEVERAL LEADING PUBLICATIONS AND TO APPLY THAT LAW v BROADCASTERS INCLUDING THE .). WEEKLY MAGAZINE AND AND THAT SOME HAVE SAYS A PRESS ADVISOR 2ADIO AND 4ELEVISION " .INETY lVE PERCENT OF THE ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS TO THE %UROPEAN CHARGES ALLEGE LIBEL AND SLANDER h%VEN -ILOSEVIC PEOPLE #OMMISSION IN ARE ACCUSING THE MEDIA AND WINNING IN COURT v SAID A WITH MEMBERS OF 3ERBIA PANELIST 0ANELISTS DID NOTE HOWEVER THAT NO JOURNALISTS 4HE LIFTING HAD BEEN IMPRISONED GOVERNMENT WHICH OF SALES TAX FROM $ESPITE ACCEPTING INPUT FROM MEDIA GROUPS AND OTHERS DO NOTv PUBLICATIONS WAS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO DRAFT A SOUND NEW 0UBLIC SEEN AS AN ADVANCE )NFORMATION !CT THE GOVERNMENT AMENDED THE DRAFT FOR PRINT MEDIA ,AST YEAR THE GROUP COMPLAINED THAT AT THE LAST MINUTE TO PROTECT OFlCEHOLDERS FROM MEDIA 3ERBIAN PRINT MEDIA WERE TAXED AT THE HIGHEST RATE IN ATTACKS AND FURTHER MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO WITHHOLD PUBLIC %UROPE !LTHOUGH THE SITUATION HAS NOW IMPROVED PAN INFORMATION h4HIS LAW IS NOT APPLIED FAIRLY SAID A PAN ELISTS AGREED THAT TAX REGULATIONS GENERALLY WERE NEITHER ELIST h)F YOU ANALYZE SOME NEWSPAPERS YOU CAN SEE THAT STABLE NOR RELIABLE h4HE GOVERNMENT LOWERED TAXES FOR SOME HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION WHICH OTHERS DO NOT MEDIA BUT STILL THE KILLERS OF 0ANTIC AND #URUVIJA HAVE AND THAT SOME HAVE ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS WITH MEMBERS OF NOT BEEN FOUND YET v SAID A PANELIST /BJECTING TO THE GOVERNMENT WHICH OTHERS DO NOTv 3ERBIA HAD MET MOST FAILURE TO PROSECUTE CRIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS THE PANEL REQUIREMENTS FOR FREE ACCESS TO INFORMATION BUT THE NEW POINTED TO THE UNSOLVED ORGANIZED CRIMEnSTYLE ASSASSINA LAW HAS SHARPLY UNDERMINED THAT SUCCESS PANELISTS SAID TION OF PUBLISHER 3LAVKO #URUVIJA GUNNED DOWN IN !SIDE FROM PUBLIC INFORMATION OTHER TYPES OF AND THE POST -ILOSEVIC BEATING DEATH OF -ILAN 0ANTIC INFORMATION WERE UNRESTRICTED AND AVAILABLE EQUALLY !LSO WHO REPORTED ON ORGANIZED CRIME IN 4HE POLICE UNRESTRICTED IS ENTRY TO THE JOURNALISM PROFESSION WERE ACCUSED OF MISLEADING THE PUBLIC WITH SUGGESTIONS THE MURDERS HAD BEEN SOLVED WHEN NO ARRESTS HAD IN FACT BEEN MADE AND PANELISTS NOTED THAT MEDIA SUPPORT ORGA /BJECTIVE 0ROFESSIONAL *OURNALISM NIZATIONS WERE LAUNCHING A PUBLIC CAMPAIGN TO DEMAND 3ERBIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE ACTION ON #URUVIJAS KILLING 2EDUCED SUPPORT TO STATE AND PUBLIC MEDIA HAS BEEN 4HE PROFESSIONALISM OF 3ERBIAN JOURNALISM REMAINS LOW ACCOMPANIED BY LESS DIRECT INTERFERENCE IN THEIR EDITORIAL BOTH IN TERMS OF THE QUALITY OF THE REPORTING AND ITS ETHICAL PRACTICES ALTHOUGH THESE OUTLETS ARE STILL FUNDAMENTALLY STANDARD 4HE USE OF ANONYMOUS SOURCES IS SO WIDESPREAD DEPENDENT ON THE GOVERNMENT PANELISTS SAID 4HE REASON THAT ATTACKS ON CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY ARE ROUTINE 7HILE FOR REDUCED INVOLVEMENT IN STATE AND PUBLIC MEDIA IS A THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF EXCELLENT MEDIA OPERATIONS PANEL LACK OF MONEY -UNICIPAL BUDGETS ARE OVERBURDENED AND MEMBERS SAID MOST DESERVED THE LOWEST POSSIBLE RATING IN SOME CASES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE TRYING TO GET RID OF &AIR AND OBJECTIVE REPORTING WAS SEEN AS IMPROVING AS THE THEIR MEDIA OPERATIONS 0OLITICIANS INSTEAD ARE APPLYING RESULT OF BETTER TRAINING THAT HAD lNALLY BEGUN TO YIELD MORE PRESSURE TO PRIVATELY OWNED MEDIA !LTHOUGH NOT RESULTS "UT JOURNALISTIC ETHICS WERE QUESTIONED WITH THE OFlCIAL POLICY LOCAL POLITICIANS HAVE RESORTED TO EXERTING PANEL CITING THE APPEARANCE OF A LARGE NUMBER OF NEW PRESSURE ON JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE REPORTED UNFAVORABLY TABLOIDSSUCH AS +URIR AND .ACIONALTHAT WERE PAYING ON THEIR ACTIVITIES h0UBLIC SERVICE IS ON ICE AND POLITI NO HEED TO ETHICAL STANDARDS AND INCREASING THE NUMBER CIANS ARE INTERFERING IN STRONG PRIVATE MEDIA WHILE PUBLIC OF VIOLATIONS h4HE QUESTION OF REPORTERS ETHICS IS SERIOUS v AND STATE MEDIA ARE LEFT ALONE v SAID A DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF A SAID ANOTHER PANELIST h-OST OF THE STORIES IN NEWSPAPERS MUNICIPAL TELEVISION STATION CARRY NO BYLINES NOBODY IS STANDING BEHIND THESE JOUR !CCORDING TO .5.3 THE NUMBER OF JOURNALISTS NALISTS v SAID A PANELIST !NOTHER ADDED h4HE SITUATION IS FACING LIBEL LAWSUITS UNDER CRIMINAL LAW ROSE TO IN BAD IN THE BIGGEST SELLING NEWSPAPERS 7E HAVE A CON
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI *OURNALISM MEETS PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF QUICKLY AS PRIVATELY /NE PANELIST SAID QUALITY OWNED OUTLETS 2EGARDING SPECIAL h4HERE ARE A LOT Q 2EPORTING IS FAIR OBJECTIVE AND WELL SOURCED IZED NICHE REPORTING OF 02 AGENCIES PARTICIPANTS AGREED Q *OURNALISTS FOLLOW RECOGNIZED AND ACCEPTED AND 02 ACTIVITIES ETHICAL STANDARDS THAT 3ERBIA IS AT A LOW LEVEL COMPARED ARE UNDERSTOOD AS Q *OURNALISTS AND EDITORS DO NOT PRACTICE WITH THE REST OF THE SELF CENSORSHIP WORLD BUT FELT SOME @PAY THE REPORTERv Q *OURNALISTS COVER KEY EVENTS AND ISSUES PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE TO EXPAND THIS TYPE OF JOURNALISM Q 0AY LEVELS FOR JOURNALISTS AND OTHER MEDIA PROFESSIONALS ARE SUFlCIENTLY HIGH TO DISCOURAGE CORRUPTION /BJECTIVE 0LURALITY OF .EWS 3OURCES Q %NTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING DOES NOT ECLIPSE NEWS AND INFORMATION PROGRAMMING 3ERBIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE
Q 4ECHNICAL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT FOR GATHERING 4HE VARIETY OF NEWS SOURCES PROVIDING RELIABLE AND OBJEC PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING NEWS ARE MODERN TIVE INFORMATION CONTINUES TO IMPROVE ACCORDING TO THE AND EFlCIENT PANEL 4HIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE AS MEASURED BY CITIZENS Q 1UALITY NICHE REPORTING AND PROGRAMMING ACCESS TO NEWS AND THE EXISTENCE OF INDEPENDENT NEWS EXISTS INVESTIGATIVE ECONOMICSBUSINESS LOCAL AGENCIES (OWEVER THERE REMAINS STRONG CONCERN ABOUT
02/&%33)/.!, */52.!,)3- ).$)#!4/23 POLITICAL THE TRANSPARENCY OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP 7ITH DAILY NEWSPAPERS AND MORE THAN TAMINATED MEDIA SCENEv !NOTHER PANEL MEMBER STATED MAGAZINES AVAILABLE IN 3ERBIANOT TO MENTION THE MUL h4HERE ARE A LOT OF 02 AGENCIES AND 02 ACTIVITIES ARE TITUDE OF BROADCASTERS lLLING THE CONGESTED AIRWAVES UNDERSTOOD AS @PAY THE REPORTERv THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NEWS SOURCES 3ELF CENSORSHIP BY JOURNALISTS IS NOW THOUGHT TO BE WIDESPREAD 4HE GROUP AGREED THAT IN MANY PRESS ORGA NIZATIONS REPORTERS WRITE WHAT EDITORS TELL THEM TO RATHER -ULTIPLE NEWS SOURCES PROVIDE CITIZENS WITH THAN REPORT FACTS AND SUBSEQUENTLY LOSE THEIR JOBS 4HERE RELIABLE AND OBJECTIVE NEWS WAS A CLEAR FEELING THAT THERE IS SELF CENSORSHIP RELATING Q ! PLURALITY OF AFFORDABLE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NEWS TO THE GOVERNMENT AND OTHER CENTERS OF POWER /NE PANEL SOURCES EG PRINT BROADCAST )NTERNET EXISTS MEMBER REFERRED TO THE MEDIA POWERHOUSE "+ 4ELEVISION AND ASKED h7OULD "+ EVER ATTACK AN ADVERTISER v Q #ITIZENS ACCESS TO DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL MEDIA IS NOT RESTRICTED #ITING A RECENT STUDY ONE PARTICIPANT TOLD THE PANEL THAT REPORTERS IN 3ERBIA EARN AN AVERAGE OF BETWEEN Q 3TATE OR PUBLIC MEDIA REmECT THE VIEWS OF THE ; AND ; PER MONTH 3HE SAID MOST JOURNALISTS DO ENTIRE POLITICAL SPECTRUM ARE NONPARTISAN AND NOT HAVE APARTMENTS AND ONE THIRD HAVE NEITHER 3OCIAL SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST 3ECURITY NOR HEALTH INSURANCE h0ERSONAL MORALS ARE THE Q )NDEPENDENT NEWS AGENCIES GATHER AND DISTRIB ONLY DEFENSE FROM CORRUPTION IN MEDIA v SHE SAID UTE NEWS FOR PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA -EDIA ARE SEEN AS COVERING AN ARRAY OF EVENTS AND Q )NDEPENDENT BROADCAST MEDIA PRODUCE THEIR OWN THE PANEL FELT THAT ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING WAS BAL NEWS PROGRAMS ANCED REASONABLY WITH NEWS AND INFORMATION 0ARTICI PANTS POINTED TO A LARGE VARIETY OF NEWS AND POLITICAL Q 4RANSPARENCY OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP ALLOWS TALK PROGRAMS AVAILABLE ON THE AIRWAVES AND TO THE COVER CONSUMERS TO JUDGE OBJECTIVITY OF NEWS MEDIA OWNERSHIP IS NOT CONCENTRATED IN A PAGES OF MOST PUBLICATIONS AS BEING MOSTLY INFORMATIVE FEW CONGLOMERATES RATHER THAN ENTERTAINMENT ORIENTED 4ECHNICAL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT WERE VIEWED AS Q ! BROAD SPECTRUM OF SOCIAL INTERESTS ARE IMPROVING ALTHOUGH THERE WAS SOME CONCERN THAT STATE REmECTED AND REPRESENTED IN THE MEDIA INCLUD 0,52!,)49 /& .%73 3/52#%3 ).$)#!4/23 ING MINORITY LANGUAGE INFORMATION SOURCES AND MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS WERE NOT BEING UPGRADED AS
3%2")! (OWEVER IT WAS NOTED THAT RURAL RESIDENTS DO NOT HAVE THE PRIVATE MEDIA THE PANEL SAID AND ALTHOUGH OWNERSHIP SAME ACCESS TO PRINT MEDIA AS THEIR URBAN COUNTERPARTS WAS NOT SEEN AS BEING CONCENTRATED IN A FEW POWERHOUSES AND THAT DESPITE SO MANY NEWS SOURCES BEING AVAILABLE MEMBERS FELT THAT SEVERAL MEDIA GROUPS ARE QUITE STRONG ONLY ONE SIXTH OF THE NATION SPENDS MONEY TO ACTUALLY 4HERE WAS LITTLE CONCERN ABOUT MINORITY INTERESTS BUY THESE PUBLICATIONS h3MALL READERSHIP IS A CONSE BEING REPRESENTED IN THE MEDIA -INORITY LANGUAGE QUENCE OF LOW BUYING POWER v SAID ONE PANELIST (OWEVER PUBLICATIONS AND BROADCASTS WERE CONSIDERED SUFlCIENT THE PANEL AGREED THAT ACCESS TO MEDIA WAS BECOMING MORE PARTLY AS A RESULT OF THE GOVERNMENTS OBLIGATION TO PRO AFFORDABLE AND ESPECIALLY NOTED INCREASED )NTERNET USAGE VIDE SUCH PROGRAMMING 7HETHER THE MEDIA REmECTS THE VIEWS OF THE ENTIRE POLITICAL SPECTRUM IS A COMPLICATED QUESTION DURING A PERIOD WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH CHANGE 4HERE /BJECTIVE "USINESS -ANAGEMENT IS A STRONG ARGUMENT THAT MANY IN 3ERBIAS PRESS HAVE 3ERBIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE SIMPLY CHANGED COATS SINCE -ILOSEVIC WAS FORCED TO LEAVE POWER THREE YEARS AGO h-ILOSEVICS MACHINERY IS STILL IN 4HERE HAS BEEN MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN THE BUSINESS POWER v SAID ANOTHER PANEL PARTICIPANT -ANY JOURNAL MANAGEMENT OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA SUFlCIENT TO ASSURE ISTS ARE SIMPLY NOT AWARE THAT THEY ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE 0ANEL PARTICIPANTS SAID 3ERBIAN PUBLIC AND NOT TO THE MEDIA APPROACHED lNANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY DURING POLITICIANS h,OCAL AND 4HEY NOTED HOWEVER THAT BEING PRIVATE DOES NOT GUAR h-ILOSEVICS REGIONAL STATIONS STILL ANTEE THE MEDIA WILL BE INDEPENDENT EDITORIALLY 3OME MACHINERY IS STILL HAVE PROFESSIONAL POLITI PRIVATE OUTLETS HAVE CLOSE TIES TO THOSE IN GOVERNMENT CIANS ON THEIR BOARDS THEY SAID WHILE THERE ARE STATE OWNED MEDIA ORGANIZA IN POWER v SAID 4HROUGH THEM MUNICI TIONS PROVIDING INDEPENDENT COVERAGE ONE PANELIST PALITIES ARE ATTEMPTING 4HE PANEL NOTED IMPROVED CONDITIONS FOR SUP TO CONTROL MEDIA v A PORTING INDUSTRIES IN THE MEDIA SECTOR WITH GENERALLY PANELIST SAID (OWEVER COMPETITIVE DISTRIBUTION PRICES FOR PRINT MEDIA 4HERE THE HEAD OF THE 3ERBIAN GOVERNMENTS 2ADIO FOR ARE BOTH STATE AND PRIVATE DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES THE PAST TWO YEARS SAID h7HEN ) WAS EDITOR IN CHIEF OF 2ADIO ) TOLD MY STAFF 9OU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO YOUR LIS TENERSNOT TO ME NOT TO THE EDITOR NOT TO THE DIRECTOR )NDEPENDENT MEDIA ARE WELL MANAGED AND NOT TO THE POLITICIANv &OR THEIR PART INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES ALLOWING EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE BROADCASTERS CAN PRODUCE THEIR OWN NEWS BUT POLITICS Q -EDIA OUTLETS AND SUPPORTING lRMS OPERATE AS AND BUSINESS INTERESTS STILL MAY PLAY A ROLE EFlCIENT PROFESSIONAL AND PROlT GENERATING 'ENERALLY THE PANEL AGREED THAT 3ERBIAN MEDIA HAD BUSINESSES IMPROVED ITS COVERAGE OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM DURING AND NOTED THAT IT BEEN RECOGNIZED WITH SEVERAL Q -EDIA RECEIVE REVENUE FROM A MULTITUDE OF SOURCES INTERNATIONAL MEDIA AWARDS .EWS AGENCIES CAN DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION FOR PRINT Q !DVERTISING AGENCIES AND RELATED INDUSTRIES AND BROADCAST MEDIA WITHOUT RESTRICTION AND THEY ADHERE SUPPORT AN ADVERTISING MARKET TO PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AS WELL AS WORK TO ADJUST THEIR Q !DVERTISING REVENUE AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL PRICES TO THE MARKET REVENUE IS IN LINE WITH ACCEPTED STANDARDS AT !CCORDING TO THE PANEL THE TRANSPARENCY OF MEDIA COMMERCIAL OUTLETS OWNERSHIP DECLINED DURING 4HE PANEL FELT THAT Q )NDEPENDENT MEDIA DO NOT RECEIVE GOVERNMENT THE NUMBER OF MEDIA OUTLETS HAD INCREASED THROUGHOUT SUBSIDIES THE YEAR BUT THAT HAD NOT BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHO OWNED WHAT 4HE PARTICIPANTS Q -ARKET RESEARCH IS USED TO FORMULATE STRATEGIC SPECULATED THAT OWNERSHIP DATA ARE CONCEALED TO AVOID PLANS ENHANCE ADVERTISING REVENUE AND TAILOR PRODUCTS TO THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF TAXES AND TO PREVENT POLITICAL PROBLEMS ! RECENT STUDY AUDIENCES BY THE -EDIA #ENTER IN "ELGRADE SHOWED THAT OWNERSHIP INFORMATION CANNOT EVEN BE FOUND IN THE LOCAL COURTS "53).%33 -!.!'%-%.4 ).$)#!4/23 Q "ROADCAST RATINGS AND CIRCULATION lGURES ARE 4HE TRANSPARENCY PROBLEM APPLIES TO BOTH PUBLIC AND RELIABLY AND INDEPENDENTLY PRODUCED -%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI BUT PUBLICATIONS COMPLAIN THAT THEY HAVE TO WAIT FOR /VERALL h4HE TENDENCY UP TO TWO MONTHS BEFORE THEY CAN COLLECT THEIR MONEY THE USE OF MARKET FOR COPIES SOLD !S THERE IS NO TRADITION OF SUBSCRIBING RESEARCH BY 3ERBIAN ;OF GROWING AD REVENUE= DIRECTLY TO NEWSPAPERS IN 3ERBIA PUBLICATIONS DEPEND MEDIA IS MAKING IS POSITIVE AND THAT HEAVILY ON DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS 0UBLISHERS ALSO CRITICIZED GOOD PROGRESS THE SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE 3ERBIAN POST OFlCE IN DELIVER ESPECIALLY FOR TELEVI IS SOMETHING THAT WE ING SUBSCRIPTIONS 4HEY NOTED THAT LACK OF DEPENDABILITY SION -EDIAS USE OF COULD NOT DREAM ABOUT INCLUDING USE OF SMALL EASILY BURGLARIZED MAILBOXES RELIABLE BROADCAST IN APARTMENT BUILDINGS ALONG WITH RELATIVELY HIGH FEES RATINGS AND CIRCU IN THE PREVIOUS PERIOD v MEANT IT WAS DIFlCULT FOR NEWSPAPER COMPANIES TO MAKE LATION lGURES HAS SAID A PANELIST MONEY FROM SUBSCRIPTIONS IMPROVED DURING THE !DVERTISING REVENUE CONTINUED BELOW POTENTIAL PAST YEAR 3ERIOUS DURING BUT THE MARKET DID NOT WORSEN SIGNIlCANTLY )N NEWSPAPER RESEARCH IS NOW UNDER WAY FOR THE lRST TIME FACT GOOD COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE MEDIA AND ADVERTIS -EDIA SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS )2%8 HELPED MEDIA ERS WAS SEEN AS A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT 4HE 3TRATEGIC -AR TO SUPPORT SUCH RESEARCH $IFlCULTY WAS NOTED IN THE RADIO KETING AND -EDIA 2ESEARCH )NSTITUTE HAS PROVIDED RELIABLE SECTOR BECAUSE OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF OUTLETS THAT NEED TO lGURES SHOWING ADVERTISING AGENCIES IN 3ERBIA SPENT BE MEASURED MILLION IN COMPARED WITH MILLION IN 4HIS REPRESENTS A PERCENT INCREASE $ARKO "ROCIC DIRECTOR OF !"' AN AUDIENCE MEASUREMENT COMPANY OFFERED STATISTICS /BJECTIVE 3UPPORTING )NSTITUTIONS SHOWING THAT TWO THIRDS OF THE NATIONS ADVERTISING BUDGET 3ERBIA /BJECTIVE 3CORE IS SPENT ON TELEVISION AND THE REMAINING THIRD ON ALL OTHER MEDIAPRINT PERCENT OUTDOOR PERCENT AND RADIO 3UPPORTING INSTITUTIONS FOR INDEPENDENT MEDIA ARE PERCENT )N ADVERTISING MONEY SPENT IN 3ERBIA WAS APPROACHING SUSTAINABILITY ALBEIT NOT AT QUITE THE PACE OF AROUND ; MILLION MILLION INCREASING TO BETWEEN RECENT YEARS .ONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS .'/S ; AND ; MILLION n MILLION DURING 0RINT WERE SEEN AS PLAYING A VITAL ROLE IN THE TRANSITION TO A MEDIA RECEIVED THE BIGGEST INCREASE WITH MORE SECTIONS MARKET ECONOMY IN THE MEDIA SECTOR PROVIDING SUPPORT OF NEWSPAPERS DEVOTED TO ADVERTISING ! CLEAR GROWTH IN WHILE OUTLETS LEARN TO OPERATE BY NEW STANDARDS AND TO REGIONAL ADVERTISING REVENUE WAS NOTED SURVIVE IN AN EVOLVING ECONOMY /NE .'/ WAS CRITICIZED 4HE PERCENTAGE OF OPERATING FUNDS EARNED FROM FOR ITS INVOLVEMENT WITH 0INK 4ELEVISION AN OUTLET SEEN AS ADVERTISING REVENUE CONTINUES TO GROW IN LINE WITH HAVING PROlTED UNFAIRLY UNDER THE -ILOSEVIC REGIME ACCEPTED COMMERCIAL STANDARDS h4HE TENDENCY IS POSI 4HE STATUS OF TRADE ASSOCIATIONS AND THEIR ABILITY TO TIVE AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD NOT DREAM HELP PRIVATE MEDIA IS NOT A SUBJECT OF CONSENSUS 'ENERAL ABOUT IN THE PREVIOUS PERIOD v SAID ONE PANELIST &OR THE IMPROVEMENT WAS NOTED BUT PANELISTS SAID A NUMBER OF THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR BOTH THE "+ AND 0INK TELEVISION NEW ASSOCIATIONS WERE FORMED DURING AND IT WAS NOT OUTLETS WERE CONSIDERED TO HAVE A HEAD START DUE TO THEIR YET CLEAR WHETHER THEY WOULD WORK EFFECTIVELY FOR THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE -ILOSEVIC REGIME MEMBERS /NE PANELIST SAID THE DISTRIBUTION TAX ON NEWS )NDEPENDENT MEDIA CONTINUE TO BE SEEN AS RECEIV PAPERS WAS TOSSED OUT ONLY AFTER DIRECT PRESSURE FROM ING GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES IN THAT SOME STATE AGENCIES MEDIA MANAGERS AND EDITORS AND NOT AS A RESULT OF ACTION PLACE ADVERTISING ONLY IN SELECT PUBLICATIONS USING NON BY FORMAL TRADE ASSOCIATIONS 4HE )NDEPENDENT *OURNAL TRANSPARENT CRITERIA TO PICK THESE FAVORED PUBLICATIONS ISTS !SSOCIATION OF 3ERBIA .5.3 WAS COMMENDED FOR 4HIS IS A TWO YEAR OLD FORM OF DISCRIMINATION PRACTICED PROVIDING SEMINARS AND TRAINING MORE THAN JOUR FREQUENTLY BY THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY CHARGED WITH PRIVA NALISTS DURING ITS lRST TWO YEARS ALONG WITH PROVIDING TIZATION PANEL MEMBERS SAID 4HE GROUP AGREED THAT THIS LEGAL COUNSEL AND TRAVEL ASSISTANCE !MONG BROADCASTERS USE OF SELECTIVE LEGAL AD PLACEMENT WAS A FORM OF SUBSIDY !.%- ALSO PROVIDED EFFECTIVE TRAINING )N ANOTHER CASE ONE PANELIST DESCRIBED A SITUATION IN THE .'/S OFFERED CONSIDERABLE SUPPORT FOR 3ERBIAN CITY OF .IS WHERE THE MUNICIPALITY WAS OPENLY lNANCING MEDIA BUT THE PANEL NOTED A CONTROVERSY INVOLVING THE THREE MEDIA OUTLETS OWNED BY THE CITY AND TWO MORE THAT LOCAL (ELSINKI #OMMITTEE FOR (UMAN 2IGHTS -ORE WERE OWNED PRIVATELY SPECIlCALLY PANELISTS RESENTED THAT THE (ELSINKI #OMMIT TEE HAD ASSOCIATED ITSELF WITH 0INK 46 BY COLLABORATING
3%2")! h3EMINARS ALONE ARE WITH THE STATION ON A BEGUN SERIOUS REFORMS BUT IT WILL BE SOME TIME BEFORE DOCUMENTARY SERIES THIS HAS AN IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF JOURNALISM IN 3ERBIA NOT ENOUGH FOR A ON RECENT 3ERBIAN 3HORT TERM TRAINING FOR JOURNALISTS WAS SEEN TO JOURNALIST TO BECOME HISTORY 4HIS COOP HAVE IMPROVED DURING )T WAS AGREED THAT NOT ONLY ERATION IS ALSO CON HAD THE NUMBER AND QUALITY OF SUCH TRAINING INCREASED A REAL PROFESSIONALv TROVERSIAL BECAUSE BUT SO HAD THE EVIDENCE OF ITS INmUENCE AT MEDIA OUT THE STATIONS OWNER LETS THROUGHOUT 3ERBIA %VEN SO ONE PANELIST POINTED :ELJKO -ITROVIC HAS BEEN TRYING VERY HARD TO INGRATIATE OUT h3EMINARS ALONE ARE NOT ENOUGH FOR A JOURNALIST TO HIMSELF WITH THE POST -ILOSEVIC GOVERNMENT IN 3ERBIA BECOME A REAL PROFESSIONALv 3OME PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN IMPROVING UNIVER 3OURCES OF NEWSPRINT AND PRINTING FACILITIES ARE SITY JOURNALISM PROGRAMS BUT THE SITUATION IS STILL RATED AS IN PRIVATE HANDS AND NOT RESTRICTED #HANNELS OF MEDIA POOR /NE PANEL MEMBER SAID THAT MOST PEOPLE ATTENDING DISTRIBUTION HAVE SHOWN LITTLE IMPROVEMENT WITH THE JOURNALISM SEMINARS HAD NOT STUDIED THE SUBJECT FORMALLY CONTINUED EXISTENCE OF MONOPOLIES CONTROLLING LOCATIONS BEFORE AND HAD NO PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION 4HE POLITICAL FOR KIOSKS AND THE STATE BROADCASTER 2ADIO 4ELEVISION SCIENCES FACULTY AT THE 5NIVERSITY OF "ELGRADE lNALLY HAS 3ERBIA CONTROLLING TRANSMITTERS
0ANEL 0ARTICIPANTS 3UPPORTING INSTITUTIONS FUNCTION IN THE PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA $ARKO "ROCIC !'" $IRECTOR 0EOPLE -ETER 2ESEARCH
Q 4RADE ASSOCIATIONS REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF -ILICA ,UCIC #AVIC PRESIDENT 4HE )NDEPENDENT PRIVATE MEDIA OWNERS AND PROVIDE MEMBER *OURNALISTS !SSOCIATION OF 3ERBIA .5.3 SERVICES
Q 0ROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS WORK TO PROTECT !LEKSANDAR $JORDJEVIC PRESS AND INFORMATION ADVISOR JOURNALISTS RIGHTS %UROPEAN 5NION $ELEGATION OF THE %UROPEAN #OMMIS SION IN &29 Q .'/S SUPPORT FREE SPEECH AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA -OMCILO $JURDJIC DEPUTY DIRECTOR 46 0IROT Q 1UALITY JOURNALISM DEGREE PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE EXIST 3LAVOLJUB +ACAREVIC DIRECTOR AND EDITOR IN CHIEF 'LAS Q 3HORT TERM TRAINING AND IN SERVICE TRAINING JAVNOSTI PROGRAMS ALLOW JOURNALISTS TO UPGRADE SKILLS OR ACQUIRE NEW SKILLS 3LOBODAN +REMENJAK ATTORNEY 4HE !SSOCIATION OF )NDEPENDENT %LECTRONIC -EDIA !.%- Q 3OURCES OF NEWSPRINT AND PRINTING FACILITIES ARE PRIVATE APOLITICAL AND UNRESTRICTED .IKOLA -IRKOV MEDIA ANALYST AND EDITOR OF CULTURAL Q #HANNELS OF MEDIA DISTRIBUTION KIOSKS TRANS PROGRAMS 2ADIO 4ELEVISION 3ERBIA MITTERS )NTERNET ARE PRIVATE APOLITICAL AND 3500/24).' ).34)454)/.3 ).$)#!4/23 UNRESTRICTED .EBOJSA 3PAIC DIRECTOR -EDIA #ENTER "ELGRADE 6OJA :ANETIC MARKETING SPECIALIST AND DIRECTOR -OZAIK PRIVATE MARKETING AGENCY
-ODERATOR .EBOJSA 3PAIC DIRECTOR -EDIA #ENTER "ELGRADE
-%$)! 3534!).!"),)49 ).$%8 WWWIREXORGMSI Caucasus 97 CAUCASUS “It is very convenient to excuse low professionalism by appealing to false risks,” said a panelist. Armenia
Introduction rmenia experienced significant economic growth in 2003, when refine- ments in the customs, tax, and other legislation led to an increase in foreign capital investment and more favorable conditions for local small and medium-sized businesses. This came despite some tension during presidential and parliamentary elections, as well as a continu- ing blockade by neighboring Turkey and Azerbaijan. A range of macroeconomic indicators such as gross domestic product, the unemployment rate, state budget revenues, and poverty levels showed improvement. However, serious problems such as the A strong presence of a shadow economy, corruption, and social polar- ization still exist. Moreover, socioeconomic development is almost totally concentrated in the capital city, Yerevan, while regional areas still stagnate. Democratic development progressed little during 2003. Western observers declared that both presidential and parliamentary elections failed to meet international standards, agreeing with Armenian media assessments during the campaigns. However, the political leadership has expressed willingness to develop democracy and a free-market economy further, and it is notable that for the first time in modern Armenian history, no member of the Communist Party is in the newly elected parliament. Armenian media were primarily focused on political coverage, especially elections, during 2003. The interest moved to the neigh- boring countries of Georgia and Azerbaijan, where the elections, in contrast with those in Armenia, were marked by political leadership changes. The coverage of the Karabagh conflict receded, with negotia- tions concerning the situation frozen for the pre-electoral period in both countries. Armenian media also focused on prominent criminal cases, such as the lengthy trial of those accused in the October 1999 killing of eight officials, including the prime minister and the speaker of the National Assembly, in the parliament. Another court case related to
ARMENIA 99 Objective Scoring Indicator Scoring The averages of all the indicators are averaged to obtain a single, Each indicator is scored using the following system: overall score for each objective. Objective scores are averaged to provide 0 = Country does not meet indicator; government or social forces may actively an overall score for the country. IREX interprets the overall scores as follows: oppose its implementation 3 and above: Sustainable and free independent media 1 = Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator; forces may not actively oppose its implementation, but business environment may not support it 2–3: Independent media approaching sustainability and government or profession do not fully and actively support change 1–2: Significant progress remains to be made; 2 = Country has begun to meet many aspects of the indicator, but progress may society or government is not fully supportive be too recent to judge or still dependent on current government or political forces 0–1: Country meets few indicators; government and society actively oppose change 3 = Country meets most aspects of the indicator; implementation of the indica- tor has occurred over several years and/or through changes in government, indicating likely sustainability 4 = Country meets the aspects of the indicator; implementation has remained intact over multiple changes in government, economic fluctuations, changes in public opinion, and/or changing social conventions
100 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ “Journalists should fight the slaying of the the Armenian judicial system is not yet independent of National Radio and outside influences. to get the information Television chairman With virtually all media serving some political till the very end, unless in December 2002. interest, attacks on journalists are most often political The devel- undertakings. Tigran Naghdalyan, chairman of National the officials and opment of the Public TV and Radio, was the first Armenian journal- businessmen practice private business ist killed because of his profession. His murderers were sector produced identified, tried, and sentenced because the authorities reporting to the public, a slight upturn in had personal interest in resolving the case, the Media and we should use all the advertising Sustainability Index (MSI) panel said. Generally there market, and several is no such willingness by law enforcement to investi- opportunities provided newspapers showed gate “simple” cases, when journalists are threatened or significant growth beaten. Among such cases is the beating of an editor by the legislation.” in ad content. How- of the Or newspaper, Gayane Mukoyan, who required ever, because most hospitalization. The police investigation did not clarify newspapers have political biases and party affiliations, the motives for the attack, and the media community, the placement of ads is perceived as financial support, while condemning it, did not move aggressively to pro- which makes advertising carry a political stigma. In tect her. This appeared to be due to the earlier publica- addition, some newspaper circulation increases were tion by Mukoyan’s newspaper of nude photos of another due primarily to the elections, and new newspapers well-known chief editor, a move that journalists viewed were established to serve as propaganda forums for particular political figures. Legal and social norms protect and promote There was considerable advancement in media free speech and access to public information legislation. In particular, new laws on mass media and freedom of information were adopted, representing a ■ Legal/social protections of free speech exist significant step forward for professional journalism and, and are enforced. more broadly, civil society. ■ Licensing of broadcast media is fair, competitive, and apolitical.
Objective 1: Free Speech ■ Market entry and tax structure for media are fair Armenia Objective Score: 2.15/4.00 and comparable to other industries. ■ Crimes against journalists or media outlets are The panelists agreed that the Armenian Constitution prosecuted vigorously, but occurrences of such and much of the supporting laws guarantee freedom of crimes are rare. speech. In December 2003, the Armenian parliament ■ State or public media do not receive preferential adopted the new mass media law, which had been on its legal treatment, and law guarantees editorial agenda for almost two years. The original draft law was independence. harshly criticized for provisions directly or indirectly ■ Libel is a civil law issue; public officials are held limiting freedom of speech. Especially problematic to higher standards, and the offended party were provisions concerning the right for refutation and must prove falsity and malice. response, accreditation and responsibility of journalists, ■ the status of foreign media in Armenia, and financial Public information is easily accessible; right of access to information is equally enforced for all transparency of media organizations, all of which might INDICATORS SPEECH FREE media and journalists. be used to restrict independent media. Armenian and international organizations lobbied for changes in the ■ Media outlets have unrestricted access to infor- draft, and the new law is considered an improvement. mation; this is equally enforced for all media and journalists. Another new law on freedom of information moved guarantees of free speech forward, but implementation ■ Entry into the journalism profession is free, and and enforcement remain a concern, especially because government imposes no licensing, restrictions, or special rights for journalists.
ARMENIA 101 as an ethical violation. Another noteworthy case was Objective 2: Professional Journalism the beating of the opposition Chorhord Ishkhanutiun newspaper reporter Mher Khaletsyan, who reported on Armenia Objective Score: 1.68/4.00 illegal construction. In that case, an attacker turned himself in. The election period brought more cases of Polarization of the news media into two camps—pro- free speech being restricted than usual, panel members government and opposition—does not leave much said. In one case, several regional television stations chance for the public to get objective and accurate news. were improperly prohibited from broadcasting by local The opposition press presents everything in a negative government authorities, and work resumed only after light, while the pro-government media make it glow. journalists protested. The truth is often lost between these extremes, panel Despite objections by Armenian and interna- members said. News coverage and commentaries are not tional observers, libel remained a criminal offense separated in the Armenian media, and there is a lack of when the new criminal code was adopted in April 2003. fact-based reporting. Among the reasons: The code allows a prison sentence of up to three years, although there is no recorded case of a journalist being ■ The lingering traditions of Soviet-style journalism, when jailed for libel. The new code also increases the finan- news media were considered as an ideological tool; cial penalties for libel, which could seriously damage ■ The lack of independence on the part of news organi- the poorly funded news media. In addition, the penalty zations, which are affiliated with certain political for libeling an official is higher than when the target is and business groups that dictate the editorial policy an ordinary citizen. and content; Many concerns were expressed with regard to ■ The resistance to change on the part of the majority the Radio and Television Law. The president appoints of top editors who represent a generation brought up members of the Licensing Commission, who are not in the techniques of reporting on a one-party system. considered independent. Experts referred to the example This hinders not only the editorial policy, but the of the A1 Plus TV station, which lost its broadcasting commercial side of media operations as well. Panelists frequency in spring 2002. The company was unable to said this was particularly true for newspapers, which resume broadcasting, although it participated in all fur- ther licensing competitions. Adoption of the Freedom of Information law was Journalism meets professional standards of considered a positive step, although many journalists and quality officials are unaware of its provisions. One shortcoming ■ Reporting is fair, objective, and well sourced. is the absence of a law on state secrets, leading to dispute about defining what is public and what is not public ■ Journalists follow recognized and accepted information. The government tends to see all informa- ethical standards. tion as state secrets, as do businesses that move to protect ■ Journalists and editors do not practice “commercial secrets.” Nevertheless, practice shows per- self-censorship. sistent journalists are able to overcome these obstacles. INDICATORS “Journalists should fight to get the information till the ■ Journalists cover key events and issues. very end, unless the officials and businessmen practice ■ Pay levels for journalists and other media reporting to the public, and we should use all oppor- professionals are sufficiently high to discourage tunities provided by the legislation,” said one panelist. corruption. Another panel participant published the main provisions ■ Entertainment programming does not eclipse of the law on the front page, stressing penalties set for news and information programming. withholding information. ■ By contrast, access to international news is com- Technical facilities and equipment for gathering, producing, and distributing news are modern pletely free. And journalism as a profession is open to and efficient. everybody interested. The news media is in an advanta- geous position compared with other businesses because ■ Quality niche reporting and programming of an exemption from value-added tax (VAT). exists (investigative, economics/business, local,
PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM PROFESSIONAL political).
102 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ are more conservative in their development compared no one code is acceptable for every media outlet. Ethics with the electronic media; codes are not very relevant for news organizations that ■ The lack of advanced journalism education. are being used as a platform where politicians or compet- An underlying cause is the poor financial condi- ing business groups settle scores with each other. Some tion of many news organizations. Many cannot hire panelists suggested that, for now, there is no sense in additional reporters who would provide more specialized imposing ethical standards for the media, while others and higher-quality news coverage. With too few journal- were confident that even in current conditions media ists and too many time pressures in the newsroom, inves- professionals could apply certain basic norms. Publica- tigative reporting is sacrificed, as is coverage of Armenia tion of an ethics handbook was suggested as one route. outside the capital. The participants did agree that professional ethics would Self-censorship by both journalists and editors only follow respect for a more general set of moral prin- is another serious obstacle for professional journalism. ciples in society. There are topics that journalists do not cover because of On the positive side, panelists mentioned the certain political and development of investigative reporting, which had not With too few journalists business connec- existed until recently. The panelists also agreed that there tions. Many jour- are a few media practitioners who set an example by fol- and too many time nalists fear losing lowing high professional and ethical norms. pressures in the their jobs. The panelists presented Objective 3: Plurality of News Sources newsroom, investigative an example of the firing of an ALM Armenia Objective Score: 2.30/4.00 reporting is sacrificed, TV cameraman who as is coverage of captured on film a There is access to a wide range of news sources in the clash between police country through television, newspapers, radio, and the Armenia outside and demonstrators Internet. The government does not impose any restric- the capital. in front of the presi- tion in this area. The only limitation is the poverty of dential office after the presidential elections. The experts believe numer- ous such cases are not publicized. As for fear of physical Multiple news sources provide citizens with reprisals, panelists agreed that often no real threat to reliable and objective news journalists exists and that the real reason for inconsistent ■ A plurality of affordable public and private news coverage is the lack of professional responsibility. “It is sources (e.g., print, broadcast, Internet) exists. very convenient to excuse low professionalism by appeal- ing to false risks,” said a panel participant. ■ Citizens’ access to domestic or international The pressure on journalists is mainly financial media is not restricted.
rather than physical, with low salaries providing the INDICATORS ■ State or public media reflect the views of the foundation for corruption. For instance, many journal- entire political spectrum, are nonpartisan, and ists covering the 2003 elections had additional “bonuses” serve the public interest. from political candidates for ordered articles. The panel- ■ Independent news agencies gather and distrib- ists also mentioned the difference in salaries between ute news for print and broadcast media. editors and reporters. Despite the low salaries, however, ■ Independent broadcast media produce their own the number of journalists in the country is growing. “We news programs. have more journalists than we need, and unfortunately most of them are not professionals,” said a panelist from ■ Transparency of media ownership allows a popular newspaper. consumers to judge objectivity of news; media ownership is not concentrated in a Ethics codes have been developed over the years few conglomerates. by media nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) such as the Armenian Journalists Union, Yerevan Press Club, ■ A broad spectrum of social interests are Gumri Asparez Club, and the Investigative Reporters reflected and represented in the media, includ-
PLURALITY OF NEWS SOURCES NEWS OF PLURALITY ing minority-language information sources. Agency. However, they are not practiced or enforced, and
ARMENIA 103 “We have more many Armenians. Coverage of minority issues does not lead to There are no curbs harassment of journalists, and the government sup- journalists than we on access to the ports newspapers for minority groups. The Internet is need, and unfortunately foreign print or not under government control, but not many people can electronic media. afford it. most of them are not Russian television professionals,” said a programs are very popular in Arme- Objective 4: Business Management panelist from a popular nia, and Russian Armenia Objective Score: 1.40/4.00 newspaper. newspapers and magazines are sold Although many editors have gotten accustomed to the in all kiosks. Russian entertainment and fashion maga- idea that newspapers and other media outlets generate zines sell the best. It is possible to obtain Western press products rather than ideological tools, they have not yet as well, but it is available only through subscriptions that succeeded in managing their organizations as busi- are too expensive for most Armenians. There also is no nesses. The panelists explained that as long as media general practice of following news in foreign languages are relying on sponsors, there is no sense in trying to do other than Russian. The main source of news tradition- things differently and convert news organizations into ally is television, with free access to a dozen channels in effective businesses. The business climate also is not Yerevan. In the regions, radio is the most popular, since too favorable for media operations, with the ineffective access to television is usually limited to three channels— and inflexible distribution system presenting a major the state first channel, “Prometheus,” and ALM TV—due obstacle for newspapers. to technical difficulties and the lack of modern equip- No market studies are being conducted, and thus ment. Newspapers only reach regional centers; there is there is no information on audience preferences to guide no delivery to villages due to financial constraints and managers. On the other hand, in conditions when the ineffective distribution systems. Most of the panelists press depends on sponsors, the media are biased toward agreed that the phrase “The newspaper costs the same as the preferences of their financial supporters. Some news- one loaf of bread, and poor people facing a choice prefer the bread” is outdated. The main problem is that despite paying for a newspaper, a reader does not have any Independent media are well-managed guarantee of getting objective news. To have a better idea businesses, allowing editorial independence of the real picture, one has to buy several newspapers ■ Media outlets and supporting firms operate as to compare coverage—and this is too expensive. Subse- efficient, professional, and profit-generating quent to the campaign, panelists noticed that state televi- businesses. sion had become more open to alternative points of view after providing coverage during the elections that heavily ■ Media receive revenue from a multitude of sources. favored the government. The influence of businesses and politicians on media is reflected in reporting, but the ■ Advertising agencies and related industries INDICATORS spectrum of topics is not limited. Consumers are aware support an advertising market. of the ownership of media outlets, which allows them to ■ Advertising revenue as a percentage of total judge the objectivity of news, especially for television. revenue is in line with accepted standards at Newspaper ownership is not so transparent and changes commercial outlets. more frequently. Television sponsors (mostly business ■ Independent media do not receive government magnates) do not hide their affiliation with the medium, subsidies. allowing them to not only freely advertise their compa- nies, but also to have a political influence. Since business ■ Market research is used to formulate strategic and politics in Armenia are closely linked and businesses plans, enhance advertising revenue, and tailor products to the needs and interests of most often operate illegally, wealthy businessmen often audiences. seek an “umbrella” to assure their safety—with media affiliation serving as one such “umbrella,” panelists said. MANAGEMENT BUSINESS ■ Broadcast ratings and circulation figures are reliably and independently produced.
104 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ “While TV cannot papers occasionally New newspapers frequently appear on the market. try to get readers’ “While TV cannot be started without huge initial capital, be started without opinions on specific a newspaper can be launched by having two computers huge initial capital, topics by putting and $500 only. Certainly, such newspapers cannot sur- short questionnaires vive without sponsors,” said one panelist. In the regional a newspaper can be in the newspaper. press, advertising revenues are extremely low. Experts launched by having This is widely mentioned ad sales amounting to only 1 to 2 percent of practiced by Novoye total revenue. “There is nothing to advertise in regions. two computers and Vremya, a Russian- No industry, no production, only stores, which prefer $500 only. Certainly, language publica- to advertise through TV,” said a panelist. Even though tion with relatively many businesses prefer to advertise through television, such newspapers little dependence on the ad market for broadcast media is still underdevel- sponsors. Editors oped. With 19 television stations in Yerevan, the market cannot survive from the regions say is clearly oversatu- without sponsors,” they study read- rated. The main dif- “There is nothing ers’ opinions in the ference between the to advertise in the said one panelist. streets during casual business practices conversations. “In of print and elec- regions. No industry, our city, almost all people know each other, and I plan tronic media is that the content of my newspaper while talking with them,” broadcast outlets no production, only said a panelist from a weekly newspaper. “They are often are openly owned stores, which prefer interested in international news. For example, read- by business mag- ers asked me to write more about the war in Iraq. They nates who do not to advertise through were also very interested in Georgian events and even hide their political TV,” said a panelist. asked me to clarify whether Saakashvili is Armenian or affiliations. not.” There is no special, permanent mechanism focused Government subsidies are too small to influence exclusively on media and media market analysis. media content. Many Yerevan-based newspapers refused There are several successful printing presses in to accept them, deferring to youth and regional and Yerevan, although the quality is imperfect. One panel minority-group newspapers. “The subsidies are decreas- participant mentioned that it is necessary for newspapers ing from year to year. In 2001, we got 1 million drams to have their own presses, allowing more flexibility in con- (approximately $2,000); in 2002, 800,000 drams; in 2003, tent and circulation. “The less the dependence on different 600,000,” said an editor on the panel. structures, the more the opportunities to run newspapers Low newspaper revenue is also explained by small as businesses,” he said. Many regional newspapers are circulations, which are 3,000 to 5,000 for dailies. The big- printed in Yerevan because of the lack of presses in the gest circulation belongs to the weekly Iravunk, with 8,000 regions, adding time and money to the newspapers’ ability copies. Such low circulations make newspapers unattract- to provide timely, affordable coverage. ive for potential advertisers. With newspapers not oriented Some newspapers in Yerevan have created adver- toward their readers, however, there are few prospects for tising departments in recent years. But the business significant circulation increases. Some experts support environment is not very competitive, and advertising is the idea of providing newspapers with loans. “Not all, but underdeveloped, reducing its role in supporting Arme- some, editors who are committed to the idea of indepen- nian media. Experts say advertising could “feed” only dent press will take this risk and use the opportunity to two to three big newspapers while in Yerevan. With a operate their news organizations in accordance with con- population of approximately 1 million, there are more temporary business canons and market rules,” said a panel than a dozen publications. As a result of insufficient participant. Another option might be to merge small advertising revenues, there is always a gap in newspa- newspapers into larger companies, although that would per budgets left to be filled by sponsors. The bigger the require overcoming polarized interests. gap—generally from 25 to 60 percent of the cost—the more the newspapers depend on sponsors.
ARMENIA 105 Journal- “Media associations Objective 5: Supporting Institutions ism education in are quite active, but Armenia Objective Score: 1.92/4.00 general is of low quality because of there is no organization There are a variety of media-support institutions work- the lack of essential ing with varying degrees of success to defend the rights of components such as defending the journalists and increase their professionalism. Panelists relevant literature, corporate rights of mentioned that some of these organizations lack profes- trained faculty, labo- sionalism and are inconsistent in their assistance programs, ratories, and model editors and publishers,” which may be more theoretical than practical. newspapers and said a panelist. television and radio stations. However, almost all public and private universities have journalism Supporting institutions function in the programs. professional interests of independent media Panelists mentioned several effective support ■ Trade associations represent the interests of programs, including opportunities to study journalism private media owners and provide member abroad or receive internships at Western news organiza- services. tions. They also noted that the conclusion of the IREX/ ProMedia program for print media resulted in a signifi- ■ Professional associations work to protect journalists’ rights. cant loss of help and encouragement. They noted that there is no permanent institution in the country focused INDICATORS ■ NGOs support free speech and independent on providing professional training to journalists. media. “Media associations are quite active, but there is ■ Quality journalism degree programs that provide no organization defending the corporate rights of edi- substantial practical experience exist. tors and publishers,” said a panelist. He gave an example of the agreement among editors not to sign a contract ■ Short-term training and in-service training programs allow journalists to upgrade skills or with an unreliable distribution company that later acquire new skills. broke down. The same situation exists with acquiring newsprint: Editors are paying twice as much as neces- ■ Sources of newsprint and printing facilities are sary because they are unable to reach an agreement and private, apolitical, and unrestricted. organize the joint delivery of newsprint from Russia. ■ Channels of media distribution (kiosks, trans- “The journalist unions and associations are only as mitters, Internet) are private, apolitical, and mature as the overall NGO sector of the country,’’ said a SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS SUPPORTING unrestricted. panelist and NGO member.
106 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ Panel Participants Aghasi Abrahamyan, editor, Banvor Kumayri newspaper, Gumri
Hakop Avetikyan, chief editor, Azg daily
Greta Grigoryan, editor, Zangezur newspaper, Goris
Anahit Harutiunyan, Ditord magazine, Spiritual (Cultural) Armenia NGO
Pap Hayrapetyan, editor, Sevan newspaper, Sevan
Tamara Hovnatanyan, journalist, Women with Univer- sity Education NGO
Armine Nanyan, For Sustainable Human Development NGO
Sara Petrosyan, journalist, Investigative Reporters Agency
Artur Sahakyan, investigative journalist, Iravunk news- paper; editor of news department of public radio
Anna Satyn, journalist, Novoye Vremya newspaper
Moderator Naira Manucharova, independent consultant
Observer Lilit Voskanyan, USAID, Armenia
ARMENIA 107 “Authorities will be held responsible if anyone from our newspaper is beaten, kidnapped, or murdered.” Azerbaijan
Introduction or the media in Azerbaijan, 2003 was a somewhat disappointing year, according to many observers. The country is mired in a difficult eco- nomic situation, there is a continuing lack of pluralism in the media, news outlets remain dependent on sponsors or afraid to challenge power, the level of professionalism is still low, and basic freedoms are restricted. Pressure against opposition journalists intensified leading up to the October 15 presidential elections. The elections, which resulted in Ilham Aliyev’s victory, were judged by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe as F not at all free and fair. Following the election, government forces beat people who had gathered in the streets to protest the polling results. Meanwhile, the Ruh Committee to Protect Journalists reported that 70 journalists were attacked and arrested in the pre- and post-elec- tion periods. International human-rights institutions reacted to these events with public statements, and representatives of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), Article 19, Reporters Sans Frontières, and the Council of Europe visited Azerbaijan to review the media situation. The amended draft law on public television was submitted to parliament, the Milli Majlis, for review. In contrast with the 2002 variant, which progressed through a second reading, the new version recognizes public television as an entity that is separate from state tele- vision. It also defines the structures of the Broadcasting Board and the Board of Directors, as well as procedures for appointing the general director. However, the law is considered to allow for political control over the broadcaster due to weakness in the provisions for its financing and governing structures. An agreement was reached with the authori- ties to create a special monitoring group comprised of representatives from the Interior Ministry and the General Prosecutor’s Office. This group had not started work until recently, according to the Yeni Nasil Journalists’ Union. Although the national economy is developing to some extent, the advertising market remains limited, thereby increasing the chances media outlets will be dependent on political players. As media AZERBAIJAN 109 Objective Scoring Indicator Scoring The averages of all the indicators are averaged to obtain a single, Each indicator is scored using the following system: overall score for each objective. Objective scores are averaged to provide 0 = Country does not meet indicator; government or social forces may actively an overall score for the country. IREX interprets the overall scores as follows: oppose its implementation 3 and above: Sustainable and free independent media 1 = Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator; forces may not actively oppose its implementation, but business environment may not support it 2–3: Independent media approaching sustainability and government or profession do not fully and actively support change 1–2: Significant progress remains to be made; 2 = Country has begun to meet many aspects of the indicator, but progress may society or government is not fully supportive be too recent to judge or still dependent on current government or political forces 0–1: Country meets few indicators; government and society actively oppose change 3 = Country meets most aspects of the indicator; implementation of the indica- tor has occurred over several years and/or through changes in government, indicating likely sustainability 4 = Country meets the aspects of the indicator; implementation has remained intact over multiple changes in government, economic fluctuations, changes in public opinion, and/or changing social conventions
110 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ outlets go bankrupt, some are being bought by political approval would turn into a tedious process involving and economic circles to be used for their own politi- many government officials, parliament members, and cal interests. Independence is out of the question when the parliamentary groups, potentially making the public these outlets start serving their “secret” owners. Lack of broadcasters dependent on the government. pluralism is especially noticeable on television channels The state authorities monopolize the licensing of because all electronic media established during the past broadcasting media, while the Broadcasting Council six years are owned by authorities. charged with issuing licenses is powerless. Panel mem- Another phenomenon undercutting the media is bers said the council is a “tool” for the authorities, who that 20,000 people in the republic possess press cards, nonetheless claim to be implementing Azerbaijan’s obli- but only about 5,000 of them can be called journalists, gations to the Council of Europe. The procedures allow according to independent analysts. The rest use the cards transparent competition, and the process is politicized, for blackmail and extortion. giving preference to state media outlets. Media do not suffer from a particularly high tax burden. In fact, the value-added tax (VAT) for media was Objective 1: Free Speech decreased by order of the former president. Azerbaijan Objective Score: 2.06/4.00 The law stipulates that public television must broadcast all official statements immediately and with- The law on broadcasting considers only the independent out changes but fails to define exactly what “an official television and radio companies, while there is no law statement” really means. According to Internews’s Media covering AzTV, the state broadcasting company and the Rights Institute, this ambiguity will create grounds for largest in the country. However, it is anticipated that state confusion between the public broadcaster and govern- television will remain, even if a nominally public televi- sion company is established. Legal and social norms protect and promote If AzTV were to be transformed into a public free speech and access to public information broadcasting company, Azerbaijan could take a major step toward shaping an independent media, according to ■ Legal/social protections of free speech exist the Media Sustainability Index (MSI) panel. Current law and are enforced. does not provide a system for the full transition of the ■ Licensing of broadcast media is fair, competitive, state-controlled AzTV into a public broadcaster. But the and apolitical. panel considers it unacceptable to create two broadcast- ■ Market entry and tax structure for media are fair ers on the basis of AzTV—a state television company and comparable to other industries. and a public broadcasting company—as the draft law suggests. Panelists viewed this proposal as implying that ■ Crimes against journalists or media outlets are the government wants to maintain control of the new prosecuted vigorously, but occurrences of such crimes are rare. publicly funded broadcasting company and turn it into a new propaganda machine. Also according to the draft ■ State or public media do not receive preferential law, the president of Azerbaijan will appoint members of legal treatment, and law guarantees editorial the Broadcast Board, the public television’s top manage- independence. ment organ, and this raises further concerns over the ■ Libel is a civil law issue; public officials are held board’s independent decision-making capability. to higher standards, and the offended party Further, the draft law envisions that the general must prove falsity and malice. director will be selected by the Broadcast Board and ■ Public information is easily accessible; right of confirmed by the president, making it unlikely that this access to information is equally enforced for all person would be empowered to make independent deci- INDICATORS SPEECH FREE media and journalists. sions. Also, as this position is responsible for the day- ■ Media outlets have unrestricted access to infor- to-day management of the public television station, it mation; this is equally enforced for all media should be filled by a professional fully aware of modern and journalists. television management practices, said a panel member. ■ According to the law, the government will fund Entry into the journalism profession is free, and government imposes no licensing, restrictions, public television out of its budget for seven years. Cur- or special rights for journalists. rent state budgeting practices suggest that the budget AZERBAIJAN 111 Journalists’ rights often ment officials in the Free media principles are violated by journalists future. as well when they are “fighting on two opposite fronts.” are violated because Azerbaijan Just as Soviet ideology forbids the media to criticize the they are ignorant of the has typical laws on state, which is a host of the media, today the journalists freedom of the press, remain loyal to this principle even if their “host” is not laws protecting them. but their implemen- the state. Many outlets serve as a tribune for the political A 2003 report by the tation is patchy. For party that is sponsoring them. For instance, when Yeni example, although Azerbaijan, the newspaper of the ruling New Azerbai- Ruh Committee to officials are required jan Party, criticized the state broadcaster and the pro- Protect Journalists said to respond to authority newspaper Khalg for exaggeratedly praising the journalists’ ques- president and his ideology, the editor was criticized by a that 70 to 80 percent tions within 15 state official and warned not to do it again. days under the law A new law on defamation is expected to be drafted, of the violations take governing citizen and a freedom of information draft law has been submit- place for this reason. access to informa- ted to the Milli Majlis. Defamation is covered currently by tion, these officials both criminal and civil law, but changes to make it solely often find ways to avoid responding and go unpunished. a civil code issue are required under the country’s obliga- Officials can easily exert pressure on court decisions in tions to the Council of Europe, which Azerbaijan joined cases concerning media and government relations because in 2001. Libel is both a civil and criminal code issue in the court process is not independent. Journalists do Azerbaijan, while European standards require libel to be a not file suit against officials for ignoring their inquiries civil law issue. Journalists can be sentenced to two years of because they or their media outlets are sure the courts will imprisonment for libel. According to the civil and crimi- decide in favor of the officials. The MSI panelists pointed nal code, public officials are responsible if they violate to the case of ANS, an independent television company, journalists’ rights and do not respond to questions. They whose repeated questions to Jahangir Asgarov, director of might also be sentenced to two years of imprisonment. Azerbaijan Airlines, were ignored despite televised warn- The criminal code has numerous articles related to ings that the station would file suit if he did not respond. the activities of media and journalists. For example, con- When the official ignored the requests, he went unpun- viction on the charge of disclosing state secrets is subject ished. Media outlets also have trouble getting information to a prison term of two to fives years, slander carries a from named sources. Officials tend to prefer to remain term of three to five years in prison, insult up to one year, anonymous, if they answer questions at all. Press services and “insult or slander of the president” up to six years. of the authorities mostly refuse to respond to questions, The Ruh Committee to Support Journalists in Azer- but correspondents of the pro-authority newspapers have baijan reported that there were 40 instances in September a better chance of getting official information than those 2003, the month before elections, in which authorities took of other outlets, according to a panelist. measures to restrict media freedom. It said 32 journalists Access to international news and news sources is were beaten by police during a September 8 incident in unrestricted. Journalists and editors are able to use the which reporters were attempting to cover a police interroga- Internet as a news source, especially for coverage of world tion of an opposition party leader who fought with a ruling events. It is legal to publish in other languages, and there are party presidential candidate during a televised debate. In daily newspapers such as Echo, Zerkalo, and others issued addition, law-enforcement officials in Azerbaijan’s regions in Russian. Some newspapers, including Caspian Business have routinely harassed journalists covering campaign News, Baku Sun, and Azernews, are published in English. appearances made by opposition candidates. Journalists’ rights often are violated because they There are few if any crimes against journal- are ignorant of the laws protecting them. A 2003 report ists, the panel said, suggesting this was a signal of how by the Ruh Committee to Protect Journalists said that 70 little investigative reporting is done and that any issues to 80 percent of the violations take place for this reason. that are uncovered are ignored by the authorities. Azer Most journalists studied at Soviet schools, and the sub- Hasrat, head of the Azerbaijan Journalists Confedera- ject of media law is to start as a subject for journalism tion, suggested that authorities could resort to kidnap- faculties only during the 2004 academic year. ping journalists in an attempt to silence criticism of the government. “Authorities will be held responsible
112 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ if anyone from our newspaper is beaten, kidnapped, or Self-censorship is practiced because the media outlets murdered,” said Gabil Abbasoglu, Yeni Musavat’s deputy are dependent on specific sources of sponsorship, and it is editor-in-chief. understood that they are not allowed to publish or broad- In September 2003, Secretary General Walter cast reports affecting the interests of the owners. Journalists Schwimmer of the Council of Europe and Freimut also practice self-censorship because their editors demand Duve, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the them to be more conservative while reporting. Media, issued a joint statement calling attention to the Entertainment programs prevail over news on conditions for campaign coverage in Azerbaijan. They television and radio stations, with pop singers the main expressed particular concern about a perceived govern- focus. News programming loses favor because it is one- ment attempt to muzzle Yeni Musavat, a leading opposi- sided and does not cover an interesting range of events tion newspaper, through the manipulation of the judicial and issues, according to a panel participant. system. “We are in particular alarmed by the fate of the Technical facilities and equipment for gather- newspaper Yeni Musavat, which has been sentenced to ing, producing, or distributing news are not assessed as three fines amounting in total to $100,000 and whose modern and efficient, especially for the broadcast media. bank account has been frozen. Without commenting on the substance of the lawsuits, it seems clear that such a high fine is disproportionate,” the statement said. Journalism meets professional standards of Journalists from Azadlig, another prominent quality opposition newspaper, have been barred illegally from sessions of the national parliament. The newspaper’s ■ Reporting is fair, objective, and well sourced. bank account was frozen, and ANS TV, perceived by ■ Journalists follow recognized and accepted many to be a pro-government station, recently filed a ethical standards. $30,000 suit against Azadlig. ■ Journalists and editors do not practice self-censorship. Objective 2: Professional Journalism INDICATORS ■ Journalists cover key events and issues.
Azerbaijan Objective Score: 1.90/4.00 ■ Pay levels for journalists and other media professionals are sufficiently high to discourage The MSI panel did not assess most reporting in the Azer- corruption. baijan media as fair and objective. Journalism standards are not known to most journalists, who are too often ■ Entertainment programming does not eclipse dependent on a political party. news and information programming. In a forum of Azerbaijan journalists held in 2003, ■ Technical facilities and equipment for gathering, the Ethics Code of Azerbaijan Journalists was adopted. producing, and distributing news are modern The ethical standards have been widely accepted in and efficient. principle by journalists and conform to European models. ■ Quality niche reporting and programming However, these standards are violated in most cases. On exists (investigative, economics/business, local,
the eve of the October 15 presidential elections, the media JOURNALISM PROFESSIONAL political). belonging to or aligned with either the authorities or the opposition violated basic ethical standards by highlighting the activity of the opposing candidate. The panel assessed Objective 3: Plurality of News Sources “Sitatin Sonu”—or “The Quote’s End”—program broad- Azerbaijan Objective Score: 2.19/4.00 cast after the evening news on the pro-government Lider TV as a serious violation of the ethical standards due to its practice of humiliating opposition politicians. Private media outlets distribute nationwide, and resi- Some media workers accept payments in exchange for dents of larger cities and the capital have access to a certain types of coverage, and most journalists sell articles reasonable number of news sources. However, because favorable to politicians and businesses. Pay levels for journal- of economic difficulties, people living outside the main ists are low, with few earning more than $100 per month. cities often cannot afford to buy newspapers and receive
AZERBAIJAN 113 Multiple news sources provide citizens with from Iran was shut down because the government consid- reliable and objective news ered it to be supportive of opposition movements. BBC broadcasts 24 hours a day in Azeri, Russian, ■ A plurality of affordable public and private news and English. France International radio is broadcast sources (e.g., print, broadcast, Internet) exists. daily. Voice of America is available in all three languages. ■ Citizens’ access to domestic or international media is not restricted. Objective 4: Business Management
INDICATORS ■ State or public media reflect the views of the
entire political spectrum, are nonpartisan, and Azerbaijan Objective Score: 1.60/4.00 serve the public interest. The state publishing house creates artificial problems for ■ Independent news agencies gather and distrib- pro-opposition newspapers. Shortly after the October 15 ute news for print and broadcast media. presidential elections, the state-run Azerbaijan Publish- ■ Independent broadcast media produce their own ing House refused to print Azadlig and Yeni Musavat, news programs. two major Azeri opposition newspapers. In fact, the state printing house accused the Yeni Musavat management ■ Transparency of media ownership allows consumers to judge objectivity of news; of helping to organize the mass protests on October 16. media ownership is not concentrated in a These newspapers also experienced difficulty print- few conglomerates. ing with other private and state-controlled companies. Finally, the opposition newspapers found a small private ■ A broad spectrum of social interests are reflected and represented in the media, includ- publishing house where the management agreed to coop-
PLURALITY OF NEWS SOURCES NEWS OF PLURALITY ing minority-language information sources. erate. But the newspapers’ problems did not end there, because within several days, this publishing house ran most of their news from television. Internet access is for out of paper. Although state officials claimed otherwise, the most part limited to the capital and to larger cities. neither the publisher nor the newspapers managed to More than 300 newspapers are registered officially, find appropriate paper at the right price, and the pub- although only about 60 of them are published regularly. Private television channels like Lider TV and Space TV are broadcast in the regions, but transmission of FM Independent media are well-managed radio is limited outside the capital. businesses, allowing editorial independence Citizens’ access to international print or broadcast ■ Media outlets and supporting firms operate as media is not restricted, and the government does not efficient, professional, and profit-generating block access to foreign news sources. businesses. However, while the objective number of media outlets may be reasonably high, individual outlets tend ■ Media receive revenue from a multitude of sources. to present only one side of an issue and close themselves off to alternative views. Opposition figures are not able to ■ Advertising agencies and related industries INDICATORS express their views through state-run media. Although support an advertising market. the stations produce their own news programs, the type ■ Advertising revenue as a percentage of total of news coverage included is affected by the ownership. revenue is in line with accepted standards at Media are available in Azerbaijani, Russian, and commercial outlets. English. Television broadcasts are in Azerbaijani, with two ■ Independent media do not receive government Russian channels broadcast. Newspapers in the languages subsidies. of Lezgi, Kurdish, and Georgian minorities exist, but are only printed in the regions where these ethnic groups live. ■ Market research is used to formulate strategic TRT1, a Turkish channel, is broadcast nationwide, while plans, enhance advertising revenue, and tailor products to the needs and interests of other Turkish channels like Saman TV and Kanal D are audiences. broadcast in the capital. The broadcasting of Sahar TV BUSINESS MANAGEMENT BUSINESS ■ Broadcast ratings and circulation figures are reliably and independently produced.
114 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ lication of Yeni Musavat, Azadlig, Yeni Zaman, Novoye Supporting institutions function in the Vremya, and Baki Haber was stalled for five days. professional interests of independent media Although the former president forgave all newspa- per companies’ debts to the state-run Azerbaijan pub- ■ Trade associations represent the interests of lishing house two years ago, the independent newspapers private media owners and provide member face continuing economic difficulties and are unable to services. finance themselves. The advertising market is limited, ■ Professional associations work to protect and very few newspapers are able to finance themselves journalists’ rights.
from it. Zerkalo and Echo are viewed as the more success- INDICATORS ■ NGOs support free speech and independent ful outlets, in part because they are Russian-language media. publications. Since many of the elites in the country are Russian-educated, these two newspapers are able to draw ■ Quality journalism degree programs that provide in some ad revenues, a panelist stated. substantial practical experience exist. Advertising agencies sometimes are afraid to work ■ Short-term training and in-service training with pro-opposition newspapers, fearing the government programs allow journalists to upgrade skills or pressure not to give ads to those publications. As the acquire new skills. advertising market is very poor, the advertising agen- ■ Sources of newsprint and printing facilities are cies have not expanded their work, and most observ- private, apolitical, and unrestricted. ers believe the advertising market was in better shape in 1999. Subscriptions are not a real source of revenue, ■ Channels of media distribution (kiosks, trans- mitters, Internet) are private, apolitical, and because people simply cannot afford them. INSTITUTIONS SUPPORTING unrestricted.
Objective 5: Supporting Institutions legacy, and journalism faculties prepare journalists who Azerbaijan Objective Score: 1.95/4.00 upon graduation do not know the basic principles of West- ern journalism, according to a panel participant. Media professionals are able to become members of jour- The distribution of print media in the regions is nalism associations and are not always required to pay under government control. There are both private and for membership. Journalism associations provide legal state-run printing facilities. and professional advice and lobby on behalf of journal- ists. For example, the Internews Media Rights Institute, Panel Participants the Ruh Committee to Protect Journalists, the Yeni Aflatun Amashov, chairman, Press Council Nasil Journalists’ Union, the Editors’ Council, and local Fuad Babayev, director, News Department, Space TV human-rights watchdogs expressed concern about the October 27 arrest of Rauf Arifoglu, editor-in-chief of the Gulnaz Bagvanova, editor-in-chief, Mir TV leading opposition newspaper Yeni Musavat. They called Halida Bagyrli, independent media expert on the relevant government agencies to respect the rights Rovshan Hajiyev, editor, Azadlif newspaper of the journalists in Azerbaijan and expressed concern that Arifoglu is being held illegally in jail by law-enforce- Murad Kadymbeyov, deputy editor-in-chief, Echo ment agents while they define the charges fully. newspaper Six journalists of Yeni Musavat were briefly Jahangir Mammadli, professor, Journalism imprisoned, with two recently fleeing the country to seek Department, Baku State University asylum in Norway. Some Yeni Musavat journalists who Khayal Taghiyev, Internews-Azerbaijan came to observe the October 16 riots were subjected to physical violence and insults. Moderator Local and foreign nongovernmental organizations Konul Khalilova, director, International Department, (NGOs) organize media training in Azerbaijan, including 525-ci Gazet newspaper Internews for broadcast journalists. Baku State University and some other universities have journalism departments. Observer However, the education system remains tied to the Soviet Nigar Mamedova, country director, IREX/Azerbaijan
AZERBAIJAN 115 “The legislative basis in general provides for transparency and a competitive environment, although in practice legal requirements are not always fulfilled,” said one panelist. Georgia 117 GEORGIA - - -
Withthe parliamentary elections drawing the Georgian near, Alsoduring the election three year, new broadcasters were Georgianmedia outlets became in so involved the political A major challenge major A Georgian media is regain face to now the tionand new presidential and parliamentary elections in early 2004. became government the toward repressive media. more Abuses and attacksjournalists on and media outlets increased in while frequency, thetried government legislative efforts restrict to media freedoms. The CentralElection Commission ban to proposed broadcasts political of debates50 days Election before Day. launched—TVImedi, TV Mze, and TV 202. Competition viewers for andscarce advertising immediately revenue increased. These stations ostensibly were created shape the to discourse public the to prior elec Introduction eorgia2003 mostspent anticipating of parliamentary the November elections,which widely were viewed as the only means available for bringingreforms. long-desired about When the voting finally took place,large-scale falsification the of results fanned growing discontent withand the widespread economy poor corruption, leading the to that Eduard President forced RoseRevolution Shevardnadze’s resigna tions.Typically in Georgia, media outlets materialize elections, before andoften disappear after the polling is done. processthat they almost abandoned the traditional neutral a of role observer.Opposition leaders used television extensively as to tool a rallythe public. Real-time events had an of coverage enormous impact the on political In the and outcome. pre- post-election period, almost allmedia outlets demonstrated their political alliances, and this con
tinuedwell after the revolution. trust public that was lost during This the revolution. decline was registeredfalls by achieve this, in audiences and To media readership. businesseswill distance to have themselves from the the chaos of transitionperiod—a tough task given the emotional attachment many journaliststhe to political have the by revolution. empowered groups G Objective Scoring Indicator Scoring The averages of all the indicators are averaged to obtain a single, Each indicator is scored using the following system: overall score for each objective. Objective scores are averaged to provide 0 = Country does not meet indicator; government or social forces may actively an overall score for the country. IREX interprets the overall scores as follows: oppose its implementation 3 and above: Sustainable and free independent media 1 = Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator; forces may not actively oppose its implementation, but business environment may not support it 2–3: Independent media approaching sustainability and government or profession do not fully and actively support change 1–2: Significant progress remains to be made; 2 = Country has begun to meet many aspects of the indicator, but progress may society or government is not fully supportive be too recent to judge or still dependent on current government or political forces 0–1: Country meets few indicators; government and society actively oppose change 3 = Country meets most aspects of the indicator; implementation of the indica- tor has occurred over several years and/or through changes in government, indicating likely sustainability 4 = Country meets the aspects of the indicator; implementation has remained intact over multiple changes in government, economic fluctuations, changes in public opinion, and/or changing social conventions
118 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ would be a signifi- “First, pressure Objective 1: Free Speech cant step forward. Georgia Objective Score: 1.98/4.00 One of the occurred through main deficien- beatings, insults, and Freedom of speech in Georgia is guaranteed by the cies of Georgian Constitution adopted in 1995 and the Law on Press media legislation attacks,” said one and Other Means of Mass Media passed in 1991 and is the prosecution panel member. amended in 1994 and 1997. The Constitution prohibits of defamation as a censorship. However, certain legal provisions regulating criminal offense. In “Second, local the media environment are outdated and do not reflect practice, this provi- authorities exert modern realities. “The legislative basis in general pro- sion of the crimi- vides for transparency and a competitive environment, nal code is almost pressure indirectly, although in practice legal requirements are not always never used, and no fulfilled,” said one panelist. For example, the draft criminal defama- although it is clear who law on the Freedom of Press was prepared by leading tion cases have been issues the orders. Third, human-rights nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) registered in the in Georgia and passed in just one parliamentary sitting past year. However, the courts maintain in 2002. However, it has not become law because of a lack panelists and media the most dangerous of political will. As the draft appears to conform to the professionals believe Constitution and to international standards, its adoption that defamation tendency to repress should be regulated the media. Finally, tax by civil law rather Legal and social norms protect and promote than by criminal inspectors can levy free speech and access to public information statutes. excessive taxes against ■ Legal/social protections of free speech exist The Geor- and are enforced. gian National certain outlets.” Communications ■ Licensing of broadcast media is fair, competitive, and apolitical. Commission (GNCC) was created in 2000 to regulate the broadcast sector and grant licenses. The commission ■ Market entry and tax structure for media are fair members are appointed by the president of Georgia. Nev- and comparable to other industries. ertheless, the commission is a legal entity under public ■ Crimes against journalists or media outlets are law and enjoys autonomy in regulating the communica- prosecuted vigorously, but occurrences of such tions sector. The GNCC is accountable to the govern- crimes are rare. ment but is not funded from the central budget. Rather, ■ State or public media do not receive preferential it operates from funds gained through license fees and legal treatment, and law guarantees editorial annual regulation-based fees. Despite this financial sepa- independence. ration, the commission is subject to significant political pressure; panelists cited the resignation of the commis- ■ Libel is a civil law issue; public officials are held to higher standards, and the offended party sion chairman in October 2003 as an example. These must prove falsity and malice. deficiencies aside, however, the MSI panelists almost unanimously viewed the GNCC as a relatively progres- ■ Public information is easily accessible; right of sive and unbiased body. One panelist noted that the access to information is equally enforced for all SPEECH INDICATORS SPEECH FREE media and journalists. commission has been successful in brokering settlements in licensing and intellectual property disputes. Cited as ■ Media outlets have unrestricted access to infor- an example was the commission’s prompt reaction when mation; this is equally enforced for all media the television station Imedi filed a claim against stations and journalists. TV Iberia and Ajara TV, alleging intellectual property ■ Entry into the journalism profession is free, and rights violations. government imposes no licensing, restrictions, The new broadcast law, due to be considered by or special rights for journalists. parliament during 2004, was drafted with the participa-
GEORGIA 119 “When importing tion of the broad- nalists. In Chokhatauri, journalists from the newspaper a computer, media cast media and Guria News were repeatedly beaten and their homes NGO communities. vandalized. Free press and the freedom of speech are outlets have to pay The draft covers the especially alarming in Adjara. The autonomous repub- separate customs transformation of lic has its own Law on Press and Other Means of Mass the state television Media, with some provisions contradicting the Georgian duties for separate and radio system Constitution. The Georgian Young Lawyers Association components, which into public broad- (GYLA) filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality casting stations, of these provisions in October 2003, and the case was is a heavy burden,” due to take place expected to be heard by the Constitutional Court. by the end of 2005. Free-press advocates cited cases of interference by said a panelist. Deficiencies in the the Central Election Commission (CEC) before the 2003 current law noted by elections. These include the commission’s suggestion that panelists included the lack of provisions concerning safety it was refusing to accredit the Rustavi 2 television station. standards, an omission that became significant when a In fact, the CEC never issued an official document reject- Kutaisi-based radio station, Dzveli Kalaki, had its antenna ing the accreditation, but the indications made by the removed as a purported health risk in January 2003. With commission were enough to hamstring the station’s activi- no mechanism for certifying such equipment, indepen- ties. In August 2003, the commission adopted a regulation dent broadcasters such as Dzveli Kalaki have little defense. prohibiting political campaigns on television and radio 50 By the time the courts restored the station’s broadcasting days before elections. This regulation was clearly uncon- rights, demonstrators had destroyed the antenna, appar- stitutional and violated basic freedom of speech rights. It ently at the urging of local political interests. was rescinded by a Tbilisi district court after protests by a Georgian media outlets are registered as any other group of Georgian NGOs and media outlets. legal business entity, and market entry and tax struc- The judicial system also is seen as a means of pres- tures are similar to those for other businesses. Print suring the media. During 2003, the outcomes of several media enjoy slightly preferential tax benefits through an civil defamation cases were criticized by media advocates. exemption from the value-added tax (VAT) for printing In one case, the Supreme Court of Georgia held Rustavi 2 and distribution, but are fully taxed on imports. Panel and its journalist Akaki Gogichaishvili liable for defama- members complained about the complicated customs tory statements against the former Minister of Culture. procedures. “When importing a computer, media outlets The defendants were obligated to pay 52,000 GEL (about have to pay separate customs duties for separate compo- $26,000) in moral damages. In the Adjaran Autonomous nents, which is a heavy burden,” said a panelist. Media Republic, the Health Ministry of Adjara sued a local jour- advocates have suggested exempting outlets from import nalist for allegedly defamatory statements. taxes for a five-year period to help build self-sustainable Defamation is regulated by Georgia’s criminal and media, and parliament is considering the proposal. civil codes. Criminal defamation applies when defama- In December 2001, the parliament adopted an tory statements are made in accusing someone of a amendment that barred print and broadcast advertis- crime. However, this provision is used very rarely, and no ing of strong alcohol and tobacco products, cutting off a criminal defamation cases were reported in 2003. Civil major source of income for these media outlets. defamation pertains to insulting someone’s honor or Significant numbers of abuses and attacks on business reputation, and requires the defendant to prove media outlets have been recorded. “First, pressure the validity of the information. Furthermore, a journalist occurred through beatings, insults, and attacks,” said found guilty of defamation must retract the statements one panel member. “Second, local authorities exert pres- through the same media in which they were dissemi- sure indirectly, although it is clear who issues the orders. nated, a penalty that appears to contradict constitutional Third, the courts maintain the most dangerous tendency freedom of speech guarantees. A case brought to the to repress the media. Finally, tax inspectors can levy Constitutional Court was expected to decide the consti- excessive taxes against certain outlets.” tutionality of the civil defamation law. In Akhaltsikhe during April 2003, for example, the Georgia maintains a nearly complete set of laws local government denounced the media in the region and governing access to public information. The freedom introduced an arbitrary accreditation system for jour- of information section of the General Administrative
120 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ Code of 1999 represented a huge step forward, although petitors’ business “Many journalists implementation remains problematic. The law guar- practices. antees access to information that is not a state secret. Balanced who were trained by However, a panel member said the law is used mainly by and well-sourced various international NGOs because journalists are either not familiar with its reporting is still the provisions or are not very active in attempting to obtain exception. The panel organizations now government information. There have been numerous found three reasons: understand what cases in which courts have upheld journalists’ attempts many journalists to obtain public information, but these suits were initi- do not comply with balanced reporting ated mainly by NGOs. Some journalists were reluctant to ethical norms and implies. But they seek legal recourse because the courts are unpredictable professional stan- and state officials do not always respond to court deci- dards because they find it difficult to sions, a panelist said. lack the skills and Although Georgian law does not provide for knowledge to do so; implement these preferential legal treatment of state-owned media, these influential political principles in practice,” outlets do have better access to information and accredi- and business groups tation than private outlets. Regional media have more force media to pres- a panelist said. difficulty obtaining information than city-based outlets ent subjective infor- and suffer from poor infrastructure and the lack of a mation; and interested parties block certain information. professional cadre of local government officials. The law One panelist suggested that the government intentionally obligates public bodies to designate a person responsible nurtured a compliant media sector. for providing public information, but such appointments Censorship is also a major problem. Journalists are often either are not made or go to poorly trained person- not always allowed to disseminate balanced information nel who make obtaining information an extremely time- due to the intervention of their editors or media owners. consuming process. Consequently, many journalists stop checking sources The GYLA has drafted an amendment to shorten and cease to make reporting factual information a prior- the law’s current maximum 10-day waiting period for requested information to be made available. Access to international news and news sources is Journalism meets professional standards of not restricted by the government. However, the Internet quality is not readily available in all regions, and many regional ■ Reporting is fair, objective, and well sourced. media outlets cannot pay for access. Anyone can become a journalist in Georgia, and ■ Journalists follow recognized and accepted no special licenses are needed to enter the profession. ethical standards. Journalists generally do need yearly or even quarterly ■ Journalists and editors do not practice accreditation to attend official events, with the rules set self-censorship. by each government branch. Regional journalists find it INDICATORS more difficult to obtain access or accreditation for spe- ■ Journalists cover key events and issues. cific events, according to one panel member. ■ Pay levels for journalists and other media professionals are sufficiently high to discourage corruption. Objective 2: Professional Journalism ■ Entertainment programming does not eclipse Georgia Objective Score: 1.94/4.00 news and information programming. ■ Panelists agreed that the level of media professional- Technical facilities and equipment for gathering, producing, and distributing news are modern ism remains low. Journalists, editors, and owners easily and efficient. surrender to political or financial pressures. The govern- ment often uses one outlet to suppress another, and tends ■ Quality niche reporting and programming to treat the independent media as a political opponent. exists (investigative, economics/business, local,
PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM PROFESSIONAL political). Similarly, companies may use the media to attack com-
GEORGIA 121 “We need a mechanism ity. Some editors of adhering to it. We have to address this concern in an try to pay more for institutionalized way.” that will allow citizens articles that are Niche journalism is rare in Georgia. Panelists to complain when the better researched agreed that there is definitely public interest in the sub- and written, but jects that specialist reporters might cover, and one panel ethics code is violated,” this approach is not member in print media noted the success of the youth a panelist said. common. “Many publication her newspaper launched recently in the journalists who impoverished Guria region of Georgia. were trained by var- The line between editorial content and advertising ious international organizations now understand what is blurred in many media outlets. A group working on balanced reporting implies. But they find it difficult to the ethics code faced strong resistance from media rep- implement these principles in practice,” a panelist said. resentatives when attempting to incorporate a provision Many media outlets practice self-censorship and requiring code signatories to differentiate advertising justify it by stating that it is their duty to safeguard civil from editorial content. Upcoming elections intensified order. There is a broad spectrum of taboo topics, includ- the resistance because hidden political advertising is an ing state security. Religion is another topic journalists try important source of income for many newspapers. to avoid. “No journalist wants to work on these issues. It’s not that they don’t want to express their opinions. They don’t even want to cover the facts,” a panelist said. Objective 3: Plurality of News Sources In many cases, the government prevents some media Georgia Objective Score: 2.10/4.00 outlets from covering controversial issues and punishes others for covering them. The times when people hid in their basements to listen to Media managers do not encourage better jour- Voice of America and Radio Liberty have passed. There nalism practices. At many outlets, wages are low, work are no political or legal restrictions on access to local conditions poor, and employment unstable. The maxi- or global media. Financial and technical constraints mum Guria News can offer to an investigative journalist mean, however, that only 9 percent of the population can is 50 GEL (about $25), a panel member said. Television journalists earn marginally more than their print coun- terparts. The poor pay tends to force qualified journal- Multiple news sources provide citizens with ists to seek employment in other professions and makes reliable and objective news them susceptible to corruption. Some journalists and ■ A plurality of affordable public and private news editors regularly accept bribes for reporting as well as not sources (e.g., print, broadcast, Internet) exists. reporting certain stories. Even the best-financed television stations do not have ■ Citizens’ access to domestic or international the most up-to-date equipment. However, many media media is not restricted.
outlets in Tbilisi and regionally have the basic equipment INDICATORS ■ State or public media reflect the views of the
needed to obtain and produce news and information. entire political spectrum, are nonpartisan, and In the spring of 2003, an ethics code for media was serve the public interest. completed. It is in full compliance with international ■ Independent news agencies gather and distrib- standards, and several media outlets and journalists ute news for print and broadcast media. have adopted it. However, some panelists see the code as ■ Independent broadcast media produce their own essentially symbolic because it was promoted by inter- news programs. national and local civil society groups and not by media professionals. Many see the creation of a Media Council ■ Transparency of media ownership allows as the next step. “We need a mechanism that will allow consumers to judge objectivity of news; media ownership is not concentrated in a citizens to complain when the ethics code is violated,” a few conglomerates. panelist said. “There are newspapers in this country that have no editorial policy and adhere to no ethical code. ■ A broad spectrum of social interests are Some signed onto the ethical code without any intention reflected and represented in the media, includ-
PLURALITY OF NEWS SOURCES NEWS OF PLURALITY ing minority-language information sources.
122 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ subscribe to international press, access the Internet, or Objective 4: Business Management view international television programs. Cable television is only available in Tbilisi and several regional centers. Georgia Objective Score: 1.44/4.00 Most people living in rural areas cannot afford to buy even local press. These people often lack the electricity to There are several private publishing houses in Tbilisi. watch television. The government is not able to exert control over all of Regional media outlets are often under the strict them, but in late 2003 the local Adjara authorities barred control of local authorities. For example, the govern- a local printing house from printing the Gazeti Batu- ment of the Adjara Autonomous Republic regularly turns melebi. A panelist said printing costs remain the high- off television transmitters and electric power, as well as est expense for newspapers both in Tbilisi and in the halting entire press runs, just to prevent the people from regions. Most printing houses in Tbilisi are inefficient, watching programs or reading articles critical of the outdated, and badly managed. Newspapers are forced to regional government. In November 2003, for example, closely supervise the printing process, wasting time and Rustavi 2 was turned off in Adjara. resources on fixing technical problems. Most media outlets are concentrated in Tbilisi and In western Georgia, the only private printing focus largely on the capital. Information from Tbilisi is houses are in Batumi and Kutaisi. However, hardly any not adequately disseminated in the regions. Georgians independent newspapers can afford printing at these living in many regions outside the city depend solely on facilities. Almost all independent regional newspapers local media because Tbilisi newspapers generally send are printed in Tbilisi. Many smaller regional newspa- only a few copies to the regions, with Alia and Kviris pers depend on passenger buses to deliver master copies Palitra notable exceptions. to printing houses in Tbilisi. Consequently, local news Panelists mentioned that local news agencies pro- included in regional newspapers is not as current as it vide satisfactory and affordable services, although some could be. are affiliated with business interest groups. Few media Newspaper distribution is a rather chaotic pro- outlets can afford international news agencies. Media cess. Distribution networks in Tbilisi are well organized, ownership information is not readily available. Registra- but expensive. In fact, newspaper distribution is a more tion documents can be requested from the courts, but they do not always indicate the true ownership structure. Political groups nonetheless continue to define editorial Independent media are well-managed policy at many outlets, and Georgians therefore must businesses, allowing editorial independence have the ability to read between the lines to understand ■ Media outlets and supporting firms operate as how a media outlet is allied. efficient, professional, and profit-generating Nationwide, approximately 25 television and 12 businesses. radio stations produce their own news. Not all regional stations have the resources to produce their own pro- ■ Media receive revenue from a multitude of sources. grams. Even the stations that can generate their own material struggle to keep a regular production schedule. ■ Advertising agencies and related industries INDICATORS Financial difficulties forced some radio stations in Tbilisi support an advertising market. to halt production. ■ Advertising revenue as a percentage of total State-owned media produce minority-language revenue is in line with accepted standards at programs, as do some independent media. For example, commercial outlets. “Parallel” is a jointly produced news program broadcast ■ Independent media do not receive government three times per week in Georgian and Armenian by five subsidies. small regional stations. Radio Hereti broadcasts news and educational programs in Georgian and Russian, and ■ Market research is used to formulate strategic Green Wave Meskheti airs programs in Georgian and plans, enhance advertising revenue, and tailor products to the needs and interests of Armenian. Ethnic group and vulnerable group issues are audiences. not adequately covered by the mainstream media. BUSINESS MANAGEMENT BUSINESS ■ Broadcast ratings and circulation figures are reliably and independently produced.
GEORGIA 123 “Circulation of profitable busi- a new tender before a court decision. Tbilisi Press Club newspapers depends ness than news- activists filed a lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of the paper production. privatization. As a result, the Mtatsminda-Krtsanisi largely on the capacity Approximately 20 regional court suspended the privatization process. A of the distributor and private distribution decision favoring the plaintiffs would help the media companies of vary- industry avoid the monopolization of the print distribu- less on the potential ing sizes operate tion network, and offer the chance for industry profes- number of readers,” in Georgia. Some sionals to take part in a legitimate bidding process. are part of publish- Media have limited sources of income. The adver- said a panelist. “It ing groups because tising market is small and underdeveloped, and busi- publishers burdened nesses hesitate about advertising for fear of getting the depends on how much by high distribution attention of tax authorities. Many media outlets accept this or that company prices were forced to contributions from business and political groups to establish their own survive. For most newspapers, 80 to 90 percent of income can distribute.” networks. originates from copy sales. However, the poor quality In Tbilisi, and relatively high price of print products depress sales. print media are readily available. Some newspapers reach Panelists calculated the average income of an average regional centers, but almost none get to remote areas. newspaper: a newspaper that sells for 50 Tetri (about Panelists believe that the lack of infrastructure and low $.25) spends up to purchasing power of the rural population limit distribu- 20 Tetris on print- tion. Guria News, however, built a commercially sustain- ing one issue and “Advertising able distribution network in the Guria region. Guria News up to 15 Tetris on agencies always subcontracted a postman in every village to deliver the its distribution. paper. The delivery people could keep 30 percent of the Approximately 15 work for national money from newspaper sales and 20 percent from ad pro- Tetris from each stations. They are ceeds they brought in. Guria News has never experienced sold copy goes a shortage of classified ads and announcements since this toward expenses not interested in the new business strategy began. such as rent, equip- regional market despite Newspapers do not pay for distribution. Distribu- ment, salaries, tors sell newspapers, collect the money, and keep 12 to and so on. With the fact that we are 25 percent from each sold copy. Publishers are not able low subscription popular among the local to compile sales data. Publishers are forced to trust the numbers and few distribution numbers provided. Often publishers receive advertisers, it is population and offer money from newspaper sales three to four months late. therefore very diffi- “Circulation of newspapers depends largely on the capac- cult for newspapers them very low prices,” ity of the distributor and less on the potential number of to survive on just stated a panelist. readers,” said a panelist. “It depends on how much this or copy sales. that company can distribute.” Advertising agencies usually do not show much Market conditions force newspapers to work with interest in regional media. “Advertising agencies always several different private distributors. Almost all news- work for national stations. They are not interested in papers cooperate to some extent with the state-owned the regional market despite the fact that we are popular distribution service Sakpressa because of its relatively among the local population and offer them very low broad geographic reach. In October 2003, the Ministry of prices,” says a panelist. There are exceptions. Five small Economy, Industry, and Trade began the privatization of regional stations in southeastern Georgia managed to Sakpressa. A tender was announced, and the winner was attract advertising from a large advertising agency for the identified as a person already associated with the group news program “Parallel.” Panelists listed radio stations that owned several print distribution facilities. Many such as Fortuna and 105 that have been successful in believe the tender was illegal and cite a year-old case attracting advertising. regarding this privatization—still pending in court— which prevents the ministry from the right to announce
124 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ Large television stations such as Imedi use adver- varying degrees of success. Publishers of Akhali Versia tising agencies and their own agents. “It is very difficult studied the market before launching the weekly newspa- for advertising agencies themselves to attract advertis- per and successfully occupied a niche identified by their ing,” according to a panel member. “Our income from research. TV Imedi established a research unit with 10 advertising is not very high. That’s why we work to employees. According to a panelist, the research helped secure different sources of income. We produce soap the television station identify its niche in the market and operas and other programs and actively seek buyers in develop programming. But Imedi decided to close the the NIS and world markets. We already sold some of unit after a year, as it was expensive and less useful after them successfully.” the initial startup. Cheap classified ads and personal announcements Most regional newspapers are weeklies, although such as greetings and obituaries represent the most a few newspapers are published twice a week. The total common ads for small regional media outlets. Panel- circulation of 22 regional weeklies amounts to 50,000 ists noted that telecommunications companies tend to copies. The total circulation of the six leading Tbilisi cooperate with small media more readily than others. weeklies and those papers published three times per week Bartering is also a common practice, as some companies amounts to 200,000 copies. The total circulation of the offer regional media outlets their services or products five leading Tbilisi dailies is 18,000 copies. in exchange for advertising time. It was difficult for panelists to specify what percentage of outlets’ income is derived from advertising, although those representing Objective 5: Supporting Institutions small regional outlets acknowledged that their ad income Georgia Objective Score: 2.34/4.00 is much less than the funding they receive from interna- tional organizations. Panelists are divided on the role of media associations State-owned media benefit from exclusive adver- in Georgia. Some feel that NGOs, not media associa- tising rights and guaranteed subscriptions from state tions, are the most reliable supporters of media. NGOs agencies. For example, when the government announces defend the rights of journalists, provide expert advice, a tender for a state contract, the announcement is pub- and supply them with leads for investigations. Others lished in pro-government newspapers. Such newspapers point to the benefits of associations. “Both the Georgian are paid for printing these ads. There are no available credible broadcast ratings, Supporting institutions function in the circulation numbers, or audience demographics. Media professional interests of independent media outlets rarely commission audience research and do not base their editorial decisions on research findings. ■ Trade associations represent the interests of Broadcasters generally believe that research companies private media owners and provide member conduct biased and unprofessional market research. Edi- services. tors and journalists claim that they modify their prod- ■ Professional associations work to protect ucts in response to market demands, although often they journalists’ rights.
learn about these “market demands” through rumors INDICATORS and guesswork. ■ NGOs support free speech and independent media. Audience research consists of research conducted by independent organizations and research conducted ■ Quality journalism degree programs that provide by the media outlets themselves. Even small regional substantial practical experience exist. newspapers conduct limited research. For example, the ■ Short-term training and in-service training newspaper P.S. developed questionnaires, the radio programs allow journalists to upgrade skills or station Dzveli Kalaki took phone calls during radio acquire new skills. programs, and radio station Hereti and newspapers like ■ Sources of newsprint and printing facilities are Kviris Palitra and Asaval Dasavali opened up feedback private, apolitical, and unrestricted. boxes. “Kviris Palitra and Asaval Dasavali are so popular because they listen to their readers,” a panelist said. ■ Channels of media distribution (kiosks, trans- Tbilisi newspapers do conduct market surveys mitters, Internet) are private, apolitical, and SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS SUPPORTING unrestricted. occasionally. However, they apply research findings with
GEORGIA 125 “The NGO sector National Associa- GNAB and Free Press have also been active in tion of Broadcasters shaping media legislation. During 2003, GNAB lob- is defining media (GNAB) and the bied for changes in the tax code and in the Law on Post self-regulatory Georgian Radio and Telecommunications. In August, the parliament Network are work- approved an amendment to the law that prohibited the mechanisms and ing hard to lobby GNCC from revoking licenses without a court decision. media legislation, for our interests,” However, the GNAB was less successful in lobbying for said one panelist. a tax exemption on income earned from advertising and but the associations Another believes planned to continue pressing for this change. The GNAB of journalists or that these two orga- also lobbied against banning tobacco and alcohol adver- nizations were criti- tising in broadcast media, but without success. publishers are not as cal in preventing Meanwhile, Free Press developed a draft law actively involved in this conflicts between granting tax ben- broadcasters and efits to print media “As an employer, process. This can be increasing coopera- that is currently tion in the sector: under government I often encounter attributed to the “Before, we did not review. “Due to the ‘products’ of the disorganization and know each other. falling circulation Now we meet and numbers and a journalism schools,” passivity of media,” help each other out highly unfavorable a panelist said. according to a with advice, equip- taxation system, ment, information, the general envi- “I have to spend a lot panel member. whatever is needed.” ronment for print A third panelist sug- media in Georgia of time and money on gested these organizations can play an important role in had drastically improving their skills.” regulating relations between authors and media manage- degenerated,” said ment and eradicating unlicensed program production a panelist. “Today from the television market. the only media outlets that can survive are part of larger In 2003, the GNAB and Georgian Associa- corporations and are run by people who can afford to tion of Publishers and Broadcasters Free Press suc- invest vast amounts of money in media without taking ceeded in increasing communication within the media into consideration the outlets’ capacity for sustainable sector. They were instrumental in mitigating conflicts development. Therefore, we approached the govern- between member broadcasters, lobbying for legislation, ment with a request to declare a moratorium on taxes for and defending the freedom of expression. GNAB was media for a period of five years. This moratorium would registered in January 2003 and currently includes 47 ensure that we are not left with media closely connected members. The Georgian Association of Publishers and with the government and mafia clans.” The new parlia- Broadcasters Free Press, operating initially from 1994 to ment was expected to consider the draft law in 2004. 1997, renewed its activities in November 2002. Free Press There are problems in developing these associa- includes 34 titles nationwide. tions, all of which have faced difficulties in collecting In August 2003, Free Press mediated a conflict membership dues. “Members were more willing to between the publisher and editor of the magazine Stereo. pay, while Free Press was lobbying for a tax exemption. The association concluded that the publisher had not When the process was temporarily delayed, they stopped violated any ethical standards. Free Press also decided to paying,” a participant said. Some media organizations create a sample employment contract for media outlets in are just not motivated. “The NGO sector is defining order to avoid future disputes. GNAB also discussed the media self-regulatory mechanisms and media legislation, overlapping frequencies of two of its members—Imedi but the associations of journalists or publishers are not as TV and Ninth Wave. GNAB applied to the GNCC to actively involved in this process. This can be attributed allow Ninth Wave to increase the power of its transmit- to the disorganization and passivity of media,” according ter. As a result, the regulatory body issued a permit to to a panel member. Ninth Wave.
126 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ Many panelists expressed gratitude to the GYLA fully evident. “As an employer, I often encounter the and the Liberty Institute, a Georgian NGO, for support- ‘products’ of the journalism schools,” a panelist said. ing media. The Liberty Institute was key to developing “I have to spend a lot of time and money on improving and lobbying for a new broadcast law. GYLA trained their skills.” journalists on election-related legal issues. It also argued Short-term courses organized by international a case in court against CEC attempts to ban pre-election organizations are accessible for many journalists. debates on television, provided legal aid to journalists, However, these courses are not meant as a substitute for and taught many how to request public information. a college education and are not sufficient for obtain- Neither public nor private journalism schools can ing practical skills. There is high demand for long-term ensure a modern or quality education for their students. trainings in the regions, especially regarding niche The low caliber of instruction and resources are pain- reporting topics.
GEORGIA 127 Panel Participants Malkhaz Ghughunishvili, lawyer, Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA)
Akaki Gogichaishvili, journalist, “60 Minutes” (Rustavi 2), Tbilisi
Nato Gubeladze, founder and editor-in-chief, P.S. news- paper, Kutaisi
Gia Kevlishvili, founder, TV Tvali, Sagarejo
Tamar Kintsurashvili, deputy director, Liberty Institute, Tbilisi
Irakli Machitadze, director, Radio Dzveli Kalaki, Kutaisi
Khatuna Maisashvili, founder and editor, New 7 Days newspaper, Tbilisi
Ia Mamaladze, founder and manager, Guria News news- paper, Chokhatauri; chairman, Regional Media Associa- tion of Georgia
Ramaz Samkharadze, director, Radio Hereti, Lagodekhi
Irakli Sharabidze, lawyer, TV Imedi, Tbilisi
Soso Simonishvili, executive director, Free Press, Tbilisi
Mamuka Todua, director, TV Ninth Wave, Poti
Tamar Tsilosani, executive director, Georgian National Association of Broadcasters (GNAB), Tbilisi
Moderators Sophie Chaava, IREX/Georgia
Lia Chakhunashvili, IREX/Georgia
Observer Keti Bakradze, USAID/Caucasus Office of Democracy and Governance
128 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ Russia and Western Eurasia129 RUSSIA AND WESTERN EURASIA “Licensing of broadcasters depends on the political situation. The government has been engaged in ‘cleansing’ TV stations.” Belarus 131 BELARUS ------
Despitegrowing dissatisfaction public with Lukashenko, the Nonetheless,Lukashenko retained overwhelming political Facedwith Alexander President stagnant a Lukash economy, ing,highly restrictive, and often retroactive regulations, making it allimpossible independent enterprises for but survive. to Unemploy ment remained ment percent, 2 officially), very (under low widespread but and underemployment continuing inflation difficult more it made for thecitizen average make to ends meet. Meanwhile, the government half-heartedlypursued currency proposed a union with Russia (slated 2005) and for an eventual and economic political union, although ambivalenceboth on sidesleft the future this of union very uncertain. politicalremained opposition marginalized. In the local elections political March nongovernment of 2003, parties mustered only 600 candidatesthe for 24,000 available seats. scandals public Very over campaignfinances further undermined the third A opposition. the of registeredcandidates opposition in the local elections still managed to winextensive despite manipulation the of results the by administra tion.Several strikes small by business owners reflected new willinga ernmentharassment, the worsening situation was reflected in sharp a dropin the Media Sustainability Belarus for Index (MSI) compared with2002. nesspublicly opposeadministration to policies and actions. and control advantage took this of systematically by moving repress to theindependent media and monopolize to information channels in Belarus.While news media some backfought effectively against gov Introduction 2002, n the Committee Protect to Journalists declared Belarus (CPJ) countries worst the of 10 in one in the which world be journalist. a to Inthings 2003, worse. got
enko’s government turned government firmly its back enko’s even more the on West, relyingincreasingly assistance on and the forgiving from debt of Russiaand the on sale state-owned of enterprises Russian to interests. TheLukashenko intensified government its interventionist, top-down managing continued to hinder to It approach the growth the economy. small of and mid-sized businesses under an avalanche ever-chang of I Objective Scoring Indicator Scoring The averages of all the indicators are averaged to obtain a single, Each indicator is scored using the following system: overall score for each objective. Objective scores are averaged to provide 0 = Country does not meet indicator; government or social forces may actively an overall score for the country. IREX interprets the overall scores as follows: oppose its implementation 3 and above: Sustainable and free independent media 1 = Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator; forces may not actively oppose its implementation, but business environment may not support it 2–3: Independent media approaching sustainability and government or profession do not fully and actively support change 1–2: Significant progress remains to be made; 2 = Country has begun to meet many aspects of the indicator, but progress may society or government is not fully supportive be too recent to judge or still dependent on current government or political forces 0–1: Country meets few indicators; government and society actively oppose change 3 = Country meets most aspects of the indicator; implementation of the indica- tor has occurred over several years and/or through changes in government, indicating likely sustainability 4 = Country meets the aspects of the indicator; implementation has remained intact over multiple changes in government, economic fluctuations, changes in public opinion, and/or changing social conventions
132 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ Through presidential decrees, new regulations, Objective 1: Free Speech and politicized court rulings, the government steadily tightened restrictions on freedom of speech and the press Belarus Objective Score: 0.54/4.00 (along with those on religious freedom, peaceful assem- bly, and movement). New draft laws on the press and on The Belarusian government’s attitude toward free speech “informational security” were pending at year-end and was perhaps best summed up by Information Minister were expected to further restrict the independent media. Mikhail Padhayny, who said in an interview with an Specific forms of repression included criminal independent Belarusian weekly that any articles pub- prosecution of journalists for alleged slanders against lished by independent media should be in line with the Lukashenko and other officials; seizures of television interests of the state, and warned independent media not cameras and equipment from regional television sta- to forget that. Panelists recalled this when registering a tions; warnings and orders suspending publication significant decrease in the protections for free speech and of five newspapers; seizures of several print runs of access to information during 2003. papers that had received official suspensions or that While the Constitution of Belarus contains some had angered local officials by reporting on corruption; norms on the subject, in practice government agen- and harassment and closure of nongovernmental orga- cies often circumvent these by targeting critical stories, nizations (NGOs) providing assistance to independent broadcasts, public demonstrations, or meetings. The media, including ordering the International Research court system, meanwhile, routinely violates constitu- & Exchanges Board (IREX) and Internews to close tional guarantees by issuing politicized rulings that are their programs and offices in Belarus. The government clearly at odds with Belarusian laws, but that are in line ordered the re-registration of all television stations, pres- suring independent broadcasters to cede partial owner- Legal and social norms protect and promote ship to government officials under threat of closure. It free speech and access to public information ordered local governments not to grant new newspaper registrations and ordered all printing presses in Belarus ■ Legal/social protections of free speech exist not to accept any contracts from new newspapers, or and are enforced. from “dormant” newspapers that might resume publica- ■ Licensing of broadcast media is fair, competitive, tion under new management. and apolitical. At the same time, the government announced the creation of a third national state television channel and ■ Market entry and tax structure for media are fair began building a new regional network of state televi- and comparable to other industries. sion and radio stations. It began systematically renovat- ■ Crimes against journalists or media outlets are ing state printing presses and increased assistance to the prosecuted vigorously, but occurrences of such president’s newspaper, Sovietskaya Belarussia. Using the crimes are rare. state-controlled press as its propaganda arm, the govern- ■ State or public media do not receive preferential ment also conducted cross-media campaigns with anon- legal treatment, and law guarantees editorial ymous articles to foment baseless accusations against independence. independent media, NGOs, or opposition politicians. ■ Libel is a civil law issue; public officials are held After two years of modest improvement in the to higher standards, and the offended party various indices for media development, 2003 represented must prove falsity and malice. a sharp and severe setback on all fronts, with 2004 likely ■ to bring further deterioration. With Lukashenko mull- Public information is easily accessible; right of access to information is equally enforced for all ing a referendum to give himself an extra-constitutional INDICATORS SPEECH FREE media and journalists. third term in office, all indications are that his efforts to stifle the independent media will continue. ■ Media outlets have unrestricted access to infor- mation; this is equally enforced for all media and journalists.
■ Entry into the journalism profession is free, and government imposes no licensing, restrictions, or special rights for journalists.
BELARUS 133 “State media clearly with the wishes of offenses against the honor and dignity of public offi- state prosecutors. cials. The editor of Navinki was fined $700 for an article receive preferential In recent insulting the honor and dignity of Lukashenko. Lead- legal treatment, just as years, Belarusian ing opposition paper Narodnya Volya was fined nearly journalists had $25,000 for defaming a state broadcasting official and they do in every other became more was the target of two related defamation suits at the end way,” said one panelist. adept at defending of 2003. Enforcement of the press law is selective, with themselves against warnings and lawsuits almost exclusively targeting inde- government harass- pendent rather than state media outlets. “State media ment and intimidation, but the government struck back clearly receive preferential legal treatment, just as they do in 2003 with a barrage of orders, lawsuits, court rul- in every other way,” said one panelist. ings, and extra-judicial actions. It suspended the leading While independent media outlets in many cases independent daily Belaruskaya Delovaya Gazeta (BDG) came to one another’s aid, and provided more coverage and its supplement DSP, along with the newspapers Pred- of free-speech issues than in the past, there was little prinimatelskaya Gazeta, Ekho, and Navinki, for allegedly public outrage at the government’s repression of the violating the country’s press law. (Navinki, for example, media. Belarusian society as a whole remains conserva- was suspended for three months for printing a cartoon tive, polite, and complacent. that poked fun at Lukashenko’s receding hairline.) Broadcast licensing remains problematic. The When BDG found various means to continue pub- broadcast licensing commission is not independent, but lishing (as a supplement within friendly papers, and then rather controlled closely by the Lukashenko administra- by printing in Russia), the government retaliated against tion. Official procedures favor state media, and unofficial anyone who assisted the paper. Police confiscated a print practices are used to make independent broadcasters run of BDG in June, fired the director of a state print- censor themselves. In 2003, the government required ing house who had allowed an issue to be printed there, all independent broadcasters to re-register and issued and punished papers that had helped BDG keep print- none-too-subtle warnings that broadcast outlets that ing. For example, police ordered a government printing stepped out of line could expect problems. According to house to cancel its contract with Mestnya Gazeta Shag, one panelist, “Licensing of broadcasters depends on the in Baranovichi, and administratively closed the offices political situation. The government has been engaged in of the newspaper Solidarnost for alleged but unspecified ‘cleansing’ TV stations.” violations of advertising regulations. In general, tax and regulatory procedures put The government seized several print runs of the independent media at a huge disadvantage, compared opposition newspaper Novaya Gazeta Smorgon, arrested with state media. Local authorities routinely deny new its distributors, and then forced the paper to close over licenses, making it increasingly difficult to start new alleged licensing violations. When the newspaper Den news outlets; independent media are forced to pay far announced it would reopen in June after its 2002 closure, higher postage and distribution fees; and tax and other government officials ordered or pressured every printing authorities selectively enforce regulations to put eco- press in Belarus to refuse to print the paper. Den was still nomic pressure on independent news outlets. seeking a printing venue at the end of 2003. Crimes against journalists remained rare. The The State Control Committee investigated inde- government preferred other means to stave off media pendent television stations, seizing equipment from sta- investigations or to conduct reprisals against investiga- tions in Gomel and Mogilov. The government expelled a tive journalists. One regional paper had its print run reporter from the Russian broadcaster NTV in June and seized and was denied future access to the state distribu- then ordered NTV to close its Minsk news bureau after tion and postal systems after publishing an investigation the reporter covered the funeral of dissident writer Vasil of misuse of local public health funds. Bykov, at which an estimated 50,000 people took part in While Belarusian law guarantees independent an anti-government protest. and state-owned media equal access to information, in The government and government functionar- practice that law goes completely unenforced. Govern- ies used Belarus’s press law to go after other media. ment officials routinely deny independent media access That law, in violation of international norms, includes to information or public meetings. And while many criminal as well as civil penalties for defamation and for journalists have been trained on their rights, even those
134 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ journalists say that is of limited help when state officials Objective 2: Professional Journalism know they will not be held accountable for refusing to comply with it. A panel member explained further, “The Belarus Objective Score: 1.25/4.00 government is reducing access to information. Under Decree 300 official bodies have the right to classify their Concern about whether journalists and news outlets are activities top secret, and that applies to the Ministry of practicing greater self-censorship in the face of govern- Interior, the Ministry of Culture, other ministries, the ment repression led to a decrease in confidence in the oblast committees, and anything to do with the Cher- professionalism of journalism during 2003. nobyl issue. They are clearly hiding public information.” In general, the standard has been improving, with International news outlets (whether print, radio, more journalists aware of their ethical obligations in pro- or television) require the permission of the Ministry of viding information to the public and of the importance Information to be distributed or aired in Belarus. Most of having multiple sources and checking facts. To be media outlets have access to the Internet; Russian media sure, many opposition publications retain a strident tone. are available throughout the country, and Lithuanian But the understanding of fair, objective reporting has and Polish broadcasters reach northern and western improved, thanks to the efforts of international trainers Belarus. The limitations are financial. Most outlets and organizations such as the Belarusian Association of cannot afford to subscribe to international news wires; Journalists, which has promulgated a code of ethics in most Belarusians cannot afford either the price of sub- line with internationally recognized standards. Many scribing to foreign publications or of buying the satellite of the country’s most popular independent newspapers dishes or cable that give access to international broad- are seen as striving for objectivity and a high standard casts. However, with cable and Internet fees falling, and of professionalism—including BDG, Belarusky Rynok, with greater access to both services in the regions, access Intex-Press, Gazeta Slonimskaya, and Brestsky Kurier. to international information is becoming more possible. Few news organizations, however, have adopted The state can and does interfere with international news their own codes of ethics, and it is still common in both organizations that report in Belarus, as shown by the the state and independent media to see single-source ouster of NTV and the harassment of Radio Liberty. articles and overtly subjective reporting. Paid articles, in Entry into the study of journalism is open to anyone, though the government closed the country’s only non-state journalism school in 2003. Students graduat- Journalism meets professional standards of ing with journalism degrees theoretically are subject quality to “distribution” laws that allow the government to tell ■ Reporting is fair, objective, and well sourced. them where they must work for their first two years; in practice, most can sidestep that requirement. ■ Journalists follow recognized and accepted Journalists are not licensed. However, the govern- ethical standards. ment requires accreditation for many events, ranging ■ Journalists and editors do not practice from sessions of parliament to access to local government self-censorship. meetings. Investigative and opposition journalists have INDICATORS reported having their accreditations removed. ■ Journalists cover key events and issues. In late September 2003, the Ministry of Informa- ■ Pay levels for journalists and other media tion drafted a new media law that it was expected to professionals are sufficiently high to discourage send to the Belarusian parliament sometime in 2004. corruption. Among other restrictive changes, the draft law would ■ Entertainment programming does not eclipse ban Belarusian media outlets from receiving donations news and information programming. or property from foreign donors outside Belarus. The law ■ also would create a government-run “public advisory” Technical facilities and equipment for gathering, producing, and distributing news are modern council to control the media, though to what degree and and efficient. in what form was unclear. ■ Quality niche reporting and programming exists (investigative, economics/business, local,
PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM PROFESSIONAL political).
BELARUS 135 “It’s harder and harder which reporters or as leading to greater self-censorship. In the previous two publications publish years, the independent press had begun to cover stories to maintain and advertisements such as strikes, protests, investigations of government upgrade equipment, as disguised as news services, and so on more aggressively than at any time articles, remain since before the 1999 presidential election. In 2001 and the economic situation common. Political 2002, news media that covered such topics responsibly keeps worsening,” said parties seek to buy largely avoided any problems. But in 2003, writing fair and favorable coverage responsible stories did not protect news outlets against one panelist. in their fight against government reprisals. The courts also offered no protec- the Lukashenko tion, with politicized judges almost uniformly ruling in administration, and given the economic constraints favor of the government, regardless of the facts of the case. under which most news outlets operate and the abys- “I don’t remember ever saying to a journalist, ‘Don’t pub- mally low salaries of reporters, it is easy to find a journal- lish,’ but there is pressure,” said one panelist, an editor. ist who will slant a story to suit a patron. Journalists also Under the press law, any outlet receiving three sometimes take payments not to cover a story. One pan- warnings (and in some cases, two warnings) can be sum- elist observed that the market for paid stories was weak marily suspended or closed. The fact that outlets—such in 2003 because there were no national or parliamentary as BDG—that did not self-censor were repaid with elections, and that in 2004 many more paid articles were warnings and suspensions led many news organizations likely to be published. to be far more cautious in their coverage of anything that At a leading paper such as BDG, most journalists could offend the government. are paid the equivalent of $50 a month; the pay is lower at Regional publications and broadcasters, in partic- smaller papers and at most regional papers and broadcast- ular, saw themselves as vulnerable to political reprisals; ers. During BDG’s three-month suspension, several of its they also were more wary of writing stories that might journalists left to take higher-paying jobs at state newspa- drive away any of their small base of advertisers. pers. The editor of Intex-Press in Baranovichi noted that At the same time, the quantity and frequency of news the local state paper pays double the salary he can afford broadcasts by independent television stations increased, as for reporters—and the state paper gets more advertising, has the quality, particularly in the regions. Several regional since state subsidies allow it to charge a much lower rate. broadcasters won international awards for documentary Especially in the regions, low salaries often drive promis- news productions in 2003. The technical facilities at most ing reporters to leave the profession and encourage the news outlets remained problematic. Reporters must share practice of selling coverage to supplement incomes. computers, and some have no computers. Except as pro- The profession as a whole remains sharply divided vided by foreign donors, most outlets lack digital cameras, between the state and non-state media. State-owned media laptop computers, digital recorders, and other reporting remain overtly propagandistic and do not provide coverage equipment that is standard in the West. Many television that could be considered critical about anything having to stations have a single digital camera—and no vehicle with do with the government, its policies, or societal problems. which to travel to gather news. Most outlets rely on foreign At the same time, state journalists enjoy higher pay (thanks donors to afford Internet access. “It’s harder and harder to to subsidies for state media, which do not have to seek a maintain and upgrade equipment, as the economic situa- profit), better benefits, better access to information, and tion keeps worsening,” said one panelist. often a higher social status. “The local state-owned paper Newspapers depend on state printing houses and, pays double our salaries, though we have much higher to a large extent, on state distribution and postal systems; circulation and more advertising,” said a panelist working the exorbitant fees they must pay make it difficult for for a non-state outlet. As a result, many of the journalists them to operate profitably. Some newspapers have devel- at independent publications either are younger and less oped extensive self-distribution systems, but most are still experienced or view themselves as foot soldiers in the fight heavily dependent on state-controlled distribution. against an authoritarian regime. Either case works against a Some high-quality niche reporting is done. In par- standard of fair and professional reporting. ticular, several national newspapers provide comparatively Several panelists cited the government’s aggres- good business and economic coverage, thanks to reporters sive attacks against independent media, particularly the and editors who have received specialized training from many warnings issued by the Ministry of Information, international media assistance organizations. Such organi-
136 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ zations are the only source of such training; state journal- frequency. Though “Is information ism schools remain mired in Soviet-era approaches and Kanal 8 came back do not provide practical journalism training. on the air with a available on who new transmitter, its owns what newspaper? power is low and its Objective 3: Plurality of News Sources reach very limited. The average news Belarus Objective Score: 0.93/4.00 The state will not consumer can’t tell allow Kanal 8 to be A comprehensive effort by the Lukashenko government carried on cable. how objective the to suppress the independent media and to monopolize The situation information in a information channels to put out a single, state-controlled is somewhat better message contributed to a dramatic drop in the sources of in the regions, where medium is without news available in Belarus, panelists agreed. 17 independent While the average Belarusian can afford to buy television stations, knowing that.” newspapers and has access to television, that does not all with news broad- necessarily translate into ready access to a plurality of casts, potentially reach about 80 percent of the regional news sources. Two state television channels and a state population. But those stations focus primarily on local, radio network cover the entire country, but under the rather than national, news. And in response to govern- tightened control of the Lukashenko administration, ment pressure, almost all became very cautious in their the broadcasters speak with a single voice. Two Russian news coverage in 2003. One panelist noted that constant channels are available across most of the country, but checks by the Ministry of Information effectively intimi- they offer little Belarusian news. Most Minsk residents date many outlets into curtailing potentially risky news do not have access to the capital’s only independent coverage. FM radio stations throughout the country offer broadcaster, Kanal 8. When this station became a signifi- very limited news coverage, and that, too, has become cant source of independent news in 2001, with a poten- more circumspect under pressure from the state. tial reach of 3.6 million people, the state took away its Many independent newspapers continue to publish and are readily available on both the national and regional level. And while many leading papers are Multiple news sources provide citizens with working to create their own systems of distribution, the reliable and objective news reach of the national newspapers in the regions remains spotty. The state uses its near-monopoly of distribution ■ A plurality of affordable public and private news sources (e.g., print, broadcast, Internet) exists. channels and sales outlets to limit the reach of indepen- dent national newspapers. Also, state newspapers receive ■ Citizens’ access to domestic or international subsidies and pay far lower printing, postage, and dis- media is not restricted. tribution fees, allowing them to sell for half or less what
INDICATORS ■ State or public media reflect the views of the independent newspapers must charge to survive.
entire political spectrum, are nonpartisan, and As a result, Minsk residents enjoy the greatest serve the public interest. access to independent news sources, followed by residents ■ Independent news agencies gather and distrib- of the regional capitals. Belarusians in remote regions, ute news for print and broadcast media. on rural farms, and in small villages sometimes have no access to independent print, television, or radio. ■ Independent broadcast media produce their own news programs. Internet use continues to grow slowly. Its reach follows the same pattern as the other media, with ■ Transparency of media ownership allows access declining the farther one lives from Minsk or the consumers to judge objectivity of news; regional capitals. Fewer than one in 10 Belarusians report media ownership is not concentrated in a having ever used the Internet, and only a small percent- few conglomerates. age of them say they use it regularly. So far the govern- ■ A broad spectrum of social interests are ment does not block access to Internet news sources, but reflected and represented in the media, includ- Lukashenko has ordered the Ministry of Information to
PLURALITY OF NEWS SOURCES NEWS OF PLURALITY ing minority-language information sources. develop tighter regulations on the medium.
BELARUS 137 Few legal restrictions exist on access to foreign governments have gained minority interests in local news sources; rather, the obstacles are economic. Cable television, using shell companies to hide their owner- is relatively affordable and available in Minsk but less so ship. Several panelists, however, noted that Belarusian outside the capital. (Then, too, few Belarusians speak or consumers can tell who owns a media outlet (or at least understand English, which makes the availability of news with what interests the owner is affiliated) based on the sources such as BBC and CNN on cable of limited util- outlet’s content and coverage. ity.) Few Belarusians can afford their own computers or While most Belarusian independent media do Internet access, and the number of Internet cafés or free cover social issues, their efforts are limited because resource centers remains small. relatively few regional reporters have received adequate No “public” media exist in the Western sense. The training, and the state severely limits access to informa- government uses state media almost purely for propa- tion or statistics that might cast Belarus (or local gov- ganda, including smear campaigns against other sources ernments) in a negative light. When broadcasters report of information. State media are closed to alternative aggressively on social problems (as with stories in 2003 views or comments, with coverage of the opposition by Skif-TV in Orsha on heating and water supplies and limited to partisan attacks against them. abandoned children, and stories by Intex-TV in Bara- Among the independent media, there are opposi- novichi and Nireya-TV in Gomel about the Chernobyl tion newspapers that criticize the state just as stridently nuclear disaster), local authorities focus on silencing the as the state media attack the opposition. But many inde- reporting rather than addressing the issues raised. pendent outlets strive to be nonpartisan, and are seen by The greatest sensitivity in covering minority issues the public as such. has to do with coverage of religious topics. Orthodox The leading independent news agency, BelaPan, Christianity dominates in Belarus and has official legal came under tremendous pressure from the state in 2003, status. Several regional journalists who covered other with the government ordering state media to drop BelaPan “sects” reported being harassed by local officials and and rely exclusively on the state news agency, Belta. Bela- Orthodox Church leaders. Minority-language media, Pan could not compensate by raising its rates, as all but the such as those in Polish in western Belarus, can publish largest independent news media already only could afford without special restrictions. to subscribe with the help of foreign assistance. At the end of 2003, BelaPan faced an uncertain future. Television broadcasters were faring better. In 2003, Objective 4: Business Management independent broadcasters had increased their production Belarus Objective Score: 0.90/4.00 of news programming by 74 percent over two years earlier, with 10 of the 17 independent regional stations produc- Aggressive state interference made it increasingly dif- ing daily news, compared with just three in 2001. With the ficult for media outlets to succeed as businesses during help of high-speed Internet links, four stations (in Orsha, 2003, reversing more positive assessments for the past Vitebsk, Borisov, and Polotsk) were exchanging video news two years that had reflected significant management packages and advertising on a daily basis, further increasing improvements made by many outlets. their ability to provide local viewers with regional news. International organizations provided extensive Media ownership in Belarus is not concentrated or business training to media outlets, with correspond- controlled by a small number of conglomerates. How- ing improvements in accounting, business planning, ever, ownership is not transparent. According to one marketing, advertising, and other business practices. panelist, “Is information available on who owns what But the obstacles, especially with regard to printing and newspaper? The average news consumer can’t tell how distribution, also grew. The state owns or indirectly objective the information in a medium is without know- controls every printing press in Belarus. While even ing that. We can’t say who owns ONT or STV; they’ve opposition papers such as Narodnya Volya had been able been declared as ‘independent,’ but their directors are to print on state presses (albeit for far higher fees than appointed by the president.” The structure of owner- state papers paid), the Lukashenko administration began ship and limited access to information obscures the true more directly using its control of the presses in 2003. The control of many independent news media. This allows director of one state press was fired after he allowed an rumors (about Russian ownership, for example) to affect issue of the suspended newspaper BDG to appear under the credibility of some newspapers. Some city and local the flag of another newspaper. And presses throughout
138 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ the country were ordered not to print certain newspapers BDG isn’t the only “National and local (Den, Mestnya Gazeta Shag, and Pagonya, for example), example. Den can’t and not to print either new newspapers or any dormant get a printing house; authorities strongly papers that were reactivated. While the newspaper BDG Mestnya Gazeta Shag interfere in printing solved this problem by finding a printing press in Russia, couldn’t find a place other newspapers could not afford the higher shipping after it helped BDG.” and distribution. BDG cost. The government also requires presses to reserve Meanwhile, isn’t the only example. the use of four-color printing for state publications, and apparently under independent newspapers must pay print costs in advance orders of the central Den can’t get a printing while state papers can pay up to months afterward. government, the house; Mestnya Gazeta Distribution, too, is largely state-controlled. The Minsk city govern- only way in much of Belarus to provide home delivery is ment closed all inde- Shag couldn’t find through the state postal system, which charges indepen- pendent sales kiosks dent newspapers triple the fees it charges state papers. in central Minsk a place after it Independent papers must pass on the cost to readers, and during 2002 and helped BDG.” publishers say independent newspapers’ fees are used to 2003. The Minsk subsidize the cost of delivering state papers. suburbs and the oblast capitals began following suit in late Meanwhile, the state distribution system, which 2003. In 2003, the government also adopted several new delivers to state-owned kiosks and sales outlets, also laws that require the licensing of distribution and sales charges a huge price differential to independent newspa- points, giving the government a tool to block the creation pers. As with state printers, both the postal system and of alternative distribution schemes. distribution company refused in 2003 to carry various There are existing alternative distribution compa- newspapers that had been suspended or warned by the nies—Roszerk, which primarily distributes magazines, Ministry of Information—even after those suspensions and BelKP Press, which publishes the Belarusian edition ended. A panelist explained that “national and local of Moscow’s Komsomolskaya Pravda and distributes it authorities strongly interfere in printing and distribution. and several other papers to the regions. But both said they would not carry newspapers suspended or banned by the state. Meanwhile, many newspapers, including Independent media are well-managed Intex-Press, BDG, Brestsky Kurier, Brestskaya Gazeta, businesses, allowing editorial independence Kurier iz Borisova, and Mestnya Gazeta Smorgon, among others, developed extensive self-distribution systems ■ Media outlets and supporting firms operate as efficient, professional, and profit-generating through which they delivered at least half their circulation businesses. (with that figure reaching 80 percent for Intex-Press and, before its forced closure by the government, 100 percent ■ Media receive revenue from a multitude of for Mestnya Gazeta Smorgon). How much further this sources. admirable development can go, though, remains to be ■ Advertising agencies and related industries seen, since the Lukashenko government appeared to be INDICATORS support an advertising market. moving to regulate and restrict independent distribution. ■ Advertising revenue as a percentage of total The sources of media financing are varied, but revenue is in line with accepted standards at not entirely healthy. Due to the weak economy and commercial outlets. government policies that strangle small and mid-sized businesses, Belarus has a stunted advertising environ- ■ Independent media do not receive government subsidies. ment. The many businesses that operate in the shadow economy do not advertise, for obvious reasons. In addi- ■ Market research is used to formulate strategic tion, unlike in the West, advertising is not considered plans, enhance advertising revenue, and tailor a tax-deductible expense, and government regulations products to the needs and interests of audiences. limit the amount that can appear in a newspaper to no more than 30 percent of its space. By comparison, Euro- BUSINESS MANAGEMENT BUSINESS ■ Broadcast ratings and circulation figures are pean and US newspapers routinely carry 60 to 70 percent reliably and independently produced. advertising. Most business enterprises, meanwhile, can
BELARUS 139 spend no more than 2 percent of revenue on advertising. conduct surveys and ratings research, but independent In addition, state media enjoy an enormous advantage broadcasters cannot afford to access that information in competing for what advertising is available, using and instead rely on their own amateur surveys. As a their subsidized status to offer far lower rates than the result, ratings do not drive editorial or broadcast policies independent media. Also, the government forbids state to any significant degree. enterprises, which dominate the economy, from advertis- ing in independent media. This forces independent media to rely on subscrip- Objective 5: Supporting Institutions tion and sales. Here, too, the government intervenes, Belarus Objective Score: 1.02/4.00 using regulations to keep prices—and revenue—artifi- cially low. Regional broadcasters, facing an even leaner A sustained government attack on NGOs, professional advertising market, rely heavily on the sale of private associations, and other assistance organizations pro- messages (birthday greetings, for example). Although duced a significant decline in support for independent regional broadcasters have a rudimentary network, they media. have not been able to agree on a common broadcast- There are underdeveloped trade associations in ing schedule that would allow them to compete with Belarus, including the Foundation for the Development the state channels for national advertising. They, too, of the Regional Press, an organization of regional pub- face competition with artificially low advertising rates lishers and editors, and the Television Broadcast Network charged by the state channels (as low as $25 a minute). (TBN) for regional television managers. In practice, these As a result of all these constraints, independent organizations provide few benefits to members and rarely media tend to be very vulnerable to pressure. Political work collectively. TBN, for example, theoretically runs parties and businesses buy space and favorable cover- a central office to buy programming collectively and to age. When international donors provide assistance, they gain national advertisers for the regional stations. But must beware of a tendency on the part of media outlets due to poor management, it provides meager sales and to tailor coverage to please their sponsor. Many newspa- revenues. The foundation, meanwhile, primarily gains a pers depend on outside assistance to survive and develop, volume discount for its members on newsprint purchases even though those sources are not sustainable. This is less true among regional television stations, having received less donor assistance. Radio stations, with lower Supporting institutions function in the operating costs, are more easily able to operate profitably professional interests of independent media but have been less significant as a source of news. Market research firms do operate in Belarus, but ■ Trade associations represent the interests of mostly for the benefit of the government or the few interna- private media owners and provide member tional companies that advertise in Belarus. Their services services. are beyond the means of media outlets, except when inter- ■ Professional associations work to protect national donors subsidize such research. Surveys funded journalists’ rights.
by international assistance organizations provided outlets INDICATORS with some information, and many have developed in- ■ NGOs support free speech and independent media. house, albeit less sophisticated, research efforts to be able to provide advertisers with information about their readership ■ Quality journalism degree programs that provide or viewing audience. “It’s a dream to use annual marketing substantial practical experience exist. research,” said one panelist. Circulation figures in Belarus ■ Short-term training and in-service training remain suspect, as there are no independent outside audit- programs allow journalists to upgrade skills or ing firms. The Ministry of Information performs audits, acquire new skills. but independent newspapers do not trust the results, which ■ Sources of newsprint and printing facilities are focus on print runs rather than copies distributed. As a private, apolitical, and unrestricted. result, many state papers show circulations that appear to be much higher than their actual readership. ■ Channels of media distribution (kiosks, trans- There is no independent means through which mitters, Internet) are private, apolitical, and SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS SUPPORTING unrestricted. broadcasters can assess their viewership. Some firms
140 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ and provides some training, but it has not been effective around, and many promising performers leave the field in at advocating for its members against state repression. search of better-paying professions. The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), For practicing journalists, substantial short-term which in 2003 won the World Press Association’s Golden training opportunities still exist, mostly run and funded Pen award for defending press freedoms, brings together by international agencies. Some have sought opportuni- independent journalists and attempts to protect their ties to provide more support in response to increased rights through lobbying, legal assistance, and train- repression, but obstacles have been raised by the govern- ing. But while BAJ works effectively, its resources are ment, including new restrictions barring news media in stretched to the breaking point by the challenges its Belarus from accepting foreign grants. members face. Internal differences sometimes hamper As discussed previously, printing facilities in the association’s effectiveness, and it, too, has been inves- Belarus are controlled by the state, favor state papers, tigated and harassed repeatedly by the government. Some and are used as weapons against independent papers. journalists will not join the association, considering it Similarly, the state predominantly controls distribution politicized. Human-rights groups such as Charter 97 and channels, manipulating them to limit the reach of inde- the Belarus Helsinki Committee monitor press freedom, pendent media—and in some cases to destroy them. publicize violations, and are accessible to journalists While some radio and television transmitters throughout the country. The government shut down remain in private hands, the government uses licensing several indigenous human rights organizations in 2003. and registration procedures to limit broadcasters’ indepen- The Ministry of Justice ordered all Belarusian NGOs dence. Internet access also is controlled by the government, to provide copies of their registrations and lists of all and while interference with access to information on the their grant sources, employees, and planned events in an Internet has been sporadic, all signs point to the likelihood apparent prelude to a “cleansing” of NGOs seen as linked of more systematic approaches soon. One panel member to the political opposition or the independent media. asked, “Will we face more severe controls? Both local One difficulty for groups supporting indepen- authorities and the Ministry of Information interfere, and I dent media is that the government is indifferent to its see more difficulties ahead with licensing and distribution.” international image. For example, when the government drafted a new press law, it refused to make copies avail- Panel Participants able publicly, even to the Organization for Security and Andrey Bastunets, attorney, Law Center for Media Pro- Cooperation in Europe, as required by its membership tection, Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) in that organization. While BAJ obtained a leaked copy, it is unclear whether that draft reflected the version the Zhanna Litvina, president, Belarusian Association of government was preparing to pass. Article 19, an inter- Journalists national NGO that monitors freedom of expression, took Vadim Losev, board member, Foundation for Local Press an active role in analyzing the draft and bringing its Development shortcomings to international attention. During 2003, the government closed the only inde- Pyotr Martsev, publisher, Belaruskaya Delovaya Gazeta pendent journalism degree program in Belarus. While state universities offer journalism degrees, their programs Leonid Mindlin, television consultant, board member, largely follow the Soviet model and do not meaningfully Belarusian Association of Journalists prepare students to practice journalism in the Western Robert Ortega, resident advisor, IREX/ProMedia Belarus sense. In addition, the dwindling number of international assistance organizations has eliminated training programs Vladimir Yanukevich, director, Intex-Press Publishing offered to journalism students. The US-funded Muskie House, Baranovichi program has produced some practicing journalists, and some students study in Moscow. Overall, though, panelists Moderator said programs abroad offer only a trickle of trained young Andrei Vardomatski, director, Novak Market and journalists. There are enough media outlets to absorb Opinion Research graduating journalism students. In fact, the problem is that there are not enough well-trained journalists to go
BELARUS 141 The use of the state media as “a weapon of propaganda for the destruction of political opponents” is also a significant problem, a panelist said. Moldova
Introduction he media environment in Moldova deteriorated in 2003, with state and legal pressure on the independent press intensifying. The governing party continued to control the state-owned media, only pretending to transform radio and television into public institutions, panelists said. There was special concern about an article in the new criminal code punishing libel with five years in prison and cancellation in the new civil code of the ceiling on monetary compensation for moral damages. The media sector includes state, party, and commercial outlets. With few exceptions, they depend on funding sources beyond their T business revenues and allow editorial interference by these sponsors from government, political parties, and businesses. Panel members criticized the lack of editorial independence, especially in the state- funded outlets, which are rife with unrestrained censorship. The use of the state media as “a weapon of propaganda for the destruction of political opponents” is also a significant problem, a panelist said. The lack of media independence stems from many factors: insufficient revenues and difficulties in attracting capital, self-censor- ship, poor management, and no advertising market to deliver profits in an environment of fair competition. However, panel members noted that independent newspapers and broadcasters exist in Moldova, and some measures show increasing public trust in the media. There are professional broadcasts as well as quality print journalism, but panel members gave a low general rating to Moldovan journalism. Access to the mass media is not obstructed legally, but it is a financial burden for producers and consumers, especially in areas outside the capital. Newspapers are delivered after a significant delay. Although private distributors have appeared, their market share is insignificant and the state-owned network continues to function as a near monopoly. State-controlled television and radio are the most accessible media for consumers nationwide. A small number of radio stations cover about two-thirds of Moldova’s territory, and there are international stations accessible everywhere. The few television sta- tions with national coverage rebroadcast programs from Russia and
MOLDOVA 143 Objective Scoring Indicator Scoring The averages of all the indicators are averaged to obtain a single, Each indicator is scored using the following system: overall score for each objective. Objective scores are averaged to provide 0 = Country does not meet indicator; government or social forces may actively an overall score for the country. IREX interprets the overall scores as follows: oppose its implementation 3 and above: Sustainable and free independent media 1 = Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator; forces may not actively oppose its implementation, but business environment may not support it 2–3: Independent media approaching sustainability and government or profession do not fully and actively support change 1–2: Significant progress remains to be made; 2 = Country has begun to meet many aspects of the indicator, but progress may society or government is not fully supportive be too recent to judge or still dependent on current government or political forces 0–1: Country meets few indicators; government and society actively oppose change 3 = Country meets most aspects of the indicator; implementation of the indica- tor has occurred over several years and/or through changes in government, indicating likely sustainability 4 = Country meets the aspects of the indicator; implementation has remained intact over multiple changes in government, economic fluctuations, changes in public opinion, and/or changing social conventions
144 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ Romania, but no private television station with national ity of using public “There is pressure coverage exists, thanks to government controls. As telecommunication Moldova has been redivided into regions (raion), local networks for car- on businesspeople authorities have resumed publishing their own news- rying out extrem- not to advertise with papers, thus limiting the opportunities for independent ist activities” press in the provinces. Internet access in the countryside expose the media the press that the is free, but limited due to lack of infrastructure. Private to double-barreled authorities don’t like, printers are opening, but the state still owns the large restrictions. Article printing houses. 19 argued that “the and to advertise Panel members mentioned that media cover- media are sent a instead with the pro- age is distorted and biased, especially during election signal by which campaigns. During the most recent local elections, the they are shown that governmental press.” authorities used the media (especially the state out- they are under a lets) to promote their interests. Many media outlets are special regime of restrictions concerning the materials essentially mouthpieces of political parties. Panelists also they can publish or broadcast.” mentioned that journalists failed to associate profession- The Media Sustainability Index (MSI) panel par- ally and that cleavages within the journalistic commu- ticipants agreed that new laws on the media have been nity are encouraged by the authorities, who have reverted adopted practically overnight without debate in the press to the Soviet practice of creating “pocket NGOs.” or consultations by experts. There also is concern that the true motivations for the laws are obscured. As one Objective 1: Free Speech Legal and social norms protect and promote Moldova Objective Score: 1.59/4.00 free speech and access to public information
The Constitution of Moldova, passed in 1994, guarantees ■ Legal/social protections of free speech exist the freedom of expression and the right to information. and are enforced. Censorship is prohibited. However, state authorities have ■ Licensing of broadcast media is fair, competitive, passed a number of laws obstructing the liberties guar- and apolitical. anteed by the Constitution. On July 12, 2003, the new civil and criminal codes ■ Market entry and tax structure for media are fair came into force. Article 16 of the civil code, which refers and comparable to other industries. to “the protection of professional honor, dignity, and rep- ■ Crimes against journalists or media outlets are utation,” removed the ceiling on compensation for moral prosecuted vigorously, but occurrences of such damages. Media experts believe this article could consid- crimes are rare. erably affect the ability of the press to report objectively, ■ State or public media do not receive preferential because of the threat of lawsuits brought against the legal treatment, and law guarantees editorial media. They also are concerned about an article in the independence. criminal code that penalizes libel with prison terms of ■ Libel is a civil law issue; public officials are held up to five years, saying it may be used to intimidate the to higher standards, and the offended party media and seriously threaten freedom of expression. must prove falsity and malice. In February 2003, the Law on Fighting Extrem- ■ ist Activities was passed on the initiative of Moldovan Public information is easily accessible; right of access to information is equally enforced for all President Vladimir Voronin. Civil society representa- INDICATORS SPEECH FREE media and journalists. tives in Moldova, opposition political leaders, and a number of international human rights organizations ■ Media outlets have unrestricted access to infor- criticized this law. London-based Article 19 addressed mation; this is equally enforced for all media and journalists. a letter to the president requesting that he not sign the law. The article of the law that references “the liability ■ Entry into the journalism profession is free, and of media outlets for disseminating information with an government imposes no licensing, restrictions, extremist character” and another on “the inadmissibil- or special rights for journalists.
MOLDOVA 145 As one panelist panelist explained, Other means of creative censorship are used against “Ostensibly noble independent media, according to panel members, but explained, “Ostensibly intentions very often they are a form of intimidation that cannot be proven. noble intentions hide anti-demo- One participant mentioned sudden tax inspections. cratic, authoritar- Another said, “There is pressure on businesspeople not to very often hide ian interests of the advertise with the press that the authorities don’t like, and anti-democratic, governing party.” to advertise instead with the pro-governmental press.” For example, The Broadcasting Coordinating Council (BCC), authoritarian the Law on the a panel to which the president, government, and par- interests of the Local Public Broad- liament each appoint three members, is not impartial, casting Institution panelists said. They cited the July 2003 council decision governing party.” was adopted on to monitor the Moldovan office of the Russian television December 25, only station First Channel on the grounds that the council two weeks after being proposed in parliament. Accord- had received complaints from viewers that the station ing to one panelist, the stated declarations of com- “failed to present balanced news coverage.” munist deputies concerning the need “to close a gap in The state-run media do not officially enjoy pref- the national legislation” hid their “desire to subdue the erential legal status, but it is clear that private media are Chisinau municipality’s radio and television stations.” discriminated against. State media are exempt from VAT Experts mention that transforming the state (value-added tax), state newspapers pay below-market rent, Teleradio-Moldova into a public institution under a and state journalists enjoy the privileges of being public law adopted in July 2003 has been inexcusably delayed. servants. When Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev visited the Under pressure from the Council of Europe, the law government newspaper Moldova Suverana, he promised was amended in March 2003 to drop the requirement that “he would order businesses in which the state held that the parliament approve the members of the Coun- the majority of shares to advertise with the government cil of Observers, the new public company’s main board newspaper” (Moldpres, August 14, 2001). He has kept his of governors. Even so, there are many indications that word. Moreover, the government orders public institutions the government manipulates the Council, including a and state-run businesses to subscribe to governmental move in October 2003 to circumvent it by liquidating newspapers. A September 2003 BCC decree said “businesses Teleradio-Moldova and creating a new public institu- wishing to create new television stations, regardless of the tion. The parliament argued that this was the only way location, will receive licenses only on the condition that to transform the state company into a public institution, they rebroadcast the national channel Moldova 1.” but opponents said it was simply a way for the governing BCC allocates radio and television broadcast party to get rid of “disobedient” journalists. licenses and frequencies, and MSI panelists contended There are cases that demonstrate the government’s that resolutions favor the governing Communist Party hand in state television programming. For example, a since its members have been selected based on their November 2002 edition of the talk show “Buna seara” degree of loyalty. Some BCC members who are also radio (Good Evening) discussing the Transnistrian settlement and television station managers have been appointed in was suspended because the leader of the communist violation of the law against conflicts of interest. faction in parliament refused to participate. Also, in So far, the BCC has not developed a clear strategy December 2003, national radio news department direc- for the development of broadcasting in Moldova. Panel tor Valentina Ursu was forbidden to host her morning members criticized the BCC for its partisan distribution show of many years because she was older than 35 and of licenses and especially for failing to take issue with “ought to concentrate on management.” Supporters said broadcasters that do not meet license requirements. Pan- her interviews of opposition politicians were the real elists said the BCC does not have a monitoring system to problem. The Moldovan president recognized, albeit verify how license holders meet broadcast requirements. indirectly, the opposition’s blocked access to the state- Also, according to radio station Vocea Basarabiei, “by controlled broadcasts when he said the main television indulging stations loyal to the government and spread- channel should include one hour of weekly programming ing unfounded claims regarding the editorial policy of featuring opposition party members. The station com- stations critical of the state, the BCC has demonstrated plied with President Voronin’s demand. ‘political servitude.’”
146 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ The Center for Monitoring the Information Space bodies request “The general trend is (SIMON) report on media monitoring showed that “in fees or delay long the process of applying for broadcast licenses the major- enough to render that these legal ity of applicants declared their commitment to producing the material obso- provisions are used and broadcasting local programs. But by the end of 2001, lete. In 2003, press their actual fare (of the private radio and TV stations) was officers were sued by abusive public limited to rebroadcasting programs from other coun- for the first time for servants in order to tries”—primarily Russia, followed by Romania. refusing to provide Another negative trend in 2003 was a sharp public information, protect their false increase in the number of abuses against journalists and two suits were public dignity and take and cases in which access to information and freedom even successful. The of expression were limited. At the end of 2002, the BCC Court of Appeals revenge on journalists,” decided not to renew radio station Vocea Basarabiei’s ordered the Center license. Besides its own programs, this station rebroad- for Fighting Eco- a panelist said. casts Radio Free Europe and Voice of America. Vocea nomic Crimes and Basarabiei was able to resume only three months later Corruption and the General Prosecutor’s Office to supply due to the intervention of international organizations. In information requested by the Association of Independent January 2003, the director of Accente weekly was assaulted. Press, but neither institute immediately complied. In March, the spokesperson of the General Prosecutor’s Journalists sometimes are barred from government Office was dismissed for disclosing to the media a case of events. On December 3, 2002, the editor-in-chief of Mol- abuse of power by the parliament’s deputy speaker Vadim davskie vedomosti weekly, Dmitrii Ciubasenco, was not Misin. In April, the Information and Security Service allowed to attend a press conference given by the presi- and the Prosecutor’s Office interrogated the director of dent. The manager of the president’s office building said radio station Antena C, the producer of one of its call-in he had received clear orders not to admit Ciubasenco. programs, and several listeners and callers on the grounds Access to international sources of information and that the program “permitted indecent expressions.” Under news is not limited, but the finances of media outlets are pressure, Antena C suspended the program. In May 2003, a barrier. the Chisinau Prosecutor’s Office searched the offices of The Moldovan authorities have not imposed labor the Flux daily to find out who wrote an article about the restrictions on media professionals, except for accredita- alleged involvement of the former honorary consul of tion requirements. Foreign journalists are mandated to Lebanon in Chisinau in weapon sales to Islamic terrorist receive accreditation from a government ministry. groups. In July 2003, the director of the news department of the state-run news agency Moldpres, Cornelia Cozonac, was dismissed after she made public that she had been Objective 2: Professional Journalism ordered to publish news from the president’s press service Moldova Objective Score: 1.20/4.00 without any editing. Journalists continue to be prosecuted for libel Professionalism is gaining ground in Moldova, but it and defamation. “The general trend is that these legal competes with biased, unprofessional journalism. Some provisions are used by abusive public servants in order produce objective or analytical articles and programs, to protect their false public dignity and take revenge on but many others accept commissions to produce tenden- journalists,” a panelist said. Panel members noted that tious, distorted stories. Journalists from the state-run in the absence of an independent judicial system, judges media churn out shameless propaganda in favor of the obey the authorities and issue rulings against journalists. governing party. Tight control over information continues. At the same time, however, surveys have shown Although the Access to Information Law was adopted an increase in the population’s trust in the media. three years ago, public affairs officers continue to oppose According to a survey conducted in November 2002 by journalists’ requests. According to the law, any legal resi- the Center for Sociological Studies ILIGACIU, media dent of Moldova may request any information or docu- are second only to the church as the most credible ment from public bodies or institutions for any reason. social institution. There are no clear procedures, however, and some state
MOLDOVA 147 Journalism meets professional standards of During As one panelist quality election periods, most media outlets explained, “There ■ Reporting is fair, objective, and well sourced. support political are bad journalists camps. According to ■ Journalists follow recognized and accepted who are well paid, ethical standards. the IJC/ILIGACIU survey, 81.8 per- and there are good ■ Journalists and editors do not practice cent of respondents self-censorship.
INDICATORS believe that jour- journalists who are ■ Journalists cover key events and issues. nalists in Moldova paid extremely poorly.” engage “to a con- ■ Pay levels for journalists and other media siderable extent in professionals are sufficiently high to discourage corruption. political partisanship at the expense of the principles of free journalism.” Self-censorship is a common practice in ■ Entertainment programming does not eclipse both public and private media. As with state-run media, news and information programming. the owners of some private outlets institute certain taboo ■ Technical facilities and equipment for gathering, topics. producing, and distributing news are modern The precarious economic situation of journal- and efficient. ists contributes to a lack of professionalism. The Journalist’s ■ Quality niche reporting and programming Profile survey has shown that 50 percent of journalists have a exists (investigative, economics/business, local, monthly salary under 1,000 lei (about $76), while 37 per-
PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM PROFESSIONAL political). cent earn between 1,000 and 2,000 lei per month (between $76 and $150). About 1,325 lei is considered the minimum A serious barrier to professional journalism is the “consumer budget,” according to the government. The same limited access to information. According to a survey con- survey shows that 52 percent of journalists have a second job ducted by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC)—a to supplement their income. Some media professionals resort media-support nongovernmental organization (NGO)— to political advertising and other services for political parties and ILIGACIU, 83.8 percent of journalists believe that during campaigns. Salaries do not always depend on perfor- the Access to Information Law is not implemented in mance. Instead, they may relate to media owners and their practice. Meanwhile, 81.8 percent say that Article 34(2) connections in business or political circles. As one panelist of the Constitution, which obligates public institutions to explained, “There are bad journalists who are well paid, and provide accurate information to citizens, is not observed. there are good journalists who are paid extremely poorly.” The code of ethics adopted by the Union of Jour- Most radio and television stations have their own nalists in May 2000 requires that a clear distinction be broadcasting equipment, including transmitters. Public made between information and opinion. The code also company Teleradio-Moldova and a number of private banned the acceptance of compensation from third par- radio stations, including several Russian stations, use the ties for the publication of stories. However, the code is services of the state company Radiocomunicatii. Telera- not fully observed. Moreover, the ILIGACIU survey has dio-Moldova has serious technical problems, with more shown that 27.8 percent of interviewed journalists are not than 80 percent of its equipment considered obsolete. very familiar with ethics codes, and 38.5 percent rec- Investigative journalism “never appears,” panel- ognize that they sometimes work in ways incompatible ists stated. However, there have been some successful with professional standards. One significant violation attempts in this area. The Association of Independent occurred during the recent local election campaign when Press, representing private media owners, created an the director of the national television station, Ion Gonta, investigative team, and its reporting was published in showed hidden-camera footage of two female investiga- member newspapers. But with the authorities so uncon- tive newspaper journalists in a sauna. The director later cerned about disclosures made by the media, journalists was barred from the Journalists’ Union of Moldova and wonder whether investigative journalism is worth the was accused of violating the ethics code, by “discrediting risks, the expense, and the threat of lawsuits. the profession of journalism and damaging the credibil- ity of the media as a whole.”
148 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ Objective 3: Plurality of News Sources Moldovan “The government citizens have access Moldova Objective Score: 1.74/4.00 to domestic and often imposes international media political subjects in According to the Moldpresa SA catalogue, 64 newspapers without political, and 44 magazines were distributed nationwide at the end legal, or technical order to distract the of 2003. About 20 percent of the national newspapers barriers, limited public’s attention from are published by state bodies, and only eight newspapers only by finances. (12.5 percent) were open about their political affiliations. In 2003, however, more real subjects.” Also, about 70 local and regional publications exist in the authorities Moldova (including the Gagauz Autonomous Region and halted the operation of TV Romania 1, Pervyi kanal v Transnistria), of which almost half are funded from local Moldove, Vocea Basarabiei, and Ekho Moskvy for periods public budgets. of one week to several months. Moldovans have access According to SIMON monitoring, the Moldovan to international radio stations such as BBC, VOA, Radio broadcasting market features 116 television outlets (four Free Europe, and Radio France Internationale. A variety public, 36 private, and 77 cable operators). There are 32 of international television channels are also available. For private local radio stations (three public, 26 private, and example, French TV5 is rebroadcast by a local station, and three broadcast by wire). Several radio stations cover CNN can be received via cable operators. TVR1, Antena 1, about 70 percent of the country (Antena C in Chisinau, Acasa, Prima TV, and PRO TV are accessible from Roma- and private stations HitFM and Russkoe Radio). Besides nia. Channel 1 is beamed from Ukraine. Moscow-based public TV Moldova 1, two other channels have nation- stations are rebroadcast fully or partially. wide coverage—Russian state television’s First Channel Western and Romanian newspapers are too and Romania’s state TVR1. Political parties do not own expensive to find through normal channels, and it does radio or television stations. Internet access is underdevel- not help that distribution networks in Moldova are not oped, and in rural areas it is not available. trying to bring them in. On the other hand, Russian newspapers, as with Russian radio and television, are sold at reasonable prices and dominate the media market in Moldova. Multiple news sources provide citizens with In the best-case scenario, a family can afford to sub- reliable and objective news scribe to or buy only one publication. According to a recent survey commissioned by the Institute for Public Policies, ■ A plurality of affordable public and private news sources (e.g., print, broadcast, Internet) exists. about 22 percent of people do not read newspapers at all, and 10 percent read them less than once per week. ■ Citizens’ access to domestic or international In contrast with Chisinau, rural areas do not have media is not restricted. many information options. Many villages have no news-
INDICATORS ■ State or public media reflect the views of the stands, radio programs are not received regularly, and
entire political spectrum, are nonpartisan, and only one or two television channels are available. Print serve the public interest. media reach villages after lengthy delays. ■ Independent news agencies gather and distrib- National state radio and television (Radio Moldova ute news for print and broadcast media. and TV Moldova 1) do not reflect the entire political spectrum and serve as the governing party’s propaganda ■ Independent broadcast media produce their own news programs. machine, panelists concluded. One explained, “As during Soviet rule, public television has taboo topics—names ■ Transparency of media ownership allows and lists of people who by no means can participate in consumers to judge objectivity of news; programs. The weekly program ‘Opposition Hour,’ intro- media ownership is not concentrated in a duced in early December, confirms the fact that the oppo- few conglomerates. sition is seen as a dispensable element of political life.” ■ A broad spectrum of social interests are There are many news agencies, and the monopoly reflected and represented in the media, includ- of the state-run agency Moldpres has been undermined
PLURALITY OF NEWS SOURCES NEWS OF PLURALITY ing minority-language information sources. in recent years by about 10 private agencies, of which
MOLDOVA 149 “As during Soviet rule, BASA-Press, Info- Of the 108 publications distributed nationwide, tag, Infoprim, Flux, 56 are in Romanian since approximately 65 percent of public television has Interlic, and Deca- Moldova’s population is ethnically Romanian. There taboo topics—names press have gained are 45 publications listed as appearing in Russian (41.7 strong footholds on percent), while six are in mixed Romanian and Russian and lists of people who the market. (5.6 percent) and one is in English. The national minor- by no means can partici- Independent ity press (produced by Ukrainians, Gagauz, Bulgarians, radio and televi- and Jews) faces serious financial difficulties. pate in programs. The sion stations in weekly program ‘Oppo- Moldova contrib- ute only partially Objective 4: Business Management sition Hour,’ introduced to the diversity of Moldova Objective Score: 1.47/4.00 information. A sig- in early December, con- nificant number of The media in Moldova are largely unprofitable. Advertis- firms the fact that the broadcasters (96.6 ing agencies and the advertising market in general are percent, according underdeveloped. Furthermore, there are few experienced opposition is seen as a to SIMON data) media managers, and public perception of the media as dispensable element of are concentrated a propaganda tool rather than a business remains strong. in cities. Original Media outlets rely partially on commercial revenues but political life.” programming is are constantly searching for subsidies. “Media profes- insignificant and sionals feel more comfortable under the wing of some- mainly in the form of entertainment. Newscasts are few, body who provides financial support, allowing them to and their editorial policy is incoherent. Better-qual- work without worrying about the newspaper’s funding. ity news is found at stations like ProTV Chisinau, ORT This mentality is changing, but not quickly enough,” one Moldova, NIT, BBC, Radio Free Europe, Radio Antena panelist said. C, Radio PRO FM, as well as some radio stations outside Chisinau. These stations usually feature news bulletins and analytical programs, produced by their own news departments. Independent media are well-managed Media in Moldova are not transparent concern- businesses, allowing editorial independence ing ownership and funding sources. The public is not ■ Media outlets and supporting firms operate as informed about who owns certain television and radio efficient, professional, and profit-generating stations, especially those that influence Moldovan politi- businesses. cal culture. Media ownership is often the subject of innuendo and gossip during elections. There has been a ■ Media receive revenue from a multitude of sources. recent trend toward media concentration, particularly regarding the broadcast media. ■ Advertising agencies and related industries INDICATORS The Moldovan media do not reflect the full range of support an advertising market. public interest. Most outlets primarily offer reporting on ■ Advertising revenue as a percentage of total politics, with very little on social, economic, and interna- revenue is in line with accepted standards at tional issues. A panel participant said, “The government commercial outlets. often imposes political subjects in order to distract the ■ Independent media do not receive government public’s attention from more real subjects.” Stories on subsidies. social assistance, the disabled, abandoned children, and similar topics are infrequent. Some independent newspa- ■ Market research is used to formulate strategic pers such as Jurnal de Chisinau, Timpul, Ekonomicheskoe plans, enhance advertising revenue, and tailor products to the needs and interests of obozrenie, and Novoie vremea have begun to shift the audiences. focus to topics related to civic journalism. BUSINESS MANAGEMENT BUSINESS ■ Broadcast ratings and circulation figures are reliably and independently produced.
150 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ The government controls printing and distribu- Subscriptions “Many companies tion of print media in Moldova. The state owns the Press are the most reliable House, a national press center where half of the newspa- revenue source for are unwilling to invest pers and magazines published in Moldova are based. The private newspapers. in advertising, because state controls distribution companies such as Moldpresa Some publications and Posta Moldovei and manages printers in Chisinau increase their print they don’t believe in and in district towns. State company Radiocomunicatii runs due to free its utility,” a panel manages the radio transmission network. Government subscriptions subsi- authorities set the fees and taxes for facility rent, print- dized by unknown member said. ing, distribution and sales, communication services, and sources. Newspa- radio signal transmission. Due to the state monopoly, pers that support political parties receive subsidies from fees for press distribution and transmission are consid- their owners. However, many sources of media funding ered quite high. remain unknown. It is clear that the government does The state press continues to gain strength. Pro- not offer financial assistance to independent media. government newspapers emerge from nowhere, funded Businesses afraid to advertise with opposition by obscure sources and managed by civil servants. newspapers receive “recommendations” to advertise with For example, Sens newspaper is edited unofficially state-run media, allowing the government to consoli- by the head of the president’s press service; Tineretul date its power through its network of loyal media. One and Moldovei are panelist explained, “In general, business depends to a “Media professionals edited by the large degree on whether or not you are loyal to the state. editor-in-chief of If you are not, then you are harassed until you accept the feel more comfortable the governmental government recommendations.” under the wing of newspaper Moldova While market surveys are rare, in recent years Suverana. After credible surveys have been conducted through the Inde- somebody who provides Moldova reverted pendent Journalism Center. Theoretically, circulation financial support, to the Soviet-style statistics can be obtained from printing houses or distri- administrative bution companies, but they usually refuse to make such allowing them to districts, the state data available. Overall, very little information is available work without worrying also began funding to the media on how to develop strategies, marketing district newspapers, plans, and business practices. about the newspaper’s undermining inde- The managers of four television companies—Tele- funding. This mentality pendent local and radio-Moldova, Analitic Media Group (broadcasting regional newspa- on the ORT-Moldova channel), TeleDixi (broadcast- is changing, but pers. “One can’t say ing on the RTR TV channel), and New Televised Ideas not quickly enough,” that normal busi- (NIT)—have agreed to collaborate on developing local ness relations and and international advertising. These stations agreed not one panelist said. market-economy to grant exclusive advertising rights to any agency and to rules have taken reduce agency fees to the lowest possible level: 15 percent. hold in the media,” a panelist concluded. “In order to ensure objectivity in their work with clients Market research, promotion, and sales services and advertising agencies, TV stations decided to choose, have developed very slowly. Although advertising rev- through a tender, a company to monitor TV programs enues increased in the past five years, this has not been and another one to conduct surveys and/or assess TV sufficient to spur significant growth of the media sector. audiences,” Infotag news agency reported in November It is difficult to assess the real scope of the advertising 2003. Panel participants mentioned that three of these market due to a lack of transparency. “Many companies four companies have national coverage and dominate the are unwilling to invest in advertising, because they don’t Moldovan media market. The only national broadcaster believe in its utility,” a panel member said. Some busi- left outside of this agreement is TV Romania 1, they said, nesses do not want to advertise with newspapers for fear and since it does not sell advertising in Moldova, there is of attracting the tax authorities. the threat of monopolization in television advertising.
MOLDOVA 151 Objective 5: Supporting Institutions the government, is practically nonfunctioning. Some critics considered its creation a one-off political act Moldova Objective Score: 2.26/4.00 so that a declaration could be submitted to the Coun- cil of Europe denying the allegations of censorship at The Association of Independent Press, representing the TVM and denouncing the Anti-Censorship Committee interests of private media owners, includes 17 local and created by the employees of the state broadcaster. The national newspapers and magazines published in Roma- Union of TV Companies was created in November 2003 nian and Russian; it also includes two news agencies. The to coordinate a strategy regarding the television and IJC is highly active, and the Association of Electronic advertising markets. Press (APEL) represents 22 radio and television stations, The Union of Journalists has evolved from a production studios, Soviet-style professional organization into an effective and profession- NGO. There are various other associations of journal- “The communist als. However, these ists specializing in areas such as agriculture or sports. authorities not only associations lack However, the cleavages in the journalistic profession solidarity among along political lines make it practically impossible for create ‘government the competing journalists to build solidarity. The Federation of Radio NGOs,’ but also mimic media owners. and TV Professionals, created last year at Teleradio- Many owners have Moldova, committed itself to protecting the rights of consultations with civil political affilia- journalists should the company be liquidated and turned society in order to gain tions or are funded into a public institution. The League of Professional from abroad. Such Journalists, founded last year by the editor-in-chief of credibility abroad.” political affiliations the government-run Moldova Suverana and former editor became obvious of the state news agency Moldpres, has so far only been during the elections in early 2003, when most broadcast- active in supporting the communist authorities, thus ers allied with the governing party. This made it even confirming the suspicion that it is a “pocket NGO.” As more difficult to protect common media interests. The one panelist noted, “The communist authorities not only Mass Media Association, created last year to support create ‘government NGOs,’ but also mimic consultations with civil society in order to gain credibility abroad.” At present there are about 30 media-support Supporting institutions function in the NGOs, but only about a third of those actively work with professional interests of independent media independent media. Most of the effective organizations ■ Trade associations represent the interests of focus on improving media legislation and the free flow of private media owners and provide member information, as well as professional training for journal- services. ists. Acces-Info works to reinforce the Access to Infor- ■ Professional associations work to protect mation Law. A group of NGOs such as APEL, the IJC, the journalists’ rights. Union of Journalists, and API monitor the transforma-
INDICATORS tion of state Teleradio-Moldova into a public institution.
■ NGOs support free speech and independent The quality of journalism courses at the univer- media. sity level is improving, both at the State University and ■ Quality journalism degree programs that provide at the private Free International University of Moldova. substantial practical experience exist. Young people can also study journalism at universities in ■ Short-term training and in-service training Comrat and Tiraspol. Moldovan universities tradition- programs allow journalists to upgrade skills or ally prefer to focus on theoretical training, and practical acquire new skills. experience continues to be a problem for many students that the schools lack equipment and money to solve. ■ Sources of newsprint and printing facilities are private, apolitical, and unrestricted. Journalists are offered opportunities to update their skills and knowledge during short-term courses ■ Channels of media distribution (kiosks, trans- organized by the IJC, the Union of Journalists, the mitters, Internet) are private, apolitical, and
SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS SUPPORTING Association of Independent Press, and the Association unrestricted. of Electronic Press, among others. For example, IJC
152 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ has organized courses in photojournalism and agricul- Panel Participants tural journalism. Through the South-East European Network for the Professionalization of the Media, Vasile Botnaru, editor-in-chief, BASA-press news journalists may attend courses in radio management, agency investigative reporting, and computer-assisted research. Also, IJC has a journalism library containing Western Val Butnaru, director, independent weekly Jurnal de books. API has organized courses for the development Chisinau of financial management skills for newspapers and Ion Enache, president, National Ethics Commission training in newspaper management. Printing resources are controlled by both govern- Corina Fusu, editor, Moldova 1 TV company ment and private owners. There are no restrictions on their use. However, besides the state-owned Universul Dmitri Kalak, deputy editor-in-chief, independent printing company in Chisinau, there is only one private weekly Ekonomicheskoe obozrenie printer. A second printing service could not survive due to the low newspaper circulation numbers. Most local Constantin Marin, professor of journalism and commu- newspapers are printed by privatized services, which nications, State University of Moldova under the Soviet Union used to be part of the communist party’s printing network. The panel members agreed that Olivia Partac, media law unit coordinator, Independent there are no problems with the availability of newsprint. Journalism Center The state continues to monopolize the press dis- tribution system throughout Moldova. This monopoly Angela Sirbu, director, Independent Journalism Center hinders the development of an independent press. Private newspapers do not have the resources to create their own Vasile Spinei, director, Acces-Info center distribution networks. However, private distribution companies have been created, such as Omnia Press. Its reach is limited to Chisinau, which used to be controlled Moderator by the state company Moldpresa. Nicolae Negru, editor-in-chief, Mass Media in Moldova Internet access is sold only by private providers bulletin, Independent Journalism Center that must use the Moldtelecom network, currently up for privatization. There are no legal restrictions limit- ing the use of the Internet by journalists or the general Observer public. Moldova is among the countries with the lowest Iuri Datii, country director, IREX/Moldova Internet use, due to high access costs of an average $7 per month. Internet access is even less developed outside of Chisinau. According to Valeriu Sitnic, deputy director of the Information Technologies Department, more than 90 percent of Internet services are concentrated in Chisinau. Although the number of users continues to grow, prog- ress is slow. According to a recent survey, only 1.9 percent of the population uses the Internet. Panel members criticized the fact that Moldtelecom is the only Internet operator, and its high network access fees prevent private providers from having a flexible pricing policy.
MOLDOVA 153 “In Russia, there is a thin layer of truly independent media,’’ said one panel member. “They include some regional publishing houses and several broadcasting companies. Competing in difficult conditions with state-run and corrupt media, independent companies have managed their business using the best Western practices and adapting to a Russian context. This has been the only way to survive.” Russia 155 RUSSIA - - - - - in southern Russia was murdered.
Togliatti Review Togliatti
Nonetheless, independent publishers and journalists contin Informationcontinued thosebe closely to by held in who power Some observers Some suggested that Russia the simplyadjusted to Therewas reaction muted when the last quasi-independent Importantelections without conducted were assertive the of coverage incumbents recordsof candidates. or Conflict in Chechnya continued journalists. sight largelyof of out activists Some and foreign observers cautionedthat information was increasingly being manipulated the by stateas part an of overall there retreat few were from but democracy, signsany concern. of public sive editor of the editor of sive ued to struggle to establish themselves as viable media businesses providing credible information to their audiences. They sought training in new skills, fought harassment in the courts, struggledidentify to their readers, and searched for the content mix that would make them indispensable. possessedvirtually sense no accountability of and voters taxpayto Introduction Russian he media situation has enough stability, give to some not but advocatesstrong a independent of media comfort. much As measured the by panel members, little changed the during for worse 2003—but neitherdid the threats recede. limitsmixed a of state and media, non-state with obviously highly politicizedand professional pole media independent some one at mediastruggling the This at emerge to other. situation allows to some and pretend others believe to that, as the Russian saying goes, “both theare and wolves fed the sheep are safe.” nationaltelevision station down, was ostensibly its busi shut for ers.Expectations correspondingly were and there was little low, public concernevidenced limitations about free a on the press. of Some lack interest of was self-inflicted, with journalists willing sell to their cred nessfailings. There was virtually action no after the second succes
ibilitythrough giveaway simply it or reporting poor sensationalism. or T Objective Scoring Indicator Scoring The averages of all the indicators are averaged to obtain a single, Each indicator is scored using the following system: overall score for each objective. Objective scores are averaged to provide 0 = Country does not meet indicator; government or social forces may actively an overall score for the country. IREX interprets the overall scores as follows: oppose its implementation 3 and above: Sustainable and free independent media 1 = Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator; forces may not actively oppose its implementation, but business environment may not support it 2–3: Independent media approaching sustainability and government or profession do not fully and actively support change 1–2: Significant progress remains to be made; 2 = Country has begun to meet many aspects of the indicator, but progress may society or government is not fully supportive be too recent to judge or still dependent on current government or political forces 0–1: Country meets few indicators; government and society actively oppose change 3 = Country meets most aspects of the indicator; implementation of the indica- tor has occurred over several years and/or through changes in government, indicating likely sustainability 4 = Country meets the aspects of the indicator; implementation has remained intact over multiple changes in government, economic fluctuations, changes in public opinion, and/or changing social conventions
156 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ While professing support for independent media, Objective 1: Free Speech the government of President Vladmir Putin continued to take on a clear role. Press Minister Mikhail Lesin has Russia Objective Score: 1.99/4.00 been appointed a member of the board of state-con- trolled Channel One Television, along with the culture All panelists agreed that in Russia there is a formal law minister and a deputy prime minister. A succession of that guarantees freedom of speech. For the most part, actions has closed the national independent stations in this law meets international standards. There are no recent years—NTV in 2001, TV-6 in 2002, and TVS in limitations for creating print media outlets. Regulations June 2003. for starting broadcasting businesses also are similar Outside Moscow, local and regional administra- generally to those accepted internationally. However, as tions continue to exercise their power through media one panelist said, “Although the Constitution declares they subsidize, with some moving aggressively against freedom of speech, it does not guarantee it.” private outlets and others cloaking their actions in the Russian political support and judicial enforcement “rule of law” through inspections and suits. Still others regarding freedom of speech is weak. Journalists, like simply distort the fledgling media industry by offering many other Russians, are not sure they can rely on the below-market-rate advertising and inflated audiences. courts to review cases fairly, reject partisan attempts to Coverage of the conflict in Chechnya remained influence the outcome, and protect their rights. There minimal. In fact, the region was deemed virtually off is little judicial precedent for defending freedom of the limits to the press. The Organization for Security and press, and few lawyers have experience in media law. Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) concluded that the state media “failed to meet its obligation to provide objec- tive information to the electorate’’ during the late 2003 Legal and social norms protect and promote parliamentary elections, according to an official quoted free speech and access to public information by The Moscow Times. Advocates of independent press looked warily ■ Legal/social protections of free speech exist ahead to possible changes in the media law, enacted in and are enforced. 1991 and legitimately in need of updating to reflect the ■ Licensing of broadcast media is fair, competitive, requirements of a modern media industry. And in the and apolitical. courts was the case against Mikhail Khodokovsky, the hugely wealthy head of the Yukos oil company who had ■ Market entry and tax structure for media are fair begun to give money to opposition political parties, buy and comparable to other industries. media holdings, and engage in philanthropy until he was ■ Crimes against journalists or media outlets are arrested and jailed in late 2003. prosecuted vigorously, but occurrences of such Even as democracy activists criticized a chilling crimes are rare. atmosphere, the economy and the advertising market ■ State or public media do not receive preferential continued to strengthen. Such advertising growth could legal treatment, and law guarantees editorial support independent media outlets run as businesses independence. rather than PR machines. At the same time, publishers ■ Libel is a civil law issue; public officials are held and managers refined their skills and learned new ones, to higher standards, and the offended party as did their editors and journalists. must prove falsity and malice. “In Russia, there is a thin layer of truly indepen- ■ dent media,’’ said one panel member. “They include Public information is easily accessible; right of access to information is equally enforced for all some regional publishing houses and several broadcast- INDICATORS SPEECH FREE media and journalists. ing companies. Competing in difficult conditions with state-run and corrupt media, independent companies ■ Media outlets have unrestricted access to infor- have managed their business using the best Western mation; this is equally enforced for all media and journalists. practices and adapting to a Russian context. This has been the only way to survive.” ■ Entry into the journalism profession is free, and government imposes no licensing, restrictions, or special rights for journalists.
RUSSIA 157 “Although the The vocal this crime is a matter of honor for us.” Similar comments public demand for a were made after the Ivanov slaying, but by early 2004 Constitution declares free press is largely there was no resolution of either case—or of other kill- freedom of speech, it absent. The phrase ings and dozens of nonfatal attacks. “freedom of speech” It was a measure of the distrust of political inten- does not guarantee it.” often generates tions toward the media that many advocates of press a negative reac- independence hoped no action would be taken to reshape tion, much as do words such as perestroika and glasnost. the existing media law, even though it had become in Mainly, this reflects the cynicism of a disappointed soci- some ways outdated since its 1991 enactment. New ver- ety more focused on immediate economic problems— sions of the media law were circulated during 2003 for and lacking clarity about how economic, political, and debate by the Duma after the 2004 presidential election. judicial development are linked to the independent flow The leading version was seen as creating a more busi- of information. A recent study by the ROMIR polling ness-like approach to the mass media as an industry, but organization suggested that 76 percent of those surveyed at the same time giving additional powers to the press feel censorship is needed for control of the mass media, ministry and the government. while 19 percent are opposed and 5 percent undecided. Also scheduled for debate in the Duma during Only 9 percent of those polled listed the mass media as 2004 was the reduced rate for the value-added tax (VAT) the public institution they most trusted, tied with the provided to print military and lagging well behind the presidency at 50 media companies. “Fair competition in percent, churches at 14 percent, and “none of the above” The tax break was at 28 percent. abolished for broad- issuing licenses only Crimes against journalists cause no serious outrage casters in 2003, exists in a limited among the public, politicians, or law enforcement. The but extended until authorities may ascribe such acts to some domestic dis- January 1, 2005, for number of cases, pute or random hooliganism, rather than relate them to newspapers. journalists’ work. However, several media advocacy orga- Some pan- when the state is nizations suggest that Russia is a dangerous place to be elists believe the not interested in the a journalist and that physical intimidation is a method existing system of used to limit freedom of the press. broadcast station outcome of a particular In July, Yury Schekochilhin, a well-known investi- licensing fol- bidding. The law does gative journalist for the independent newspaper Novaya lows international Gazeta in Moscow, died of what was officially called a models and is not guarantee fairness severe allergic reaction. Colleagues expressed skepti- administrated fairly of licensing,” said cism about the finding. Schekochilhin, who had been for the most part. investigating corruption in the public prosecutor’s office, Although the Fed- one panelist. was also a deputy in the state Duma for the opposition eral Licensing Com- Yabloko Party, a blurring of the political and journalistic mittee is linked closely with the press ministry, these functions that is not uncommon in Russia. supporters say oversight is provided by those members In October, Alexei Sidorov became the second who represent nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). editor-in-chief of the Togliatti Review to be murdered Detractors suggest there is political bias. “Fair competi- in two years. Sidorov, 31, had vowed, “They can’t kill tion in issuing licenses only exists in a limited number of us all” when he took over the newspaper following the cases, when the state is not interested in the outcome of a shooting death of the previous editor, Valery Ivanov, 32, particular bidding. The law does not guarantee fairness in April 2002. The newspaper had built its reputation on of licensing,” said one panelist. The competitive bidding investigations of the circle of gangs, corrupt officials, and process is tainted, critics say, by consideration for the business owners who hold sway in the southern Russian preferences of local authorities in the area where a station industrial city. According to the Washington Post, four will broadcast. However, it is the national broadcasters other journalists also have been murdered in Togliatti who are considered most important to the government, since 1995. After Sidorov’s murder, the Post quoted Inte- and they remain firmly under state control. rior Minister Boris Gryzlov as promising that “solving
158 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ For print media, state-run outlets have clear As a result, there is “The existence of advantages over their private counterparts, though not little impetus to sup- as a result of the media law. Instead, the official media port the principles of a quite acceptable receive financial subsidies, breaks on rent and printing, free access to infor- law is in no way a and revenues from preferential—often compulsory— mation or to mature subscription schemes. In many regional cases, a symbi- its mechanisms. guarantee against the otic relationship exists between governors and mayors A particu- imbalance that exists who formally own newspapers and the businesses that larly difficult area subsidize them. This kind of deal allows political figures is coverage of the between state-run to have friendly media outlets, and business owners to political process. An and private media, have “friends” in high places. October 30 decision In addition, various government organs may inter- by the Constitu- with government vene in the media industry by influencing advertising by tional Court over- businesses, steering revenues to certain favored outlets. turned elements of having the advantage Private media owners also complain that inspections, a law on allowable while freedom threatened or executed, by tax, health, safety, and other coverage of election authorities are used to exert pressure. “The existence of campaigns by the of speech suffers,” a quite acceptable law is in no way a guarantee against media. Although said one panelist. the imbalance that exists between state-run and private the law was pre- media, with government having the advantage while sented as a mechanism for controlling the manipulation freedom of speech suffers,” said one panelist. of the media by political forces, critics argued that its There are no true public media outlets that can be limits were so broad that it made it almost impossible for viewed as above the political or commercial battle. More- news outlets to report on the 2003 parliamentary cam- over, state-run media often try to pass for public media paign and 2004 presidential election. The law, enacted in even though there is no wall between public officials and mid-2003, gave the government the right to go to court editorial content. to close news organizations that were viewed as having The criminal code controls libel, but plaintiffs violated the rules. Such acts opened the possibility of seldom resort to this because it is relatively difficult to selective enforcement against media outlets that crossed prove in court compared with a more favored route—the a local power base. The court ruled that parts of the law suit for “violation of non-property rights.” These are were too broad but did not strike it entirely, leaving a damages to moral standing, business reputation, and the confusing situation for editors and what critics viewed as like governed by the civil code. Thousands of such suits a general damper on informed news coverage. are filed every year, and virtually every newspaper has Under the guise of smoothing the path for contacts some experience with the daunting prospect of defending with journalists, there has been a mushrooming of gov- itself against the accusations of a powerful local political ernment press services that often appear instead to insu- or business figure in a potentially biased court. The cost late public officials. To obtain information, one needs a and time of the process alone may do much to encourage stack of letters and faxes and the patience for many days self-censorship or replace aggressive news coverage with of waiting. This is primarily a burden for reporters from more “acceptable” subjects such as entertainment. private media, as those for state media generally do not In theory, access to information is protected by inconvenience the authorities by pressing for release of law, but other statutes create obstacles for journalists, sensitive material. including those on state and commercial secrets and Although there are no legal restrictions on who on the “ownership” of information by the government, can become a journalist or requirements for membership rather than the public. More generally, there is little or in professional associations, the growing use of compul- no sense that public officials are in any way obligated to sory accreditations for reporters covering government be accountable to the public through the media or that activities at all levels serves to limit access and provide an elected political leaders want to build their constituencies. element of control over the media.
RUSSIA 159 Objective 2: Professional Journalism form of increased circulation and advertising is viewed with skepticism by all but a few owners. Russia Objective Score: 1.35/4.00 Suits against journalists for damage to reputa- tions are a favorite recourse by public and business Although even the most professional and dedicated figures who do not wish to be examined in the inde- reporter or editor might likely have trouble working pendent media. These court actions—or the threat effectively in the Russian independent media environ- of them—plague news organizations. However, the ment, panelists said it was undeniable that the lack of failure of many media outlets to establish ethical codes skills and failure to adhere to accepted standards add and encourage journalists to follow them leaves both to journalists’ woes. This is true both in the editorial vulnerable to adverse rulings in these suits. Addition- and business sides of independent media operations. ally, it was the widespread practice of “black PR,” where Although some professional training is available to jour- journalists sell their coverage, that generated support nalists, editors, and media managers, it is still limited to for the severe strictures included in the law govern- a minority and intermittent at best. University journal- ing media coverage of campaigns, a statute that had a ism faculties are numerous but are not viewed as having chilling effect well beyond that specific issue. Similarly, moved forward significantly from Soviet-era theory to the failure of media modern methodologies for independent media. managers to follow “In many cases, For the Russian media supported by various gov- codes on issues reporters know how ernment organs, it generally is not a requirement that such as copyright fair, objective, and well-sourced coverage be produced. It and taxation leave to get information, is well understood that the fundamental principle of vir- their organizations tually all state-owned media is the exchange of subsidy open to intimi- but rather than using for conveying state-ordered information disguised in the dation through legitimate methods, form of “news.” In the private media, the suggestion that “inspection.” providing credible information trusted by readers is a Although they utilize their business model that will provide financial returns in the there is some dis- contacts and bribe cussion of ethical officials…because the codes in the media Journalism meets professional standards of industry, the under- law doesn’t work,” quality lying principles and purpose are not said one panelist. ■ Reporting is fair, objective, and well sourced. well understood or ■ Journalists follow recognized and accepted widely accepted. Some media managers will acknowledge ethical standards. openly that they cannot imagine how their organizations ■ Journalists and editors do not practice would survive were it not for the financial opportunities self-censorship. presented by election campaigns. INDICATORS The same goes for individual journalists whose rela- ■ Journalists cover key events and issues. tively meager salaries—perhaps $100 a month in a regional ■ Pay levels for journalists and other media city—are supplemented by coverage paid for by its subjects. professionals are sufficiently high to discourage In the regions, it is common to print paid-for promotional corruption. materials as news reporting. In many places journalists do ■ Entertainment programming does not eclipse not know that it is considered an ethical violation to run news and information programming. advertising materials not marked as such, and think it is illogical to print a story about a local business without col- ■ Technical facilities and equipment for gathering, lecting a fee. Reporters are often authorized to broker their producing, and distributing news are modern and efficient. own such agreements, or they may share a percentage of the proceeds going to the news organization. ■ Quality niche reporting and programming While salaries in the media sector are not high, exists (investigative, economics/business, local, they often are still better than the local average. In
PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM PROFESSIONAL political). addition, the profession still has a measure of prestige.
160 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ Self-censorship to protect one’s job therefore becomes a television, radio, “Newspapers don’t natural reaction—especially because neither the “rules and the Internet. of the game” nor the lines that should not be crossed are They have lost a produce news, they particularly subtle in most Russian cities. Self-censorship sense of the news process news. Their also is prevalent among editors who stand in for their story.” outlets’ owners, be they state organs or businesses that Broadcasters, main information see the outlet as a vehicle to further their interests. in turn, are reduc- Some professional organizations have formally ing the informa- sources are television, endorsed ethics codes based on European media models, tion component of radio, and the Internet. but they have not been widely accepted, at least in their programming, part because the organizations themselves are not well according to panel They have lost a sense respected in the professional community. members. As one of the news story.” The difficulty of obtaining information through noted, “You can legitimate channels also leads journalists to abandon eth- provide information ical coverage. “In many cases, reporters know how to get with a little entertainment, or provide entertainment with information, but rather than using legitimate methods, a little information. Today, we are seeing the latter.” Some they utilize their contacts and bribe officials…because panelists saw this trend as not only reflecting a business the law doesn’t work,” said one panelist. decision but also a more subtle effort to control informa- The limited resources available to many media tion in Russia. As one panelist pointed out, substituting organizations contribute further to the lack of depth, news for entertainment is in the interest of a government breadth, and balance in their coverage. It simply is too if it wants to control excessive glasnost in a country. expensive or too time-consuming to seek out multiple, The media companies’ technical capacity—espe- verifiable sources or provide a range of viewpoints. It cially among broadcasters—is viewed by panelists as costs money to make calls, go to meetings, and wait for outstripping their professional capacity. Television sta- answers, all for a few lines of copy. “Quoting two opin- tions in Moscow and the regions are fairly well equipped, ions in an article is more of an exception than a rule thanks in part to past Western donor assistance. This is in professional less true at regional newspapers, where panelists noticed “Quoting two opinions practice,” said a that in addition to the use of pirated software—a prac- panel member. tice that could prove disastrous should there be a crack- in an article is more Another down in the future—many outlets have never invested in of an exception than factor is that computer networks, e-mail, or the Internet. This is true, independent one noted, although even a modest supermarket com- a rule in professional media journal- pany in the same region might have substantial computer practice,” said a panel ists sometimes equipment for inventory and sales. confuse indepen- Despite all the hurdles, however, there are publish- member. dence with oppo- ers, editors, and journalists who are aware of the value of sition. Reporters maintaining professional media standards and providing and editors also may favor the exclusive exposé too often their audiences with credible and useful information. They based on too little reporting and editing—or other forms are moving their organizations toward better practices, and of “got you” journalism over well-researched investiga- some of them are serving as business success stories that tions as part of broad coverage provided to readers on a may provide encouraging models to others. At the same range of subjects such as health, culture, and community time, the market is beginning to dictate that publications news. This kind of “niche” reporting is not well developed using dubious information and failing to present alternative outside of Moscow-based newspapers, some of which offer viewpoints—even state-subsidized regional newspapers fairly sophisticated business coverage. that have many competitive advantages—are falling out of Experts from both print and broadcast also favor and beginning to lose circulation. report a declining interest in generating original news coverage. A panelist who works with a range of regional publications said, “Newspapers don’t produce news, they process news. Their main information sources are
RUSSIA 161 Objective 3: Plurality of News Sources uniformly across the country and also may have limited transmission capacity. Russia Objective Score: 1.61/4.00 There are many newspapers in every city—a mix of state and private and of those that represent special Russians undoubtedly have available an ever-increasing interests and those that attempt a degree of independence. number of voices and views in the media, despite all the The press ministry shows registration of 23,000 newspaper limitations imposed by government policy and practice. titles in Russia, a country with a population of about 140 Other barriers include weak judicial enforcement of access million. A study by the ministry suggests that 70 percent to information guarantees, lack of professional skills and of Russians at least read a weekly newspaper, and that experience, and scant financial resources. newspapers had a total average daily circulation of 22 mil- Several national television channels reach the lion in 2003. The study predicted a growth in newspaper entire country. They are considered the key informa- circulation of just over 6 percent during 2004. The multi- tion source for most Russians and are all controlled by tude of publications may well be weakening the indepen- the state. Channel One, for example, has the minister of dent media market, press and several other ranking federal government offi- and some observers cials on its board of directors. In Russia’s many regional hope for a consoli- “In Russia, there is cities, there are a number of television news programs dation that will leave a distorted and reflecting mostly local stories, including some private the remaining edi- stations generally offering coverage with more sources tions stronger. unbalanced system of and a higher degree of independence. However, rural The circula- capital flow to one city areas may receive only state broadcasts because of the tion of non-state limited transmission range of the private stations. newspapers is (Moscow). This is why News radio is expensive for Russian regions. Even limited by a number some media become in Moscow there is essentially only one news radio sta- of factors. For tion. Nonstate radio stations providing local news cover- example, the price “major,” while other— age in their programming exist, but they are not spread of such papers may regional—media remain be out of reach for a significant portion minor, even though they Multiple news sources provide citizens with of the population. are more real outlets, reliable and objective news In addition, dis- tribution systems ■ A plurality of affordable public and private news as they care more sources (e.g., print, broadcast, Internet) exists. mainly are divorced from the newspaper about their readers.” ■ Citizens’ access to domestic or international companies, leaving media is not restricted. publishers at the mercy of the Russian post office and
INDICATORS ■ State or public media reflect the views of the other near-monopoly mechanisms that tend to be closely
entire political spectrum, are nonpartisan, and linked with the authorities. Another issue is the compul- serve the public interest. sory subscription scheme, where rural people and those ■ Independent news agencies gather and distrib- working for government institutions are pressured by ute news for print and broadcast media. local authorities to subscribe to official publications. The Internet is increasingly available across Russia, ■ Independent broadcast media produce their own news programs. although not yet broadly and practically not at all in rural areas. Many newspapers in major and mid-sized ■ Transparency of media ownership allows cities have electronic versions, and there are numerous consumers to judge objectivity of news; information sites in Russian. There are no overt restric- media ownership is not concentrated in a tions on access, but it is limited significantly by the cost few conglomerates. and the underdeveloped information technology infra- ■ A broad spectrum of social interests are structure. Approximately 10 percent of Russians are reflected and represented in the media, includ- considered to be making use of the Internet.
PLURALITY OF NEWS SOURCES NEWS OF PLURALITY ing minority-language information sources.
162 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ While access to Western and other international In many cases, “State-run media do media for ordinary citizens is not formally limited, it still regional media cannot be characterized as free. Western press is only concentrate on local not reflect the whole available in Moscow and large cities. It is not feasible to issues and either political spectrum. transport Western periodicals to remote areas. Satellite do not find such television is too expensive for ordinary people. Addition- coverage from news They serve narrow ally, most Russians lack the foreign-language skills to agencies or do not political interests make use of available foreign media. have the editorial The influence of media in Russia is heavily capacity to use less of different groups. weighted toward Moscow. Many ambitious journalists narrow information State-run media don’t migrate to the capital, and state support for its news out- to enhance their lets and private investment in non-state media businesses regional coverage. present alternative are highest in Moscow. However, observers note that There are regional there is not inconsiderable effort against substantial odds information agen- points of view, and by newspaper and broadcast companies and their staffs cies, some of which if they do, only to in many regional centers. The energy of the regional are reasonably media should not be ignored, one panelist said, adding: independent, but ridicule it.” “In Russia, there is a distorted and unbalanced system others depend on of capital flow to one city (Moscow). This is why some local governments and report accordingly. media become ‘major’, while other—regional—media Ownership of news organizations is not transparent remain minor, even though they are more real outlets, as for audiences, especially in the regions. A knowledgeable they care more about their readers.” consumer might be able to analyze the style, content, and State-run media outlets claim to reflect a wide bias and compare this with the power distribution in a range of views and to act in the public interest. But pan- region to understand a particular outlet’s backers. But this elists reject that assertion. As one panelist put it: “State- safeguard against unwitting consumption of slanted or run media do not reflect the whole political spectrum. incomplete information does not exist for most Russians. They serve narrow political interests of different groups. Media licensing and registration regulations State-run media don’t present alternative points of view, require that ownership information be disclosed, but and if they do, only to ridicule it.” this is easy to avoid by omitting the names of backers In addition to the national media owned by the who provide funding. Reporters know the hand that government, especially the television networks, many feeds them and whose interests they should not cross, regional news outlets depend on direct subsidies or other but such information is unofficial and not available to “breaks” from local authorities. Each interest group readers. Private media owners see their outlets not as in an area—the mayor, the governor, and the regional media businesses but as tools to further their political council, for example—may have its own pet outlet. Most and/or business ambitions. Owners freely intervene in Russians do not focus clearly on the result: Tax revenues the newsroom, hiring and firing editors and journal- going to fund news media do not foster accountability on ists and requiring that their interests be reflected in the the part of elected officials but rather the vested interests content. The late 2003 and early 2004 elections spurred of these officials. some renewed interest, but generally the media have Numerous international, national, and regional become somewhat less interesting to such self-interested news agencies are available in Russia. The largest, ITAR- investors recently because media’s ability to influence the TASS and RIA Novosti, are run by the state. Interfax, the political situation is ebbing and it is a complicated busi- largest private news agency, concentrates on economic ness that does not provide easy profit. and business information. Subscriptions to news agencies News coverage often focuses on political struggles are expensive, however, and most regional print media and, for diversion, entertainment and celebrities. Social do not use them. Nor can regional television companies issues are covered, but not extensively nor necessarily afford to buy footage from international agencies or responsibly. Cultural and ethnic diversity is not well national channels. Both newspapers and broadcasters represented in general-interest publications. As a result, can skirt this problem to some degree by ignoring copy- there has been some growth of limited-circulation news- right and accessing the Internet or broadcast sources. papers, funded by individuals and aimed at and circu-
RUSSIA 163 lated among narrow groups. There are also newspapers do see their business objective as being a well-managed run in the national languages of some minority groups, media outlet as opposed to a mechanism for promoting but most are state run and do not reflect their interests or the owner’s interests go up against media that do not have concerns in any profound way. to work in the marketplace for advertising or audience. State-subsidized outlets trade their editorial independence for consistent funding and then distort the industry by Objective 4: Business Management offering lower rates for advertising that comes with the Russia Objective Score: 1.75/4.00 added bonus of pleasing the authorities. State print media can have lower cover prices and get better treatment with Late in 2003, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a the printing and distribution service. rare comment on the mass media, proclaimed that Most independent media owners regard state media “should not depend on rich people and busi- involvement in the industry as the primary impediment nesses,” and that some outlets had become “self-suffi- to business success. Another major factor is the advertis- cient, economically ing market, which is relatively underdeveloped, especially “The local press effective,” and the regionally. It does grow every year, however, and the “first examples of Russian Association of Advertising Agencies predicts looks cleaner, the future inde- continued rapid increases. As an example, print media, more honest, and, pendent press of lagging well behind television as a preferred medium for Russia.” advertising with about a 15 percent share, nonetheless as a result, attractive.” However, it were expected to record an annual growth rate of 27 to is the dependence 29 percent in 2003, and another 22 to 23 percent in 2004. of much of the media industry directly or indirectly on Advertising is heavily weighted toward Moscow national, regional, or local authorities—with the Putin media, but the share going to media in regional centers administration’s tacit endorsement of state-controlled is increasing steadily due in part to the expansion of television setting the tone—that hinders the success of business outside of Moscow. Even the press ministry independent news organizations. Those companies that noted this recently, saying in a study that businesses and political forces have not fully realized the potential of the regional media. The ministry report said it based this Independent media are well-managed conclusion on world trends as well as the extent to which businesses, allowing editorial independence advertisers had exhausted the potential of the national media, including television—and the degree to which ■ Media outlets and supporting firms operate as efficient, professional, and profit-generating trust in it had waned. Although it did not distinguish businesses. between government-subsidized and independent media, the report said: “The local press looks cleaner, more ■ Media receive revenue from a multitude of honest, and, as a result, attractive.” sources. For now, however, independent newspapers are ■ Advertising agencies and related industries unable to get enough advertising and depend more heav- INDICATORS support an advertising market. ily on circulation than is generally accepted as a modern ■ Advertising revenue as a percentage of total business model for print media. A Press Media survey revenue is in line with accepted standards at said that approximately 75 percent of print media com- commercial outlets. pany revenues come from circulation. This is a particular problem because most newspaper managers see their ■ Independent media do not receive government subsidies. involvement with the product ending when it is printed. Managers believe their company is divorced from the dis- ■ Market research is used to formulate strategic tribution process, and are unable or uninterested in man- plans, enhance advertising revenue, and tailor aging the allocation of the press run to different markets, products to the needs and interests of audiences. the placement at a kiosk, or even the selling price. For the most part, media organizations are forced BUSINESS MANAGEMENT BUSINESS ■ Broadcast ratings and circulation figures are to deal with the remnants of the Soviet distribution reliably and independently produced. monopoly, including subscription services often linked
164 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ “Although you can formally or infor- Broadcast ratings are used by the bigger stations, mally to govern- but newspaper circulation audits are uncommon. No sue them if you like, ment structures. industry standards have been established for either, and you waste your time Postal workers sell generally the whole media market research field is not and deliver newspa- well regarded, especially in the regions. Media managers and resources.” pers on their routes. assume that the results are tainted and can be bought. As One company, a result, advertising is placed without hard data. Rospechat, claiming 50 percent of subscription sales, was recently bought by a company that dominates television advertising and is closely linked by many to the powers Objective 5: Supporting Institutions that be. It is alleged that Rospechat has refused to distrib- Russia Objective Score: 1.82/4.00 ute certain publications. One panelist said, “Although you can sue them if you like, you waste your time and Although a range of media industry organizations exist resources.” Overall, this situation does not allow media in Russia, particularly for print media, as yet none can companies to mature as competitive businesses, and it be said to have significant weight in supporting the also subjects them to potential pressures. interests of independent media on a wide scale. Some Kiosks making single-copy sales also are a busi- are seen merely as fronts for state media, while others do ness separate from newspapers, and may be monopolistic not represent broad-enough constituencies with enough in a town. The profit margin is small on newspapers, strength to influence national or regional authorities. and kiosk owners may think it more profitable to display For broadcasters, the National Association of Tele- prominently and sell mobile phone cards or candy. Pub- broadcasters represents 413 companies and has a stated lishers do not even establish the final price for their prod- mission to lobby for the electronic mass media. uct; that right goes to the sellers who add their markup. Progress can be seen in the newspaper industry. Some more advanced independent media are con- In July 2003, some of the largest non-state regional sidering how to develop their own distribution systems as publishing houses became the charter members of the part of their overall business development. However, there Association of Independent Regional Publishers. These is little available experience, the initial costs are high, dis- 19 publishing companies put out 79 newspapers and tances are far, and transport infrastructure is poor. Few non-state newspapers can afford the capital Supporting institutions function in the investment required to have their own printing presses professional interests of independent media and therefore do not have the unfettered access or quality they would like. They also lack the ability to supplement ■ Trade associations represent the interests of their revenues through commerical printing. private media owners and provide member Independent media industry mangers also face the services. same problem of corruption that makes entering and ■ Professional associations work to protect surviving in the market a complicated process for all journalists’ rights.
Russian companies. Since the idea of running a newspa- INDICATORS per as a business is new, there are very few trained media ■ NGOs support free speech and independent media. managers or sources of education. Media management is not taught in business schools or journalism faculties. ■ Quality journalism degree programs that provide Media market research is more advanced for substantial practical experience exist. television, but newspapers have a growing understanding ■ Short-term training and in-service training of the need. Formal research is expensive, and so some programs allow journalists to upgrade skills or media use their own “soft” techniques, such as meeting acquire new skills. readers, publishing questionnaires, and assessing readers’ ■ Sources of newsprint and printing facilities are letters. There are some examples of strategic planning private, apolitical, and unrestricted. based on research—a newspaper in Rostov-on-Don launched a youth edition based on extensive interviews ■ Channels of media distribution (kiosks, trans- of young people—and these are studied avidly by others. mitters, Internet) are private, apolitical, and SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS SUPPORTING unrestricted.
RUSSIA 165 A multitude of 18 magazines, of journalists, establishing ethical or professional norms, journalism departments and operate in or conducting other activities that would attract enthusi- 26 regions across astic membership. exist throughout the Russia. The goal The Glasnost Defense Fund is seen as being a state university system. of the associa- resource for those seeking assistance in defending tion is to allow for freedom of the press. A small number of media law However, these the exchange of specialists also practice, mainly through various NGOs. programs are widely expertise and best However, there is a clear need for additional resources to practices among the protect the public’s right to know. seen as mired in the publishing houses, A multitude of journalism departments exist to chart media throughout the state university system. However, these Soviet past, when market trends, to programs are widely seen as mired in the Soviet past, the media was seen develop industry when the media was seen as a propaganda tool and corporate stan- “journalists” were taught to use it as such. Mostly well as a propaganda tool dards, and to lobby advanced in age, the faculty members generally are not and “journalists” were for laws promoting capable of providing their students with any practical the development skills for modern journalism. Many editors report that taught to use it as such. of the independent the graduates arriving for jobs at their news organiza- press. tions would have been better off had they never attended Another newspaper industry group, the Guild any journalism “courses.” of Periodical Publishers, also is gaining strength in a The training gap, therefore, is wide, and news similar mission to strengthen independent newspaper managers increasingly are realizing the need for employ- publishing as a business and raise the professionalism ees from all departments in the news organization. This of media management. The guild lists as members 126 demand can only be filled partially by the limited funds companies drawn from a somewhat different constitu- provided by international development donors to media- ency than the regional publishers association, with which assistance NGOs. Several such organizations provide it has done some joint activities. support to independent media, including the IREX In July 2002, representatives of major broadcast- media program, Internews, the Eurasia Foundation, ers and publishers, as well as information agencies, trade the Media Viability Loan Fund, and the Foundation for unions, advertising agencies, and others formed the Independent Radio. These organizations offer seminars Industrial Committee. Although the structure is billed and consultations on journalism practice, media man- as an effort to bring self-regulation to the industry, it has agement, and business development, but they find that been greeted with considerable skepticism by many from demand for their services far outstrips their resources. the independent sector. It has been criticized for not rep- Another organization, the Interregional Institute of resenting the interests of those outside Moscow, and con- Media Consulting, represents the fledgling industry of cerns have been raised about the degree of independence commercial newspaper business consultancy. possible when government-linked members are included. Although printing presses may have been priva- The Industrial Committee drafted one version of the new tized technically, most operations remain close to the law on the media for consideration by the national Duma regional authorities. However, the main issue for inde- in 2004, and it is viewed by some as giving substantial pendent publishers is not preferential treatment for gov- powers to the Press Ministry while at the same time cre- ernment publications, but rather the poor technical state ating a more modern media business environment. of the antiquated equipment for which there is little pros- The Union of Journalists is not considered to pect of the massive technical upgrade required. News- be very proactive in support of independent media, paper distribution systems also tend to be monopolistic although there are regional branches that play more and outdated. Transmitters and towers can be owned significant roles locally. These and other existing associa- privately, but the government tightly controls broadcast- tions are criticized for not protecting the labor interests ing rights.
166 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ Panel Participants Yevgeny Abov, deputy general director for development, ProfMedia publishing house; vice president, Guild of Periodical Press Publishers, Moscow
Andrey Allachverdov, editor-in-chief, Foundation for Independent Radio Broadcasting
Manana Aslamazian, executive director, Internews- Russia
Vladimir Bendersky, director general, Tomsky Vestnik, Tomsk
Veronika Dmitrieva, regional director, Media Develop- ment Loan Fund
Mikhail Kaluzhsky, director of operations, IREX Media
Anna Koshman, director, Interregional Institute of Media Consulting, Moscow
Mila Kuzina, media correspondent, Izvestiya, Moscow
Anna Lubavina, media consultant, Media Business Con- sulting, Moscow
Yekaterina Lysova, lawyer, IREX Media
Dmitry Merezhko, executive director, Association of Independent Regional Publishers
Sara Nunaeva, director general, Paritet Publishing House, Omsk
Andrei Richter, director, Media Law & Policy Institute, Moscow Moderator Victoria Kozlova, consultant
RUSSIA 167 On the threshold of the [October 2004] presidential election the screws are put on, the loyal people appear on the scene and take up key posts, and in spite of strengthening mass media in the market, it remains politically dependent,” said one participant. Ukraine
Introduction he media situation in Ukraine is a contradictory one. The advertis- ing market is developing rapidly, with revenues doubling during 2003 and the outlook optimistic. In most regions of the country, there are stable, profitable newspapers that operate as media businesses, making their money through advertising and circulation. But at the same time, most newspapers continue to be subsidized by politicians, governmen- tal bodies, or both. In the broadcast sector, government and political forces keep all national channels and many regional channels under tight rein. T Journalistic and ethical standards remain relatively low at most mass-media outlets, and the outlook for freedom of expression protec- tions is dire. It is in editorial practices, more so than in their business performance, that most media outlets fall short. But panelists noted that the strong—and, some said, increasing—control of the media by business and political interests has created problems on the business side as well for some outlets. And even when media outlets are pri- vately owned, the government and political powers are able to exercise significant influence over their operations. Panelists cited this as a lim- iting factor in the development of mass media as business enterprises. “On the threshold of the [October 2004] presidential election the screws are put on, the loyal people appear on the scene and take up key posts, and in spite of strengthening mass media in the market, it remains politically dependent,” said one participant in the 2003 Media Sustainability Index (MSI) panel. Thus, even the general strengthening of the market for mass media has not meant that the number of independent news outlets has grown or that the independent media have become much stronger. Still, there are positive developments, such as the maturing of professional associations and media-support nongovernmental orga- nizations (NGOs), and the improvement that comes as a byproduct of a general upswing in Ukraine’s economic performance, particularly in urban areas.
UKRAINE 169 Objective Scoring Indicator Scoring The averages of all the indicators are averaged to obtain a single, Each indicator is scored using the following system: overall score for each objective. Objective scores are averaged to provide 0 = Country does not meet indicator; government or social forces may actively an overall score for the country. IREX interprets the overall scores as follows: oppose its implementation 3 and above: Sustainable and free independent media 1 = Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator; forces may not actively oppose its implementation, but business environment may not support it 2–3: Independent media approaching sustainability and government or profession do not fully and actively support change 1–2: Significant progress remains to be made; 2 = Country has begun to meet many aspects of the indicator, but progress may society or government is not fully supportive be too recent to judge or still dependent on current government or political forces 0–1: Country meets few indicators; government and society actively oppose change 3 = Country meets most aspects of the indicator; implementation of the indica- tor has occurred over several years and/or through changes in government, indicating likely sustainability 4 = Country meets the aspects of the indicator; implementation has remained intact over multiple changes in government, economic fluctuations, changes in public opinion, and/or changing social conventions
170 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ Panelists noted that “Freedom of speech Objective 1: Free Speech journalists may only Ukraine Objective Score: 1.70/4.00 be able to protect is not valued in our their rights by filing society, and it doesn’t On paper, Ukraine’s Constitution, laws, and interna- lawsuits, but that tional agreements adequately guarantee freedom of they have little cause public outrage” speech and access to information. A law passed in 2003 expertise or ambi- when it is threatened, that outlaws government censorship was cited by panel- tion in this area. ists as a positive step. Public apathy about one panelist said. Enforcement of those laws and actual protection of the plight of jour- those rights, however, depend on political will, and that nalists also is widespread, and numerous violations of is too often lacking in Ukraine. The public and journal- journalists’ rights, though widely publicized, have drawn ists have encountered many obstacles fighting for rights little public reaction. “Freedom of speech is not valued in that are, by law, guaranteed to them. In particular, there our society, and it doesn’t cause public outrage” when it is no access to the information that, according to the law, is threatened, one panelist said. should be readily available, and the government does Licensing of broadcasters continues not to be trans- not take seriously violations of journalists’ rights or hold parent. Panelists agreed that the procedures are competi- anybody accountable. tive but unfair, and that political factors are almost always At the same time, journalists and media outlets the most important in determining whether licenses are too often lackadaisical in asserting their own rights. are issued. The process also is tainted by hidden agree- ments between companies and authorities. For example, broadcasting company TRK Ukraina received a license Legal and social norms protect and promote in an astonishingly short time. But there was little doubt free speech and access to public information that this was due to the fact that the Cabinet of Ministers, ■ Legal/social protections of free speech exist which should have no influence in licensing decisions, had and are enforced. passed resolutions urging that the license be granted. The competition was a mere formality. ■ Licensing of broadcast media is fair, competitive, and apolitical. One panelist noted that the regional broadcast media outlets often are granted licenses after lobbying ■ Market entry and tax structure for media are fair the National Council for TV and Radio (NCTVR)—the and comparable to other industries. licensing body—and through the help of corrupt offi- ■ Crimes against journalists or media outlets are cials. The NCTVR’s members are appointed in equal prosecuted vigorously, but occurrences of such shares by the parliament and the president. While this crimes are rare. might seem to be a method for preventing either branch ■ State or public media do not receive preferential from gaining an upper hand, the reality has been that the legal treatment, and law guarantees editorial council has suffered constant internal turmoil and has independence. not been an effective, or objective, body. “Good market conditions are actually the only ■ Libel is a civil law issue; public officials are held to higher standards, and the offended party factor that allow mass media to develop,” said one panel- must prove falsity and malice. ist. But many media outlets do not, in fact, depend on the market for their survival: their journalists and managers ■ Public information is easily accessible; right of are much more interested in finding political or business access to information is equally enforced for all SPEECH INDICATORS SPEECH FREE media and journalists. sponsors, instead of developing sound business plans and practices, panelists said. This causes very uneven levels of ■ Media outlets have unrestricted access to infor- professionalism, on the editorial as well as business sides mation; this is equally enforced for all media of newspapers and broadcasters alike. and journalists. Media businesses are under the same taxation ■ Entry into the journalism profession is free, and structure as other businesses in Ukraine. There are no government imposes no licensing, restrictions, additional taxes, and, in fact, media businesses receive or special rights for journalists. some tax benefits, such as exemption from value-added
UKRAINE 171 “Good market tax (VAT) for them. Virtually no case involving an attack on a journal- conditions are imported equip- ist or media office has been resolved fully. Ukrainian law ment. However, says that crimes against journalists should be investi- actually the only most of those tax gated just as those against the police would be. While factor that allow benefits will lapse that should afford some protection to journalists, it also in 2004. could cause public mistrust of the profession. “Journal- mass media to In response ism cannot be associated with the police in a democratic develop,” said to complaints about society,” said one panelist. politically moti- There are no reliable statistics on the number of one panelist. vated tax inspec- journalists killed because of their professional activi- tions in years past, ties. There have been a number of cases where the media the government of Ukraine agreed that mass-media believed that this had occurred and asked for thorough businesses would not be subject to surprise inspections. investigations. Invariably, the president announced that Instead, media companies learn at the beginning of each the case would be under his personal supervision, as a year whether they are scheduled to be inspected during sign of the cases’ importance. But that has made some the year. But one panelist questioned the value of this journalists, and several panelists, uneasy. concession from the tax authorities, which only the media “It’s not comfortable to live in a country where the industry receives: “If you carry on a business, you should investigation of a man’s death depends on his profession. be prepared for tax inspection. In this situation, the state If something happened to a yard keeper, then it’s not nec- is saying to media companies, ‘We know that not every- essary to investigate it, but if he was a journalist, then it is thing is correct in your business and before the elections necessary? All of us have the right to life and to defend our we are not going to inspect you, but you have to be loyal lives, but journalists seem to be privileged, and such privi- and remember that.’” lege destroys the journalists’ reputation,” said one panelist. Having only scheduled tax inspections also By law, government-owned media do not receive makes it possible for politically loyal mass media to any preference in access to information, but in reality the cheat on tax payments. Thus, while the government can opposite is often true. In getting documents, interviews, point to its inspection policy as a sign that it supports and answers to questions at press conferences, state- freedom of the press, some independent media advo- owned or other “loyal” media often get preferential treat- cates consider it no more than a method for protect- ment. “When a journalist gets access to an official source ing favored media outlets and giving them free rein to of information, he has to be loyal, or otherwise the access practice unethical business policies. will be denied,” said one participant. And there often is The inspection policy notwithstanding, Ukrainian little effort to hide the favoritism—or punishment. For mass media tend not to criticize or investigate the tax example, one journalist, representing STB-TV news as authorities for fear of retaliation. Similarly, once even well as Agence France-Presse, was denied access to the a scheduled tax inspection does begin, more than one summit of the European Council in Yalta after she disre- media outlet suddenly has filled its pages or airtime with garded the “advice” of the president’s press secretary not positive articles and favorable comments about the tax to ask President Leonid Kuchma a question regarding the bodies and their leaders. Russian-Ukrainian conflict over Tuzla Island. Crimes against journalists are rare in Ukraine, but Panelists also noted that journalists willing to certainly not unheard of. Those that have occurred— dig for information, or to file freedom-of-information particularly the beheading of Georgi Gongadze several requests, can get access to government information with- years ago—created fear among journalists and made out currying favor. Unfortunately, far too few journalists them more cautious. “After the Gongadze case, journal- are willing to make those efforts. ists keep their heads up,” a panelist said. Some journal- There is no such thing as “public” media in ists and media organizations are quick to label any crime Ukraine. There are many government-owned stations in which a journalist is victimized as a consequence of and newspapers, but they do not operate as public media professional activity although, as panelists pointed out, and have no independence. Rather, they are used as tools the true explanation may be much more mundane. by the government to maintain control and to dissemi- When crimes against journalists do occur, officials nate propaganda, and their editorial policies are tightly often voice concern but make little progress in solving controlled by the government.
172 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ Moreover, government officials or political powers information is not “When a journalist gets control the editorial policies of many private media. regularly published Because so many media outlets are used primarily to fur- or made available access to an official ther the business or political interests of owners, patrons, to the public. In source of information, or the government, editors or journalists seen as disloyal general, participants are fired and replaced. For example, at the privately estimated, only he has to be loyal, or owned newspaper Segodnya, editor Oleg Nepadymka about 30 percent otherwise the access was replaced because the paper was not as strongly pro- of the decisions of presidential as its patrons would have liked. Editors and local government will be denied,” said journalists understand and accept this system, and there bodies are recorded one participant. is no outcry that such firings are unethical. publicly. Libel is a civil matter in Ukraine, but there have There is no been legislative proposals, most notably by the Commu- legal restriction on access to foreign media sources, and nist Party, to resurrect laws concerning criminal libel. foreign newspapers and magazines are available—though Panelists positively appraised changes in legisla- expensive—in larger cities. Local cable television usually tion to require politicians or public figures suing the includes some foreign channels, particularly from Russia, media to prove actual malice. “If in the past filing a Germany, and Poland. Russian-language versions of suit was an effective way to get even with disagreeable Western channels, such as EuroNews and the Discovery mass media, the mass media have now learned to work Channel, also are available via cable or satellite television. within the court system and effectively protect them- Internet access to foreign sites is not blocked; however, selves,” said one panelist. only a small percentage of Ukraine’s population has However, libel remains a huge problem in access to these sources because of their cost and because Ukraine—not in the courts, but in the form of libelous residents do not know languages other than Ukrainian material in the media. There have been cases in which and Russian. media were well paid to spread false information deliber- There has been sporadic government opposition ately. In such cases, once the political damage was done to local transmission of foreign broadcasters such as or another intended effect achieved, the statements were Deutsche Welle, BBC, and Radio Free Liberty/Radio retracted or else damages were paid by the deep-pocket Europe. Early in 2004, after the MSI panel met, there owners or patrons of the media outlet. In 2003, for were several disturbing occurrences regarding this. The example, a court ruled that national television channel local FM station in Kyiv that had carried RFE/RL sud- 1+1 had knowingly spread false information about oppo- denly dropped the broadcasts after new managers took sition parties and leaders before the 2002 parliamentary over. Another FM station, long seen as an opposition elections. The television channel acknowledged its fault, stronghold, then agreed to pick up RFE/RL and within but only long after the elections. days had its transmission equipment confiscated, alleg- Access to government information remains prob- edly because of a licensing problem. That station, Radio lematic. This is partly because of the mindset of local Continent, also broadcast Deutsche Welle, VOA, and the officials, who find it preferable to deny information to BBC, all of which then went off the air. the public rather than face any possible consequences for Panelists noted another problem with foreign releasing information that may put their superiors or the media—the illegal use of copyrighted material by Ukrai- government in a bad light. But panelists also emphasized nian media. Many journalists believe that as long as they that journalists often are unwilling to look for informa- credit a report to its original source, there is no problem tion themselves, instead demanding that government in reprinting an entire article or photograph without officials and agencies do the research and compile data for obtaining permission from the copyright owner. them. “The possibility to have access to the information There are no special restrictions on who can be doesn’t mean that the officials have to provide the copies a journalist. In fact, there are even certain privileges in of all the materials to everybody who wants them and do some cases, particularly for journalists working for state- the journalist’s work,” emphasized one participant. owned media. Workers for state-owned media, for exam- Ukraine does have a law governing state secrets, ple, have the same status as other government employees and journalists, like everyone else, are subject to it. More for the purposes of social benefits and pensions, which problematic, though, is that most routine government are often better than the benefits available to non-state
UKRAINE 173 employees. Panelists agreed that such privileges are a way daughter of U.S. “The more flexible the for the government to keep journalists quiescent and Vice President Dick journalist is, the more dependent on the authorities. Cheney had gone to In general, participants agreed that there is no Iraq to join human- possibilities he has to essential difference in legal support of the freedom of the shield protesters cover topics according press on national and regional levels. But there is a prob- and that the U.S. lem—at all levels—of journalists having poor knowledge government was to the editor’s policy,” of the legislation, their rights, and how to deal with legal covering this up. a participant said. issues pertaining to the media. Rather than check- ing the accuracy of the report before publication, the media outlets had to Objective 2: Professional Journalism run corrections later. Ukraine Objective Score: 1.25/4.00 According to one panelist, the editors of smaller, regional newspapers also now understand the need for The low level of professional and ethical standards—or, balance and for including multiple points of view in their in some cases, the complete absence of such stan- stories, but that understanding does not always make the dards—remains one of the main problems of Ukrainian leap from the theoretical to the practical. The partici- journalism. According to the panelists, this problem is pants also noted the difference in approach between the most prevalent among broadcast journalists. It is also private regional outlets working as media businesses typical for journalists to express their own opinions in and striving for balance and those newspapers that exist their reporting, rather than provide the range of views of primarily to serve political ends. “The aim of such news- the various participants in an issue or conflict. Journal- papers is to support the political order, and so they don’t ists also too often do not take the trouble to check the need to check the information and keep the balance,” accuracy of information they have received, even when said one participant. it appears dubious. For example, in the prelude to the The panel noted that respect for ethical standards war in Iraq, Ukrainian media widely reported that the at any media outlet depends on the publisher or manager and whether this person insists that rules be established and followed. “Kyiv-based journalists not only don’t Journalism meets professional standards of obey rules of ethics,” one panelist said, “they don’t even quality obey the laws.” According to the panel, journalists justify their lack of professionalism and ethics by referring to ■ Reporting is fair, objective, and well sourced. the “realities” of life in Ukraine, saying that in the cur- ■ Journalists follow recognized and accepted rent situation they cannot afford such niceties. “They just ethical standards. are not ready to take the responsibility for their actions,” ■ Journalists and editors do not practice said one participant. self-censorship. Self-censorship is ubiquitous, most often because INDICATORS journalists and editors fear prosecution or being cut off ■ Journalists cover key events and issues. from official information sources by vengeful govern- ■ Pay levels for journalists and other media ment officials. Virtually every newspaper, radio, and professionals are sufficiently high to discourage television station has its own list of topics to avoid. Most corruption. often, the list centers on investigations of or comments ■ Entertainment programming does not eclipse upon the work of the legal and judicial systems. It is news and information programming. common for reporters and editors to discuss openly just how far they can go in covering an issue. At some ■ Technical facilities and equipment for gathering, media outlets, a panelist said, journalists’ performance producing, and distributing news are modern and efficient. evaluations note their ability to identify touchy issues and willingness to steer clear of controversy and trouble. ■ Quality niche reporting and programming “The more flexible the journalist is, the more possibilities exists (investigative, economics/business, local, he has to cover topics according to the editor’s policy,” a
PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM PROFESSIONAL political). participant said.
174 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ The salaries of journalists in privately owned be said on the air to “The aim of such media outlets are generally higher than those in state- potentially offend newspapers is to owned media. Salaries for broadcast journalists are powerful figures. higher than those for print journalists, and salaries in Rarely do stations support the Kyiv are much higher than those in the regions. Televi- get pressured for political order, and sion reporters make about three times as much as news- running entertain- paper reporters. According to one panelist, the average ment programming, so they don’t need to Kyiv newspaper reporter is paid $300 to $400 a month, which also is more check the information and a section editor receives $500 to $700. At a Kyiv profitable—one television station, junior reporters earn $500 or more reason why it is and keep the balance,” per month, and established, senior television journalists almost impossible make $1,000 or more. to find any news said one participant. Compared with the average Ukrainian worker, programming on journalists are well paid, but part of that income almost FM radio stations. always comes “under the table.” That means that Many media outlets are equipped with modern, although the additional money is tax free, it also pro- often state-of-the-art technical equipment. According to vides a publisher or station manager with an additional a survey of more than 1,000 journalists in 12 cities con- hold over staff members. If they quit or are fired, their ducted by the NGO Journalism Initiative, 91 percent of unemployment settlement is based only on the official, journalists use computers in their work. Internet and e- lower salary. mail are available to 70 percent of journalists, and mobile Relatively high salaries do not prevent corruption. communications to more than 50 percent. State-owned At many media outlets, journalists write and shoot sto- media tend to lag behind, with less-modern equipment. ries “ordered” by paying sources. Sometimes the orders And in some cases, panelists said, media outlets run as are placed through the newspaper or station, in which political tools or even money-laundering operations, case the reporter gets only a share of the income; in rather than businesses, and have no incentive to provide other cases, the reporter makes a deal directly and keeps technical improvements. the full fee. Such paid stories are commonplace, usually Niche journalism is not well developed in most easily recognized by readers, and have contributed to a areas, though there are papers that specialize in busi- sharp drop in the level of trust the public has in media. ness and sports news, as well as a plethora of magazines Some media outlets create strict rules aimed at devoted to specific topics of reader interest. But high- preventing corruption. These rules prohibit accepting quality beat coverage in most newspapers and broadcast gifts or writing articles for outside pay. One panelist stations remains the exception, rather than the norm. noted that it is not the level of salary that is the prime factor in considering whether corruption among journal- ists can be prevented, but the likelihood of punishment. Objective 3: Plurality of News Sources Thus, even among media outlets with low pay scales, Ukraine Objective Score: 1.60/4.00 strict rules against accepting outside money and punish- ments such as dismissal have been effective. According to data from Ukraine’s State Committee on The balance between informational and entertain- Radio and Television, more than 18,000 periodicals were ment programs differs greatly between Kyiv and outlying registered at the beginning of November 2003. Of those, areas, panel participants said. In the capital, television about 56 percent were distributed only in their local area, stations have been cutting news programs during 2003, while the rest have regional, national, or international removing them from prime time, or shortening their circulation. The local publications are overwhelmingly duration, a trend that has not begun at regional outlets. newspapers, while those with wider distribution are According to one panelist, managers of most channels evenly split between newspapers and magazines. There justify such policy by stating that the news programs were 255 periodicals registered as state-owned, and cause more trouble than benefit due to the high politi- another 1,185 owned by municipal or other local govern- cal risk. Panelists also pointed out that there has been a ments. sharp drop in the number of news or talk shows pre- Both Ukrainian- and Russian-language publica- sented live because of the unpredictability of what might tions exist in profusion, though Ukrainian has a slight
UKRAINE 175 Multiple news sources provide citizens with Ukraine has: reliable and objective news ■ Three national television networks that are used for broadcasting by the National TV Company of Ukraine ■ A plurality of affordable public and private news (channel UT-1, which covers 96 percent of the terri- sources (e.g., print, broadcast, Internet) exists. tory of Ukraine), Studio 1+1 (channel UT-2, which ■ Citizens’ access to domestic or international covers 86 percent of Ukraine), and independent televi- media is not restricted. sion corporation Inter (channel UT-3, which covers 64 percent of the territory of Ukraine);
INDICATORS ■ State or public media reflect the views of the ■ Three national radio networks (UR-1, covering 90 entire political spectrum, are nonpartisan, and serve the public interest. percent of the territory of Ukraine; UR-2, covering 76 percent of Ukraine; and UR-3, covering 62 percent); ■ Independent news agencies gather and distrib- ■ Regional television networks that broadcast television ute news for print and broadcast media. programs to more than two regions of Ukraine (ICTV, ■ Independent broadcast media produce their own Novi Kanal, STB, NBM, TV 1 (OTV), Tonis Center, news programs. Ukraina, TET, Tonis South, M-1) and 10 regional radio networks (NBM, NART, Klas, Leader, Nashe Radio, ■ Transparency of media ownership allows consumers to judge objectivity of news; Dovira, Gala-Radio, Radio Rox, Utar, Radio Lux); media ownership is not concentrated in a ■ Regional television networks (25 state-owned and few conglomerates. four private); ■ Regional radio networks (25 state-owned and two ■ A broad spectrum of social interests are reflected and represented in the media, includ- private; 328 television channels and 193 radio fre-
PLURALITY OF NEWS SOURCES NEWS OF PLURALITY ing minority-language information sources. quencies that provide local broadcasting and represent 21 percent of all the channels and radio frequencies in edge in terms of the number of titles published in that operation, but only 6 percent of the total amount of language. Hundreds of publications have both Ukrai- broadcasting). nian and Russian editions, or, more commonly, mix the Panelists noted that virtually all national televi- two languages in one edition. A handful of publications sion channels are under control of government officials exist in other languages, such as Hungarian, Romanian, or oligarchs aligned with the presidential administration. Polish, German, According to the newspaper Stolichniye Novosti, the tele- “None of the state- Tatar, and English. vision channels Inter and 1+1 are controlled by the Social According Democratic Party of Ukraine (United) (SDPU(U)), owned mass media to the Chamber whose leader is Viktor Medvedchuk, head of the presi- serve the interests of of Publications of dential administration. The newspaper said ICTV, Ukraine, newspa- STB, and Novi Kanal are controlled by Viktor Pinchuk, the society,” said one per circulation in President Kuchma’s son-in-law. As a result, panelists panelist. “The only Ukraine is 1,807 said, the diversity of informational sources on television copies per 1,000 is significantly limited. good thing about it people, a number The situation with radio stations is similar. is that the reading that has been According to Stolichniye Novosti, nine of the 25 largest climbing steadily in FM stations in Kyiv are controlled by Pinchuk, and six of audience for these recent years. these nine are networks that also cover other parts of the papers is so small.” According country. Various presidential allies also control most of to the NCTVR, the national newspapers, according to the panelists. Ukraine has 791 broadcasting outlets, with 931 licenses Readers in the regions place more trust in local issued. Among them are 28 state-owned outlets, 250 and regional newspapers than in the national editions, municipal outlets, and 513 commercial outlets. They and the circulations reflect that. In regional cities, one transmit an aggregate of 8,366 hours of programming a panelist said, most people can afford to buy and read day. Most of the stations are broadcasters, but there also a privately owned newspaper. In rural areas, however, are 380 cable operators. Of those, only 85 have licenses the widest circulation is for newspapers owned by local and operate legally. governments and sold at very low prices.
176 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ There is no access restriction to foreign news, but leader’s appear- “There is a mistaken most people use no foreign news sources other than ance was marred by Russian ones because of the language barrier. In western attacks on his sup- belief that there are Ukraine, there is a significant use of media from Poland. porters and logisti- many informational Estimates say that about 8 percent of Ukraine’s cal roadblocks by population uses the Internet regularly, but the number is local authorities), agencies in the media growing rapidly throughout the country. Most users— it shows that all the market and the market and Internet infrastructure—are in cities, with rural agencies did their areas lagging badly. work poorly and is full,” said one Internet access to information has exacerbated one the way the events panelist. “But if you problem: Mass media, almost without exception, illegally were covered was reprint articles and other materials from foreign news very much oriented consider the coverage agencies and outlets. Most Ukrainian papers and broad- in favor of the casters do not have their own correspondents abroad, so government.” of what happened to they simply lift material from websites or foreign broad- It would be Viktor Yushchenko in casts, often presenting it as their own material without impossible for a acknowledging the source. Newspapers are more likely mass-media outlet Donetsk (when the to acknowledge the source, but still think nothing of to be able to get an popular opposition reprinting without permission. objective picture The state-owned mass media work as party out- of such politically leader’s appearance lets, receiving tasks from the government and serving charged events was marred by attacks the interests of those in power. “None of the state-owned by relying only mass media serve the interests of the society,” said one on information on his supporters and panelist. “The only good thing about it is that the read- from one news logistical roadblocks ing audience for these papers is so small.” It has become agency. At the same routine for broadcasters to bar coverage of opposition time, Ukraine has by local authorities), political powers completely. The news about them is not numerous websites it shows that all the slanted; it simply does not exist. that serve as de State-owned channels continue to broadcast facto news agencies. agencies did their many hours of programming devoted to cultural and They fill informa- work poorly and the educational issues, though the quality of these programs tion gaps created remains low, as does their viewership. by the agencies way the events were Regional television and radio stations generally and are much freer produce their own news programs, but these programs from government covered was very are usually heavily focused on government actions and influence. However, much oriented in favor personalities. The tone of the news on television depends their political spon- on the owner’s attitude toward the power structures. sors and supporters of the government.” Today there are several large-scale informational are rarely made agencies in Ukraine, all of them under the influence of clear, and users of these sites have no guarantee that the authorities. One, DINAU, is state-owned; its news is the information is accurate or fair. Nonetheless, these distributed to state-owned outlets, creating unfair com- sites are regularly used, and cited, by regional media— petition on the media market. The DINAU reports usu- sometimes not because they are better than the paid ally contain official information about the work of the agencies, but because the information on them is free. authorities. The other two agencies—privately owned It is virtually impossible to tell who owns a media Interfax and UNIAN—also are not always unbiased in outlet. The staff of Telekritika, a website supported by presenting information. “There is a mistaken belief that international donors that covers media developments in there are many informational agencies in the media Ukraine, sought information about the owners of televi- market and the market is full,” said one panelist. “But if sion channels from the NCTVR. The request was denied, you consider the coverage of what happened to Viktor with the council saying that by law such information can Yushchenko in Donetsk (when the popular opposition be given only when ordered by a court.
UKRAINE 177 Ukrainian law requires that information about even under their “Ukraine appears to the founders of a media outlet be public, but the found- own ownership. be at the stage where ers and the owners are not always the same. In addi- “Ukraine appears tion, many owners are simply placeholders for powerful to be at the stage newspapers create interests working behind the scenes. Panelists describe where newspapers their own structures the national mass media in Ukraine as essentially a create their own monopoly, although not through direct ownership. This structures of print- of printing and is less true in the regional mass media, where the owners ing and distribu- distribution. That of most papers and stations are known. tion. That often Mass media in minority languages (except Rus- happens when pub- often happens when sian) concentrate mostly on issues relevant primarily to lishers buy presses their particular ethnic audience. Most such media are and all of them publishers buy presses owned or supported financially by the government, and become profitable,” and all of them the quality tends to be very low. said one panelist. Russian-language media is the exception. Two large- become profitable,” Although it is not an official language—only Ukrainian scale operators con- said one panelist. has that status—panelists pointed out that for Ukraine as trol most newspaper a whole, the circulation of newspapers in Russian exceeds distribution in Ukraine: Ukrposhta, the post office, that of newspapers published in Ukrainian. delivers subscriptions to home mailboxes, and Ukrdruk In late 2003, the parliament passed a law saying controls kiosks that handle retail sales of newspapers. that all advertising must be published in Ukrainian. Ukrposhta has 15,000 post offices and 50,000 mail carri- After an international outcry, the law was repealed in ers, and delivers 15.4 million copies of newspapers—but early 2004, never having been enforced. often not well. Daily newspapers may be delivered a day or two late, and sometimes subscribers receive an entire week’s worth of papers at the same time the follow- Objective 4: Business Management ing week. Newspapers also are unhappy with the prices Ukraine Objective Score: 1.99/4.00
Printing newspapers in Ukraine is a complex business Independent media are well-managed involving hundreds of companies, both private and gov- businesses, allowing editorial independence ernment-owned. Most papers continue to be printed on ■ Media outlets and supporting firms operate as state-owned presses. The state is loath to give up control efficient, professional, and profit-generating over printing, and during a recent privatization, control businesses. over 19 printing plants was given to the state-owned company Ukrizdatpoligrafiya. ■ Media receive revenue from a multitude of sources. According to the State Committee for TV and Radio, Ukrainian printing presses are being used at 42 ■ Advertising agencies and related industries INDICATORS percent of capacity, mostly to publish papers receiving support an advertising market. subsidies from the budgets of different levels of govern- ■ Advertising revenue as a percentage of total ment. This creates a difference in the cost of printing for revenue is in line with accepted standards at private and state-owned media. Government officials commercial outlets. who control the budgets for the state-owned presses can ■ Independent media do not receive government pressure those printing plants not to work with opposi- subsidies. tion media. In recent years, however, the number of high- ■ Market research is used to formulate strategic quality, privately owned presses has climbed dramati- plans, enhance advertising revenue, and tailor products to the needs and interests of cally, and they now can be found in Kyiv and in most audiences. regions of the country. Newspaper staffs that once had to travel hundreds of kilometers to find a private MANAGEMENT BUSINESS ■ Broadcast ratings and circulation figures are printer now often have one in their own city—or reliably and independently produced.
178 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ charged by the monopoly Ukrposhta, and with the pers are using research to help them identify audiences post office’s unwillingness to share subscriber informa- and target content appropriately. tion with the newspapers. All this has spurred regional Circulation numbers are unreliable. Newspapers newspapers to create their own distribution systems. self-report their circulations, but virtually all overstate Many already have developed or are finishing creating the numbers. There is no audit bureau of circulation or such systems, but none has a nationwide reach. “This is other organization to verify circulation figures. Some one of the reasons why there is no national large-scale media outlets publish weekly or monthly circulation and high-quality daily newspaper in Ukraine,” said one figures, instead of the numbers for each issue, which panelist. Indeed, one of the newspapers with the largest deceives both readers and advertisers. nationwide circulation, Fakti, uses several printing plants across the country and relies primarily on street sales. Privately owned newspapers for the most part get Objective 5: Supporting Institutions revenue from advertising, subscriptions, and retail sales. Ukraine Objective Score: 1.90/4.00 Although these private newspapers do not receive sub- sidies from state budgets, some do receive money when Associations of independent media companies have been local governments pay them for placement of official operating in Ukraine for several years and are continuing information as advertising. State-owned papers generally to expand their activities. Among them are the Ukrainian have relied largely on disbursements from government Newspaper Publishers Association (UNPA), which unites budgets. Now, however, many local governments have nearly 50 publishers of more than 100 newspapers and left their newspapers to survive on the market, retaining magazines with a weekly circulation of more than 5 mil- ownership so that they can exert control in critical peri- lion copies; the Ukrainian Association of TV Broadcasters, ods, such as during election campaigns. A third category which includes about 120 regional broadcast outlets; and of newspapers rely on political or business sponsors and the Union of Cable Broadcasters, which brings together generally are not run primarily as media businesses. more than 100 cable-television companies. Those media outlets that are run as businesses have The panelists noted that the associations effec- much to look forward to. “The outlook for the advertis- tively serve the interests of their members. But despite ing market is enormous,” one panelist said. “According the rapid growth of the associations, they represent only to the experts, there are 2,100 businesses in Kyiv that are advertising in the print media. But there are about Supporting institutions function in the 100,000 businesses. That means that only 2.1 percent of professional interests of independent media businesses are currently advertising in print media.” From 2002 to 2003, the print-media advertising ■ Trade associations represent the interests of market in Ukraine doubled, from $28 million to $60 private media owners and provide member million. According to the Ukrainian Advertising Asso- services. ciation, it is expected to climb to $80 million in 2004. ■ Professional associations work to protect Advertising revenue on television increased from journalists’ rights.
$85 million to $130 million from 2002 to 2003. National INDICATORS channels and other large-scale players account for about ■ NGOs support free speech and independent media. 75 percent of the advertising revenue on television, while regional outlets receive rather paltry revenues from ads. ■ Quality journalism degree programs that provide Market research and mass media research are substantial practical experience exist. developed industries in Ukraine, especially in the larg- ■ Short-term training and in-service training est cities. “It’s become standard that all TV advertising programs allow journalists to upgrade skills or is sold on the basis of ratings,” one panelist said. How- acquire new skills. ever, media managers do not always heed the results of ■ Sources of newsprint and printing facilities are market research when they make editorial and pro- private, apolitical, and unrestricted. gramming decisions. Regional electronic media are less likely to have a ■ Channels of media distribution (kiosks, trans- good idea of who their audience is because of the lack of mitters, Internet) are private, apolitical, and SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS SUPPORTING unrestricted. good research. At the same time, more regional newspa-
UKRAINE 179 “The publishers are not a small fraction of NGOs supporting media exist in the form of media interested in the idea of the nation’s mass clubs and monitoring committees, but the panelists dis- media outlets. There missed them as largely inconsequential. “They exist as an trade unions, because if also are some local element of the civil society, but in truth, they exist only the journalists unite it or regional associa- because of donors’ generosity. It is impossible to buy free- tions of publishers dom with other people’s money,” said one participant. will raise the questions or broadcasters, but “Besides, these organizations mainly practice petition of signing the collective their development is drives, which means their assistance is limited to protests in the early stages. rather than effective legal or professional help.” agreement, developing One panel There also are several international media-assis- member pointed tance organizations that are active in Ukraine, including model agreements, and out that political IREX, Internews, Reporters Sans Frontières, and BBC ending under-the-table powers also have World Training Service. started to create Several resource centers for journalists have salary payments, which associations of pub- developed in Ukraine and mainly provide training, would create a financial lishers and broad- information resources, and legal assistance. They include casters from media the European Commission-funded TOP-Media Center burden for employers,” outlets under their in Odessa; the Crimean Press Center, which receives a panelist said. control. Whether grants from several donors, including IREX; Internews- that is because they Ukraine, which seek to counter the is supported by independent association or because they understand the “The mass-media various donors; and importance and effectiveness of professional associations outlets find it others. One of the is an open question. panelists said that The relatively new trade union of journalists also disadvantageous to while journalists has chapters in several areas of Ukraine, as well as a hire and retrain these have not been very national organization in Kyiv. But it has received little supportive of the recognition from owners of media outlets, and is not unqualified graduates,” trade union, the strong enough to effectively represent the interests of all one panelist said. “It’s work of these orga- journalists, or even of members. Still, it is an alternative nizations could be to the Soviet-era Union of Journalists, which tends to often easier to teach very effective. For best represent journalists at state-owned media outlets the ones who are not example, lawyers and retirees who are much more concerned about their from Internews- pension rights than about modernizing the mass media. spoiled with a classic Ukraine helped Panelists said that there had been resistance to the journalism education.” journalists block an trade union from political powers, as has been the case attempt to impose a in recent years for unions in other industries in Ukraine. labor contract that According to one panelist, the journalists working for would have seriously infringed upon their rights. successful publications also do not throw their sup- All of the panelists deplored the low level of port behind the trade union because they do not see it journalism instruction in the universities. They also as necessary to protect them. And publishers are not noted the continuing growth in the number of journal- welcoming the trade union with open arms, either. “The ism departments in regional universities and institutes, publishers are not interested in the idea of trade unions, without any control over quality. Two main problems are because if the journalists unite it will raise the ques- a lack of good instructors and a lack of good textbooks. tions of signing the collective agreement, developing The curriculum in the universities remains largely model agreements, and ending under-the-table salary unchanged since Soviet times, and the university admin- payments, which would create a financial burden for istration objects to any substantive updates. New jour- employers,” a panelist said. “They (publishers) will have nalism departments have to accept the existing national to set aside money for pension and social-security funds curriculum in order to be accredited. There has been from their own money.” a change in the elective courses offered, with those in
180 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ public relations and advertising now being very popular. to acquire new skills. There also is a new and growing But newspapers and broadcasters are in no hurry to hire cadre of Ukrainians who are, on a commercial basis, graduates of these journalism programs. “The mass- offering their skills as trainers and consultants. More media outlets find it disadvantageous to hire and retrain and more media outlets are finding that it is worth the these unqualified graduates,” one panelist said. “It’s often expense to hire such people to improve the skills of their easier to teach the ones who are not spoiled with a classic staff. Media outlets are more interested in training in journalism education.” business and management fields because of the potential Both local and international NGOs, as well as pro- to improve their bottom line. But panelists said jour- fessional associations, conduct short-term courses that nalism education workshops also are essential and that allow both new and seasoned journalists and managers having more of them would benefit Ukraine.
UKRAINE 181 Panel Participants Alexander Chovgan, president, RIA Corporation, and newspaper publisher, Vinnitsa
Oleksandr Klishch, Public Affairs Section, US Embassy, Kyiv
Oksana Lysenko, reporter, Telekritika, Kyiv
Natalia Petrova, senior media law expert, TOP-Media Center, Odessa
Mykhaylo Veysberg, president, Ukrainian Newspaper Publishers Association, Kyiv
Vasyl Zorya, foreign news editor, Novy Channel, Kyiv
Moderator Oleg Khomenok, IREX U-Media Observers Tim O’Connor, resident advisor, IREX U-Media
Victoria Marchenko, Office of Democracy and Social Transition, USAID/Kyiv
Sue Folger, chief of party, U-Media, Internews Network
182 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ Central Asia
Central Asia: Average Objective Scores
1.60 Kyrgyzstan 1.62 1.29
1.32 Kazakhstan 1.54 1.42
1.22 Tajikistan 0.99 1.11 COUNTRY
0.65 Uzbekistan 1.00 0.87
Unsustainable Unsustainable Near 2003 Sustainable 0 Anti-Free Press 1 Mixed System 2 Sustainability 3 4 2002
2001 SUSTAINABILITY
CENTRAL ASIA 183 Declining audiences for state newspapers and broadcasters have led government officials to look at what they can gain from the private media, and what needs to be done to make that possible, a panel member noted. “Government officials themselves are interested in the development of a media market and the liberal- ization of media laws. Otherwise there will be no income.” Kazakhstan 185 KAZAKHSTAN - - - - - DelovoyeObozreniye and Vesti Pavlodara Vesti
— and — television stations down had been as shut result a of It is well established that the Nazarbayev regime has always con always has regime Nazarbayev the that established well is It sidered the media to be extremely important. Throughout his terms as terms his Throughout important. extremely be to media the sidered to steps unprecedented taken familyhis have and Nazarbayev president, pri targeting simultaneously while holdings media substantial acquire Introduction strengthening he the of Kazakhstan media during years, recent markedbetter by professionalism and an increasingly forceful in role civilsociety, came near a to halt in Themedia 2003. non-state sector, assuffered well as its inextricable press broadly, for freedom more linkswith the political Nursultan agenda President of Nazarbayev and hisaccording government, the to Media Sustainability Index (MSI) panel.The contradictions implicit in media a industry operating to extent some market by rules under rather a but totalitarian govern age of the ageof scandal blocked, and were increasing numbers editors of andjournalists perceivedbe affiliated to with camps opposition were arrested,attacked, otherwise or pressured. high-profile In one case, journalist a SergeiDuvanov, and human-rights activist, was arrested whatmany on believe be trumped-up to rape charges in 2002, late the his daybefore scheduled departure the States deliverfor United to a reporthuman on rights in Kazakhstan. According the to Commit ment became ment significant ever more during the 2003, panel concluded. Attemptsindependent media by outlets report to an on investigation financial of irregularities relating an to estimated $20 billion in oil legal, met by were financial, revenues and physical retaliation from theNazarbayev regime, panelists providing said. cover Websites tee to Protecttee to Journalists Duvanov was (CPJ), sentenced in January 2003three to and one-half years in prison, protests despite that his trialprocess. due number follow a thedid By of 2003, not of end privatenewspapers—such as Respublika politicizedinvestigations disguised as administrative procedures. And inthe legislative arena, draft a media was law released in 2003 that internationallegal experts predicted wouldonly serve gag to the media further.
vate media organizations considered unfriendly to the administration. administration. the unfriendly to considered organizations media vate T Objective Scoring Indicator Scoring The averages of all the indicators are averaged to obtain a single, Each indicator is scored using the following system: overall score for each objective. Objective scores are averaged to provide 0 = Country does not meet indicator; government or social forces may actively an overall score for the country. IREX interprets the overall scores as follows: oppose its implementation 3 and above: Sustainable and free independent media 1 = Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator; forces may not actively oppose its implementation, but business environment may not support it 2–3: Independent media approaching sustainability and government or profession do not fully and actively support change 1–2: Significant progress remains to be made; 2 = Country has begun to meet many aspects of the indicator, but progress may society or government is not fully supportive be too recent to judge or still dependent on current government or political forces 0–1: Country meets few indicators; government and society actively oppose change 3 = Country meets most aspects of the indicator; implementation of the indica- tor has occurred over several years and/or through changes in government, indicating likely sustainability 4 = Country meets the aspects of the indicator; implementation has remained intact over multiple changes in government, economic fluctuations, changes in public opinion, and/or changing social conventions
186 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ Indeed, in an April 2003 speech at the Eurasian Media copies printed, “Media laws do exist, Forum, the president made his views clear on the limits to the names of the freedom of speech: “In a poor society, torn by social antag- media company’s but they are mainly for onisms, it is impossible to attain the model of a liberal directors, and regulation and are of and pluralistic press.” The president continued: “A weak other details in civil society confronted by social and political pressures is each edition of the a restrictive nature— turning the media into an instrument of social disintegra- newspaper. “Media and only the parts tion. It is also necessary to clearly define the responsibility laws do exist, but of the media in violating the law. Society needs freedom of they are mainly concerning 1 speech, and not freedom of libel and disinformation.” for regulation and restrictions are The president’s political advisor Ermukhamet are of a restrictive Ertysbayev, in an interview with the independent Assandi nature—and only complied with fully.” Times, published on April 27, 2003, indicated he consid- the parts concern- ered closing independent newspapers a possibility for the ing restrictions are government. “The field of newspapers can be narrowed complied with fully,” said a panel member. The panelist if opposition newspapers continue to adhere to their also noted that the general public is not particularly con- position that media should not be the means of informa- cerned about free-speech issues, attacks on journalists, or tion, but rather the means for a political struggle,” he establishing a viable independent press. said. “When I read an issue of Assandi Times or SolDat, The government drafted a new media law in there is no information there, but there are lots of nega- 2003 and pushed it through the lower house of parlia- tive materials about Kazakhstan. These articles have the sole purpose of shaping public opinion in their image in Legal and social norms protect and promote order to rearrange the political system of the country, free speech and access to public information remove the president from power, and cause a number of other political cataclysms.” In the view of the MSI ■ Legal/social protections of free speech exist participants, such statements foretold a renewed attack and are enforced. on press freedoms in Kazakhstan and a general lowering ■ Licensing of broadcast media is fair, competitive, of the panel’s evaluation of the country’s progress toward and apolitical. a sustainable independent media. ■ Market entry and tax structure for media are fair and comparable to other industries. Objective 1: Free Speech ■ Crimes against journalists or media outlets are Kazakhstan Objective Score: 1.20/4.00 prosecuted vigorously, but occurrences of such crimes are rare.
The Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the ■ State or public media do not receive preferential current mass media law guarantee freedom of speech and legal treatment, and law guarantees editorial prohibit censorship. Unfortunately, other legislation and independence. law-enforcement practices are not adequate to ensure ■ Libel is a civil law issue; public officials are held these principles are upheld. The current criminal code to higher standards, and the offended party contains six articles that define the liability of journalists must prove falsity and malice. for infringement of personal nonproperty rights, includ- ■ ing libel. The civil code requires journalists to prove Public information is easily accessible; right of access to information is equally enforced for all their innocence in the event of libel charges, and there INDICATORS SPEECH FREE media and journalists. is no limit on potential fines. Moreover, media outlets that employ these journalists are held liable for so-called ■ Media outlets have unrestricted access to infor- moral damages. The administrative code, meanwhile, mation; this is equally enforced for all media and journalists. stipulates that entire press runs can be confiscated for violating the rules regarding declaring the number of ■ Entry into the journalism profession is free, and government imposes no licensing, restrictions,
1 or special rights for journalists. http://www.eamedia.org/kns/kns1.php
KAZAKHSTAN 187 “Now tenders are ment despite deep Tema-TJ (Ural’sk) waited for a response to its first concerns voiced application for 84 days before being rejected. By early conducted all the by human-rights 2004, the company was still waiting for a response to its time. Even if they have organizations, second application for registration filed on September 29, whose evaluations 2003. Ministry of Information officials neither refuse nor been secretly awarded show the legislation authorize registrations, and feel no obligation to explain beforehand, out of four does not comply their delay or inaction. with international Broadcast licenses are issued by the Ministry of to five frequencies, you standards for free- Information, but also must be signed by the Ministry of can definitely win one speech guarantees. Transport and Communications. The licensing pro- At the time of the cess is controlled by a specially created commission of to two.” MSI panel discus- state officials and representatives from public organiza- sion, this draft tions. While the law provides for the fair distribution legislation had not yet become law. The draft extends of licenses, in practice the process is unclear. Panelists considerably the regulatory powers of the Ministry of agreed that licenses are often issued selectively, based Information, giving it control over nearly every facet of largely on applicants’ political influence and that of the media sector and the authority to suspend or revoke any opponents to the issuance of the license. However, media operating licenses. In addition, the procedures for one panelist offered another view, saying that although registration, licensing, and accreditation fall within the the licensing process is not 100 percent fair, “there are purview of state authorities rather than independent com- broadcasters that have obtained licenses without any missions, giving the government additional levers with political support.” The panel member said the situation which to control the media. International observers also had improved from two to three years ago, when few if have raised concern about the use of vague terms such as any frequencies were being distributed. “Now tenders are “propaganda,” “agitation,” and “state secrets” that could conducted all the time. Even if they have been secretly open journalists to arbitrary prosecutions. awarded beforehand, out of four to five frequencies, you Currently there are no legal provisions ensuring a can definitely win one to two,” the panelist said. level playing field for state-owned and independent media, The government has used its power to pressure the panel noted. The selective enforcement of existing and even close media outlets. When several television media laws generally means that government outlets can and radio stations began supporting opposition political do as they please while non-state media are potentially forces, they were shut down. In some cases, the owners subject to the consequences of being accused of violations. were forced to sell the outlets or simply hand them over While there are no official privileges for state media, there to someone else. When the government closed the weekly are advantages in practice that suggest the media market Delovoye Obozreniye Respublika in 2002 for printing appears liberalized but does not in fact function freely. For opinions critical of the authorities—its offices had earlier example, according to a panel member, the state exercises been set on fire—the editor-in-chief, Irina Petrushova, tight control on licensing to control entry to the media created the Assandi Times, according to the Committee industry and uses contacts within state companies and to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international advocacy businesses to pressure independent-minded outlets. group. Petrushova, who fled the country in 2002 after she The government has introduced preferred taxa- was targeted with death threats and lawsuits, now edits tion policies for media. Taxation benefits for the media her newspaper from Russia. CPJ noted that in July, an have been in existence since 2000. For example, all Almaty district court decided a libel case against Assandi television stations and print media are exempt from the Times and awarded Nazarbayev’s son-in-law Rakhat value-added tax (VAT). While this exemption officially Aliev $2,000 after he protested an April article alleging runs out in January 2005, it could be extended beyond he had used his political connections against business that date. competitors. Registration of media organizations is very dif- The state at times impedes journalists’ access to ficult. The Ministry of Information delays action on information, and government officials track journalists’ registration applications for periods longer than the activities, permitting only loyal ones access to official mandated 15 business days, without any consequences. material. Journalists who question these arrangements or In one case, the limited-liability newspaper company criticize the government in other ways can be imprisoned,
188 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ beaten, or forced into exile. In April, Maksim Erokhin, (OSCE), nearly 85 More than half of the editor of the independent Rabat newspaper who wrote percent of journal- about illegal villas allegedly built by government officials, ists responding said those surveyed was beaten unconscious by attackers, according to CPJ. In “yes” to the question: answered affirmatively October, several men beat Andrei Doronin, a correspon- “Are there any topics dent for the independent Almaty daily Ekspress-K. He was that you consider to when asked, warned to leave the media industry after writing articles be dangerous?” More “Did you ever about illegal vodka production, the organization said. As than half of those a rule, these crimes against journalists do not engender surveyed answered experience pressure public outrage—and no perpetrators are ever found. affirmatively when while reporting?” As the government realizes that information is asked, “Did you ever becoming increasingly accessible—in Almaty alone, for experience pressure example, more than 100,000 families can afford cable while reporting?” television—it seeks additional ways of controlling its “Opposing points of view are not always rep- sources. This appeared especially true as the 2004 parlia- resented in media articles,” one panel member said. mentary elections approached. The state administration “Practically all media have ‘restricted’ topics.” Many founded its own media outlets—media nongovernmen- journalists lack the sources, time, and experience to tal organizations (NGOs) and trade organizations such expend much effort on verifying information. Political as the Congress of Journalists, the Association of TV and news reflects the affiliations of the media outlet owners, Radio Broadcasters, and a media training center. Presi- and objectivity is relegated to relatively neutral subjects. dent Nazarbayev’s daughter, Dariga, head of the powerful At both state-run and private newspapers, journalists say Khabar Media Holding Co., chaired the pro-government that they are not only allowed but even encouraged to Congress of Journalists. produce made-to-order articles. Declining audiences for state newspapers and However, pockets of professionalism and skilled broadcasters have led government officials to look at specialized reporting do exist at some media outlets. what they can gain from the private media, and what Panelists pointed out that a growing number of private needs to be done to make that possible, a panel member noted. “Government officials themselves are interested in the development of a media market and the liberalization Journalism meets professional standards of of media laws. Otherwise there will be no income.” quality Access to international news is not limited, but ■ Reporting is fair, objective, and well sourced. financial constraints mean that not every company or media manager could provide Internet access for their ■ Journalists follow recognized and accepted employees. In addition, there were repeated reports of ethical standards. blocked access to websites through the main, state-run ■ Journalists and editors do not practice Internet service provider. The journalism profession is self-censorship. open and is not restricted by licensing requirements or INDICATORS qualification exams. ■ Journalists cover key events and issues. ■ Pay levels for journalists and other media professionals are sufficiently high to discourage Objective 2: Professional Journalism corruption. Kazakhstan Objective Score: 1.36/4.00 ■ Entertainment programming does not eclipse news and information programming. The panelists agreed that there are no broadly accepted ■ journalistic standards in Kazakhstan, either because jour- Technical facilities and equipment for gathering, producing, and distributing news are modern nalists have not adopted an ethics code or because the pres- and efficient. sures at their media outlets do not allow them to implement one. In a study conducted by the International Foundation ■ Quality niche reporting and programming for the Protection of Freedom of Speech “Adil Soz” and the exists (investigative, economics/business, local,
PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM PROFESSIONAL political). Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe
KAZAKHSTAN 189 “Opposing points of media are focus- The lack of specialized niche reporting is espe- ing on producing cially evident at provincial publications and broadcasters view are not always their own news with small staffs. Regional independent media are also represented in media and information particularly vulnerable to pressures from various local, programming. regional, and federal government authorities. These articles,” one panel One panel member provincial outlets also are less likely to have advanced member said. spoke of her experi- technical capacity. However, at least a few editors from ence: “At my televi- urban areas far from the administrative and commercial “Practically all media sion channel, I can capitals report that this distance appears to allow them have ‘restricted’ topics.” say that information to operate in a business-like manner within a relatively is frequently verified unrestrictive environment, although they are always and objective, and is aware that they may come under pressure. based on trustworthy sources. Errors do occur in mate- rials, like surnames, first names, and positions. (But) violations of ethical standards are extremely rare.” Objective 3: Plurality of News Sources Journalists say they frequently are forced to resort Kazakhstan Objective Score: 1.33/4.00 to self-censorship, produce coverage tailored to the demands of interest groups, or otherwise act against Access to information is limited by poverty and by gov- their consciences in order to keep their jobs. Journal- ernment restrictions. State-run media generally cover ists may not be allowed to cover vital events for fear of only government-sanctioned issues, while private outlets the backlash from the government or their own edi- answer to the interests of owners—many of whom may tors. Newspaper owners issue strict directives to their be government-connected—or face risks when they editors and journalists as to what they cannot write or broaden their coverage. talk about. For example, the monitoring of free-speech The business interests that control the leading issues in Kazakhstan done by the International Foun- media outlets have little transparency. These factors dation for the Protection of Freedom of Speech “Adil result in declining public trust in the media. Soz” showed that the owner of the newspaper Talap expressly forbade his journalists from writing about the activities of the opposition political party Democratic Multiple news sources provide citizens with Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK). News related to promi- reliable and objective news nent opposition figures such as former Prime Minister ■ A plurality of affordable public and private news Akezhan Kazhegeldin, DVK leader Mukhtar Abliazov, sources (e.g., print, broadcast, Internet) exists. or journalist and human-rights activist Sergei Duvanov was also taboo. ■ Citizens’ access to domestic or international Some panelists felt that the absence of freedom of media is not restricted.
speech had a greater affect on a journalist’s decision to INDICATORS ■ State or public media reflect the views of the
remain in media than did the low wages. Others, how- entire political spectrum, are nonpartisan, and ever, mentioned that low pay led journalists to take more serve the public interest. profitable offers from public relations agencies and press ■ Independent news agencies gather and distrib- services. Some provincial media outlets pay less than the ute news for print and broadcast media. average wage level, but wages are reasonable at selected ■ Independent broadcast media produce their own national mass media, where they may reach $400 to $500 news programs. monthly. A panelist noted other differences at the better- resourced national media: “The relative development of ■ Transparency of media ownership allows the market lets the media introduce new information consumers to judge objectivity of news; media ownership is not concentrated in a technologies. The media are starting to pay fairly high few conglomerates. salaries to their leading journalists and specialists. The competition in the market among the media themselves ■ A broad spectrum of social interests are promotes the development of professionalism.” reflected and represented in the media, includ-
PLURALITY OF NEWS SOURCES NEWS OF PLURALITY ing minority-language information sources.
190 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ “In Kazakhstan, private The major- in the languages of national minorities as permitted by media are developing ity of Kazakhstanis law, but the scope of their coverage is limited. who are media con- rapidly,” said one panel sumers live in major Objective 4: Business Management member. “There are a cities. There, most can afford to buy Kazakhstan Objective Score: 1.42/4.00 lot more of them private media pub- now, and they are lications, and some Panelists agreed that independent media outlets in can pay for Internet Kazakhstan cannot be fully financially independent, more energetic and service and cable no matter how well the business is managed. Since such television available media outlets are generally critical of government poli- professional than the on more than 30 cies, and often report on human-rights violations, they state-run media.” networks. Accord- are in a difficult financial position. Private companies ing to Kazakhtele- are simply afraid to use them as venues for advertising. com, the state Internet service provider, approximately Printing plants, both private and state, and distribu- 10 percent of the population uses the Internet. However, tors may be afraid to handle publications considered to in small towns and villages, very few can afford to buy be “opposition,” or they are sometimes ordered not to newspapers and therefore get most of their information print or disseminate certain publications. For example, from the reports carried by the state television and radio the state-owned distribution enterprise Kazbaspasoz stations. Access to Western publications is very limited was required to cancel its 2004 contract with the private due to the language barrier, and this precludes the gov- Assandi Times by order of the secret service, according to ernment from needing to restrict these foreign informa- an editor there. tion sources. “Independent media are quoted higher prices State-run media give clear preference to govern- for printed products, or are denied printing altogether, ment opinions and policies, without reflecting the entire as was the case with Assandi Times,” said one panel political spectrum. “Access to opposition websites has member. “The situation is the same with distributors, been restricted,” said one panelist. “The news agency ser- vices of Interfax and www.kazaag.kz do not always pres- ent information about events in Kazakhstan. They ‘hush Independent media are well-managed it up.’ For the most part, that applies to topics related to businesses, allowing editorial independence dissidence or the opposition.” ■ Media outlets and supporting firms operate as Some independent media, however, do produce efficient, professional, and profit-generating their own news programs with a relatively broad scope. businesses. They also use news agencies even though such services are expensive. “In Kazakhstan, private media are devel- ■ Media receive revenue from a multitude of sources. oping rapidly,” said one panel member. “There are a lot more of them now, and they are more energetic and ■ Advertising agencies and related industries INDICATORS professional than the state-run media.” support an advertising market. In fact, one panel member noted, the general ■ Advertising revenue as a percentage of total disinterest in “official” media on the part of readers and revenue is in line with accepted standards at viewers has led those in power to consider the potential commercial outlets. in “private” outlets. “The ratings of state-run television ■ Independent media do not receive government and radio stations are very low, as are state newspaper subsidies. circulation numbers. The situation is becoming inter- esting, as the authorities themselves are turning to the ■ Market research is used to formulate strategic private media,” the panelist said. plans, enhance advertising revenue, and tailor products to the needs and interests of Media organizations that may receive government audiences. contract work can only develop their programs in the official language of the state, Kazakh. Media are available MANAGEMENT BUSINESS ■ Broadcast ratings and circulation figures are reliably and independently produced.
KAZAKHSTAN 191 “Independent media who can be intimi- panelists. In the cities, advertising amounts on average dated and forced of 20 to 30 percent of revenues for a media outlet, panel are quoted higher to deny service to members estimated. prices for printed media. For example, Advertising is almost the only source of income for in the last three many regional television and radio stations. The adver- products, or are weeks our news- tising market in Kazakhstan is developing rapidly and is denied printing paper has been fairly sizeable by Central Asian standards—$120 million withdrawn from a year, according to the panel members. The regional altogether, as was the distributors, or advertising market supports about 50 television stations the case with bought up in bulk and 30 radio stations in Kazakhstan. Advertising rev- by policemen and enues may provide enough for a media outlet’s operating Assandi Times,” said people in civilian costs, but not enough for any expansion or new business clothes.” development. The percentage of advertising revenues in one panel member. Although overall budgets is 10 to 12 percent for television, and 5 “The situation is media outlets are percent for newspapers. Much of the rest of independent not officially subsi- media outlets’ budgets comes from “donor” support. the same with dized, the govern- In Kazakhstan, market research is conducted on a distributors, who can be ment maintains regular basis, but is limited to a narrow circle of custom- control through a ers. The cost of the research is rather high, so only cer- intimidated and forced favorable tender tain stations can afford the data. Primarily, the television to deny service to system in which stations that use the market research are from the media state-run media group that includes ORT of Kazakhstan, Khabar, Kazakh media. For example, or pro-govern- Telekompany, and National Telekompany, which are in the last three weeks ment private media owned by the president’s daughter, Dariga Nazarbayeva, usually win the as well as a few independent stations such as Channel 31. our newspaper has bids for coverage of Circulation and ratings services are only begin- been withdrawn from official news. When ning to emerge in Kazakhstan, and their results are so far independent media not complete or fully reliable. Some firms offering these the distributors, or do win tenders, services as well as public opinion polling are considered bought up in bulk by they are subject to be affiliated with political or business interests and to to the influence be producing potentially subjective results, according to policemen and people of the authorities. panel members. If the outlets are in civilian clothes.” “disagreeable,” the authorities may not Objective 5: Supporting Institutions allow them to compete for the next tender. Kazakhstan Objective Score: 1.31/4.00 Smaller media outlets may be subsidized by private entrepreneurs who do not see the companies as media busi- Trade unions, associations, and other supporting institu- nesses, but rather as their own platform for wielding power. tions for media in Kazakhstan are rather weak. Such Advertising agencies work mainly with large-scale organizations exist, but their influence on the govern- clients such as media conglomerates. Regional media ment is insignificant—or they may even be government create their own advertising services, and both types supported. For example, the Congress of Journalists was of advertising mechanisms can be quite effective in founded by Dariga Nazarbayeva, the president’s daughter some cities. However, businesses loyal to the authorities and head of a major media holding. control the leading advertising agencies, resulting in a NGOs that advocate for press interests are active greater flow of advertising revenue to government-affili- and carry a certain amount of weight within the media ated media and outlets run by loyal business interests. community—but not with the authorities. The attempts Even advertisements from Western media sources such of these NGOs to assess the draft media law and generate as the BBC or Voice of America appear first in the state- debate were largely ignored by the government. How- run media, and not in the private media, according to ever, some panelists noted that the increasing number of
192 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ NGOs is nonetheless pushing the government to retaliate keting departments of banks and other companies or by creating its own official organizations. government institutions. There are no trade unions protecting the interests of Despite the fact that most of the printing plants media workers. Journalists often appear in court on their and distributors in Kazakhstan have been privatized, the own, representing their publications without an attorney. state has managed to maintain its influence on this sector Of the three associations that supposedly support through the government organizations that hold shares journalists, one of them, the Association of Television- in the enterprises. This leads to the denial of printing Radio Producers of Kazakhstan (ATPK) represents the services or access to the distribution network for certain interests of the authorities, while another, the National publications. The largest distributor of print media in Association of Television Producers (NAT), is driven Kazakhstan is the national company Kazpochta. It is by private business interests. The third association, the completely controlled by the government, as is the distri- Association of Publishers, is idle. bution company Kazakhstan Temir Joly. The educational opportunities for would-be jour- Panel members noted, however, that no mater how nalists in Kazakhstan are poor. Graduates of university zealous government attempts to control the media sector journalism faculties are not ready to work at media out- might be, it is no longer possible to manage all the print- lets. One panel member noted that there are few teachers ing plants, newsstands, and Internet providers. There are with hands-on experience offering courses at the univer- “loopholes.” For example, one can easily buy opposition sities, there is little modern equipment on which to learn, newspapers such as Assandi Times and Epoch at news- and efforts to offer internships at editorial offices have stands. The number of private printing plants is growing, largely failed. even at the oblast and district centers, and Internet clubs There are various trainings and seminars for exist in virtually every populated area. developing professional journalism skills conducted by local and international NGOs, but they can only reach a fraction of the practicing media workers. Niche Panel Participants reporting skills are particularly in short supply, a panel Telegen Askarov, Epoch weekly member noted, and those journalists who do receive specialized training tend to be snatched away by mar- Baldjan Beysembekova, executive director, National Association of TV and Radio Broadcasting of Supporting institutions function in the Kazakhstan professional interests of independent media Galina Dyrdina, deputy editor-in-chief, Assandi Times ■ Trade associations represent the interests of private media owners and provide member Tamara Kaleyeva, president, Adil Soz, Almaty services. Valentina Kulikova ■ Professional associations work to protect journalists’ rights. Sofia Mustafayeva, Channel 31 INDICATORS ■ NGOs support free speech and independent media. Moderator ■ Quality journalism degree programs that provide substantial practical experience exist. Marfua Tokhtakhodjaeva, chairperson, Women’s Resource Center ■ Short-term training and in-service training programs allow journalists to upgrade skills or acquire new skills. Observers
■ Sources of newsprint and printing facilities are Maria Stefurak, media development specialist, Depart- private, apolitical, and unrestricted. ment for Development of Democracy and Media, Almaty ■ Channels of media distribution (kiosks, trans- mitters, Internet) are private, apolitical, and Stanley Currier, program manager, IREX/Kazakhstan SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS SUPPORTING unrestricted.
KAZAKHSTAN 193 “The risk is great that the authorities could resort to tougher control of the media, as they did with the Law on Official State Language. To date, there have been few instances of journalists using the laws for their professional benefit.” Kyrgyzstan 195 KYRGYZSTAN - - with record a Moya Stolitsa, Moya
Asthe media being were silenced through court actions, threats, Introduction democratic of model nce a considered transition Central for Asia, Kyrgyzstancontinued backslide to in The 2003. media sector was no exception,according the to Media Sustainability panel, Index (MSI) asthe administration Askar President of Akayev perfected the use of financialand administrative contain tools to the independent media. Theseincluded politicized criminal prosecutions and civil litigation. Thecivilnumber of court actions officials launched government by from 2002 while doubled 2003, to the criminalnumber of prosecu of investigating of corruption in circles government and reporting the on was opposition, fined almost $100,000; journalists the paper’s were personallyfined $2,600. The suitsnumber of and fines of level against thebe part newspaper to considered were politicized a of attack on thepublication, although the denied government this and claimed be pursuing to merely violations In other the cases of law. in the 2003, editorialoffices several of independent newspapers burglarized were ransacked or perpetrators, never-identified by and there several were otherincidents harassment of suspected or attacks journalists. on andviolence, the trulynumber of independent outlets decreased in 2003after period a relatively the of of constant sector. development Manymedia professionals constrainedfeel too physically too or or financiallythreatened effectively work to Kyrgyzstan even before heads newinto electiona cycle in 2005, time a that traditionally has seen furthercrackdowns the on independent media. cialsagainst the independent media tried were in court during 2003. Asthe ruling result one of and “honor that the invoked republic’s dignity”the independent newspaper law,
tionsnearly reported A doubled. lawsuits 28 pitting offi government O Objective Scoring Indicator Scoring The averages of all the indicators are averaged to obtain a single, Each indicator is scored using the following system: overall score for each objective. Objective scores are averaged to provide 0 = Country does not meet indicator; government or social forces may actively an overall score for the country. IREX interprets the overall scores as follows: oppose its implementation 3 and above: Sustainable and free independent media 1 = Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator; forces may not actively oppose its implementation, but business environment may not support it 2–3: Independent media approaching sustainability and government or profession do not fully and actively support change 1–2: Significant progress remains to be made; 2 = Country has begun to meet many aspects of the indicator, but progress may society or government is not fully supportive be too recent to judge or still dependent on current government or political forces 0–1: Country meets few indicators; government and society actively oppose change 3 = Country meets most aspects of the indicator; implementation of the indica- tor has occurred over several years and/or through changes in government, indicating likely sustainability 4 = Country meets the aspects of the indicator; implementation has remained intact over multiple changes in government, economic fluctuations, changes in public opinion, and/or changing social conventions
196 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ Objective 1: Free Speech mitter is granted “Licenses are issued by the state radio Kyrgyzstan Objective Score: 1.95/4.00 frequency com- without hindrance, mission. In 1999, but there are The Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic and the mass Osh TV was issued media law contain provisions protecting the media. a five-year license restrictions on the However, these laws are not always enforced, and the and the rights to a frequency range. various articles that were designed to protect non-state one-year transmis- media contain loopholes that are used to circumvent sion license. This Having obtained a their intent. One member of the MSI panel said that procedure violates broadcasting license, since the legal foundation for media activity was shaped the law which in the early 1990s, implementation has exposed many mandates that the the outlets must also weak spots, and it might be time for a fundamental license and the review. However, the panelist said, “The risk is great that transmitter rights receive a frequency the authorities could resort to tougher control of the should be issued for range. This applies to media, as they did with the Law on Official State Lan- the same period of guage. To date, there have been few instances of journal- time. At present, a independent media ists using the laws for their professional benefit.” regulation regarding only…Therefore, most Broadcasting licenses are issued by the state radio frequencies is communications agency, and the right to use a trans- being written, but of the private and some believe this independent TV and will result in serious Legal and social norms protect and promote conflicts between radio companies are free speech and access to public information the authorities and restricted.” ■ Legal/social protections of free speech exist the independent and are enforced. electronic media. According a panel participant, “Licenses are issued ■ Licensing of broadcast media is fair, competitive, and apolitical. without hindrance, but there are restrictions on the frequency range. Having obtained a broadcasting license, ■ Market entry and tax structure for media are fair the outlets must also receive a frequency range. This and comparable to other industries. applies to independent media only.…Therefore, most of ■ Crimes against journalists or media outlets are the private and independent TV and radio companies are prosecuted vigorously, but occurrences of such restricted.” crimes are rare. The law guarantees equal tax status to media ■ State or public media do not receive preferential and other types of business. However, the tax burden legal treatment, and law guarantees editorial for media is very high—20 percent value-added tax independence. (VAT)—compared with neighboring countries like Kazakhstan and Russia, where some media are partially ■ Libel is a civil law issue; public officials are held to higher standards, and the offended party exempted from VAT. This hinders the efforts of the press must prove falsity and malice. to offer more affordable products to the public. Media outlets also are subject to the advertising tax. ■ Public information is easily accessible; right of The state-run media receive guaranteed support access to information is equally enforced for all SPEECH INDICATORS SPEECH FREE media and journalists. from state officials through forced subscriptions. In November 2003, the mayor of Bishkek and the governors ■ Media outlets have unrestricted access to infor- of seven oblasts repeated the order that made subscrip- mation; this is equally enforced for all media tions to certain media obligatory for all state institu- and journalists. tions and employees. In addition, government officials ■ Entry into the journalism profession is free, and influence the management of the outlets. “The state-run government imposes no licensing, restrictions, media are in a position of serfdom with respect to the or special rights for journalists. authorities,” said one panel member. “The editors of
KYRGYZSTAN 197 “The state-run media state-run national Access to international news is practically unlim- media are appointed ited. Unrestricted access to the Internet is also possible are in a position of and dismissed by throughout the republic. There are media resource cen- serfdom with respect the president him- ters in the districts, and there is also a network of Inter- self. At the oblast net cafés in all regions. However, poverty significantly to the authorities,” level, the governor limits access to information for people in rural areas. said one panel member. hires and fires.” Entrance to the media profession is unrestricted. The impact “The editors of state- of the increase in Objective 2: Professional Journalism run national media legal prosecutions of journalists is Kyrgyzstan Objective Score: 1.66/4.00 are appointed and compounded by the rampant cor- Some print media have developed to the point that they dismissed by the ruption perceived offer objective, sourced information. Even in cases when president himself. throughout the controversy arises, an attempt is made to present bal- judicial system. anced coverage. But there are no uniformly recognized At the oblast level, Judges and prosecu- professional practices, and some journalists do not try the governor hires tors appointed by to adhere to international standards. There are also the president are examples of well-sourced and balanced television pro- and fires.” particularly sus- gramming. Alexander Kulinskiy of the private television pect, and they both station Piramida, producer of the show “Nashe Vremya,” threaten critical journalists with fines and influence the was mentioned as an example of how objective and final rulings of the court. According to one panel partici- multifaceted coverage is developing slowly but steadily. pant, “Legal actions against journalists and outlets are However, one panelist noted, in general “not all the avail- filed by government officials. They are paying miniscule able sources are being used. Reports are often prepared (legal) fees and claiming fines.” in a hurry, and subjectivity and bias are the rule rather Defamation cases can be prosecuted under both the civil and criminal codes. In December 2003, President Akayev sent a bill to parliament that would Journalism meets professional standards of decriminalize defamation and direct all such cases to quality civil courts. However, the proposal set no upper limit ■ Reporting is fair, objective, and well sourced. on potential civil court fines upon conviction in these cases, and, as that is the main technique being used to ■ Journalists follow recognized and accepted bring pressure on media outlets, many journalists did ethical standards. not find much comfort in the proposed decriminaliza- ■ Journalists and editors do not practice tion. In addition, “There are articles on defamation in self-censorship. the criminal code, but at present they are applied very INDICATORS infrequently,” a panelist said. “The most frequently pros- ■ Journalists cover key events and issues. ecuted article of the civil code is the protection of honor, ■ Pay levels for journalists and other media dignity, and business reputation.” Furthermore, these professionals are sufficiently high to discourage prosecutions also are viewed as focusing almost entirely corruption. on journalists representing non-state media. ■ Entertainment programming does not eclipse Government-sponsored media have greater access news and information programming. to information concerning the activities of the president ■ and the government offices. A panelist explained that “in Technical facilities and equipment for gathering, producing, and distributing news are modern regards to the privileges, the state-run media have them, and efficient. but in the long run they can hardly be called privileges. These privileges are most likely ‘compensation’ for cer- ■ Quality niche reporting and programming tain restrictions.” exists (investigative, economics/business, local,
PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM PROFESSIONAL political).
198 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ than the exception. The points of view of both parties are said. “In the press, “As for ethical not always given.” salaries are higher The trade association Journalists developed a pro- than for TV and standards, they exist fessional ethics code based on European examples, but radio professionals. in every outlet,” said a like several others in force in Kyrgyzstan, it exists mainly Many journalists on paper and usually is not invoked in any meaningful are willing to sell panelist. “It is another way. Cases of made-to-order journalism are easily found their publications to matter how effectively in the print media, and bribes and other gifts often are the highest bidder, accepted. “As for ethical standards, they exist in every but there is little they are applied.” outlet,” said a panelist. “It is another matter how effec- demand for them.” tively they are applied.” Entertainment programming dominates television, Self-censorship is also widespread, as journal- and the news is often the only in-house product made by ists and editors at some outlets can lose their jobs by the local media outlets. openly expressing viewpoints or venturing into territory Newspapers are poorly equipped to publish their not approved for their reporting. Moreover, journalists products. At times, independent journalists do not even receive little remu- have such basic equipment as tape recorders. In recent “Not all the available neration, and do years, the technical capacities of television stations have not feel compelled improved due to the decreasing costs of digital technolo- sources are being to risk even their gies. However, there are still difficulties in collecting, used. Reports are meager wages on producing, and distributing information. Communi- controversial cover- cations infrastructure is lacking, only old equipment often prepared in a age. According to is available, and circulation or transmission remains hurry, and subjectivity one panel member, difficult. International donors provide some technical “In the provinces it equipment to resource centers for regional media. and bias are the is very difficult to During the past 10 years, niche reporting has rule rather than the write on the burn- emerged. However, the quality of such coverage is not ing issues of the day. always highly professional. Specialized reporting is exception. The points Self-censorship, in practiced by the large-scale media outlets in metropoli- of view of both parties particular, prevents tan centers, but the vast majority of provincial media that.” There are no have editorial offices and staff that are too small to allow are not always given.” officially forbidden specialization. topics for media, but in reality journalists are limited by fear. In particu- lar, journalists are afraid to cover topics relating to the Objective 3: Plurality of News Sources head of the state or his “family.” In addition, there are Kyrgyzstan Objective Score: 1.17/4.00 certain unofficially taboo topics, such as drug abuse, smuggling, and corruption that most journalists simply Although a range of information sources are available, will not cover. Fearing lawsuits and fines, few journalists many people cannot afford to buy print media. While would have the courage to exercise their legal protec- citizens in rural areas have shown increasing interest in tions. Compounding the problem, panelists said, is that media, they often have limited or no choice in newspa- the leaders of the state-run media outlets do not consider pers and only access to state-run television and radio serving their communities to be their duty. Rather, their stations. priority is to promote the policies of the president and The status of media ownership is murky at best. the government. In most cases, it is almost impossible to uncover the Many journalists opt to leave the profession for true ownership structure of a media organization. Many other industries, particularly international organizations, owners are camouflaged by the creation of a network of due to the low wages. Other journalists are forced to seek dummy holding companies. “The transparency of media second jobs, produce made-to-order news, or work for funding is not clear; ownership is limited to a small circle foreign agencies on the side. “State-run media salaries of people connected with the media,” a panelist said. are lower than established non-state media,” a panelist “The general public is hardly aware of who owns what.
KYRGYZSTAN 199 “The transparency But many media radio stations as independent media businesses, particu- outlets now belong larly in the southern part of the country. The panelists of media funding is to oligarchs.” The mentioned that this private media ownership allows for not clear; ownership non-state media more social, cultural, and ethnic interests to be repre- can be divided into sented, and that these independent electronic outlets try is limited to a small two groups—those to produce their own news programming. However, they circle of people allied with the can expect harassment from state officials and business nation’s power- interests, and this appears to be a trend on the increase, connected with the brokers and others according to MSI panelists. media,” a panelist said. that are relatively At least three news agencies—the state-run independent media Khabar and the private AKIpress and Kyrgyz Info— “The general public is businesses. Certain provide news to the media and the general population, media outlets may but the financial ability of outlets to subscribe to these hardly aware of who be owned by a col- services may be limited. owns what. But many lective of cowork- Western ers officially, but newspapers are “In the Republic, media outlets now in reality, most available, but only belong to oligarchs.” outlets belong to a small number are access to local and a business owner brought to Bishkek, or a high-ranking official. For example, the newspaper where there are a international media is Vecherniy Bishkek, the television/radio station KOORT, few English-speak- not restricted. However, and the cable television station Ala-TV are prominent ing readers. For media outlets known to belong to the president’s family, the most part, only it should be noted that panelists said. Russian newspa- most of the population On the other hand, some private individuals have pers are imported. launched their own publications and/or television or According to a subscribes only to panel participant, Russian newspapers.” “In the Republic, Multiple news sources provide citizens with access to local and international media is not restricted. reliable and objective news However, it should be noted that most of the population subscribes only to Russian newspapers.” It is possible to ■ A plurality of affordable public and private news sources (e.g., print, broadcast, Internet) exists. use the Internet even in the most remote corners of Kyr- gyzstan, but access prices are high and connection speeds ■ Citizens’ access to domestic or international leave much to be desired. media is not restricted. The law allows media to report in the languages
INDICATORS ■ State or public media reflect the views of the of national minorities. There have been no known cases
entire political spectrum, are nonpartisan, and of harassment of journalists doing so, or of significant serve the public interest. problems for those reporting on subjects of concern to ■ Independent news agencies gather and distrib- these groups. However, the resources devoted to minority ute news for print and broadcast media. issues are very limited.
■ Independent broadcast media produce their own news programs. Objective 4: Business Management ■ Transparency of media ownership allows Kyrgyzstan Objective Score: 1.19/4.00 consumers to judge objectivity of news; media ownership is not concentrated in a In Kyrgyzstan, the media generally do not operate as few conglomerates. commercially viable businesses. The prohibitive tax ■ A broad spectrum of social interests are system and the risk involved in investing in media, as reflected and represented in the media, includ- well as the poor overall economic situation in the coun-
PLURALITY OF NEWS SOURCES NEWS OF PLURALITY ing minority-language information sources. try, prevent media from developing sound business prac-
200 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ Independent media are well-managed constraints. For example, the Antimonopoly Committee businesses, allowing editorial independence has restricted ads in the print media to no more than 20 percent of the newspaper’s content. ■ Media outlets and supporting firms operate as The existing printing presses and distribution efficient, professional, and profit-generating network are insufficient and frequently fail to fulfill their businesses. commitments. Until late 2003, the state had a virtual ■ Media receive revenue from a multitude of monopoly on printing, and the state printing press sources. Uchkun at times refused orders for publications deemed to be critical of the government. However, in Octo- ■ Advertising agencies and related industries INDICATORS support an advertising market. ber 2003, a US government-backed printing press was opened by Freedom House on the outskirts of Bishkek, ■ Advertising revenue as a percentage of total breaking the monopoly for the capital. The printing revenue is in line with accepted standards at house is open to state media, but its key role is seen as commercial outlets. offering an alternative mechanism for printing non-state ■ Independent media do not receive government newspapers. The facilities that control radio frequencies subsidies. and television transmissions all belong to the state. ■ Market research is used to formulate strategic Two institutions distribute print media nation- plans, enhance advertising revenue, and tailor wide. State-run Kyrgyzpochtasi operates rather effi- products to the needs and interests of ciently, but the joint-stock company Kyrgyzbasmasoz audiences. performs poorly and is indebted to almost all the
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT BUSINESS ■ Broadcast ratings and circulation figures are newspapers in the country, according to panel mem- reliably and independently produced. bers. The revenues owed are a constant complaint from newspaper producers, both state and private. A few inde- tices. Large subsidies, tax breaks, and printing rates set pendent publications have begun to develop their own at lower-than-market prices, especially for state media local distribution systems, from which they have gained outlets, distort the media market. Private media outlets significant independence. Overall, media representatives have made efforts to diversify their income and currently indicate an ongoing need for a well-managed, reliable generate revenue from varying sources such as advertis- distribution system. ing and sponsors. In addition, grants from international Market ratings and circulation research are donors remain a major source of income. conducted infrequently and without the use of accepted Since there are no special advertising agencies in methodologies. Therefore, it is very difficult to assess the country, some more proactive media have developed media ratings in Kyrgyzstan. The research that is their own advertising services. With virtually no media conducted is generally of a relatively low professional advertising professionals available, training has been standard. It does not contribute greatly to the improve- on-the-job. But overall, this independent strategy has ment of the media environment, and leads neither to proven effective, allowing some publications to draw better-quality information nor to a higher degree of revenues from their advertising. service to audiences. Yet, most media underutilize advertising, and the percentage of income from this source supporting Kyr- gyzstani media is inconsistent with international stan- Objective 5: Supporting Institutions dards. Those who try to sell advertising are not equipped Kyrgyzstan Objective Score: 2.03/4.00 with basic research to describe the audience potential customers would reach. Some advertisers do not want In 2003, a new Trade Union of Journalists was founded. to place ads with media out of fear that they are inviting This independent union provides comprehensive assis- an audit by the taxation agency. Or, they avoid placing tance to rank-and-file journalists and attempts to build advertising where it would not please the authorities. public trust in the media. Nevertheless, one panelist It is also unclear how effective advertising is in various explained, “Attempts to create trade unions and other outlets since there is no reliable data. To the degree that professional associations take place every year. However, there are any estimates, advertising profits appear to so far the media community has not achieved any signifi- be decreasing each year due to political and economic cant results.” Another “Soviet-style” trade union rep-
KYRGYZSTAN 201 “Attempts to resenting cultural and advocating for journalists’ labor rights. Overall, workers can claim however, professional associations are small and inef- create trade unions some successful fective. Recently, associations protecting the interests of and other professional cases of protecting private media owners have emerged. They have assisted journalists’ rights. journalists in legal protection and copyright protection associations take Otherwise, most of issues. One panel participant stated, “We have associa- place every year. the nongovernmen- tions of journalists, but no associations of publishers or tal organizations radio broadcasters. Noncommercial organizations like However, so far the (NGOs) specializing the associations Journalists and Journalists in Trouble media community in the protection Foundation, and the Kyrgyz Committee for Human of media rights are Rights all provide major assistance to journalists.” has not achieved any foreign organiza- A wide range of international organizations tions. support media in Kyrgyzstan, or provide resources for significant results.” In addition regional training centers. The groups include IREX, to the new trade Internews, the International Federation of Journalists (of union, the public association Journalists was founded in which Kyrgyzstan is the only CIS member), the Eurasia 1998, and another trade union for journalists was created Foundation, and the Soros Foundation. in 2002. These organizations serve journalists’ profes- There are approximately 10 educational institu- sional interests and lobby at the national level. They tions that train journalists in Kyrgyzstan. However, have been called on to assist in protecting the frequency most journalism departments do not fully prepare rights of Osh TV, securing the release of journalists from their students to operate professionally. Many gradu- prison, defending the Portret Nedeli newspaper in court, ates leave journalism programs without practical skills or a detailed understanding of the ethical responsibili- Supporting institutions function in the ties of the media sector. Only the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic professional interests of independent media University and the American University of Kyrgyzstan have produced a cadre of qualified journalists. “We must ■ Trade associations represent the interests of admit that the education of journalists is not adequate,” private media owners and provide member a panel member said. “In this respect, international services. organizations are more successful. People have a chance ■ Professional associations work to protect to continue their education abroad, but many of them do journalists’ rights. not come back. This problem is caused by the inability of
INDICATORS media outlets to assist in job placement for students.” ■ NGOs support free speech and independent With the establishment of the Freedom House media. printing press, there is now an alternative to the politi- ■ Quality journalism degree programs that provide cally influenced state press. However, many other print- substantial practical experience exist. ing presses still prefer state-run media clientele for ■ Short-term training and in-service training political reasons. There are a sufficient number of print- programs allow journalists to upgrade skills or ing plants and publishing firms in Kyrgyzstan; but there acquire new skills. remain questions about their level of independence, since ■ Sources of newsprint and printing facilities are they, like broadcast channels, depend on state funding. private, apolitical, and unrestricted. Non-state publications are not always available at newsstands, as every clerk is obliged to sell government- ■ Channels of media distribution (kiosks, trans- supported media first. If any state-funded publications mitters, Internet) are private, apolitical, and SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS SUPPORTING unrestricted. are unsold, deductions are made from the salary of the newsstand clerk or the seller.
202 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ Panel Participants Alexander Kulinsky, Piramida TV
Adelya Laisheva, Internews
Kuban Mambetaliev, Public Association of Journalists
Ernis Mamyrkanov, Osh Media Resource Center
Yrysbek Omurzakov, Tribuna newspaper
Sergei Rahmatulin, Almaz-yug Radio
Bektash Shamshiev, Azattyk Radio
Bolokbay Sherimbekov, Kyrgyz State TV
Victor Shloyev, Moya Stolitsa newspaper
Marat Tazabekov, Aki Press
Moderator Marfua Tokhtakhodjaeva, chairperson, Women’s Resource Center
Observers Chinara Orozbaeva, country director, IREX/Kyrgyzstan
Maria Stefurak, USAID
KYRGYZSTAN 203 “Tajikistan does not have legal norms for the protection of journalists, as we do not have any independent system of judicial power,” a panel member said. Tajikistan
Introduction ajikistan, now six years removed from its devastating civil war, is con- tinuing the struggle to overcome the legacy of that turbulent period in its history. The destruction caused by the war, compounded by extreme poverty and a string of natural disasters that further hampered recon- struction, often relegates journalists and editors to working in dilapi- dated offices with obsolete equipment. The community of Tajikistani media practitioners has not rebounded fully since the war, when the authorities blamed the press for unleashing the conflict, and many journalists were either killed or fled the country. Journalists and editors T have poignant memories of the brutal wartime deaths of their col- leagues that continue to scare many into self-censorship. In late 2002, the government convened a task force to investigate political killings during the war, but as of 2003, only a few serious investigations had been completed. In 2003, the Supreme Court did convict and sentence two people as accomplices in the murders of two journalists working for international news organizations during the mid-1990s. However, media workers say they do not feel convinced that the government is committed to fully investigating all the slayings, and the fact that most have gone unprosecuted only serves to increase their anxieties. Journalists in Tajikistan are facing another major prob- lem—access to information. Overall, the administration of President Imomali Rahmonov has been largely inaccessible to the media. The unwillingness of the authorities to share information, a process that has been effectively regulated by legislation, leads journalists to pub- lish unofficial data and then be summoned to court. Most government ministries and offices have no established mechanism for imparting information to the media, making it extremely difficult to improve media coverage for the Tajikistani public. However, there is some reason for optimism in Tajikistan. In 2003, following the trend of previous years, the government continued slowly but steadily to return independence to the press. The number of non-state print publications is growing rapidly, and the competi- tion among Dushanbe-based newspapers is tan-
TAJIKISTAN 205 Objective Scoring Indicator Scoring The averages of all the indicators are averaged to obtain a single, Each indicator is scored using the following system: overall score for each objective. Objective scores are averaged to provide 0 = Country does not meet indicator; government or social forces may actively an overall score for the country. IREX interprets the overall scores as follows: oppose its implementation 3 and above: Sustainable and free independent media 1 = Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator; forces may not actively oppose its implementation, but business environment may not support it 2–3: Independent media approaching sustainability and government or profession do not fully and actively support change 1–2: Significant progress remains to be made; 2 = Country has begun to meet many aspects of the indicator, but progress may society or government is not fully supportive be too recent to judge or still dependent on current government or political forces 0–1: Country meets few indicators; government and society actively oppose change 3 = Country meets most aspects of the indicator; implementation of the indica- tor has occurred over several years and/or through changes in government, indicating likely sustainability 4 = Country meets the aspects of the indicator; implementation has remained intact over multiple changes in government, economic fluctuations, changes in public opinion, and/or changing social conventions
206 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ gible. Several media conglomerates now exist. Asia Plus, information to “There are numerous for example, includes a news agency, a newspaper, and media, often giving an FM radio station. Charkhi Gardun publishes seven the excuse that they instruments in which newspapers throughout Tajikistan. A third group, Tiroz, are too busy. Access pressure can be applied an association of several television stations and the first to information is independent FM radio station in the country, is being generally easier for to the journalist. There formed. Dushanbe is the only CIS capital where one can state journalists is no doubt whatsoever see advertisements for the broadcast of local-language than for indepen- versions of Radio Liberty. In addition, some journalists dent media. Access that he could be beaten have started to publish newspapers that contain pieces is also restricted up or killed.” evaluating the performance of the authorities. Nerui by bureaucratic Sukhan and Ruzi Nav are examples of this trend. For delays and the these reasons, the Media Sustainability Index (MSI) unwillingness of officials to assume responsibility for reflects the growth of pluralism and freedom of speech in the information provided. Information is often obtained Tajikistan during 2003. through unorthodox methods that too frequently verge on violating the law. It is also very difficult to get infor- mation from the “power ministries”—the military and Objective 1: Free Speech police. People who work in those structures are often Tajikistan Objective Score: 1.19/4.00 incompetent, and when they do give information, it has to be double-checked. As in all CIS countries, the Constitution of Tajikistan guarantees the freedom of speech. But in practice, the Legal and social norms protect and promote constitutional protection and the approximately 10 laws free speech and access to public information adopted since independence concerning the media are not implemented fairly or completely. Most Tajik media ■ Legal/social protections of free speech exist work for those in power in the government, and journal- and are enforced. ists do not feel fully empowered by the law. “Tajikistan ■ Licensing of broadcast media is fair, competitive, does not have legal norms for the protection of journal- and apolitical. ists, as we do not have any independent system of judicial power,” a panel member said. “The Constitution of ■ Market entry and tax structure for media are fair Tajikistan guarantees freedom of speech, but it does not and comparable to other industries. guarantee the journalist’s security. In most cases the law ■ Crimes against journalists or media outlets are is not observed, and state officials have ways to pres- prosecuted vigorously, but occurrences of such sure the media. So far there have not been any cases of crimes are rare. journalists asserting their rights in court, but freedom ■ State or public media do not receive preferential of speech is highly rated by society as a whole. There is legal treatment, and law guarantees editorial a tendency towards improvement, but it is possible that independence. this process is still under pressure.” ■ Libel is a civil law issue; public officials are held Another panel member explained, “In this coun- to higher standards, and the offended party try, there is the real possibility to freely express one’s must prove falsity and malice. thoughts, but it is another question whether a journalist ■ who has challenged the authorities through investigative Public information is easily accessible; right of access to information is equally enforced for all reporting, such as the issue of corruption, has to fear for INDICATORS SPEECH FREE media and journalists. his life. There are numerous instruments in which pres- sure can be applied to the journalist. There is no doubt ■ Media outlets have unrestricted access to infor- whatsoever that he could be beaten up or killed.” mation; this is equally enforced for all media and journalists. There are no laws that restrict access to informa- tion, but there are no laws that guarantee it. In practice, ■ Entry into the journalism profession is free, and access to information is limited at best. Government government imposes no licensing, restrictions, officials and business executives are reluctant to provide or special rights for journalists.
TAJIKISTAN 207 “In this country, Broadcasting responsible for these murders,” the organization said in a licenses are issued letter to the government. there is the real by the Committee At present, physical repression of journalists seems possibility to freely for State TV and to have declined, and no specific charges for crimes Radio Broadcast- against journalists are pending. But the authorities have express one’s thoughts, ing. This regula- other methods of pressure at their disposal, and jour- but it is another tory body has been nalists feel unease about the potential for retribution reluctant to develop for stories they might write. One panelist offered as an question whether independent media example of how “journalists can be made accountable for a journalist who outlets in Tajikistan. their articles” the case of a television correspondent who The committee is a reported on the hardships of military service and the has challenged the monopoly, and the hazing of soldiers and was summoned to the prosecutor’s licensing process, office. “The journalists are not protected as in the rest of authorities through based fully on the the world,” the panelist said. In another case cited by the investigative reporting, decision of members Committee to Protect Journalists, tax inspectors visited of the committee’s the independent weekly Nerui Sukhan after it published such as the issue of special commis- articles containing criticism of government policies. corruption, has to sion, is viewed by Tajikistan still has a criminal defamation law many as corrupt. under which journalists can be prosecuted for criticism fear for his life.” Obtaining a license of the president and administration officials. In cases is one of the most involving criticism or insult of the president, penalties difficult hurdles facing private media businesses. As one can include prison terms of up to five years. Although example, Asia Plus did not receive the license it applied there were no prosecutions under this law during 2003, for in 1998 until 2002. Even after receiving the license, simply having the law active is enough to prompt most editors run the risk of losing it if the outlet criticizes the journalists and editors to practice self-censorship. There government. Another critical problem facing the media are other types of lawsuits pending against correspon- is taxation. Taxes, especially the value-added tax (VAT), dents, and the inadequacies of the judicial branch also are viewed as greatly hindering independent media as lead media workers to question whether such cases will well as other businesses in Tajikistan. In April, the media be handled fairly. community filed an appeal to the government protest- Media managers are not appointed by politi- ing the high taxation and asking for an exemption from cal forces. In some cases, however, the government has the VAT, but it never received a response. Customs duties blocked the printing of newspaper articles. In 2003, are also viewed as excessively high, especially since most issues of two independent newspapers, Ruzi Nav and specialized equipment, paper, and other supplies used by Nerui Suhai, were not produced because managers of a media are imported from Russia. In addition, according state-run printing press refused to print them. to the panel, taxation agencies have a tendency to raid Access to international news and information is independent media outlets after they publish material limited. The Internet has improved the situation, but it is critical of the government. Such raids usually result in only available in urban areas and remains quite expen- the journalists being fired and the media organization sive. Media access to the Internet is limited by the finan- being shut down. cial resources of outlets. Some donor organizations are Journalists are often victims of attacks and threats, subsidizing media use of Internet resources in Khorog and memories linger of the numerous unsolved murders and other towns. The main source of foreign news for both during and in the aftermath of the civil war. A dele- most of the population is from Russian government-run gation from the Committee to Protect Journalists visited channels that are rebroadcast by state and private chan- Tajikistan during 2003 to renew calls for investigation of nels in Tajikistan. the deaths of 29 journalists during and after Tajikistan’s civil war. “We believe very strongly that the only way the government of Tajikistan can combat the pervasive cul- ture of fear and self-censorship lingering from the civil war is by aggressively investigating and prosecuting those
208 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ these outlets offer “Journalists do not Objective 2: Professional Journalism workers a certain Tajikistan Objective Score: 1.26/4.00 stability as well as always double-check some benefits not their information. Their There are individual journalists whose articles and matched by private broadcasts meet professional standards, but this cannot outlets such as work is not always be said about journalism as a whole in Tajikistan. “Jour- access to holiday objective. In fact, much nalists do not always double-check their information. camps, sick leave, Their work is not always objective. In fact, much of it and the general- of it is subjective,” a is subjective,” a panel member said. “Journalists try to ized support of state panel member said. verify their data, but so few have access to other sources organs. of information, and the authorities do not provide them Self-censor- “Journalists try to verify with correct information.” ship is widespread. Ethical norms have not yet been established in the Topics that still are their data, but so few media sector. Bribing journalists or paying them for cov- taboo include criti- have access to other erage is not uncommon. Salaries for media workers are cism of high-rank- very low, so some resort to selling programs or articles to ing officials and sources of information, supplement their incomes. Journalism organizations do coverage of issues and the authorities do have ethics codes, but they are not widely observed. More such as corrup- likely to be followed are standards established by indi- tion, the security not provide them with vidual journalists and editors. services, or drug correct information.” Journalists’ salaries at state newspapers run at $15 trafficking. Jour- to $20 per month—and perhaps 50 percent more at state nalists do not want to be in a position to have to defend broadcast outlets—whereas pay at non-state media is themselves, while editors and media owners do not want approximately three times higher. The low rates at state- to risk losing their outlets’ licenses or their livelihood. run media result in a high level of job turnover; however, At least one panelist felt local private television com- panies were capable of reasonably objective coverage: “Self-censorship at independent stations is a rare thing. Journalism meets professional standards of Corruption exists in the state-run media, but it is not quality encountered in the independent media.” Entertainment programs get more television ■ Reporting is fair, objective, and well sourced. airtime than news shows, and, panelists said, it appears ■ Journalists follow recognized and accepted that the more complicated the political and economic ethical standards. situation in Tajikistan, the more the broadcast schedule ■ Journalists and editors do not practice fills with entertainment offerings. Panel participants self-censorship. estimated that at times only 10 percent of broadcast- INDICATORS ing on television and radio is comprised of news or ■ Journalists cover key events and issues. informational programs. Other material appears to be ■ Pay levels for journalists and other media “news” but actually is coverage of the success of busi- professionals are sufficiently high to discourage nesses or profiles of personalities paid for by the sources. corruption. According to a panelist, “The balance between com- ■ Entertainment programming does not eclipse mercial topics and the news is different in various media news and information programming. markets. In recent years, the number of news programs on TV has grown by 20–25 percent. Purchased pro- ■ Technical facilities and equipment for gathering, gramming amounts to 15 percent of the airtime, while producing, and distributing news are modern and efficient. in-house programming results in a 10 percent share. Yet, most of the media material is one-sided. The number of ■ Quality niche reporting and programming media outlets that work in compliance with international exists (investigative, economics/business, local, standards is very low.”
PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM PROFESSIONAL political).
TAJIKISTAN 209 The technical capacity of media in Tajikistan is areas. This is even “The lack of daily generally poor. For example, state television and radio truer for Russian stations do not have digital equipment. “Tajik journalists newspapers, the newspapers means are in great need of new equipment. Journalists do not only international we can’t really talk even have cassette recorders,” a panelist said. “In the last publications avail- 10 years, the state has not done anything to update print- able. Television and about the effectiveness ing and other information technologies. The means of radio reach most of truthful and collecting, producing, and disseminating news meet only rural communi- with the most minimal of standards. As well as being ties, but reception objective information,” outdated, equipment is only available in Dushanbe and is limited by power said one panelist. in northern parts of the country, in the Sogd region.” outages as well as There is no specialization in the journalism field, poverty. A veri- “Information but initial attempts are being made to develop niche table information reporting. IREX, for example, conducted trainings on vacuum plagues the bulletins and news reporting about human trafficking. many mountainous flashes in print or areas of the country. electronic media are Objective 3: Plurality of News Sources “The lack of daily newspapers means practically beyond Tajikistan Objective Score: 1.33/4.00 we can’t really talk about the effective- the reach of the There is some range of information sources available ness of truthful and population.” in Tajikistan, although many obstacles face people who objective informa- want to be fully informed. tion,” said one No daily newspapers are produced in Tajiki- panelist. “Information bulletins and news flashes in print stan, and those that appear weekly are both costly and or electronic media are practically beyond the reach of very limited in circulation, especially outside of urban the population.” There is no law against obtaining information from the Internet, but many websites nonetheless are Multiple news sources provide citizens with blocked by the state telecommunications provider. The reliable and objective news issue is of somewhat limited practical importance at this point, however, because the cost of Internet access puts it ■ A plurality of affordable public and private news sources (e.g., print, broadcast, Internet) exists. out of reach for virtually all journalists. State-run media do not accurately or fully reflect ■ Citizens’ access to domestic or international the country’s political spectrum. Parties other than the media is not restricted. pro-government People’s Democratic Party do not have
INDICATORS ■ State or public media reflect the views of the sufficient access to media outlets. Although government
entire political spectrum, are nonpartisan, and authorities cannot restrict citizen access to information, serve the public interest. state media do not assist their audience in obtaining a ■ Independent news agencies gather and distrib- full understanding of public affairs. Programming at ute news for print and broadcast media. state-run media outlets reflects the policies of the gov- ernment, and journalists are barred from probing topics ■ Independent broadcast media produce their own news programs. such as the economic situation, government spending, international assistance, or foreign investment. ■ Transparency of media ownership allows Private media outlets have a somewhat freer hand consumers to judge objectivity of news; to create independent news coverage. However, this media ownership is not concentrated in a material often tends to focus on local issues that are few conglomerates. not particularly controversial, such as problems with ■ A broad spectrum of social interests are community services. Media organizations also struggle reflected and represented in the media, includ- against a relatively low demand for news programming
PLURALITY OF NEWS SOURCES NEWS OF PLURALITY ing minority-language information sources.
210 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ among citizens more concerned with survival than with For example, One panel participant public affairs. printing presses Media consumers are aware that the government are all state-run, noted that “media controls most outlets. It is generally known that the and the generally owners can profit names of the media “owners” appearing on the front outdated equipment pages of newspapers are not those who actually control generates a poor only by concealing the outlets. Media community insiders may know the product. So far, it the real circulation and true owners, but the broader audience has no way of has been too expen- finding that out. sive for substantial advertising numbers,” The many limitations on media in Tajikistan private printing lowering these figures mean that coverage of social issues is relatively limited. press operations to This includes subjects relating to minority populations, enter the market. to avoid paying taxes. although a national newspaper is printed in the Uzbek The state’s control language. over printing therefore gives it a powerful instrument for pressuring independent media. According to one panel- ist, the state printing monopoly Sharki Ozod “follows Objective 4: Business Management the orders of the executive office of the president.” The Tajikistan Objective Score: 1.07/4.00 panelist said there had been “many cases in which the management of a printing press refuses to print the next Professional media management is nascent in Tajikistan. issue of a newspaper.” In a case noted by the Commit- Some media-support organizations such as Internews tee to Protect Journalists, Sharki Ozod refused to print offer seminars on business and financial management for the independent weekly Ruzi Nav after coverage that media outlets. However, state-run media have no obliga- included reports on “perks” for government officials. tion to perform in the market, and private outlets find Similarly, print media counterparts and private radio many aspects of their business outside of their control. and television companies are dependent on the govern- ment because their signals are transmitted by the state- owned communication facilities. Distribution remains a major problem for Tajikistani Independent media are well-managed newspapers as well. There is no formal distribution net- businesses, allowing editorial independence work, and newspapers rely primarily on newsstands and private vendors. Even in Dushanbe, there are few news- ■ Media outlets and supporting firms operate as efficient, professional, and profit-generating stands, and papers are mainly hawked on the streets by businesses. private vendors. Outside of the metropolitan areas, media organizations must rely on the postal service for distribu- ■ Media receive revenue from a multitude of tion, meaning they are subject to government directives. sources. Some media outlets recently have started drawing ■ Advertising agencies and related industries revenues from more varied sources, including subscrip- INDICATORS support an advertising market. tions, advertising, retail sales, and grants. However, ■ Advertising revenue as a percentage of total the stagnant economy means that advertising is under- revenue is in line with accepted standards at developed. In addition, some advertisers are afraid to commercial outlets. place ads with independent media given the government attitude toward non-state outlets and the possibility that ■ Independent media do not receive government subsidies. advertising might draw the attention of the tax authori- ties. There are several advertising agencies in operation, ■ Market research is used to formulate strategic but they are used mainly by international organizations plans, enhance advertising revenue, and tailor and companies. The small amount of available advertis- products to the needs and interests of audiences. ing is insufficient to ensure an economic base for most print media, which must look to circulation for revenues, BUSINESS MANAGEMENT BUSINESS ■ Broadcast ratings and circulation figures are but there are a few outlets surviving on the gradually reliably and independently produced. developing advertising market. One panel participant
TAJIKISTAN 211
“There are NGOs noted that “media Supporting institutions function in the owners can profit professional interests of independent media that assisted in the only by concealing protection of rights the real circulation ■ Trade associations represent the interests of and advertising private media owners and provide member and freedoms of the numbers,” lower- services. journalists, but there ing these figures to ■ Professional associations work to protect avoid paying taxes. journalists’ rights. INDICATORS are no NGOs that Therefore, it is dif- ■ NGOs support free speech and independent have been founded ficult to gauge the media. true figures specifically for the for advertising ■ Quality journalism degree programs that provide substantial practical experience exist. revenues. legal protection Some market ■ Short-term training and in-service training of journalists.” research is con- programs allow journalists to upgrade skills or ducted, primarily acquire new skills. by the nongovernmental organization (NGO) Zerkalo, ■ Sources of newsprint and printing facilities are although its usefulness is not fully established. Research private, apolitical, and unrestricted. is also conducted to some degree by individual media ■ Channels of media distribution (kiosks, trans- outlets, but this research is not always objective and only mitters, Internet) are private, apolitical, and sporadic. There are no certified organizations doing INSTITUTIONS SUPPORTING unrestricted. audience measurements or ratings for broadcasters or auditing circulation for print meeting. The Union of Journalists was founded during the Soviet era, but it fails to provide any real assis- Objective 5: Supporting Institutions tance to journalists. One of the union’s few activities Tajikistan Objective Score: 1.23/4.00 is giving journalism awards. “All existing trade unions are subordinate to the government,” a panelist said. NGOs have not fully established themselves in Tajikistan, The creation of a new, more modern trade union was and civil society is weak. Professional media associa- initiated in late 2003 by the Organization for Security tions do exist, but so far they have not proven capable and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the National of protecting the rights of media and the interests of Association of Independent Mass Media in Tajikistan journalists. They conduct trainings and seminars for the (NANSMIT). professional advancement of journalists, as well as par- Journalism educational programs are generally ticipate in developing legislative drafts. “There are NGOs of poor quality. Would-be journalists can study at two that assisted in the protection of rights and freedoms of universities, but the curriculum is outdated. There is the journalists, but there are no NGOs that have been little opportunity for hands-on professional training founded specifically for the legal protection of journal- to prepare students for work in the media field. After ists,” one panelist said. The ability of media-support receiving their diplomas, many graduates work in other NGOs such as the National Association of Independent sectors, and the lack of journalists is palpable, especially Mass Media of Tajikistan and Internews to support free those skilled in the Russian language. Several organiza- press and independent media is limited, according to tions such as the Pamir Mass Media Center attempt to panel members. provide support services for professional journalists.
212 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ Panel Participants Masrur Abdulloev, program director, Internews Tajikistan
Qurbon Alamshoev, independent journalist and editor, Chatri Simin
Rustam Buriev, journalist and chairman, Mavji Ozod television station, Vose
Turko Dikaev, independent journalist, Kulyob
Marat Mamadshoev, deputy editor, Dushanbe Capital newspaper
Gulos Mamdloiqov, Pamir Mass Media Center, Khorog
Mematullo Mirsaidov, Vororud newspaper
Mirzo Rajabi, publisher and editor, Nuri Nav newspaper
Khurshed Safarov, director, Independent TV and Radio
Saidumron Saidov, journalist, CMI, Khujand
Lalita Tyraeva, deputy editor-in-chief, Tajikistan newspaper
Moderator Marfua Tokhtakhodjaeva, chairperson, Women’s Resource Center
Observer Abdusalom Mamatnazarov, country director, IREX/ Tajikistan
TAJIKISTAN 213 “There is no rule of law in society, and certain traditions are entrenched; there is no place to turn to enforce the laws since the judiciary is not independent; and the power of the executive branch is very strong.” Uzbekistan
Introduction n 2003, the Uzbekistani media remained one of the most underde- veloped and centrally controlled in the former Soviet Union. The Karimov regime has continued a campaign against the independent media that is virtually unparalleled among countries reviewed in the Media Sustainability Index (MSI). While 2002 saw the official aboli- tion of mandatory prepublication review and censorship by the State Press Agency, it became clear in 2003 that the repeal only shifted the emphasis to self-censorship among journalists and postsubmis- sion censorship by nervous editors. The 2003 arrest, imprisonment, Iand suspected torture of writer Ruslan Sharipov, former head of the Union of Independent Journalists of Uzbekistan, served as a poignant reminder of the fate journalists may suffer for generating pieces criti- cal of the government. As a result, not only has Soviet-style self-cen- sorship become the norm, which in itself all but precludes meaningful social or political reporting, but it has also produced a “brain drain” of Uzbekistani media practitioners who opt to practice in exile. The vast majority of media in Uzbekistan fully serve the ideo- logical goals of the government. Current developments are presented from the government’s point of view, and such coverage consists only of official events. Analysis and commentary regarding events and their effect on the public are almost absent. Other information supplied by the media is largely downloaded from the Internet or taken from Rus- sian outlets, and generally does not contain news concerning Uzbeki- stan. Overall, the quality of print and broadcast media in Uzbekistan differs significantly even from that of the neighboring Central Asian countries. Uzbekistani outlets exhibit less professionalism and a weaker influence on the public. The vast majority of state and non- state media outlets provide almost exclusively entertainment mate- rial, with very little coverage of social and economic issues. The panel concluded that the entertainment media provided little intellectual stimulation for the population, especially Uzbek speakers, although the relative commercial success of these outlets may one day provide a
UZBEKISTAN 215 Objective Scoring Indicator Scoring The averages of all the indicators are averaged to obtain a single, Each indicator is scored using the following system: overall score for each objective. Objective scores are averaged to provide 0 = Country does not meet indicator; government or social forces may actively an overall score for the country. IREX interprets the overall scores as follows: oppose its implementation 3 and above: Sustainable and free independent media 1 = Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator; forces may not actively oppose its implementation, but business environment may not support it 2–3: Independent media approaching sustainability and government or profession do not fully and actively support change 1–2: Significant progress remains to be made; 2 = Country has begun to meet many aspects of the indicator, but progress may society or government is not fully supportive be too recent to judge or still dependent on current government or political forces 0–1: Country meets few indicators; government and society actively oppose change 3 = Country meets most aspects of the indicator; implementation of the indica- tor has occurred over several years and/or through changes in government, indicating likely sustainability 4 = Country meets the aspects of the indicator; implementation has remained intact over multiple changes in government, economic fluctuations, changes in public opinion, and/or changing social conventions
216 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ basis for development of a more informative independent freedom of speech.” “Licenses are given to and financially viable press. Another panelist The Constitution of Uzbekistan guarantees open listed three reasons those who bribe the access to information, but in practice admission to any for violations of the officials or those who official entity’s activities is highly restricted for non-state freedom of speech journalists. The authorities use many methods to control protections: “There have good personal significant information, including direct and indirect is no rule of law in connections,” a panel refusals, unfounded rejections of accreditation, and society, and cer- preferential access for the state-run media. Meanwhile, tain traditions are member charged. “One journalists have become accustomed to the widespread entrenched; there can say that licensing in practice of government and other sources providing is no place to turn the media with useless or even fabricated information. to enforce the laws this country is corrupt.” Simultaneously, the government controls almost all since the judiciary is forms of production and distribution, including printing not independent; and the power of the executive branch presses and broadcast transmissions. Licensing proce- is very strong.” dures are highly bureaucratic and often unsuccessful for No law covers electronic media, which are instead independent media. regulated by one-off acts adopted by government offi- Uzbekistan’s media work mainly in Uzbek and cials without any input from the public. Licensing is Russian, the later technically a minority language. Many controlled by the Agency for Communications and cities have state-owned newspapers in Uzbek and Rus- Telecommunications. Its interdepartmental council sian, though both face dwindling interest among readers largely because of their “official” content. Although it Legal and social norms protect and promote still has a role among the intellectual elites, the Russian- free speech and access to public information language media has been in decline since the breakup of the Soviet Union and subsequent exodus of ethnic Rus- ■ Legal/social protections of free speech exist sians. Uzbek officials have worked actively to decrease and are enforced. the role of Russian-language print and broadcast media. ■ Licensing of broadcast media is fair, competitive, For example, one Uzbek television channel was trans- and apolitical. formed to a sport channel, and broadcasting in Russian was cut dramatically. ■ Market entry and tax structure for media are fair and comparable to other industries.
■ Crimes against journalists or media outlets are Objective 1: Free Speech prosecuted vigorously, but occurrences of such Uzbekistan Objective Score: 0.70/4.00 crimes are rare. ■ State or public media do not receive preferential The Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan guar- legal treatment, and law guarantees editorial antees the freedom of speech. There also are numerous independence. media-related laws, including the broad law on mass ■ Libel is a civil law issue; public officials are held media adopted in June 1991 and amended in December to higher standards, and the offended party 1997. Other legislation deals with protection of state must prove falsity and malice. secrets (1993), copyright (1996), journalist protections ■ (1997), access to information (1997), and advertising. Public information is easily accessible; right of access to information is equally enforced for all In addition, President Karimov has given some general INDICATORS SPEECH FREE media and journalists. official support to press freedom, perhaps in part because of increased international attention during the “war ■ Media outlets have unrestricted access to infor- on terror.” “A sufficient legislative base regulating the mation; this is equally enforced for all media and journalists. activities of the media has been developed,” a panelist concluded. “However,” he said, “many provisions need to ■ Entry into the journalism profession is free, and be adjusted. [There are] contradictions between the vari- government imposes no licensing, restrictions, ous provisions which then result in the restriction of the or special rights for journalists.
UZBEKISTAN 217 “The so-called issues licenses only tracted process of reviewing requests for information to independent press if it is convinced their advantage. The federal government’s preference for of a media outlet’s giving state media outlets what information is released is is independent of total loyalty to clear. At a multilateral forum in Tashkent, for example, the state only the government. President Karimov gave a press conference exclusively for “Licenses are given journalists from state-run media. economically,” one to those who bribe Persecution of controversial journalists is a participant said. the officials or those widespread phenomenon in Uzbekistan, particularly for who have good per- those who are critical or try to maintain a semblance of “In other words, it has sonal connections,” independence. “Courageous journalists and chief editors a panel member often get fired,” a panelist said. “In some cases pressure is to support itself on its charged. “One can exerted on the ownership. In other cases, newspapers are own, despite high taxes. say that licensing in closed down, and the entire staff, headed by its editor-in- this country is chief, is forced to resign. In some cases a person is simply For example, the corrupt.” offered a different job, or journalists leave ‘on their own advertising tax According to accord.’” One state television editor was barred from pro- the taxation policies ducing programs after participating in protests against amounts to 15 percent.” of Uzbekistan, the censorship. During the first six months of 2003, six jour- media is considered nalists, including correspondents for foreign agencies, to be like any other business. Taxes are generally high, were arrested. At year’s end, according to international but no value-added tax (VAT) is levied. “The so-called observers, five were serving multiyear prison sentences, independent press is independent of the state only eco- one of them in connection with writing on the Islamic nomically,” one participant said. “In other words, it has to opposition movement. There is little public outcry when support itself on its own, despite high taxes. For example, crimes against journalists are committed, and journalists the advertising tax amounts to 15 percent.” The state-run lack any legal protection in Uzbekistan, panelists agreed. media receive subsidies, including office space and sup- It is impossible to cover corruption, since a legal plies, from the government. provision bars journalists from “interfering” in the The freedom of information law adopted in Decem- private lives of politicians and government officials. With ber 2002 can be interpreted in many ways. Article 14 allows corruption widespread in the judicial system, govern- for banning any information critical of societal values or ment authorities have free reign to prosecute each other advocating social change, and protects many phenomena and media professionals for libel, which remains a crimi- under the umbrella of the “national consciousness” or the nal offense. Uzbekistani “mentality.” In one case, a journalist from On a more encouraging note, there have been some Pravda Vostoka was fired “at her own request” for criticism examples of journalists successfully defending them- of national customs and traditions that she believed con- selves against prosecutions. In late 2003, the editor of tributed to discrimination against women. By contrast, in Mokhiyat won a case in which he had been charged with the spirit of the Soviet era, largely unknown journalists get libel. In December, a journalist from TV Yoshlar won decorated with orders and medals to ensure their loyalty to her case against the management of the state broadcaster, the national ideal. The number of recipients of such awards which she said had unlawfully fired her in April 2002, exceeded 300 during 2003. purportedly for accepting a bribe. Several days before her In practice, the state does not guarantee equal dismissal, the journalist had broadcast critical coverage access to information for the independent press. The about the poor educational standards at a high school. founding of an institute for press secretaries has proven However, the end of prepublication review by the State to be a barrier to obtaining information from gov- Press Agency in 2002 has placed an additional burden ernment offices. The institute serves only to increase of responsibility on editors, who now generally decide bureaucratic red tape and to disseminate press releases against publishing or broadcasting any story that could that contain few facts. Indeed, authorities are able to potentially be construed as libel. issue information at their discretion due to the lack of Access to international news is limited. News a clear-cut legal explanation of what constitutes state broadcasts originating outside of Uzbekistan from secrets. These authorities also are able to use the pro- sources such as the BBC or RFE/RL are blocked at
218 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ times, though entertainment programming is generally Regional media, “The ethos of serving allowed. Uzbekistani correspondents for foreign media operating farther are among those who find themselves intimidated by the from the gaze of the interests of society government, according to free-speech advocates. Some federal authorities, has not yet taken hold Internet sites are blocked, and overall the Internet is may have somewhat largely under government control. Internet access also more room for with editors, publishers, remains relatively expensive in Uzbekistan, resulting in maneuvering but and other employees of limited means for many media organizations to connect still stick close to to the Internet, particularly in the regions. the official line pre- various publications,” sented by the local a panel member said. Objective 2: Professional Journalism apparatus. The Uzbek- “They direct their Uzbekistan Objective Score: 0.53/4.00 language media use the so-called attention to the With the national state media under such strict control, national conscious- instructions of the there is little opportunity to develop journalists’ profes- ness and patriarchal sionalism. “The ethos of serving the interests of society stereotypes as pro- local authorities.” has not yet taken hold with editors, publishers, and other paganda to justify employees of various publications,” a panel member said. authoritarianism as a national policy. Most of the articles “They direct their attention to the instructions of the on social and political topics are didactic, lacking facts local authorities.” and statistics. The views of such opposition movements Subjective coverage of most issues is the norm, and as exist in Uzbekistan are largely absent from coverage. few articles and news reports contain multiple view- Internet journalism is even more directly controlled. If points. “The state press and television are known for the unacceptable content is published by websites, it is often absence of critical analyses and the lack of balance,” said blocked by the government. a panelist. “The threat of censorship is very apparent.” The criteria of objectivity, accuracy, and impar- tiality are not applied in any meaningful way to cover- age because of pressure from government authorities, Journalism meets professional standards of editors, and owners. Self-censorship is becoming an quality everyday practice for most journalists, who are afraid to analyze significant political and economic events lest ■ Reporting is fair, objective, and well sourced. they be prosecuted. The same is true for editors, who ■ Journalists follow recognized and accepted fear being replaced. Journalists report that the official ethical standards. “line” about what can and cannot be covered is some- ■ Journalists and editors do not practice times conveyed by government officials at meetings with self-censorship. editors, or can come in the form of a pointed telephone INDICATORS call. Among the off-limits topics are corruption, prob- ■ Journalists cover key events and issues. lems with economic reforms, domestic violence, and the ■ Pay levels for journalists and other media effects of poverty. professionals are sufficiently high to discourage Poor wages are the norm for journalists, with sala- corruption. ries and honoraria only slightly higher at private outlets ■ Entertainment programming does not eclipse compared with state media. Journalists may sell their news and information programming. coverage to politicians and businesses, produce made- to-order articles, or work for several publications at the ■ Technical facilities and equipment for gathering, same time to earn a living. producing, and distributing news are modern and efficient. There is no generally accepted ethical code to guide journalists and editors. In addition, the editors ■ Quality niche reporting and programming and staffs of official media generally are consider- exists (investigative, economics/business, local, ably older than the populations they serve and are still
PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM PROFESSIONAL political). inclined to follow the Soviet principles of “journalism”
UZBEKISTAN 219 that they were taught. There are few sources of new “The media lacks the resources to reflect the public inter- techniques, and they certainly are not provided through est in their coverage,” a panel member said. “Presentation those university journalism faculties that continue to of the news is dictated by the interests of a small circle of exist. Younger journalists, with little or no professional people who determine the entire internal policy of the training, are more attracted by the private media outlets, government. The content of the news is determined ‘from even if they operate within strict boundaries or focus on above’ or, to be more exact, by official policy.” “light” content. In recent years, more than 200 privately owned Entertainment programming is a lot less risky and newspapers have been registered. Their circulation num- as a result now dominates many broadcast and print bers are rather high—much, much higher than the offi- outlets. The bulk of the content for most non-state pub- cial Russian- and Uzbek-language newspapers. But most lications is dedicated to reiterating “national values” and of the publications provide little if any news coverage, providing show-business gossip, astrological forecasts, sticking instead to less-risky information about popular and foreign crime news. People receive little reliable culture, personalities, and advice. These publications information about domestic issues or social concerns, do, however, reflect a nascent understanding of market- although there are some exceptions among commercial ing and catering to audience demands, as their growing radio stations such as Grand and Ekho Doleeny—where distribution indicates. controls on radio are somewhat less strict—and televi- Outside of urban centers, however, Uzbekistanis sion stations such as Angren and Orbita, which have sev- have limited access to newspapers and to printed material eral programs on social issues. In the case of Orbita TV, in general. By the estimates of the panelists, only a scant the station works in a primarily Russian-speaking area percentage of the non-urban population can afford to and finds it possible to respond to the many petitions it buy private newspapers. There have been some reports of receives from community activists in its audience. The Uzbek-language newspapers smuggled in to the Fergana technical means for the collection, production, and dis- Valley regions of Uzbekistan from Kyrgyzstan, but in very semination of information in the capital city are good, small quantities. In villages, the main sources of informa- but regional outlets use outdated equipment left from the tion are the state-run radio and television, while the rural Soviet era. Private broadcasters generally rent air time population relies mainly on the radio for news. According from state television, making them highly susceptible to government editorial control. So far, niche reporting is in its nascent stages. Multiple news sources provide citizens with There are newspapers specializing in topics such as busi- reliable and objective news ness, economy, and advertising, though journalists have ■ A plurality of affordable public and private news no professional training in these areas. There is a severe sources (e.g., print, broadcast, Internet) exists. shortage of modern textbooks or new teaching method- ologies. Educational materials published in Uzbekistan ■ Citizens’ access to domestic or international are of poor quality, while better materials published media is not restricted.
in Russia are too expensive. Most journalists lack the INDICATORS ■ State or public media reflect the views of the
foreign-language skills to read documents from other entire political spectrum, are nonpartisan, and countries, even those in Russian. serve the public interest. ■ Independent news agencies gather and distrib- Objective 3: Plurality of News Sources ute news for print and broadcast media. ■ Independent broadcast media produce their own Uzbekistan Objective Score: 0.53/4.00 news programs.
In Uzbekistan, there is little or no diversity of state and ■ Transparency of media ownership allows independent sources of information due to government consumers to judge objectivity of news; media ownership is not concentrated in a controls. Most media sources offer only official gov- few conglomerates. ernment information. Outlets in the capital city cover national topics, and local media cover local subjects; but ■ A broad spectrum of social interests are both present the official points of view. The same is true reflected and represented in the media, includ-
PLURALITY OF NEWS SOURCES NEWS OF PLURALITY ing minority-language information sources. whether the medium uses the Uzbek or Russian language.
220 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ to one panelist, “There are not enough sources of informa- and Kazakh languages, but media attention to issues of tion so that people could compare them. Western publica- critical importance to Uzbekistan’s nearly 100 distinct tions are inaccessible. The state-run and public media do ethnic communities is discouraged under the guise of not reflect the whole political spectrum.” the law against fomenting ethic conflicts. For example, Cable television and Internet service are available the Samarkand newspaper Oyna was shut down after in the big cities. Lately, access to the Internet has become publishing an article about Tajik-language secondary considerably easier for those who can afford it, with schools in 2002—although the official reason given for Internet “cafés” opening in many urban areas. According the closure was the limited number of subscribers. to a World Bank–funded study, Uzbekistan had 50,000 Information regarding media ownership is not Internet users in 2001, a figure that is expected to grow to available to the general public. 1 million by 2005. Of those already online, about 90 per- cent are believed to be from the Tashkent area and using the Internet on average once a week. Internet access is Objective 4: Business Management limited in rural areas by poor telecommunications infra- Uzbekistan Objective Score: 0.82/4.00 structure and high costs. A Russian monitoring service logged 125 registered The media in Uzbekistan have little opportunity or Uzbekistan-based websites in 2002. However, various reason to develop as effective businesses. Operating in Internet sites are often blocked. This is accomplished accordance with the decrees, the resolutions, and the through generally verbal orders given to service provid- will of the Karimov regime, the state media have but one ers, which are afraid of losing the required license form audience to serve. For the privately owned media, there Uztelcom, the government telecommunications agency. is the constant need to protect the business, either by The Law on Information Security allows the national toeing the official line or withdrawing from coverage of security service to work with Uztelcom to block sites. news and social issues. Foreign investment in the media In 2002, limitations were placed on licenses for is not permitted. traders who import and sell Russian publications. Vari- Almost all the facilities that provide technical sup- ous government television channels broadcast sugges- port for media—such as printing presses and transmis- tions that Russian media were amoral and contradicted “national values,” even mentioning that parents should not let their children read such publications. MSI panel- Independent media are well-managed ists suggested that some of the banned newspapers, such businesses, allowing editorial independence as Kommersant and Isvestia, had analyzed the economic ■ Media outlets and supporting firms operate as situation in Uzbekistan or commented on the country’s efficient, professional, and profit-generating foreign policy. Two Russian newspapers, Trud and AiF, businesses. were viewed as neutral enough to remain on sale. Many television stations, both state and private, rebroadcast ■ Media receive revenue from a multitude of sources. several hours of Russian entertainment programming every week. Other foreign publications are not allowed ■ Advertising agencies and related industries INDICATORS into Uzbekistan if it is decided that they violate what is support an advertising market. loosely described as the “national consciousness.” There ■ Advertising revenue as a percentage of total also are cases of European entertainment programs revenue is in line with accepted standards at being re-broadcast, although they are often pirated. commercial outlets. There are three news agencies in Uzbekistan, ■ Independent media do not receive government the state agencies Jahon and UZA and the commercial subsidies. Turkistan agency. The information does not differ much whether they are government or independent. Regional ■ Market research is used to formulate strategic media outlets generally do not amplify their news cover- plans, enhance advertising revenue, and tailor products to the needs and interests of age much with reports from these agencies. audiences. The law permits minority media outlets, but they direct their efforts mainly toward the diasporas. MANAGEMENT BUSINESS ■ Broadcast ratings and circulation figures are There are newspapers and television programs in Tajik reliably and independently produced.
UZBEKISTAN 221 “Private broadcast sion towers—are Market research on media is very sporadic, which either owned or means that outlets have few tools to gauge consumer media operate controlled by the interest or to use that information in advertising and under harsh financial state. There are a promotion. Media generally do not conduct marketing few private print- research, unless it has been ordered by the government, conditions,” one ing plants, but it is although some newspapers have tried placing question- panelist said. “Most of very difficult for naires for readers to return. Circulation rates of print them to operate at a publications are not always available, and there are no these outlets work with profit since gov- rating agencies. Media research is conducted mainly at rented transmitters and ernment interfer- the request of foreign foundations and organizations, but ence impedes their such information is usually not made public. pay fees established by competitiveness and growth—and there- the government.” fore their ability Objective 5: Supporting Institutions to provide better- Uzbekistan Objective Score: 0.65/4.00 quality, more modern services. Furthermore, there are restrictions on the distribution of newspapers, as the There are almost no professional media associations, government limits the delivery of “undesirable” papers. except for the state-run Foundation for the Democra- For example, the main distribution network, Matbuot, tization and Support of the Mass Media. Professional limits circulation of non-state publications, often claim- unions or associations to protect journalists’ rights are ing they are “not profitable” to carry. The independent nonexistent, and attempts to create one were unsuc- newspaper Mokhiyat has had its distribution restricted cessful. There are no associations of publishers or radio and at times is almost impossible to buy at newsstands, broadcasters in Uzbekistan. Another attempt was made especially in the provinces. to create a National Association of Electronic Media, but Media receive very little revenue from advertising. this organization has not started its activities and has not Due to the extremely poor economic situation in Uzbeki- been registered. A proposed committee to defend press stan, the small advertising market that existed continued freedom did not receive approval for registration. In to shrink in 2003. It remains difficult for any publica- tion to draw in enough advertising to comprise a major Supporting institutions function in the revenue stream. Advertising agencies are open, but they professional interests of independent media work mainly with the print media. Television stations usually have their own advertising services, but they do ■ Trade associations represent the interests of not operate with any efficacy. private media owners and provide member Newspapers earn their money mostly from sales services. and subscriptions. Individual sponsors provide financial ■ Professional associations work to protect support to some media, as well as tending to influence the journalists’ rights.
editorial policies of the outlet. “Private broadcast media INDICATORS operate under harsh financial conditions,” one panelist ■ NGOs support free speech and independent media. said. “Most of these outlets work with rented transmitters and pay fees established by the government.” ■ Quality journalism degree programs that provide State newspapers exist mainly due to compulsory substantial practical experience exist. subscriptions. Local authorities make their constituencies ■ Short-term training and in-service training subscribe to certain state-owned editions. A list of these programs allow journalists to upgrade skills or has been drawn up by the government and sent to orga- acquire new skills. nizations, enterprises, and educational institutions with ■ Sources of newsprint and printing facilities are instructions to subscribe to the mandated papers. Even so, private, apolitical, and unrestricted. circulation of the official Russian and Uzbek newspaper in cities tends to be quite low, with state outlets in Fergana ■ Channels of media distribution (kiosks, trans- Valley cities reporting weekly distributions under 10,000 mitters, Internet) are private, apolitical, and SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS SUPPORTING unrestricted. copies, often in the 2,000 to 3,000 range.
222 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2003 www.irex.org/msi/ sum, hardly anyone is engaged in defending the interests Private television stations usually do not have their own of the media. transmitters and therefore rent air time from state televi- Such non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as sion. All local Internet providers are obliged to operate exist cannot properly support the media. These NGOs through the security node of the Agency for Information, experience almost constant pressure from the authori- allowing government control of Internet content. ties. In Tashkent, the state founded the National Press Center as a quasi-NGO. The club “Reporter” operates in Bukhara, and a branch of the National Press Center of Panel Participants Uzbekistan is based in Samarkand. But in general, NGOs Aleksandr Hamagaev, Tashkent International Radio are not involved in affecting legislative change. Educational opportunities for journalists are Alo Khodjaeva, Cgand Radio insufficient. The level of basic education provided in the provinces is low, especially because many second- Aysulu Kurbanova, Zamon Info ary-school students are required to work in agriculture for two months instead of attending school. Universities Bakhodir Musaev, Independent Veseavchev still practice outdated Soviet-style instruction methods. The teachers have not received additional professional Norali Ochilov, National Uzbek Information Agency development or new methodologies, and the instruc- tion is still rooted in ideology. Some journalism facul- Tamara Prokopyeva, Orbita TV ties have closed, and at those that continue to function, students do not choose their subjects or professors, and Tashpulat Rahmatullayev, Press Center, Samarkand do not have access to new materials on modern journal- ism. There is a general lack of textbooks, especially in the Irena Safargaliyeva Uzbek language. The University of World Languages and the Moderator National University offer journalism training. This Marfua Tokhtakhodjaeva, chairperson, Women’s training is relatively professional, but graduates do not Resource Center have many venues to apply their skills in practice because job placement for these journalists is problematic. The main obstacle to improving media professionalism is Observers the lack of prospects in a media sector where freedom of Mumtoz Abdurazzakova, country director, IREX/ expression is so limited. Uzbekistan Journalism students can study abroad, but few have sufficient foreign-language skills. At the journalism depart- Zarina Izmaylova, IREX/Uzbekistan ment of the National University, there is only one journal- ist who has received an education abroad. Most of those Jean MacKenzie, IREX/Central Asia who have studied abroad do not come back; and if they do return, they do not return to work in the media industry. International organizations such as IREX, Internews, the Open Society Institute, UNESCO, and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation conduct media trainings. However, the approach to journalism that underpins the training at times reflects a degree of media freedom that does not exist in Uzbekistan. Media distribution channels are controlled by the government, and cannot determine policies indepen- dently. Newspapers depend on the post office system for a substantial part of their circulation. Television and radio frequencies are also controlled by the state, and almost all the transmitters are operated by the state.
UZBEKISTAN 223 INDEX
2003 Eurasia and Europe in Media Independent Sustainable of Development SUSTAINABILITY MEDIA
Media Sustainability Index 2003 IREX www.irex.org www.irex.org/msi/ Fax: (202) 628-8189 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (202) 628-8188 Washington, DC 20037 Copyright © 2004 IREX by 2121 K Street, Suite 700 NW, 2121 Media Sustainability Index 2003