Alternatives – Media reforms for media integrity and future of independent journalism
Search for alternatives to corrupt media systems in the countries of South East Europe
Novi Sad, 13 June 2016
The EFJ will be represented at this regional conference by Yannis Kotsifos, member of the Steering Committee of the Europêan FGederation of Journalists.
Aim:
The final regional conference of the SEE Media Observatory will serve as a forum for discussing alternatives to current media systems, relations and practices which obstruct media integrity in the countries of South East Europe. In the fourth year of research, advocacy, investigative journalism and debates revealing problems and obstacles for independent journalism and highlighting some good practices of media integrity protection, the final regional event of the SEE Media Observatory will gather pro-integrity actors from ten project countries, and also several other European countries, to deliver idea what to do to save journalism and media integrity in the region – which models of funding are available for such journalism and media, who can take a lead in the journalistic community and the media to systematically defend the profession, which role should the state play in providing conditions for independent and efficient work of media regulators?
At the final conference the latest research of the Observatory on editors and their role in protection or obstruction of media integrity in the countries of the region will be presented.
The final conference will also serve as a sum-up of key messages and recommendations our researchers and debates generated during more than three years of the project in order to inform, provoke and promote media reforms. We will also deliver some final comprehensive recommendations how to build alternatives to the media systems which do not support democracy.
Draft agenda:
9.00 – 10.00 Opening session: Future of independent journalism and media in SEE – Importance of emancipatory media policy and citizens perspective
Welcome address
Dubravka Valić Nedeljković, Novi Sad School of Journalism
Brankica Petković, Peace Institute, Ljubljana, SEE Media Observatory project coordinator
Opening speeches:
Dunja Mijatović, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (tbc)
Saša Janković, Protector of Citizens (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Serbia (tbc)
Milorad Pupovac, Member of the Parliament in Croatia, President of the Serb National Council, a publisher of weekly Novosti
Chair: Remzi Lani, Director of the Albanian Media Institute
10.00 – 11.30 Searching for leaders in media and journalistic community to protect and save integrity and future of journalism and media
Role of the editors – are they still the leaders?
Keynote speaker: Geraldine Kennedy, former editor in chief, The Irish Times, Ireland
Examining role of editors in the media in the SEE region
Key findings of SEE Media Observatory research:
Ilda Londo, Albanian Media Institute, member of the SEE Media Observatory research team
Discussants:
Borjan Jovanovski, Editor, novatv.mk, Macedonia
Sanja Mikleušević Pavić, Former news program editor, HTV, Croatia
Agron Bajrami, Editor, Koha Ditore, Kosovo (tbc)
Balazs Weyer, President, Editors Forum Hungary
Chair: Boro Kontić, Media Center Sarajevo, BiH
11.30 – 11.45 Break
11.45 – 13.00 The journalism/journalists then, now and in future : Exchanging views of journalists of different generations on situation of journalists and journalism then and now, and in future – Where are the alternatives and leadership in saving journalism with integrity?
Nehat Islami, former Middle East correspondent (1974-1979) and foreign affairs editor at Rilindja, Kosovo
Lenart J. Kučić, journalist, Delo, Slovenia
Caelainn Barr, journalist, the Guardian, UK
Nikola Maticki, student of journalism, editor of monthly “Žurnalist”, Novi Sad, Serbia
Chair: Janos Horvath, Center for Independent Journalism, Budapest
14.00 – 14.45 Role of the regulators in protecting integrity of the media system: Within media reforms for media integrity – what kind of status, composition, powers and capacities the regulators need to independently and efficiently regulate the media?
Programmatic contribution by:
Mirjana Rakić, Resigning Chairwoman of Council for Electronic Media and Director of Agency for Electronic Media, Croatia
Jadranka Vojvodić, Deputy Director, Agency for Electronic media, Montenegro, and
Helena Mandić, Director of Broadcasting, Communication Regulatory Agency, BiH
Chair: Marko Milosavljević, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia (tbc)
14.45 – 16.15 Alternative models of media funding –
How to finance independent journalism and media which serve public interest?
Presentation of policy research for SEE Media Observatory:
Milan F. Živković, former media policy advisor, Ministry of Culture, Croatia
Experience from the Netherlands – How to fund independent journalism?
Rene van Zanten, Director of the Dutch Journalism Fund
Supporting independent journalism production around the world: donor’s view:
Maria Teresa Ronderos/Algirdas Lipstas, Director/Deputy Director, Open Society Foundations, Program for Independent Journalism, London (tbc)
Chair: Dušan Reljić, SWP Berlin, Brussels Head of Office; SEE Media Observatory Advisory Board Member
16.30-17.30 A manifesto for media integrity in SEE – ideas for alternative media systems and actions to be taken to protect media integrity and future of independent journalism
Recapitulation of media integrity research and debates conducted by SEE Media Observatory 2013-2016 and open discussion on ideas for alternatives
Presentation of manifesto for alternatives:
Sandra B. Hrvatin, Professor, Faculty of Humanities, Koper, Slovenia, SEE Media Observatory Advisory Board Member
Brankica Petković, Peace Institute, Ljubljana, SEE Media Observatory project coordinator
Discussions on ideas for alternatives:
Eldin Karić, Editor, Žurnal.ba, Sarajevo
Gordana Igrić, Regional director, BIRN
Andrew Finkel, Platform for Independent Journalism – P24, Istanbul
Chair: Aidan White, Director, Ethical Journalism Network; SEE Media Observatory Advisory Board Member (tbc)
Rapporteur of the conference: Tihomir Loza, Director of the South East European Network for Professionalisation of Media.