Socio-political context

1. Socio-political context • Heavy political influence over media outlets that results with lack of freedom of speech, limited independence, biased media, censorship and self-censorship. • Lack of solidarity among representatives of media and CSO community on all levels. • Lack of trust in the publics of these two sectors.

2. RECOMMENDATIONS • Less political interference through: proper non-selective law implementation, independent state regulatory body, clear criteria for distributing governmental campaigns, laws in line with requirements of OSCE and CoE • Creating and supporting self-regulatory body (e.g. press council) composed of representatives of media ownership, journalists and representatives of relevant CSOs.

3. Cont'd - RECOMMENDATIONS • Fostering common joint actions through concrete activities that will increase the level of trust among media and CSO representatives.

4. Institutional framework PROBLEMS • Regulation of media practices and governance • Implementation & legislative gaps • Transparency • Distribution of public funds

5. RECOMMENDATIONS • Regulation: Create forum for interaction between media and CSOs at regional or national level to attempt to find consensus about priorities and act jointly. Forum will act as a hub for regular monitoring/implementation of relevant laws and regulations in society in respective countries. (Institutional mechanism of cooperation between media and CSOs). On the regional level, need to create structure for exchanging best practices on media/CSO cooperation enabling environment for development of media and CSOs.

6. Cont'd RECOMMENDATIONS • Legislative gaps: Develop/change regulation which will secure independent governance of public broadcasting services (majority of governing body should be representative of CSOs which are not dominantly financed from public funds). EU Commission needs to develop strategy with precise indicators and results for support for media development in Enlargement region. Improve implementation of principles and standards of journalism.

7. Cont'd RECOMMENDATIONS • Transparency: Implementation/reform of the regulation on obliging CSOs and media to provide information about their sources of funding. • Distribution of public funds: Changing or development of regulation aiming to establish fund with clear criteria for distribution for public outreach campaigns.

8. Capacity of media CHALLENGES • Understanding the role and the potential that CSOs have • Lack of public interest journalism and NGO topics • Understaffing and limited resources • Social role of the media is almost lost/media as a tool for creating profit

9. RECOMMENDATIONS • Establish education on different levels for journalism students, media owners, workers. • Joint ventures (watchdogs, advisory groups, media related projects, etc.) • Training of CSOs on media literacy, avoid project language • Building the trust by double-checking/monitoring the CSO as a source of information

10. Con't - RECOMMENDATIONS • Increase cooperation with CSO by opening alternative channels (no cost) of communication • Joint projects • Redefining the role of media to increase the level of social responsibility (CSO topics=public interest topics=media hook)

11. Capacity of CSOs CHALLENGES • Promotion of CSO ideas in the public • Low sustainability in terms of financial and human resources

12. RECOMMENDATIONS • Visibility planning, not when the project is finalized, but during the design phase of the project. • Institutional support for CSOs • Support not-for-profit media. • More partnerships between media and CSOs. • Use of social media for raising awareness of CSO activities.

13. Cont'd - RECOMMENDATIONS • Bring discussion on CSOs and media into the educational system – perhaps via civic education and media literacy.