Representative on Freedom of the Media

CHISINAU, 23 October 2012 – The freedom, professionalism and sustainability of Internet media in Eastern Europe are the focus of a two-day OSCE training seminar that opened today in Chisinau.

Organized jointly by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and the OSCE Mission to Moldova, the event brings together some 30 online media professionals from Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine.

“I urge governments to preserve freedom on the Internet in the region where, as elsewhere, we have seen attempts to restrict it. We aim to show journalists that professionalism and solidarity of the regional media community can do a great deal to defend Internet freedom,” said Dunja Mijatovic, the OSCE media freedom representative, in a message to the participants.

International and leading national experts on online media will facilitate discussions on emerging challenges to online media related to content, marketing, national laws and commercial success.

“It is inspiring that the first regional event of this kind is hosted by Moldova. I hope that journalists from these three countries of the region will benefit from this course and establish useful contacts with colleagues from the neighbouring states. This will help foster the professionalism and freedom of online media,” said Jan Plesinger, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, addressing the participants.