PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 22 November 2012 - Self-regulatory bodies for print media have a key role to play in improving the quality of reporting, protecting media from undue pressure, and increasing their competitiveness in saturated media markets, the participants of an OSCE conference on the state of print media in South Eastern Europe concluded today.

Participants included representatives of media and media institutions from Prishtinë/Priština, Belgrade, Ljubljana, Podgorica, Sarajevo, Skopje, Tirana and Zagreb, who discussed a broad range of issues affecting media in the region, such as political and economic pressure, freedom of expression, and professional and ethical standards.

The conference recommended further empowerment of the Press Council of Kosovo and other self- regulatory bodies in the region, as well as strengthening regional co-operation as a way of overcoming challenges.

“Media are watchdogs of democracy and as such they have the right and the obligation to report professionally and without bias, to investigate issues and inform the public of their findings,” said the OSCE Head of Mission, Ambassador Jean- Claude Schlumberger.

“Media will also protect themselves in doing so by upholding the standards of self-regulation and by adhering to a code of conduct,” he added.

In 2005, the Mission supported the establishment of the Press Council of Kosovo, a self- regulatory body for print media, and continues to support this institution through different activities, such as facilitating contacts between media and media institutions and providing training, especially in the area of investigative journalism.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated with human right protection and promotion, democratization and public safety sector development. It supports the development of free, independent, unbiased and professional media in Kosovo as an integral component of a democratic society.