Organization for Security and Co-operation in EuropeOSCE Mission to Skopje
Feature
National broadcaster moves into the digital age
4 September 2003
The digital technology room of the national broadcaster MRTV is one of the projects supported by the Media Development Unit of the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje. (OSCE)
Facing the challenges
MRTV, housed in an 18-storey building, employs over 2,000 people within six language sections. Equipment, management practices and production techniques are outdated and the national broadcaster faces increasingly cut-throat commercial competition.
Another challenge for MRTV is amending the general practice of biased reporting that resulted from the country's conflict in 2001. The conflict drove a wedge between ethnic Albanian and ethnic Macedonian news services, with both sides presenting subjective accounts of events.
New management, new skills
New management at MRTV developed the strategy behind the training centre. The main goal is to train hundreds of journalists and technicians in using up-to-date broadcasting technology, IT and best-practice journalistic skills, improving skill levels in all media disciplines.
Mariana is one of a dozen video editors at MRTV taking courses in digital video editing in Skopje. She moves the cursor slowly across the screen, double-clicks on the mouse and the edit is complete. "That was so easy!" she exclaims. "Normally it would take me 20 minutes to edit a piece like this. Now it takes only a few minutes."
Obtaining modern equipment is another part of the training centre's strategy. In April 2003, a computer-based operation was introduced. Journalists from various language newsrooms can now exchange audio material and information much more quickly.
"There is a ripple of enthusiasm going round the building which people say hasn't happened for years," says Russel Lyne, a project manager from the UK-based Thomson Foundation. "Once people start using the equipment and recognize its potential, they become very supportive. Many people in this building haven't received training for decades."
The Thomson Foundation manages the training unit while the OSCE Mission in Skopje works with MRTV to attract international donors to fund reforms.
Ensuring multi-ethnic reporting
As part of the effort to foster a new team spirit within MRTV, the training centre is using MRTV staff of all ethnicities to train their colleagues wherever possible.
"Good news stories are produced through teamwork and we are showing that multi-ethnic teams generate better stories and more balanced journalism," says Lyne.
Many of the digitally produced news packages are broadcast on the evening news, which means that viewers are already noticing the change.
"We are the only nation-wide, multi-lingual radio and TV station in the country," says MRTV General Manager, Gordana Stosic. "We have an important role to help consolidate peace and build a future that benefits all ethnicities. The center is a very important signal that we are serious about transforming."
International support for reforms
The OSCE Mission co-ordinates international support and assistance to MRTV as it develops and implements its reform programme. The Mission's Media Development Unit is now working with MRTV on plans to develop an integrated, multi-lingual news room in 2004.
Much-needed investment depends on the passing of a new broadcasting law that will constitutionally guarantee MRTV's political independence. The law is currently being drafted and should go before Parliament in the last quarter of 2004.
The Dutch government, through the non-governmental organization Press Now, the Canadian International Development Agency and the Federal Republic of Germany provided funding for the training unit.
MRTV, housed in an 18-storey building, employs over 2,000 people within six language sections. Equipment, management practices and production techniques are outdated and the national broadcaster faces increasingly cut-throat commercial competition.
Another challenge for MRTV is amending the general practice of biased reporting that resulted from the country's conflict in 2001. The conflict drove a wedge between ethnic Albanian and ethnic Macedonian news services, with both sides presenting subjective accounts of events.
New management, new skills
New management at MRTV developed the strategy behind the training centre. The main goal is to train hundreds of journalists and technicians in using up-to-date broadcasting technology, IT and best-practice journalistic skills, improving skill levels in all media disciplines.
Mariana is one of a dozen video editors at MRTV taking courses in digital video editing in Skopje. She moves the cursor slowly across the screen, double-clicks on the mouse and the edit is complete. "That was so easy!" she exclaims. "Normally it would take me 20 minutes to edit a piece like this. Now it takes only a few minutes."
Obtaining modern equipment is another part of the training centre's strategy. In April 2003, a computer-based operation was introduced. Journalists from various language newsrooms can now exchange audio material and information much more quickly.
"There is a ripple of enthusiasm going round the building which people say hasn't happened for years," says Russel Lyne, a project manager from the UK-based Thomson Foundation. "Once people start using the equipment and recognize its potential, they become very supportive. Many people in this building haven't received training for decades."
The Thomson Foundation manages the training unit while the OSCE Mission in Skopje works with MRTV to attract international donors to fund reforms.
Ensuring multi-ethnic reporting
As part of the effort to foster a new team spirit within MRTV, the training centre is using MRTV staff of all ethnicities to train their colleagues wherever possible.
"Good news stories are produced through teamwork and we are showing that multi-ethnic teams generate better stories and more balanced journalism," says Lyne.
Many of the digitally produced news packages are broadcast on the evening news, which means that viewers are already noticing the change.
"We are the only nation-wide, multi-lingual radio and TV station in the country," says MRTV General Manager, Gordana Stosic. "We have an important role to help consolidate peace and build a future that benefits all ethnicities. The center is a very important signal that we are serious about transforming."
International support for reforms
The OSCE Mission co-ordinates international support and assistance to MRTV as it develops and implements its reform programme. The Mission's Media Development Unit is now working with MRTV on plans to develop an integrated, multi-lingual news room in 2004.
Much-needed investment depends on the passing of a new broadcasting law that will constitutionally guarantee MRTV's political independence. The law is currently being drafted and should go before Parliament in the last quarter of 2004.
The Dutch government, through the non-governmental organization Press Now, the Canadian International Development Agency and the Federal Republic of Germany provided funding for the training unit.