Improving access to information purpose of OSCE media seminar in Moldova
CHISINAU, 16 September 2008 - Fostering effective interaction between public bodies and journalists to increase access to official information is the aim of a two-day OSCE training seminar that started in the Moldovan capital today.
The seminar is organized jointly by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and the OSCE Mission to Moldova.
"Promoting effective interaction between state bodies and journalists helps improve the transparency of the government and increases public trust in both the authorities and the media," said Alexander Boldyrev, Senior Adviser at the Representative's office.
The event brings together around 20 spokesmen and spokeswomen from public bodies and journalists. International and local experts conduct sessions on the legal and ethical principles of interaction between state officials and journalists, as well as global standards related to access to information. The seminar also involves discussions on how to overcome the main challenges encountered in the communication between two target groups.
Claus Neukirch, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, added: "We hope that this event, shaped to encourage professional dialogue between Moldova's authorities and journalists, will help to achieve better co-operation between them. This will enable the media to swiftly report on the issues of public interest, which is key to promote public participation in the decision-making process."
The seminar, sponsored by the Czech Government, is part of a series of training courses in the OSCE region conducted by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media to improve access to information.