OSCE Media Representative issues report on media coverage of the Beslan tragedy

VIENNA, 16 September 2004 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, presented today to the Permanent Council a report on how the Russian media covered the recent terrorist attacks in Beslan, North Ossetia.

The report was based on research performed by the Centre for Journalism in Extreme Situations of the Russian Union of Journalists.

"The coverage of the events has proved that media freedom had taken hold in Russia", said Mr. Haraszti. "However, several worrying developments in the relationship between the Government and the media drew the attention of local and international experts and human rights activists."

The report stressed that the main sources of information for the Russian people were the three nationwide broadcasters. Unfortunately, they did not provide accurate and up-to-date information. In the end, the print media and Internet news sites stepped in, filling the information void as much as they could.

"Even more importantly, the Government did not provide in a timely manner truthful information on the handling of the crisis. As a result, journalists were physically attacked in Beslan for allegedly misinforming the public", he added.

"A triple credibility gap arose between the Government and the media, between the media and the citizens, and between the Government and the people. This is a serious drawback for a democracy," said Mr. Haraszti.

This document is the Representative's second such report on how the media operate at times of crisis. The first, on the role of the media in the violent events of mid-March 2004 in Kosovo, was issued in April.