OSCE Mission in Kosovo supports TV debates to promote freedom of media
PRISHTINE/PRISTINA, 27 May 2009 - The OSCE Mission in Kosovo, in co-operation with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, will organize a series of televised debates, the first of which airs tomorrow, on press freedom and the role of the public broadcaster Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK).
The shows seek to raise public awareness of the role and importance of an independent public service broadcaster which is accountable to, and produces programmes for, all communities in Kosovo.
Journalists, media professionals and civil society representatives will discuss press freedom and freedom of expression. One of the debates will focus on the editorial and financial independence of RTK.
The debates will also provide a forum for discussing the work of media institutions in Kosovo, namely the Independent Media Commission, the Press Council and the Kosovo Media Institute. The panellists will assess the ability of these institutions to advocate for the protection of journalists and promote professional journalism. Reports by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo have highlighted the need to improve understanding of the importance of an independent media that is free from political interference.
The first debate will be broadcast on 28 May at 20.20 on RTK and will focus on freedom of expression. It will have English subtitles. The second will be aired in June and will examine the advantages and disadvantages of fee-based financing of public broadcasting. The third show, on the amendments to the 2006 RTK law and the selection of RTK's board of directors, will be aired in September.
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo helped to establish RTK and other media institutions such as the Kosovo Media Institute and the Press Council. The OSCE Mission continues to support the functioning of Kosovo media institutions through advice and capacity-building to promote compliance with European best practices, principles of press freedom and access to information for all communities.