OSCE Office holds seminar on government-media relations in democratic society

BAKU, 19 April 2010 - A two-day seminar by the OSCE Office in Baku and the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media on government-media relations in a democratic society started today.

The seminar will look into the domestic and international legal aspects of freedom of information and freedom of expression, including best practices in successfully managing government-media relations.

"During OSCE workshop held in December 2009 there was great interest from the press officers and spokespersons in elements of the media law, including the 2005 law on information and defamation. In addition, both journalists and press officers said that it would be ideal to convene a seminar for them together, which is why we have organized this seminar today," said Ambassador Bilge Cankorel, the Head of the OSCE Office in Baku.

Sixteen heads of press and information offices of the ministries and government agencies, and sixteen editors-in-chief of various media outlets, are attending the seminar.

Local and international experts will brief participants on domestic and international laws relevant to the government-media relations; management of successful government-media operations; access to information by the media in the OSCE region; and on practical recommendations for improved press relations and communication strategies. Participants will also discuss the state of media relations in Azerbaijan and ways to improve co-operation between the government agencies and journalists.

This seminar is a follow-up to workshops held in December 2009 for spokespersons and journalists, which focused on the rights and responsibilities of both the media and government press offices under the 2005 Law on the Right to Obtain Information.