10th regional South East Europe Media Conference “Actioning Media Viability for Informed, Resilient Societies”
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Media viability is essential for fostering informed and resilient societies. When media organizations are financially stable, operationally robust, and institutionally strong, they are better positioned to maintain editorial independence, adhere to ethical standards, and deliver fact-based and quality journalism that serves the public interest. Without viable media, societies risk losing access to free, independent and diverse sources of information – an outcome that can ultimately erode pluralism, undermine informed public debate, diminish accountability, and contribute to polarization and public distrust within democratic societies.
This year’s South East Europe Media Conference (SEEMC) will return for its 10th edition to Sarajevo on 29 – 30 May 2025, under the theme “Actioning Media Viability for Informed, Resilient Societies.” The conference is organised by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), in collaboration with the OSCE field operations from the region.
Centered on the theme of media viability, the conference will feature high-level opening and closing sessions, a keynote address on “Why Investing in Media Viability Pays Off,” and several plenary discussions and interactive sessions covering the following topics:
- Economics of public interest journalism in the era of Big Tech and AI
- Legal and regulatory trends shaping media freedom and viability – including laws on foreign funding and legal action such as SLAPPs
- Safety of journalists – addressing the costs of reporting the facts
- Public service media – strategies for the future and its role in serving the public interest
- Media viability manifesto – regional collaboration for viable and resilient media
- Safety awareness and preparedness in crisis situations – workshop for young journalists
- Fact-checking as a tool for boosting resilience to disinformation
- Public interest framework for the future of journalism – youth consultation
Over the course of two days, the conference will provide a platform for networking and open dialogue on these key themes, with an emphasis on revisiting existing measures and initiatives while developing actionable recommendations for the way forward, in line with relevant OSCE commitments on media freedom and freedom of expression. In this light, the conference seeks to assist OSCE participating States and media stakeholders in South East Europe in their efforts to improve the conditions necessary for media viability that fosters free, independent, and safe journalism – recognizing it as a vital public good and a central pillar of OSCE’s comprehensive security framework.
Follow the conference and engage with leading media freedom experts on RFoM’s social media accounts - Twitter via @OSCE_RFOM, Facebook: www.facebook.com/osce.rfom, and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/osce-rfom using the hashtag #SEEMC2025.
The conference will be livestreamed online on this webpage.
All questions related to the conference agenda can be directed to Sejla Jusufovic. For logistical inquiries, please reach out to Goran Tanevski. Any requests for interviews should be directed to Adis Mustedanagic.