Journalists in Serbia discuss regulation, national media strategy at OSCE Mission-supported roundtable event
BELGRADE, 2 September 2010 - A roundtable meeting for media experts and journalists organized by the OSCE Mission to Serbia to discuss a set of recommendations for improving media regulation and the situation of the print media was held in Belgrade today.
The meeting was the first in a series of six roundtable discussions that will be held throughout September as part of broad discussions on Serbia's strategy for the development of media-related legislation and regulation. The events, organized with the support of the British Embassy in Belgrade, are designed to assist the Culture Ministry to collect and take into account a range of opinions into the development of its overall strategy. Serbian editors and journalists as well as European experts will take part in the events.
Welcoming the participants at the 2 September event, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Ambassador Dimitrios Kypreos, said: "A process for discussing all media-related issues in an open and inclusive public debate is of vital importance for our common success. All interested groups and individuals should have a venue to express their opinions, highlight problems and suggest the best solutions that fit Serbia. The OSCE supports strongly the transparency of the legislative and policy process as a central element for upholding the right of Serbian citizens to receive accurate news and to disseminate information freely."
The upcoming roundtable discussions will focus on the work of the regulatory bodies, public service and commercial broadcasters, digitalization, press agencies and state aid to media. Conclusions reached by local stakeholders should ultimately serve as one of the inputs for the draft media strategy.
The next event, focusing on digitalization and regulatory bodies, will be held on 9 September in Belgrade.