OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine co-sponsors media forum

KYIV, 4 October 2005 -- The relationship between media, elections and Ukraine's recently-passed election law is the focus of a three-day forum which opened today in Kyiv.

The media forum, sponsored by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine and the Ukrainian National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting, is the largest event of its kind in Ukraine. Media professionals will share experiences and best practices from the 2004 presidential election, in preparation for Ukraine's upcoming parliamentary elections, due in March 2006.

The forum will look at the new legal regulations of election coverage, investigate the use of public opinion polls, conduct a session on journalism ethics during elections and also hold a roundtable discussion entitled 'Political Crisis, September 2005: Risk or Blessing for Ukraine?'

Participants include managers of leading Ukrainian television stations and newspapers, media experts, lawyers, political analysts and members of the Ukrainian Central Election Commission.

Organized by Teleradiocourier, the Centre for Media Reform, the Ukrainian Media Union and the Media Law Institute, the forum will also include presentations of new media projects, television film awards, and an exhibition of Ukrainian media organizations and outlets.