HRP: Code for Fair Representation of Ethnic Minorities in Bulgarian

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Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 09:15:11 +0200 (EET)
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Subject: HRP: Code for Fair Representation of Ethnic Minorities in Bulgarian 

From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>

Original sender: Human Rights Project <[email protected]>

HRP: Code for Fair Representation of Ethnic Minorities in
Bulgarian Media


Human Rights Project presented "Code for Fair Representation of Ethnic
Minorities in Bulgarian Media"
 
Press statement

On March 1st 2002, Human Rights Project organized in Sofia, Bulgaria a
national round table "Minorities in the Media: Media policies and
practices". About 60 media professionals participate in the round
table - among them journalists from national and regional print and
electronic media, lecturers from Department of Journalism and Mass
Communications in University of Sofia, Members of Council for
Electronic Media (the Bulgarian governmental institution, responsible
for monitoring programs and licensing the broadcast media in the
country). Journalists from community media of ethnic minorities (Roma,
Turks, Armenian, Jews) and non-governmental organizations also
participated in the discussions.

The debate was focused on the following topics:

- "Media portrayal of minorities in Bulgarian mainstream press" - The
results of a special research done by Bulgarian Media Coalition (one
of the biggest media non-governmental organizations) - Presented by
Mr. Emil Koen;

- "Media Freedom vs. Hate Speech - Legal Aspects and Solutions" -
Presented by Mr. Ivailo Ganchev, Legal consultant of the Human Rights
Project;

- "Minorities in Bulgarian Mainstream Media - the Experience of
Council of Electronic Media (CEM)" - Presentations by Mr. Georgi
Lozanov (Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communications and member of
CEM) and Ms. Margarita Pesheva (Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass
Communications and Chair of CEM);

- "The Need of Intercultural Training for Journalists" - Presented by
Ms. Deenichina, lecturer in Department of Journalism and Mass
Communications, University of Sofia

- "Fair Representation of Ethnic Minorities in Bulgarian Media" -
project for Ethic Code of the Bulgarian journalists - Presented by Ms.
K. Angelova, media consultant of the "Human Rights Project" and Ms. K.
Boseva, Chair of the "Interethnic Initiative for Human Rights"
Foundation.

A lot of hate speech examples were discussed, among them few programs
produced by the Bulgarian National TV. There were a lot of questions
addressed to Mr. Lozanov and Ms. Pesheva, concerning the monitoring
procedures of the CEM in these cases of hate speech towards Roma and
Jews in Bulgarian public broadcast media.

The round table was closed with an agreement the proposed Ethic Code
to be distributed among other journalists by their colleagues, who
participated in the discussions. The HRP took responsibility for
future cooperation and the continuation of the initiatives regarding
network of journalists, media professionals and non-governmental
organizations formed as a result of the national round table
"Minorities in the Media: Media policies and practices".

The round table was financially supported by the "Interethnic Fund for
Development" of the "Interethnic Initiative for Human Rights"
Foundation.

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