MINELRES: EUMAP Call for Papers: Media Independence and Democracy

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Alphia Abdikeeva <AAbdikeeva@osi.hu>



Media Independence and Democracy on the Eve of EU Enlargement - Lessons
Learned?


    A free, pluralistic and independent press is an essential component
of any democratic society, UNESCO Resolution 4.3 (1991).


The existence of a truly independent media is a fundamental pillar of
democracy. If citizens are not provided with a critical mass of
objective, impartial and balanced information on public affairs by the
most read or watched media, then a vital condition for democracy to
function is missing. 

With EU accession for the new democracies of Central and Eastern Europe
around the corner, it is prime time to scrutinise what lessons have been
learnt over the last decade and what problems and obstacles remain for
the functioning of a truly independent media. At the same time, however,
it is important to also call into question the extent to which existing
members of the EU are themselves in the position to serve as good role
models for these new members for safeguarding the genuine independence
of the media.

EUMAP is presently commencing monitoring towards a new series of reports
on Broadcasting Regulation and the Independence of the Media. A main
objective of these reports, which will be carried out in collaboration
with the OSI's Network Media Program (NMP), will be to assess whether
the regulation of broadcasting media in Europe, and its implementation,
is effective in ensuring impartiality, balance and objectivity. 

EUMAP.ORG is therefore inviting articles, essays and opinion pieces on
the subject of independence of the media. We invite papers touching on
law and practice at both the international and State levels; specific
issues and problems across Europe; and how possible infringements on
media independence, both by State and non-State actors, could be
identified and confronted by civil society. Also of interest are
examples of practices and policies to ensure that media is truly
independent, not only from direct governmental interference, but also
from additional factors that indirectly impede freedom of media and free
public access to information, such as, for example, licensing quotas. 

Quality papers will be featured on the Program website (www.eumap.org)
with the intention of framing and encouraging debate on this issue.
Papers should be 1,500-2,000 words. Accepted authors will receive an
honorarium of EUR 200.

Papers are invited on, among others, the following themes, for
submission by 3 October 2003:

* In 2002, EUMAP published reports focusing on Corruption and
Anti-corruption Policy in the ten Central and Eastern European (CEE)
accession countries. A failure to guarantee media independence, in
particular for public broadcasting, was identified as one of the key
loci of corruption in the country reports. At the same time, some of the
current EU members reportedly face very similar problems. 

* What are the identifiable links between a lack of truly independent
public broadcasting and corruption in the current EU countries? How are
these instances of violations of independence of the media, and the
level of State and civil society response, different from those in
accession countries? Is there anything candidate States can learn from
their future European partners, or vice versa, in developing effective
and sensitive mechanisms for safeguarding the genuine independence of
public broadcasting?

* Minority groups enjoy the right under international law to create and
develop their own media. However, at times of transition or instability,
minority groups tend to be affected most and protected least, including
as regards their right to create and foster own media. 

What are specific problems and barriers to the existence and development
of truly independent minority media? What could be or should be done to
ensure that minority media goes beyond transmitting ethnic "flavour" and
truly serves as a means for imparting public interest information? Are
there any success stories of viable minority media, whether in the
present EU or elsewhere, which could be a useful model in other
countries?

* A leading international NGO, Article 19, stressed that, "governments
around the world maintain huge arsenals of laws which can be used to
silence critics, prevent scrutiny of their actions and prevent
democratic development", (www.article19.org). However, direct
legislative restrictions on media independence are not the sole means to
silence or curb the media. Additional indirect obstacles, hidden or
open, to independence of press and information exist and are applied
across Europe. Such obstacles range from licensing quotas to fire safety
regulations. 

Analysis is invited on how restrictions and obstacles to the
independence of the media are used in various countries. Please cite
relevant laws, regulations, policies and any concrete cases illustrating
violations of the independence of the media in a selected country. 

Please send papers to: submissions@eumap.org. Contact person: Alphia
Abdikeeva

EUMAP.ORG editorial policy and an archive of featured articles are
available online at: http://www.eumap.org/articles


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EUMAP.ORG is the website of the Open Society Institute's EU Monitoring
and Advocacy Program. To find out more, click on
http://www.eumap.org/about.

EUMAP.ORG is an online centre for comprehensive resources, news, and
analyses on human rights and the rule of law in Europe generally and the
EU accession countries in particular. EUMAP.ORG is committed to
delivering information on, and generating debate about, human rights,
rule of law and EU enlargement.

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Published EUMAP monitoring reports are available online (see
http://www.eumap.org/reports) and cover:
* Minority Protection 
* Corruption and Anti-corruption Policy
* Judicial Capacity and Judicial Independence
* Equal Opportunities for Men and Women

* EUMAP is presently starting monitoring in two new areas:
* Access to Education and Employment for People with Intellectual
Disabilities
* Broadcasting Regulation and the Independence of the Media 

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