World Movement for Democracy in
Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia
Spotlight on NGO Work in Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia
Independent Media and Media Monitoring
A free and independent media plays a crucial role by providing balanced and unbiased information to citizens, serving as a forum for political expression, investigating shortcomings of political systems, publicizing violations of human rights, enabling the society and its leaders to make informed choices, and promoting an open society. During election campaigns, for instance, it is especially important for voters to receive unbiased information about political candidates; and media monitors conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis to inform the public of the fairness of the election process. The groups and projects listed below promote the development of independent media and democracy through media monitoring, training and supporting journalists, and unbiased investigative reporting.
This section also includes an interview with Rastislav Kuzel, Executive Director of MEMO 98 in Bratislava, Slovakia, and a participant in the World Movement for Democracy, as well as a list of online publications and resources relevant to this subject.
Association Central Asia - Sweden/Uzbekistan
http://harakat.net/
Association Central Asia, a nonprofit organization based in Sweden whose members are Uzbek democratic activists living in exile, publishes online and hard copy versions of the independent journal Harakat and distributes it in Uzbekistan as a way of breaking through the government monopoly on information. The Harakat is distributed six times a year. The contents of each issue include sections on policy, economics, social problems, human rights, democracy and Islam, and culture. The journal also covers comparisons of the human rights and political situations in other transitional countries, particularly in former communist states; peaceful means of conflict resolution; comparative analysis of Uzbekistan's legislation with international norms; and reports on the human rights situation in Uzbekistan and on the activities of NGOs working in the country. The Harakat published a special issue on the UN report on torture in Uzbekistan. This report placed the issue at the center of Uzbek political discussion.
The Caucasus Media Institute - Armenia
www.caucasusmedia.org/
The Caucasus Media Institute (CMI), based in Yerevan, Armenia, is a vocational training center for journalists. Its purpose is to assist in the development of mass media in post-Soviet Caucasus, and to help shape media that informs the public and serves as a platform for debate through well-informed, skilled, creative and ethical journalism. The CMI has a number of course modules on techniques of journalism and modern media technologies, as well as thematic courses addressing the content of the media. The courses, seminars, workshops, conferences, and research projects at the CMI are targeted to journalists at various skill level, from novice to more experience journalists. The CMI also maintains a library, an electronic database, and in-house archives of publications. These resources are available for journalists and the general public.
Center for Independent Journalism - Romania
www.ijf-cij.org/bucharest.html
The Romania-based Center for Independent Journalism (CIJ) provides high quality courses for journalists working at both local and national levels and journalism students. The Center conducts training seminars on the principles of professional journalism, such as legal protection for journalists, the basics of media management, media technology, and the Freedom of Information Act procedures (FOIA). Special attention is given to investigative journalism techniques, in particular reporting on corruption cases, organized crime, inter-ethnic relations and the performance of municipal governments. In addition, the participants discuss rights of journalists in the context of human rights, and CIJ brings lawyers specializing in the European Convention on Human Rights and the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights. CIJ sets up electronic message newsgroups for participants in each of the seminar's training sessions to enable them to maintain a professional network.
Independent Journalism Center (IJC) - Moldova
www.ijc.md/en/
The Independent Journalism Center (IJC) assists in facilitating the development of news media in Moldova through the support and promotion of professionalism among journalists and the development of independent media organizations. IJC helps journalists to build their capacity, and to achieve self-sustainable free and open media. IJC aims to provide professional newsmen, newswomen, and journalism trainers and students with media instruction and resource materials. IJC carries out journalism training, which includes short-term seminars and workshops on different topics for print and broadcast journalists. Its specialized Media Law Unit (MLU) staffed with a full-time lawyer, gives journalists instructions on relevant legal matters, reviews and analyzes media laws, provides assistance in proposal writing to improve existing legislation, advises on the use of specialized print and online information resources, and offers other forms of support to journalists.
Independent School of Journalism "Tajikistan 21st Century" - Tajikistan
www.mediaschool.tj/onas.htm
Contact: umed@asia.tajik.net
The Independent School of Journalism "Tajikistan 21st Century" (ISJ assists in the professional growth of journalists working for independent media in the Republic of Tajikistan. ISJ aims to provide accurate, timely, and unbiased news and analysis to the public; promote modern techniques of journalism, journalism ethics, and the use of information technology in news-gathering and dissemination; and facilitate meetings and dialogue between the press and other sectors of civil society in Tajikistan. ISJ conducts seminars for station directors, program directors, talk-show hosts, radio journalists, sound engineers and sales managers on a variety of themes including, "Technical Aspects of Programming for Radio," "Management in the Radio Sphere," and "News on the Radio." In addition, ISJ hosts a resource center, which includes internet and email access, periodicals, and journalism textbooks from abroad that have been translated into Tajik for journalism students and working journalists. The collections at the ISJ Resource Center focus on the development of independent media in societies undergoing transition from authoritarianism to democracy.
MEMO 98 - Slovakia
www.memo98.sk/en/index.php
MEMO 98, based in Bratislava, Slovakia, documents and disseminates information about media violations, as well as conducts and supports other media monitoring programs in Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Montenegro, and Serbia. In Slovakia, MEMO serves as a watchdog and as an advocate for media reform. It leads a coalition of NGOs pushing for reforms in Slovakia's media and election legislation, and has already produced a draft for some of the laws. In addition to serving as a watchdog over the government, MEMO monitors and disseminates information on media's depiction of minorities, as it strives to promote tolerance among both media and the public in Slovakia. MEMO shares its skills, experience and programs with its counterparts in Belarus, Serbia, Montenegro, and Ukraine. In 2003-04, MEMO will establish and train three teams of local media monitors, establish five domestic monitoring teams, work with its partners to craft and carry out country-specific action plans for media reform, and produce and distribute a series of country- and issue-based media reports.
Moya Stolitsa - Kyrgyzstan
www.msn.kg/
Moya Stolitsa, a Kyrgyz newspaper, publishes independent analysis of political and economic events in Kyrgyzstan. Moya Stolitsa reports news and analyses on various points of view. The newspaper strives to be more than merely a critic of the current regime by reporting on both positive and negative developments in Kyrgyzstan and aims to provide fair and open information for the citizenry of Kyrgyzstan. In addition, Moya Stolistsa maintains a voice and a forum for democratically oriented independent reporting in Kyrgyzstan; strives to provide the Kyrgyz public with a choice of high quality, objective news and analysis in print form; and supports independent journalism and journalists in a time of great economic hardship.
National Association for Independent Mass Media (NANSMIT) - Tajikistan
www.nansmit.tj/
Contact: nansmit@tojikiston.com
The National Association for Independent Mass Media (NANSMIT), a nongovernmental organization that unites a variety of newspapers, media outlets, and NGOs in Tajikistan, promotes democracy by coordinating free press activities and supporting the rights of journalists. In an effort to facilitate cooperation between journalists and government officials and to encourage networking and professionalism among journalists from different regions of Tajikistan, NANSMIT will conduct eight seminars over the course of the next year in the regions of Khuzhand, Kulov, and Kurganteppa. The seminars will bring together journalists with press representatives of federal ministries, procuracy officials, court officials, and police. Additionally, NANSMIT will publish a manual for trainers and organize one week internships in Moscow newspapers for six Tajik journalists.
Polish-Czech-Slovak Solidarity Foundation - Poland/Czech Republic/Slovakia
http://free.ngo.pl/spczs/
The Polish-Czech-Slovak Solidarity Foundation, based in Warsaw, assists in the development of independent media in countries of Central and Eastern Europe and conducts two types of training programs for journalists. The "Technology of the Free Word" Program trains participants to prepare independently texts for publications, and the "Independent Media" Program takes the form of internships in mass media outlets located in Warsaw. The purpose of the "Independent Media" Program is two-fold. First it aims to acquaint participants with the content-related, legal, and ethical aspects of work of Polish journalists and. Second, it works towards the active integration of journalists into a professional environment. The Polish-Czech-Slovak Solidarity Foundation believes in the permanent establishment of democratic and independent media in Poland, including a press law, a law on radio and television, a developed network of public and private radio broadcasters, television stations, production centers, and book and newspaper publishing houses.
Radio Television B 92 - Serbia
www.b92.net/
The Belgrade-based Radio Television B-92 has been a source of independent investigative reporting since its founding in 1989. Over the years it has grown from a small student run radio station to include a television station, an interactive Web site, a publishing department, and cultural center. Staff of B-92 believes that the examination of crimes committed in the breakup of former Yugoslavia and the public's coming to terms with these atrocities are a necessary part of building democracy and stability in Serbia. Thus, B-92 has undertaken a number of initiatives focusing on the issue of war crimes. Some initiatives include: publishing books comparing how various western European countries dealt with the war crimes issue after World War II; producing a weekly radio show on guilt and responsibility in the recent wars in the former-Yugoslavia; organizing an international conference on this issue to begin a national dialogue on guilt, responsibility, and reconciliation; creating archive on war crimes in Belgrade; and producing documentaries on the crimes committed by the regime of Slobodan Milosevic.
Res Publica Newspaper - Kyrgyzstan
Contact: respub@eclat.kg
Res Publica, an independent Kyrgyz socio-political newspaper, maintains a forum for democratically oriented independent reporting in Kyrgyzstan; provides news and analysis on numerous issues such as economic development, political and economic corruption, human rights and strategic issues; and promotes independent journalism. To increase its coverage throughout the country, Res Publica has taken on a project to expand its reporting to the more remote regions of Kyrgyzstan and actively engage more and better journalists to its ranks. This allows the staff to become specialized and develop an expertise in certain areas such as economic reporting, investigative journalism, and culture and education with coverage of nationwide news and analysis of topics important to the democratic development of Kyrgyzstan.
RTV 21 - Kosovo
www.radio21.net/
Radio-TV 21 (RTV 21), an independent Albanian-language radio and television station in Kosovo, provides information on political, cultural, and economic developments to its listeners. RTV 21 aims to promote democratic social change in Kosovo by using the media as tool for developing a civil society with democratic values. RTV 21's information programs identify, stimulate and increase public knowledge about contemporary political issues such as freedom of speech, human rights, governmental transparency, and accountability of the international community for preserving peace, freedom, and democracy in Europe. It also provides a forum for audience involvement and public discourse.
The Information and Analytical Center "SOVA" - Russia
www.sova-center.ru
The Information and Analytical Center "SOVA", draws the attention of journalists, politicians, government officials, NGO activists, and other politically active citizens into the monitoring of the Russian media. SOVA's program consists of the monitoring and analysis of articles, speeches, and other texts from national newspapers and television networks. SOVA posts, on the Web site, the results of its monitoring, its analyses, and links to publications available over the Internet. The Web site includes an online discussion forum, and a monthly email newsletter and digest of publications that is mailed to journalists, politicians, government officials, NGO activists and other politically active citizens. In addition, as part of its program SOVA hosts three roundtables devoted to an informational campaign against the "new conservatism."
Students' Thought Youth Magazine - Belarus
http://studumka.iatp.by
Students' Thought, is an independent magazine based in Minsk published by and for students. Students' Thought presents articles on social, political and economic issues important to youth and plays an important role in disseminating information about youth NGO activities, opportunities for youth employment, international exchange programs, higher education issues, and the student movement in Belarus. Students' Thought promotes democratic ideas among young people in Belarus' emerging civil society and encourages them to take an active part in Belarus' social and political processes. Through its up-to-date Web site, surveys, and writing competitions among the readers, Students' Thought encourages debate and independent thinking. The magazine' staff makes a special effort to respond to everyone who writes to them, or asks for help or assistance, believing that this effort would encourage young people to be active and shows them that they are not alone. In addition, Students' Thought has taken a more active position in assisting different youth groups, including sponsoring youth music and advertising festivals. In the fall 2003, the magazine plans to implement a broad civic campaign called "Be active, Be creative," aimed at the engagement and activism of young people in Belarus.
Ukrainska Pravda - Ukraine
http://www2.pravda.com.ua/
Ukrainska Pravda, an Internet-based Ukrainian newspaper, aims to provide accurate, unbiased, and timely information about key political developments in Ukraine. In doing so, it hopes to stimulate demands for democratic practices, promote broader public participation in the political process, and protect freedom of speech in Ukraine. Ukrainska Pravda regularly posts news stories on its Web site organized into several categories including editorials; articles written by Ukrainian journalists; monitoring of violations of journalists' rights; analyses of televised Ukrainian political propaganda; translations of articles about Ukrainian politics appearing in the foreign press; and readers' correspondences. The Web site also consists of a searchable archive of all stories which have appeared in Ukrainska Pravda since the site was first opened in April 2000.
Yerevan Press Club (YPC) - Armenia
www.ypc.am/
The Yerevan Press Club (YPC) uniting journalists, publishers, media leaders and experts, irrespective of their political ideas, promotes free and responsible media. The YPC promotes the development of independent and professional media by seeking to help strengthen democratic institutions and establish strong civil society in Armenia. To this effect, YPC conducts seminars, conferences, and training courses; researches and publishes text and reference books; issues an independent professional newsletter for journalists in Armenia; develops draft laws on Media, on Television and Radio Broadcasting, and on the Right to Information; disseminates reports and statements on the condition of the media in Armenia; and negotiates with state structures and international organizations on the improvement of economic conditions for media, privatization of enterprises dealing with the production and dissemination of information, and creation of new independent structures. In the coming years, YPC will organize a number of regional seminars and conferences focusing on issues of strengthening contacts of media and other civil society institutes, in particular NGOs, as well as on the increase of the South Caucasus media influence in peaceful conflict resolution, and regional cooperation.
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