Online media must remain free forum for public debate, says OSCE media freedom representative at media conference in Tbilisi | WPN World People News

Online and traditional media alike must remain free forums for public debate, said the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović opening the 9th annual South Caucasus Media Conference in Tbilisi yesterday.

L-r: Douglas Griffin, Director, Albany Associates; Christian Möller, Expert, Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media; Andrey Rikhter, Director, Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media; and Dunja Mijatović, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, during the opening of the 9th annual South Caucasus Media Conference, Tbilisi, 11 October 2012.

Journalists and civil society representatives from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia taking part in the conference titled “From traditional to online media: best practices and perspectives” will look at international standards and national practices regarding freedom of the media in social media and online broadcast regulation.

“The fundamental human right to freedom of expression and freedom of the media is not only reserved for traditional media, but also covers social media and other forms of new media,” Mijatović said.

“I constantly urge the governments of all OSCE participating States to foster and not to restrict media freedom both on-line and off-line. Online media can promote diversity and pluralism of opinions and voices. They also support democratic processes and development by providing a direct link between governments and citizens.”

The conference participants will also discuss current issues relating to media freedom in the region.

“I will continue to raise with the authorities of the countries in the whole OSCE region including the South Caucasus cases of violence, harassment and even imprisonment of bloggers and journalists, government control over broadcast media and limited access to governmental information.”

The participants of the conference will have an opportunity to discuss regulatory practices in traditional and online media and examine possible regulatory policy responses in a master class held by by Albany Associates, an international communications firm working with governments and broadcast regulatory agencies.

The annual South Caucasus Media Conference is organized by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media. The Governments of Germany, Lithuania, Norway, Switzerland and the United States provided support for the event.

Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe