Media seminar on ethical standards, trans-Atlantic integration, online journalism

LEZHA, April 2 – The Albanian Media Institute reported that it held a seminar on media self-regulation last week in the context of a project aiming to improve ethical standards in the media and media policies. The seminar aimed at increasing journalists’ awareness and commitment to media ethics and self-regulation. After the approval of the New Code of Ethics and the establishment of the Council of Ethics in September 2006 they will supervise its implementation. Lutfi Dervishi, freelancer and editor of the new Code of Ethics, discussed with the participants the notion of ethics in journalism and the necessary criteria for developing ethical journalism. Participants discussed their own ethical dilemmas by bringing specific examples related to public interest cases, relations to sources of information, advertising and ethics, etc.
Another training was held on improving reporting on Trans-Atlantic integration with 10 journalists from print and electronic media. They focused on the challenge of establishment and strengthening of credible and efficient institutions in the country in the context of the EU integration. They were briefed on the role of the Ministry of Integration, coordination efforts among government bodies, plan for SAA implementation, economic benefits and risks expected, importance of further strengthening of independent institutions in the country, etc. Participants became familiar with legislation in EU versus member states, attempts made in approximating Albanian legislation to EU standards, and the comparison of the present stage legislation to required standards.
Albanian Media Institute started a media briefing series on international documents affecting media. It aims to brief journalists and editors with main documents, implementation, and consequences. The documents cover areas not directly related to media, but affecting this area. The first briefing series took place on March 16 at AMI on copyright. A training course on online journalism and basic skills for webmaster took place March 26-30 One topic was introducing reporters to wire news and the way they could use these services for their own work, focusing also on the specific details of news writing for newspapers and for wires.