OSCE calls for public broadcaster reform

TIRANA, Sept. 23 – The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe represen-tative on the Media Freedom Forum, Dunja Mijatovic, has called for the reform of the public broadcaster to ensure the independence of the broadcasting regulator in Albania.
She also urged the new Albanian government to ensure access to information and move forward on digitizing the country’s broadcast media.
The OSCE representative said the organization is ready to offer its support to Albania in reforming the public broadcaster, digitizing broadcasting, ensuring the independence of the regulator and implementing the freedom of information legislation.
During a two-day official visit, she also urged the new government to fully decriminalize defamation, ensure access to information and move forward on digitizing the broadcast media.
“The public service broadcaster RTSH needs to be fully reformed to provide citizens with balanced news and information, as well as to educate and entertain them. I am very encouraged that media reform issues are also high on the agenda of the government that is only two days old,” Mijatovi桳aid, following her meeting with Prime Minister Edi Rama.
Urging government authorities to make tangible progress with digitalization she said, “Digita-lization of electronic media is important. If it is properly imple-mented it provides for greater media pluralism. Independent broadcast regulators play a key role in this process.”
Mijatovi桡lso emphasized the need to ensure independence of the broadcast regulator, AMA, from political influence and to ensure that it is adequately funded. Other issues discussed included decrimina-lization of defamation and ensuring public access to official information.
“Last year, Albania took an important step in abolishing prison sentences for defamation from the Penal Code. I urge you to take the next step and fully decriminalize defamation”, Mijatovi桳aid.
She also said that the need to ensure that all citizens have full access to official information, as guaranteed by Albanian legislation, is vital: “Access to information allows the journalists to perform their duty as public watchdogs and to ensure that all authorities are accountable and working for the benefit of the people.”
The Third OSCE South East Europe Media Conference was held in Tirana with the participation of more than 180 journalists, representatives of civil society, government and academics from the region, along with international experts, to discuss the state of the public service broadcasters, regulatory authorities and the digital switchover in South East Europe.