WHAT: Roundtable discussion on financial crisis and its impact on public broadcasting in Europe, and presentation of Ethical Journalism Initiative

WHEN: 18 March 2009, 10am-12am

WHERE: Brussels, IPC, Résidence Palace, Room Passage

WHO: Marius Dragomir, Open Society Institute, London (Report Co-Editor)

Eva Rybkova, PASOS, Czech Republic (Author, Czech Republic report)

Mark Thompson, Open Society Institute, London (Report Co-Editor)

Aidan White, European Federation of Journalists (General Secretary)

CONTACTS: RSVP TO Luis Montero, Open Society Institute, +44 7798 737 516; luis.montero@osf-eu.org

Marc Gruber, European Federation of Journalists, +32 2 235 22 15, marc.gruber@ifj.org

Speakers from Czech Republic and the United Kingdom will discuss the state of European public broadcasting in light of the economic downturn and present findings from Television across Europe: more channels, less independence, a new report by the Open Society Institute.

This Open Society Institute's report focuses on nine countries – Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Lithuania, the Republic of Macedonia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

Key findings include:

• Public service broadcasters suffer from mounting politicization and pressure, flawed funding models, and disintegrating reputations. Broadcast regulators, too, are increasingly politicised. Only a few have allowed a more diverse range of operators to enter the market.
• Program formats spread while public service output dwindles. This output has not been boosted by incentives or obligations.
• Transparency of media ownership remains a major problem.

The report is available at www.mediapolicy.org. Printed copies will also be distributed at the event.

PLUS

The Ethical Journalism Initiative (EJI): Managing Change in the New Media Environment
by Aidan White, General Secretary, European Federation of Journalists

• The EJI is a new campaign to rekindle old values in media worldwide, launched by the International Federation of Journalists.
• Introduction to the background and some of the key themes to consider in building an ethical environment for journalism.

More information is available at http://ethicaljournalisminitiative.org

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