(IPI/IFEX) – The following is an IPI press release: Vienna, 23 August 2000 IPI Launches South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors and news executives, is pleased to announce the launch of the South East Europe Media Organisation. Over the past few years, journalists in South […]
(IPI/IFEX) – The following is an IPI press release:
Vienna, 23 August 2000
IPI Launches South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors and news executives, is pleased to announce the launch of the South East Europe Media Organisation.
Over the past few years, journalists in South Eastern Europe have faced difficult working conditions. Authorities have passed draconian defamation and national security laws to muzzle critical voices. Furthermore, newspapers have been fined, radio stations have had their equipment destroyed and officials limit access to documents. All of this creates a climate where threats, harassment and even killings are common retributions for the articles journalists write.
Responding to this situation, IPI is launching the South East European Media Organisation (SEEMO) with the aim of providing assistance to the media in the region and of increasing the flow of information. “Believing that media pluralism and press freedom form the basis of any democracy, SEEMO shall be made up of editors and journalists from the region dedicated to improving the climate for freedom of expression and press freedom,” said IPI Chairman Dr. Hugo Bütler, Editor-in-Chief of the Swiss daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
The purpose of SEEMO is to protect and further press freedom in the South East European (SEE) countries. SEEMO intends to achieve this through a number of initiatives.
In order to provide expert legal advice, the SEEMO Media Law Programme aims to set up a committee of media lawyers with representatives from every SEE country. The committee will analyse existing media legislation and put forward proposals for changes and amendments. Furthermore, building on IPI’s past experience with such programmes, SEEMO will support the development of editorially independent public service broadcasting aimed at replacing state controlled broadcasting structures. SEEMO will also assist media organisations to draft a journalist’s code of conduct and internal statutes for media organisations.
On 16 November, the SEEMO Founding Conference will take place in Vienna. The conference will discuss the aims and goals of SEEMO and decide on a date and a list of participants for the Constitutional Conference, which will elect members of the board, a president and a vice-president. A date will also be set for the election of the secretary general by the board.
