Baku conference paves the way for media self-regulation in new democracies

The event brought together more than 40 journalists and editors-in-chief of major media outlets in Azerbaijan and press council representatives from countries across the OSCE area, including Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and United Kingdom. It offered a unique opportunity to exchange views, best practices and recommendations on the challenges of media self-regulation.

Members of the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media also attended the event, since media self-regulation has become a major subject in the work of the office.

Regaining the public's trust

In new democracies, establishing press councils is a promising step forward for the media in regaining the public's trust. Often controlled by governments in the past, media in these countries have had limited access to uncensored and unbiased information. Placing partisanship before objectivity, however, is a weakness that can be replicated under a multi-partisan environment.

"Self-regulation can help the media community rid itself of old habits," says the OSCE Representative, Miklos Haraszti. "A core number of media outlets opting for objectivity can make a real difference in overall media quality. Self-regulation, with its codes of ethics, is the choice of editors who strive to adhere to standards of objectivity and cultural understanding.

"Increased media accountability, however, must be accompanied by the disengagement of government in regulating media," he says, arguing that journalistic respect for ethics and tolerance does not need new legislation.

Without the support of governments in allowing the media independence, Haraszti further explains, all efforts to promote media self-regulation in new democracies might be in vain. This is why the conference in Baku focused on helping new democracies develop self-regulation models that meet different challenges from those usually found in western European countries.

The Azerbaijan Press Council

Since its opening in 2003, the Azerbaijan Press Council has handled 746 public complaints. It has reached agreements in 301 cases, out of which 66 gave plaintiffs the right of reply.

Most complaints dealt with attacks on honour and dignity, or damages to business reputation, and claimants could have initiated legal proceedings, as libel and defamation can be severely punished in the courts. "But by being quicker than lengthy court procedures, and by giving satisfactory moral redress," says the OSCE Representative, "the Azerbaijan Press Council managed to prove its efficiency, and has become a real alternative to state regulation."

In discussing some cases submitted to the Press Council, international experts assessed the body's current level of professionalism, while also pointing out the diversity of ethical standards.

Despite visible good will, the Council also faces considerable challenges, one of which is the endorsement of ethical standards by many Azerbaijani journalists. Nonetheless, the main issue to be solved remains the body's lack of independence from government influence.

Exchanging best practices

During the conference in Baku, participants from several countries shared their experiences and offered solutions.

Taras Kuzmov, a representative of the Journalist Ethics Commission from Ukraine, said the development of media self-regulation promotes media freedom, but underlined the necessity of excluding the Government from the Council's work as much as possible.

The representative of the UK Press Complaint Commission, Robert Pinker, explained the need to define public interest in journalism, and emphasized the benefits of decriminalizing defamation. Discussions that followed on managing a press council grabbed the attention of most Azerbaijani media professionals.

Peter Studer, the representative of the Swiss Press Council, emphasized the fact that, contrary to popular belief, abundant financial means are not a precondition to a well functioning body.

Towards the end of the conference, Azerbaijani media representatives seemed relieved that, although other countries encounter similar problems, co-operating with them can help to find solutions.

"Even well established press councils need constant updating and upgrading to cope with cultural, ethical and moral challenges," says Haraszti.

Eventually, the Azerbaijan Press Council proposed to draw up concrete recommendations, and share the Azerbaijani experience and the conference's lessons to promote and assist in the establishment of other press councils in new democracies.

The Representative on Freedom of the Media and his office will continue to work at helping countries in transition create freer and more responsible media. Events such as the one held in Baku are planned in other OSCE participating States for 2007.

By Adeline Hulin

/OSCE/