BIRN Hosts Media Freedom Conference

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network's regional media conference, entitled 'Media Freedom Challenges', will be held on Friday June 12, in Sarajevo, where BIRN's directors and media experts will debate the main obstacles to media freedom in the Balkans.

"Media across the region are in complete slavery to both business and politicians. In some countries the situation is alarming," said Gordana Igric, BIRN Regional Network Director.

"I believe it is important to look at the regional picture. Some of the problems are specific, but some are common all over the Balkans. In order to deal with them, we need a unique, joint initiative," Igric said.

BIRN Celebrates 10th Anniversary

The regional media conference 'Media Freedom Challenges' is a part of BIRN's 10th anniversary celebration.

BIRN has a presence across the Balkan region, with country-based organisations in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania and Serbia.

For editorial purposes, it also has a network of journalists and editors in Montenegro, Croatia, Bulgaria, Greece and occasionally Moldova.

The organisation has a wide media presence - online, in print, on TV, and on radio. BIRN's flagship website, www.BalkanInsight.com, one of 15 sites in different languages that BIRN runs, is read in more than 200 countries worldwide.

Key issues in the Balkans that BIRN has identified include lack of freedom of expression, loss of media independence, lack of good governance, an absence of anti-corruption efforts, poor access to justice and rights and civil society organisations' inability to address issues of public interest.

Johannes Hahn, the EU Enlargement Commissioner, will address the participants via video message, while...

Continue reading on: