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Moderator:
·
Prof. Dr. Duncan Perry, Millersville Univ., USA
Rapporteurs: ·
Stephanie Schwandner-Sievers, School of Slavonic and East European
Studies, Univ. of London ·
Dr. Wim van Meurs, Centre for Applied Policy Research, Munich
I. General Remarks
Although our panel discussed both media and culture, the position
of Albanians and other ethnic groups, for obvious reasons culture
and e.g. Roma issues did not get the attention they deserve. Having
said that, it may be relevant to note that the following report
is our (St.S and WvM) summary of the debates and recommendations
of the working session. Complementary suggestions (some doable,
others less so) have been collated, but contradictory proposals
have also been juxtaposed for the sake of the plenary discussion.
The panel started with the observation that Macedonia
today is a multicultural society characterised by a severe lack
of inter-ethnic communication and 'shared realities'. This observation
induced the moderator, Duncan Perry, to raise the fundamental question,
what constitutes the advantage of a multicultural Macedonian state.
One participant replied that multiculturalism is the only alternative
to civil war and disintegration, a consensus shared by the entire
panel. In this context, it was maintained that the issue of a revision
of the preamble of the constitution, currently on the agenda, would
set a framework of a state based on citizenship.
The implementation of interethnic co-operation within
this framework became a key controversy in the panel discussion.
Some participants argued that the only realistic option would be
a bi-national state with affirmative action for the Albanians and
a proportional division of resources and separate institutions.
Others held against that view and noted that the ideal of a truly
multicultural society could only be achieved by common institutions
and sharing of the (scarce) resources - also for the sake of the
smaller minorities in Macedonia.
At the end of our discussions, the two options no
longer appeared fundamentally irreconcilable; maybe a striving for
shared institutions and co-operation requires a generous (as far
as scarce resources allow) distribution of rights, equipment and
funding for basic ethnic institutions and projects. Thus, it was
for example suggested that TV channel 3 (running Albanian programmes)
would need a medium-sized studio, 3 cameras, trained cameramen and
a reportage vehicle to become fully functional. These gestures and
concessions of better distribution (including of foreign donations)
might contribute to confidence building and lay the foundation for
common, future-oriented institutions.
It follows a sketchy summary of the panel's discussions
including problem definitions and pragmatic, sometimes highly specific,
suggestions for solving these problems as well as considerations
regarding feasibility of these suggestions, all as raised by the
participants during workshop II.
II.
Identification of status quo / particular problems / needs:
- Lack of
common public sphere of Albanians and Macedonians in contemporary
Macedonian society, existence of two ethno-centric realities and
public discourses; -
Hate speech in public media promoting violence along
ethnic divisions; (exemplified in opposing representations of events,
figures, personalities: 'martyrs', 'rebels' or 'terrorists'?); incendiary
reporting;
-
Political influence on media,
corruption, lack of independent reporting, independent analysis,
market for populist reporting is served only;
- Need for professionalisation,
particularly transformation from
commentary to investigative journalism;
·
- Need for quality
control and ethic standards; ·
- Need for widening choice
for public, improving diversity and competition of media, particularly
Albanian media (some Kosovar papers are banned, creation of Albanian
Channel Three (TV), is under
funded and on hold).
III. Recommendations
and Assessment of Feasibility
1: Various recommendations
for creating a multi-cultural media-scape ·
Translating each other's articles and publishing in one's own press
·
Multi-lingual, independent and high-quality daily ·
Summary page in the other major language in mono-language dailies
·
Subtitles, translations ·
Bi-ethnic author teams, co-authored articles ·
Sending reporters to 'the other side' ·
Promoting children's multi-cultural programmes ·
Multi-cultural TV talk shows ·
Promoting Civil Society sector, particularly NGOs for free media
and culture ·
IC sponsorship of necessary cameras and other studio equipment plus
training for camera men, for Channel Three
2: Feasibility
Assessment
The assessment of feasibility of the various recommendations of
the participants in this workshop covered, in almost all cases,
the following range:
- Non-feasible, entirely un-realistic, proposal rejected;
- Exclusively bi-ethnic with effects of excluding other minorities,
such as Roma;
- Positive first steps, acknowledgement of positive trends.
This range in assessment seems to reflect the participants' divergent
political opinions ranging from favouring prospects which would
affirming ethnic division, to those allowing for a future of communication
across ethnic division. Critiques argued in terms of giving significance
of form over content (form: operational multicultural strategies,
diversity, quantity; content: quality of reporting, multicultural
reportage); others inquired into market feasibility and questions
of costs and available funds for any strategies of transforming
the status quo.
3: Specific Recommendations
for Professionalisation and control of ethic standards
A. Training
for investigative journalism
Short term strategies
- Special courses (partly existence, Deutsche Welle training programme),
visiting programmes
- Summer school
Long term strategies:
- School for journalism
- University study programmes/degrees
B. Creating a self-regulatory
journalist Board (model Presserat?) for protection of independence
of its members and control of ethical standards and quality.
4: Specific Debate:
Costs/Funding/Business Viability Assessment
(selected, various speakers' contributions)
Identification of a need for a market assessment,
or poll on public, to define the media market; therefore, ideas
of creating such media are not idealistic but economically sound;
Assumptions suggest that there will be a market for multi-ethnic,
high-quality media, and that political actors may want to jump on
that wagon once it is there; · Need for market based business plans,
ideas for matching funds
The Macedonian public sector and any public services are generally
under funded for all groups, - lack of resource provisions at this
stage are therefore not necessarily part of ethnic discrimination
strategies
Attention needs to be paid to the promotion of de-centralised (local)
media production (multicultural or mono-ethnic) as well as to central
(national) media;
There is a market incentive to produce high quality Albanian media:
demand may be met beyond national borders and distribution will
radiate; fund raising may be supported through new advertisement
strategies taking into account these markets
5:
Suggestion for the role of the International Community (IC)
Funding for earmarked projects while assuring
transparency and accountability;
Investment into long-term strategies for increasing professionalisation;
Facilitating the creation of a corporate self-regulatory body for
journalists (ethic board)
Reconsidering media policy of the Stability Pact.
IV.
A last word by the rapporteurs
We would particularly like to direct attention
to the recommendation III 3 B as an important idea calling for immediate
action - the creation of an ethics council or journalism board to
stimulate professionalism, ethical guidelines and self-control.
Such a multiethnic council or board might protect journalists against
political infringements on the freedom of the press. It might also
stimulate a professional 'corporate identity' across ethnic divides.
Such an institution reprimanding individual journalist e.g. for
hate speech would send a powerful and credible signal in the currently
fragile situation for Macedonia's interethnic relations.
Dr.Wim
van Meurs and Stephanie Schwandner-Sievers
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