Project description

The project aimed to strengthen freedom of expression, free access to information, and to provide conditions for free, independent and pluralistic media, knowing that journalists and media organizations in Southeast Europe and Turkey are key drivers of democratic, sustainable and peaceful development in the country. region. The aim was to restore media confidence in South East Europe and Turkey. The project focused on improving media accountability mechanisms, the internal organization and functioning of the media, and media and information literacy among citizens to strengthen the support of civil society for the media and the demand for quality media. This project was based on previous cooperation between the EU and UNESCO.

Therefore, the project used the experiences and lessons learned from the project “Harmonization with the international standards in the media sector in the countries of South East Europe” implemented by UNESCO from 2009 to 2011, as well as the project “Media Accountability in Southeast Europe”, implemented from 2013 until 2015. Both projects have supported the creation and strengthening of voluntary self-regulatory mechanisms in the media, such as ethics councils in South East Europe and Turkey. They also provided a forum for discussing the adaptation of professional standards to the digital age and the inclusion of online media in the process of self-regulation.

Duration: 2015 – 2016

Donor: European Union and UNESCO