Hendrik Sittig: „Independence of public broadcasters must be ensured by the type of funding and the selection of control bodies“

Head of the KAS Media Programme South East Europe in an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR)

The report „Public Service Media Under Crossfire by Protest Movements“ of the KAS Media Programme South East Europe is gaining further public attention. After the German daily “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” quoted the analysis on the current demonstrations in Montenegro, Serbia, Croatia and Albania in its report on 19 March, the Head of the Media Programme South East Europe, Hendrik Sittig, was as a guest at the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) on March 21.

Public Service Media Under Crossfire by Protest Movements

Protesters in South East Europe criticise their governments and demand more independence of the public broadcasters

There is seething unrest in South East Europe and immediately it is called ”Balkan Spring.” Many people are protesting in the capitals of Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and Croatia out of dissatisfaction with their governments. This frustration is targeted towards the media in these countries as well – especially the public service media which are frequently considered a mouthpiece of the government. The protesters therefore call for resignation of the general directors of the broadcasters.

Bulgaria: Trust in Media Is Still Low

Almost two thirds of Bulgarians are convinced that the media in their country are not reporting independently. Moreover, only every tenth describes journalists as trustworthy. The EU and Germany enjoy the highest institutional confidence. These are the main results of a national representative survey commissioned by the Media Programme South East Europe of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS).

Every Second Macedonian Doesn’t Believe in Media Independence

There is only little trust in the work of media in Macedonia: Every second Macedonian believes that journalists in their country can’t report independently. Furthermore, only one third of the population feels well informed about political topics. Generally Macedonians are informing themselves about politics from the TV. There is relatively high trust in the EU and NATO. These are the main results of a national representative survey commissioned by the Media Programme South East Europe of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS).

New South East European edition of the Investigative Journalism Manual

The KAS Media Program South East Europe publishes Investigative Journalism Manual with case studies from the Balkans

World press freedom index: Most Balkan countries improve only numerically

Media transparency and independence are still problem areas

Media freedom has improved numerically in seven states in South East Europe. Three countries have been deteriorating. These are the results of the new world press freedom index of the non-governmental organisation "Reporters Without Borders" (RWB). Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia achieved the best scores according to RWB (ranks 44, 62 and 69 out of 180 countries worldwide). Macedonia and Bulgaria swap places (rank 109 and 111) and have once again received the worst scores in the region.

Summer School of Investigative Reporting 2018

Call for applications open

The call for applications for the Summer School of Investigative Reporting 2018 has started. The seminar will take place from 19 until 25 August in Romania. Host organisations are the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) and the Media Program South East Europe of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.

Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism 2018

Call for proposals is open

The Central European Initiative (CEI) and the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), in special partnership with the Media Program South East Europe of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), have opened the Call for Applications 2018 of the CEI SEEMO Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism. The Call is divided into two categories: "Professional journalists" (4.000 EUR) and "Young professional journalists" (1.000 EUR).

PRO.PR Awards 2018 assigned to the Head and partners of KAS Media Program SEE

The Head of the Media Program South East Europe of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), Christian Spahr, as well as KAS partners Ivana Đurić, Head of Communications at the Serbian Ministry of European Integration, and Vuk Vujnović, Secretary General at the South East Europe Public Sector Communication Association (SEECOM), are among the winners of this year’s PRO.PR Awards. They will be awarded for their commitment to political communication in the region and for their engagement at SEECOM.

Only every tenth Bulgarian thinks the media are independent

REPRESENTATIVE OPINION POLL ABOUT MEDIA FREEDOM AND POLITICAL COMMUNICATION COMMISSIONED BY THE KAS MEDIA PROGRAM

The trust in Bulgarian media is at an all-time low. That is the result of a representative survey commissioned by the KAS Media Program South East Europe. Only one of ten Bulgarians (10 percent) believes that the media in Bulgaria are independent. The satisfaction with political communication is similarly low. Only 11 percent of the Bulgarians feel well informed about political decisions.