Panel: Media freedom and ownership in Eastern Europe

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The media expert Sergej Lochthofen (left) with Christian Spahr, Head of KAS Media Program South East Europe

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The "Medientreffpunkt Mitteldeutschland" (MTM) conference features approximately 40 panels and about 200 speakers, and is one of the biggest German media conferences. This year it took place from 9 to 11 May. Christian Spahr, Head of the KAS Media Program South East Europe, discussed current media developments in Central and Eastern Europe with the Bulgarian media entrepreneur Ivo Prokopiev ("Capital" daily) and Branko Čečen from the Serbian Center for Investigative Journalism (CINS). The focus of their panel discussion on 10 May was on ownership structures in the media sector in the region. Media expert Sergej Lochthofen, the former editor-in-chief of the regional newspaper "Thüringer Allgemeine", moderated the panel.

During the discussion, Spahr emphasized that the media situation in the region deteriorates further. As an example for negative tendencies he referred to the current Press Freedom Ranking of the NGO "Reporters Without Borders" (RWB). According to the RWB ranking 2016, only three countries in the region made progress. Spahr expressed concern that the trust in media is still low in in the region and in some countries it even decreases further. As alternatives to old structures in the media sector, Spahr named, amongst others, the establishment of independent media initiatives, investigative projects and online news portals.

The KAS expert said that ownership structures and financial resources have to become more transparent. After the panel, the speakers discussed further aspects of the media crisis in Eastern Europe with the audience.

Under the leading theme "The impact of change – Living in new systems", decision-makers in politics, media and economy attended the MTM 2016 to exchange experience and opinions.

The presentation of Christian Spahr in German language is available here.