Vincenzo Le Voci

The members of the EU communication forum "Club of Venice"

The "Club of Venice" gathered communication experts from EU institutions and national governments to discuss new trends in political communication and the media landscapes in Europe.

Christian Spahr took part in a panel discussion at the second conference day. He explained new trends in the media landscapes in South East Europe, among others changes in the information culture through new online news portals and the foundation of independent newsrooms. Spahr also spoke about the low trust in traditional media. "Independent media projects, especially in internet, contribute to more transparency in politics, economy and in the societies as a whole," Spahr said. He also presented the KAS platform "Balkanmedia" which was launched by the Media Program South East Europe in 2014.

The Head of the KAS Media Program South East Europe underlined that media freedom in the region is further deteriorating, quoting rakings of other international organisations like Reporters Without Borders and Freedom House. According to Spahr, this tendency is a result of non-transparent ownership structures and financial sources as well as inefficient media legislation and self-regulation. "Despite the advancing integration in European structures, there are still obstacles in South East Europe for real media freedom," Spahr commented.

He concluded that an intensive debate with politicians and media experts about legal and professional standards as well as journalism education and ethical political communication is necessary for the improvement of the media situation in the region.