Event Reports
This year’s conference dealt particularly with the topic of access to information. Although the right of access to information is enshrined in all countries in South East Europe, journalists are often not aware of it as a self-evident tool in their investigations. This holds true for media, public authorities and governmental institutions likewise. The principle of secrecy and discretion are still prevailing.
The conference made a significant contribution to a better awareness of the right of access to information with journalists, politicians, civil society and publicity in general. The right to access to information as a tool of investigative journalists, regional and international experiences as well as the role of nongovernmental organisations were topics of as many as six panel discussions. Two specialized panels dealt with the issue of ownership and financial transparency in the media as well as with access to the archives of the Communist secret service.
The participants came from all South East European countries, Poland, Slovakia, Turkey, Italy, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the USA. The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung was represented by Mr Frank Spengler, deputy head of the Department for European and International cooperation, Mr Hans Kaiser, head of the Hungarian office and Mr Matthias Barner, director of the Media Program South East Europe.
In the last years, the South East Europe Media Forum evolved into one of the major media events in South East Europe. It aims primarily at strengthening the exchange and networking among media executives and leading journalists in the region. The Budapest meeting was the fourth Media forum following the conferences in Zagreb (2007), Sofia (2008) and Tirana (2009). The conference is being organized by the Media Program South East Europe, in cooperation with the WAZ Media group and SEEMO, the South East Europe Media Organisation.