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V. South East Europe Media Forum

by Matthias Barner

Media Pluralism and Media Business

The negative tendencies in guaranteeing free and independent reporting in the countries of South East Europe rose steadily in the last few years.

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In addition, the world economic crisis also contributed to putting the media sector massively under pressure. Facing this background, more than 200 editors-in-chief, media owners, association members, representatives of international organizations and media experts from more than 20 countries gathered in Belgrade. The occasion was the V South East Europe Media Forum (SEEMF), which has developed into the biggest media-political event in the region.

Of course, it would not be correct to assess the media development in the region independent from the difficult process of transition. Serbia’s Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, emphasized in his opening statement, that his country has never reached such a high degree of media freedom and democracy as it is the case right now. High-carat speakers discussed lively and openly the condition and the perspectives of media landscape in South East Europe, in five panels.

The SEEMF takes place annually since 2007 and aims primary to strengthen the exchange of ides and the establishment of networks among media people in the region. It is organized by the Media Program South East Europe of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in cooperation with the South East Europe Media Organization (SEEMO) and the Central European Initiative (CEI).

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