BIRN to Conclude Debates on Online Media Regulation

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Balkan Investigative Reporting Network will host a group of journalists and editors from across the Balkan region in a live online debate on February 24 to discuss the issues of online media regulation while preserving freedom of speech and avoiding censorship.

Illustration: Rodion Kutsaev/Unsplash

The questions of self-regulation and regulation of online media are practical for every newsroom, however rarely they have time to constructively discuss these issues and approach potential solutions.

Media in the region face increasing pressures; not only do they no longer control the news cycle, but they are also often failing to deliver quality journalism under the pressure of speed, clicks and disinformation.

How do we arrive at the best solutions for regulation? How can the process ensure solidarity and include all professional media? What are the perils of self-regulation? Is there an option for government regulation that will not turn into censorship? These are some of the questions we aim to tackle during the debate.

The debate, “Online Media Regulation: Newsroom Perspective”, will feature journalists, editors and other media professionals who face different aspects of this problem daily. The debate moderated by Ana Petruseva, country director of BIRN North Macedonia, will be the final discussion in a series of conversations we held in recent months with representatives of regulatory and self-regulatory bodies, legal experts and academics.

Panellists taking part in the discussion include:

  • Alen Altoka, head of digital media at Oslobodjenje, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Flutura Kusari, legal advisor at the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, Kosovo
  • Geri Emiri, editor at Amfora, Albania
  • Goran Mihajlovski, editor-in-chief at Sakam da kazam, North Macedonia
  • Jelena Vasic, project manager at KRIK, Serbia
  • Srdan Kosovic, editor-in-chief at Vijesti, Montenegro

To join our third debate in a series of discussions on online media regulation with different stakeholders – organised as a part of the regional “Media for All” project – connect with us on ZOOM on Wednesday, February 24, at noon CET.

Save the date and register HERE.

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