How to regulate transparency of media ownership with the goal of protection and development of true media pluralism that stands for pluralism of information, ideas and sources of information? What to regulate and what is to be left for self-regulation? How to promote the process of self-regulation, of the media and marketing industry?
These are just some of the important questions asked today during the public discussion on two draft laws: Draft law on transparency of media ownership and protection of media pluralism, and Draft law on advertising in BiH, that was held today in Sarajevo and organized by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The aim of the round table was to open the discussion on draft laws. The proposed laws were drafted by expert work groups that were engaged by the civil society and financially supported by the European Union, and included the relevant BiH institutions in the future work on these topics.
The participants were greeted by the Deputy Head of Council of Europe Office in Sarajevo, Loreta Vioiu, who emphasized the importance of continuous cooperation with BiH institutions, as well as with media and advertising professionals, the SIDA in BiH representative and by the Assistant Minister of Human Rights and Refugees in BiH, Saliha Đuderija.
The round table was attended by the representatives of the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees in BiH, Ministry of Communications and Transportation of BiH, Communications Regulatory Authority, as well as representatives of the media and marketing industries.
It was concluded that it is necessary to identify the relevant ministry to start the process, as this is unclear at this point. After that, that state institution should lead a wider process of consultations, that would help in adapting the proposed drafts, and then put forward in the procedure.
The round table is one of the activities of the project Human rights reporting and the role of media in BiH – media freedom legal framework analysis, that is funded by the Swedish Development Agency (SIDA) and implemented by the Council of Europe.
