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Background A robust public broadcasting sector is an important element of democratic development. Assistance and expertise from donor governments will continue to be required towards this goal. Continued international funding will be needed to assist the establishment and sustainment of public broadcasting. Madrid Commitments, Objectives Adoption of legislation in both Entities which enshrines the principles of editorial independence, religious tolerance and financial transparency in all media sponsored by public funds. Establishment of a joint inter-Entity Annex 9 Public Corporation for Broadcasting and Transmission incorporating the public transmission and relay systems in both Entities. Donor Governments to continue to provide assistance and expertise towards the above aims. Present situation - progress to date MOUs on reform of SRT and RTV BiH were signed and restructuring of both ongoing new non-political Boards of Governors and Director Generals for SRT and RTV BiH were established. Adoption of new Statutes and Charters for SRT and RTV BiH. The new RTV BiH Board of Governors has, with OHR and IMC drafted legislation which has been debated by the Federation Parliament. Adoption of final draft expected by July 1999. Discussions underway on new State Service. For OHR email addresses and other contact information, please click the Contacts heading. OHR : Simon Haselock, Deputy H.Repr. for Media Issues; Daniel De Luce - Head of Media Development Funding needs |
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Additional information, Remarks Assistance for the public service sector should be conditional on respective authorities upholding public service broadcasting standards as well as displaying financial transparency and submission to independent audits or international financial controls. Public Service broadcasters must also show support for negotiations on establishment of a public broadcasting corporation. Funding for State-wide public broadcasting service conditional on state-level, cross-entity agreement on formation of a BiH transmission corporation and a BiH programme service, as well as effort by Federation authorities to provide funding. Funding for SRT is also strictly conditional on recruitment of new editorial management and clear improvement in news programming.
Background The Independent Media Commission was established by the High representative on 11 June 1998 in accordance with the Bonn PIC Conclusions as an independent Licensing and Regulatory Agency for Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with internationally recognized practice. Madrid Commitments, Objectives "The Council calls on member states to fully support the transfer of MEC responsibilities from the OSCE to the IMC and to provide appropriate financial, technical and personnel support." IMC to announce by end of 1999 a tentative date after which its supervisory element would be withdrawn as foreseen in the Bonn PIC Conclusions. IMC with OSCE in consultation with the High Representative, to draft clear electoral rules requiring media to offer equitable access to political parties and candidates. IMC, together with the Council of Europe and relevant media professionals, to shape media legislation in BiH with the aim of upholding media freedom. Present situation - progress to date
For OHR email addresses and other contact information, please click the Contacts heading. IMC: Krister Thelin, Director General Robert Gillette, Deputy Director General / Head of Licensing James Milne, Administration Manager OHR: Simon Haselock, Deputy High Representative for Media Issues Funding needs |
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The IMC budget for next year includes investment in hardware and technical infrastructure which will remain in place after its responsibilities have been handed over to the permanent institutions, is 4.9 million US$ Additional information, Remarks: -
Background The Open Broadcast Network remains the only independent cross-Entity television broadcaster in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Madrid Commitments, Objectives In 1999, the Peace Implementation Council was
Present situation - progress to date In 1998,
For OHR email addresses and other contact information, please click the Contacts heading. OBN: Jenny Ranson, Chief Executive Officer OHR: Simon Haselock, Deputy High Representative for Media Issues Daniel De Luce - Head of Media Development Funding needs |
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Additional information, Remarks: (*part of the shortfall on budget will come from outstanding contributions from 1998)
Background The Public Service Information Campaign (PSIC) which was run over the six months prior to the September 1998 elections was well received by the target audience and was regarded as highly effective. The clear instruction of the High Representative for 1999, which was endorsed at Madrid, is to develop and run an overreaching a PSIC aimed at promoting reconciliation, tolerance and civic principles. It also calls for a supporting campaign targeting specific areas and efforts endorsed by the international community in every area from Refugee Return, Rule of law and Human Rights through to Economic reform and Democratization. Funding for these supporting campaigns are included in the OHR operating budget only in terms of administrative and staffing costs which means further funding will be required to achieve the Madrid public information objectives as outlined below. Madrid Commitments, Objectives
Present situation - progress to date The OHR Public Service Information Campaign (PSIC), launched prior to the 1998 elections helped ensure that issues rather than dogma were explored fully during the election campaign. Information spots were aired on all major networks, as well as numerous smaller local stations. Two separate independent polls conducted to gauge viewer responses throughout BiH showed positive responses to the campaign. The research revealed that the campaign was successful and this was also confirmed by the response from local journalists and politicians For OHR email addresses and other contact information, please click the Contacts heading. OHR: Simon Haselock, Deputy High Representative for Media Issues, Jenny Pearce, OHR Public Service Information Department Funding needs |
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Additional information, Remarks: -
Background The OHR Media Department will be making a major effort in 1999 to support journalist training. This will include a major project in concert with the BBC and the SOROS Foundation. The project will be designed not just at improving the overall standards of journalism and media related skills but of management and commercial administration. Madrid Commitments, Objectives In 1999, the Peace Implementation Council: urges donor governments to focus on assistance and education for journalists, including aid for permanent training centers recently established by the international community - funding for training in general is budgeted under (1) below. Present situation - progress to date Beginning in autumn 1999, the training center, which has some studio space and equipment, will provide training in the electronic media for students from journalism faculties in both entities, advanced training for working journalists, and special courses designed upon request of major public networks - funding requirements for the BBC school project are shown under (2) below. Directors of the center also are optimistic they will receive further funding from SOROS and possibly other foundations. For OHR email addresses and other contact information, please click the Contacts heading. OHR: Simon Haselock, Deputy High Representative for Media Issues Daniel De Luce - Head of Media Development Funding needs |
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* BBC School for Electronic Media in BiH for the period of September 1999 - September 2002 The estimated BBC World Service Training Trust contributions to the project are subject to agreement from funders. Consultations with potential funders are on-going; it is hoped that agreement will be reached in early 1999. Additional information, Remarks: Detailed budget available
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