Press Statement

Human Rights Project Code for Fair Representation of Ethnic Minorities in the Bulgarian Media

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On 1 March 2002, Human Rights Project organized in Sofia, Bulgaria a national round table "Minorities in the Media: Media policies and
practices". About 60 media professionals participate in the round table - among them journalists from national and regional print and electronic media, lecturers from Department of Journalism and Mass Communications in University of Sofia, Members of Council for Electronic Media (the Bulgarian governmental institution, responsible for monitoring programs and licensing the broadcast media in the country). Journalists from community media of ethnic minorities (Roma, Turks, Armenian, Jews) and non-governmental organizations also participated in the discussions.

The debate was focused on the following topics:

- "Media portrayal of minorities in Bulgarian mainstream press"

- The results of a special research done by Bulgarian Media Coalition (one of the biggest media non-governmental organizations) - Presented by Mr. Emil Koen;

- "Media Freedom vs. Hate Speech - Legal Aspects and Solutions"

Presented by Mr. Ivailo Ganchev, Legal consultant of the Human Rights
Project;

- "Minorities in Bulgarian Mainstream Media - the Experience of Council of Electronic Media (CEM)" - Presentations by Mr. Georgi Lozanov (Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communications and member of CEM) and Ms. Margarita Pesheva (Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communications and Chair of CEM);

- "The Need of Intercultural Training for Journalists" - Presented by Ms. Deenichina, lecturer in Department of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of Sofia

- "Fair Representation of Ethnic Minorities in Bulgarian Media" - project for Ethic Code of the Bulgarian journalists - Presented by Ms. K. Angelova, media consultant of the "Human Rights Project" and Ms. K. Boseva, Chair of the "Interethnic Initiative for Human Rights" Foundation.

A lot of hate speech examples were discussed, among them few programs produced by the Bulgarian National TV. There were a lot of questions addressed to Mr. Lozanov and Ms. Pesheva, concerning the monitoring procedures of the CEM in these cases of hate speech towards Roma and Jews in Bulgarian public broadcast media.

The round table was closed with an agreement the proposed Ethic Code to be distributed among other journalists by their colleagues, who participated in the discussions. The HRP took responsibility for future cooperation and the continuation of the initiatives regarding network of journalists, media professionals and non-governmental organizations formed as a result of the national round table "Minorities in the Media: Media policies and practices".

The round table was financially supported by the "Interethnic Fund for Development" of the "Interethnic Initiative for Human Rights" Foundation. top