Objectives
The specific objectives for the roundtable were
as follows:
 Facilitation of the first such
contact among electronic media, particularly TV stations within the
GPK micro-region;
Exchange of information,
transfer of experience and practical sector-specific networking
among electronic media actors
Utilisation of the potential for
grass-roots co-operation that exists in the area
Elaboration of a strategic
framework for transfrontier electronic media co-operation
Identification of priority
initiatives for electronic media in the GPK micro-region
General Conclusions
The Roundtable was highly appreciated by all
media directors and chief editors since this was the first such
meeting organised for GPK media. All expressed their willingness to
build a strong network and to establish real co-operation across the
micro-region.
While some of the TV Stations had so far not engaged in any
co-operation across the borders at all, there is an ad-hoc exchange
of information ongoing mainly through the Internet. Due to the very
limited capacities of dial-up connections in the micro-region, the
exchange of information is limited to text, audio and photo format,
and transfers of video material are very difficult - which results
in an inability of GPK media to send/receive material in real time
(normally with one-day delays in news exchange).
The participants also defined and confirmed the general rules and
methodology of the WG, and the role of the Media WG co-ordinators,
or contact points, who were then appointed: Mr. Selim Sylejmani of
TV Vali in Gjilan/Gnjilane; Mr. Zeqirija Neziri of RTP in Presevo,
and Mr. Shenxhan Jusufi of RTK in Kumanovo.
Co-operation to date
During the cost benefit analysis of electronic media transfrontier
co-operation, it was reaffirmed that media in this sensitive region,
especially in crisis situations, need to provide objective and full
information on the events they cover. The internal benefits of
cross-border exchange and co-operation for media were noted, including
cost efficiency related to transport costs, translation expenses
reduction and exchange of TV programmes, while participants identified
the external benefits as education of the public through media and
raising awareness of issues which are of local importance.
During the assessment of co-operation to date, it became clear that most
of the media have shared information in the past during the
implementation of joint TV projects in their own area, tackling a varied
topics such as economic, social, cultural and political issues, etc.
With the support of OSCE, International Fund for media and Soros
Foundation, Serbian/TV ZOOM from Silovo, Albanian TV Vali from
Gjilan/Gnjilane and the ‘multi-ethnic’ Radio from Kamenica have
implemented a joint project covering different gender rights issues
(violence in family, trafficking, prostitution, education /
awareness-raising).
TV Hana has implemented a project titled ‘Macedonia at a glance’ with
seven local stations, dealing with the problems and advantages inherent
in Macedonian society, including issues such as transparency/corruption,
municipal development issues, cultural diversity, socio-economic
problems of transition etc.
Representatives of Presevo TV also presented their experiences from a
joint project supported by the UNDP and OSCE, that they implemented with
Radio Tuzi-Montenegro, Radio Medvedja, Radio Dukagjini–Kosovo and Radio
Albana-Kumanovo. The project covered a variety of topics (youth,
culture, sport, etc.) through a ‘radiophonic bridge’.
The main barriers that the participants identified to GPK media
co-operation were technical barriers/borders; this is an issue
particularly problematic for journalists from Gjilan/Gnjilane as UNMIK
documents are not recognised by the Serbian authorities. In addition,
the physical distance between Kumanovo, Presevo and Gjilan/Gnjilane
presents a technical obstacle due to the rather limited financial
resources of media organisations to cover travel expenses.
Participants also concluded however that there is capacity for GPK media
co-operation, as the technical equipment used by all the various media
outlets concerned is more or less compatible (some of them possess
digital equipment and some combined digital and Super VHS and VHS), with
the exception of Presevo TV, which has the lowest technical capacity,
although this could be upgraded to an acceptable level with a single PC
video card (about 500 Euro).
Priority initiatives
The participants went on to identify priority initiatives on which they
could work together:
1. A joint TV ‘Magazine’ (5 identical topics/themes covered as short
documentaries in each of the GPK areas, which would later be mixed into
one ‘comparative analysis story’). Topics of interest to the local
communities of GPK could include:
- Social transition-related problems, including employment, social
support, etc.
- Economic and business life, agriculture
- Education
- Municipal problems, including communal infrastructure, services, etc.
- Entertainment, or how free time is spent by the various social groups
in GPK
- Tradition and the Family, felt to be the most feasible and interesting
idea
2. Establishment of Joint Editorial Board (to be elaborated in more
detail).
Next Steps
Participants discussed next steps, and the meeting concluded with
agreement on two main areas of activity in the following six months. The
support and involvement of IREX from Pristina and Skopje, and the Media
Institute in Skopje was also discussed.
1. Media WG session at the September Conference – to which video
materials from previous joint projects will be brought, viewed and
analysed as possible models/stories for a future joint TV magazine
project for Gjilan/Gnjilane. In addition, the NGO fair will be covered
by joint media teams and the material broadcast by all the media in
their municipalities.
2. Capacity building - training on investigative research and
‘protection’ of journalists, and/or technical training (e.g. montage and
use of digital technology/software) which could be organised at the end
of October / beginning of November.
Participants
Gjilan / Gnjilane
Mr. Selim Sylejmani, TV Vali
Mr. Armond Thaci, TV Vali
Mr. Avdi Arifi, TV Vali
Ms. Suzana Makic, TV ZOOM
Mr. Ranko Makic, TV ZOOM
Mr. Nenad Naskovic, TV ZOOM
Ms. Zlata Milenkovi, DTV - Silovo
Ms. Jovana Simic, DTV - Silovo
Presevo
Mr. Behlul Nasufi, RTP
Mr. Zeqiririja Neziri, RTP
Mr. Zejnullah Dauti, RTP
Mr. Kastriot Sinani, RTP
Kumanovo
Ms. Zlatka Dzimitrevska, TV RTK
Mr. Igor Bajdevski, TV NOVA
Mr. Nexhat Akifi, TV FESTA
Ms. Gordana Milkovska, TV KRT
Mr. Stojadin Jovanovik, MTV
Mr. Selver Ajdini, TV HANA
A representative of the OSCE Media Office in Gjilan/Gnjilane also joined
the meeting, which was supported and facilitated by Mr. Vladimir
Pandurov and Mrs. Valbona Tahiri from EWI.
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