OSCE Representative releases recommendations from June conference on journalists’ safety, now endorsed by Russia and Ukraine media unions at Vienna roundtable

VIENNA, 20 July 2015 – Senior representatives of journalists’ professional unions from Russia and Ukraine today discussed and endorsed the key recommendations by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media that followed the conference “Journalists’ Safety, Media Freedom and Pluralism in Times of Conflict” held in Vienna on 15 and16 June 2015.

The unions, the Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine, the National Union of the Journalists of Ukraine and the Russian Union of Journalists announced their endorsement at the seventh roundtable aimed at facilitating a dialogue between journalists of the two countries. It was organized under the auspices of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.

In addition to supporting conference recommendations, the participants agreed that countering hostile propaganda and hate speech remain among the most difficult issues to address. They stressed the importance of strengthening media self-regulation mechanisms at the national and supranational levels.

They further agreed to contribute to establishing a dialogue between young journalists from Russia and Ukraine to educate them about ethical standards and basic journalism values. This should enable young journalists to understand the difference between journalism and propaganda.

Along with the journalists, representatives from the International Federation of Journalists, the International Press Institute and Reporters without Borders also participated in the meeting.

More information on the conference “Journalists’ Safety, Media Freedom and Pluralism in Times of Conflict” is available here.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.