Remarks by Ambassador Michael Davenport on the World Press Freedom Day

As always, it is a great pleasure for the OSCE Mission in Kosovo to be co-operating with the Association of Journalists in Kosovo – especially on today’s event to mark World Press Freedom Day.

Today is a day for celebrating the vital role of the media in any democracy – to inform the public and to hold the authorities to account.

Our Chairperson-in-Office, Minister Ian Borg, today spoke of the importance of the media in all our communities, supporting peace and security, and he emphasized that media literacy and the safety of journalists are top priorities for the Maltese chairpersonship of the OSCE.

It is also no bad thing on this day to remind ourselves that for journalists to feel able – and empowered – to pursue the truth in their reporting they must feel safe; and they must feel free of fear and intimidation.

A free press is so important to a free society that Thomas Jefferson famously felt moved to say that if he had to choose between government and a free press he would certainly choose a free press.

But with that freedom also comes responsibility. Which is why I welcome AJK’s decision to focus today’s discussion on upholding professional reporting standards and ethics in journalism.

Kosovo as a society has much to be proud of. Not least because it does indeed have independent institutions which safeguard respect for human rights, which seek to uphold the independence of the judiciary, and also – in the IMC and the PCK – which have a responsibility to maintain ethical standards and media professionalism.

But there are no grounds for complacency about such things – anywhere.

Reporters without Borders have just placed Kosovo 75th in the World Press Freedom Index for 2023, a drop from 56th place last year.

Over the last 12 months we have seen a worrying increase in violence against journalists – 74 cases of physical assault, threats, intimidation or targeted campaigns, with some particularly nasty incidents targeting women journalists.

Also over the last 12 months we’ve seen an uptick in reports of harassment or pressure exerted by holders of public office – risking the dangers of self-censorship and consequent undermining of media freedom.  We also witnessed the disconerting campaign against Klan Kosova, referred to earlier.

The OSCE is fully committed to supporting media professionals in being able to carry out their duties unhindered.  A small token of support earlier this year was a donation by the OSCE Mission of jackets marked PRESS which will help journalists to be easily identified when covering protests and crisis events.

The OSCE Mission has also provided legal assistance to AJK and members of the Association, helping them to put their case more effectively in litigation when they have been targeted in some way.

Among many anniversaries this year the OSCE Mission is also marking 25 years since the OSCE Permanent Council promulgated our mandate.  Today’s institutions in Kosovo owe much to the pioneering work of visionary Kosovars – supported by our OSCE predecessors, notably with the establishment of RTK, the IMC, the Press Council. Also of the Kosovo Media Association, the Kosovo Media Institute and the enduring and ongoing Media Fellowship Programme.

Over time the OSCE role has evolved from direct support and involvement through to a more advisory and technical capacity. We have re-focussed our work on consolidating professional skills and capabilities among journalists, editors and media workers generally – as well as promoting integrity and ethical standards.

But we cannot afford to rest on our laurels.

I welcome efforts to ensure legislation on the media is in line with international best practice, and we look forward to new legislation on RTK – to put the public broadcaster on a firmer footing to carry out its public function and discharge its responsibilities to the full.

There has been much talk in recent days about new draft legislation on the IMC.  One of its aims, as I understand it, is to align Kosovo law more closely with the EU acquis.  This makes sense.

But it is essential not to fall into the trap of at the same time unwittingly weakening the independence and credibility of the IMC.

The Media Committee of the Assembly last week heard expert views from Council of Europe as well as from EU and OSCE experts. All pointed in the same direction, namely that at all costs steps should be avoided which, eg through new provisions on dismissal of IMC members or by relaxing rules on political parties obtaining licences, would put IMC independence at risk or increase politicization of decision-making.

I therefore welcome the decision to allow more time for proper consultation and weighing up of expert advice, especially from Council of Europe experts. The draft currently on the table can and must be improved.

Finally, I want to emphasise our collective responsibility to enhance and spread media literacy – especially through equipping youngsters with the tools they need in order to distinguish fake from fact. One way of doing this is by making media literacy courses available to all kids in Kosovo schools.

But the IMC and the Press Council, as well as the AJK, all have a role to play in combating misinformation and upholding the credibility of the media sector. Misinformation, and especially disinformation, is the polar opposite of responsible, fact-based journalism. It must be called out and challenged at every opportunity.

That is because it is often intended to create divisions, or to deepen them, and because it can quickly erode trust – as we have seen in the anniversary of the 2004 March riots.

So it is very much up to all of us to reject such attempts and to stand up for responsible and professional journalism. 

Let us join forces in that common endeavour.