OSCE helps Serbian media put the environment in the spotlight

Working with journalists

The OSCE Mission and UNESCO supported a one-year programme aimed at promoting in-depth coverage of environmental issues and enhancing not only the field of journalism, but also public dialogue in general.

Four workshops for regional print and broadcast journalists were held, as well as a session on publishing newspaper supplements and taking part in newspaper production. Journalists discussed ways of tackling current shortcomings, increasing the visibility of environmental news in print and broadcast media and raising the awareness of decision-makers and society at large.

"I am convinced that the media can influence decision-makers to seriously deal with environmental issues to provide citizens with better living conditions," says Milisav Pajevic, a journalist from Radio 34 based in Kragujevac, central Serbia. "We, journalists, should constantly remind local authorities of the importance of protecting the environment," he adds.

Zeynepa Iseynovska, a public radio journalist based in Skopje, stresses the necessity to strengthen cross-border information exchange among specialized journalists because many environmental problems affect the whole region.

Putting environmental protection on the agenda

At the programme's final meeting in June 2006, Mission Head Ambassador Hans Ola Urstad highlighted the need for greater public pressure to ensure the authorities grasp the importance of certain environmental problems and make them priorities.

He also explained that, in Serbia, the Law on Free Access to Information treats environmental and health information differently. The deadlines for the authorities to grant access to this kind of information are much shorter than usual - two days, rather than fifteen.

"Citizens, members of the civil sector and journalists should take advantage of this and ask public authorities for any information they deem relevant for their well-being and quality of life," he said.

"We expect journalists to continue their good work and be able to provide the public with accurate, rather than sensationalist, information that will help mobilize communities to improve the lives of their citizens."

More progress needed

The OSCE-UNESCO programme succeeded in boosting the journalists' confidence in the relevance and timeliness of environmental issues and in increasing support from their editors. It also improved the placement of environmental news in Serbia.

"In one year, the progress in those newsrooms on environmental reporting is remarkable," says Alenka Kulic, Senior Programme Co-ordination Assistant at the Mission. "Reporters are in a stronger position and environmental issues are not as marginalized as they were when we launched the programme in February 2005.

"Much more needs to be done, however, and the OSCE Mission will remain a partner," she adds.

Mihajlo Maricic, Director of the Serbian NGO EkoForum, says that the OSCE Mission's initiative resulted in a positive increase in regional networking among journalists. "It was timely, it was needed and it addressed issues of critical importance for our society," he says. EkoForum contributed extensively to the implementation of the programme.

OSCE continues support

The Mission will continue to support the Serbian media's promotion of a healthy environment with similar programmes. They bring together students, academics, scientists, journalists, environmental activists, and representatives of government and business, helping them better understand and address environmental problems that confront Serbia and the region as a whole.