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Independent Media in Eastern Europe/Eurasia Slow to Consolidate - US Report

Posted on: Friday, 3 February 2006, 09:00 CST

Changes in the media landscape in Eastern Europe and Eurasia during 2005 were the product of the cumulative effect of incremental steps rather than dramatic events, according to a report from the Washington-based International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX).

IREX, an international nonprofit organization specializing in education, independent media, internet development and civil society programmes, concludes in its latest annual Media Sustainability Index that the revolutions of recent years in East European countries that led to new democratic regimes have not resulted in greater media independence.

The report, which IREX compiled in coordination with the US Agency for International Development, can be viewed at http:// www.irex.org. It analyses progress in 20 Eastern European countries on the basis of five criteria: free speech, professional journalism, plurality of news sources, business management and supporting institutions.

IREX said its analysis shows that Belarus, Uzbekistan and Russia have "increasingly repressed independent media within their borders." It added that despite the positive effects of the "colour revolutions" in Georgia and Ukraine on their media sectors, the Media Sustainability Index indicates that "post-revolutionary euphoria must be followed by further media improvements to ward off stagnation or backsliding".

Many thought the media in Kyrgyzstan would be transformed after the brief protests that forced the president to flee the country in March 2005, but no major changes moved the media sector forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan took another path "by violently quashing May protests in Andijan, leading to hundreds of deaths and a crackdown across all parts of civil society - media, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and political parties," IREX noted.

However, in the view of IREX, the media environments in Croatia and other countries in southeast Europe have shown "gradual yet sustained improvements".

Mark Pomar, president of IREX, stated: "The development of independent media is often a long process. However, this year's Media Sustainability Index clearly shows that countries which embrace media reform and welcome a professional, pluralistic free press can show dramatic results leading to economic progress and democracy."

Southeastern Europe leads

IREX says progress towards independent media has been strongest in countries where reforms within the media sector have been the focus of sustained attention by free-press advocates, media business entrepreneurs and international supporters.

"Southeastern Europe continues to lead the region with a more professional media, more sophisticated business practices, a gradually improving legal environment, and better-developed supporting institutions... Foreign investment in media has been expanding, bringing infusions of capital and business expertise."

In Serbia, however, five years after the overthrow of Milosevic the country has still not gone through a broadcast licensing process, and hundreds of outlets continue to operate in limbo.

Central Asia

Central Asia "remains the laggard", in the view of IREX, although some independent media do operate. On the whole, the organization believes, "the governments of the region have not embraced media freedoms and seek to keep the independent media weak and ineffective through a repressive legal framework, extra-legal harassment and lack of investment. Economic troubles and crumbling infrastructures compound the obstacles." Uzbekistan "clearly has embarked on a policy of cutting off independent voices in the country," while the regimes in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan "have not understood the benefits of a free media and have failed to embrace reform".

Russia, Belarus, Ukraine

Although Russia continues to constrict the space for dissenting views, both in the media and civil society, "its sheer size and the momentum of earlier advances in media pluralism mean a degree of discourse carries on", the IREX report goes on.

In Belarus, the limitations on media independence have tightened steadily, the organization observes. "Harassment through the judicial system and outside it, along with changes in media legislation, are slowly starving Belarus's independent print media, reducing circulation and destroying the financial base".

Moldova "continues relatively stagnant with the reformed communist government disinclined to pursue significant media reform".

But IREX regards Ukraine as "a bright spot in the region following the Orange Revolution". While change has not been as fast or as profound as many hoped, IREX notes that the government has not engaged in the repressive tactics of the previous Kuchma regime. "Media companies have seized the opening provided and, if the government were willing to make media reform a priority, would be poised to make a substantial push towards a more developed independent sector".

The Caucasus

Although the region has key elements of a successful media system, with private broadcasters and private print outlets, media remain closely tied to political and business agendas, and there has been no breakthrough in professionalism, the legal framework or commercial management, in the view of IREX.

Georgia showed initial progress in media independence after the Rose Revolution in 2003 but has not consolidated these advances. As for Azerbaijan, "under the second Aliyev generation, the country shows little inclination for profound reform". Armenia, meanwhile, has witnessed "minimal development in independent media" since IREX published its first annual Media Sustainability Index in 2001.

IREX comments that media professionals involved in compiling its 2005 report raised several issues of concern common across countries and regions. Among them was the negative side of commercialization.

"With domestic and foreign investors seeking solid returns on their capital, many criticize media for seeking the lowest common denominator as they peddle scandal, entertainment and gossip at the expense of news and public affairs," the IREX report noted.

It also highlighted the importance of legal and regulatory measures enshrining free speech for the long-term sustainability of independent media. Such a framework "protects the media from hostile regimes, helps build a political culture supportive of free speech and creates commercial opportunity".

Source: BBC Monitoring Media

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