Montenegro’s Working group on media self-regulation adopts new journalists’ Code of Ethics, discusses future steps

VIENNA, 25 November 2015 – At a roundtable discussion today organized by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, members of the Working Group on Self-Regulation in Montenegro adopted their newly-amended Journalists’ Code of Ethics, and also agreed to hold a follow-up roundtable discussion in Podgorica.

“The adoption of this code is a significant step towards improving media self-regulation in Montenegro,” Dunja Mijatović, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, said. “The Working Group has paved the way to strengthen media self-regulation and raise professional standards of the media in their country.”

The Working Group, established in November 2014, has met regularly in the past 12 months and today, with the support of the Council of Europe and the OSCE. The Code was open for public discussion from 6 July to 1 September this year. Last week, the Working Group met in Podgorica to discuss and incorporate all relevant proposals that were received during this time.

“Although the Code has been adopted, it is imperative that the Working Group continues to meet regularly and works together to ensure the unanimous implementation of the Code across the media sector,” Mijatović said.

At today’s meeting the working group agreed to hold a follow-up roundtable discussion in Podgorica, supported by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and Council of Europe. Journalists and representatives of civil society will participate in this discussion and use the occasion to officially launch the new Journalists’ Code of Ethics in Montenegro.

“Media self-regulation is an important tool to safeguard editorial freedom, promote quality and to help ensure credibility for media outlets. It is also a vital mechanism for reducing the influence of the state on media to a minimum,” Mijatović said.

The Journalists’ Code of Ethics for Montenegro will be available soon on www.osce.org/fom.

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.