OSCE to hold workshop on media reporting techniques for journalists from Kosovo and Serbia proper

VIENNA, 22 June 2006 - The Chairman of the OSCE Permanent Council, Ambassador Bertrand de Crombrugghe, will tomorrow open a one-day media workshop for journalists from Kosovo and Serbia proper.

The event was an initiative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Karel De Gucht. It will address media responsibilities in post-conflict negotiations and provide journalists with insights into advanced reporting techniques and assist them in balanced media coverage of the Kosovo status negotiations.

"Media analysis that we receive from Serbia and Kosovo indicate that journalists there have not yet had a chance to get fully acquainted with all aspects of the negotiation process," said Ambassador de Crombrugghe.

To assist in their reporting tasks, the group of 24 journalists, 12 from Serbia proper and 12 from Kosovo, who have covered the status talks thus far, will, in addition to the content of Kosovo talks, also get an introduction to negotiations techniques and skills. They will also meet international correspondents who have experience in covering similar processes.

"The local media have an important role to play because they carry to the public the news on the course and on the outcome of the future status negotiations. It is therefore of utmost importance that their reporting is based on a full understanding of the ongoing process," added de Crombrugghe.