Young journalists from Russia and Ukraine meet to discuss professional ethics, joint projects

VIENNA, 20 October 2015 – Young journalists from Russia and Ukraine met in Vienna on 19 and 20 October to discuss professional ethical standards and to develop ideas for joint projects.

The two-day seminar, co-organized by Reporters Without Borders and the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, is part of an ongoing dialogue between journalistic communities of the two countries under the auspices of the Representative's Office. Participants included 14 young journalists, seven from each country, and their team leaders.

“Incorporating a young perspective brings in a new angle in these important discussions on the ethics of journalism that we started in May last year,” the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, said.

“Free and independent journalism is by definition only ensured as long as it is neither directly controlled, nor manipulated by governments or other manifestations of power,” Rubina Möring, President of Reporters Without Borders in Austria, said.  

During the meeting, Alexander Warzilek, Executive Manager of the Austrian Press Council, Herwig Höller, Austria Press Agency  correspondent, and Hannes Tretter, Director of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, held presentations on the ethical aspects of journalism, the perils of propaganda, freedom of the media as a human right, and the safety of journalists.

The participants agreed to work on joint audio-visual projects and present the results during a subsequent meeting in Vienna.

This is the eighth meeting with journalists from Russia and Ukraine with the overall objective to facilitate a dialogue between them. More information on the previous meetings are available at www.osce.org/fom/184881. 

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.