[AMCC-News] IREX ANALYSIS: PROGRESS IN MACEDONIA IN MEDIA AND REPORTING

[Albanians in Macedonia Crisis Center News & Information]

http://www.mia.com.mk/ang/Vest.asp?vest=\1\Copy%20of%20Balkan%20IreX.htm

IREX ANALYSIS: PROGRESS IN MACEDONIA IN MEDIA AND REPORTING

Skopje, June 15 (MIA) - Macedonia is at the top regarding independence of 
media, in comparison to the other countries from Southeast Europe, reads 
the latest analysis of the International Research and Exchange Board (IREX) 
on "Development of Sustainable Media in Europe and Eurasia".

The Media Sustainability Index 2004, which gives a review of the 
quantitative and qualitative analysis of the development of the media in 20 
countries in Europa and Eurasia, places Macedonia on the third place, after 
Croatia, which as the top, and Bulgaria.

"Overall, the media situation was in satisfactory condition. Journalists 
enjoy constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech. There are no legal 
restrictions on access to public information, international news, or 
employment as a journalist. There is competition in the media market and 
open access to anyone who wants to set up a print media outlet. There is 
plurality and a wide range of sources of information. People in Macedonia 
have free access to international publications, broadcasts, and the 
Internet, aside from normal market and financial restrictions", reads the 
report.

Macedonia has made progress in Media Sustainability Index 2004 from 2,32 in 
2003 to 2,53 last year. Only for a comparison, the index in 2001 was 1,73. 
Macedonia, according to the report, is ranked among those countries, which 
have accomplished media sustainability through legal standards, 
professionalism and working environment.

The analysis has been made with a comparison of index points for: free 
speech, professional journalism, plurality of new sources, business 
management and supporting institutions.

Freedom of speech places Macedonia on the fourth place with index of 2,47, 
contrary to 2,20 in 2003. The index shows that Macedonia is on the level of 
"near sustainability", i.e. the ccountry has progressed in meeting multiple 
objectives, with legal norms, professionalism, and the business environment 
supportive of independent media. The maximum level is "sustainability".

The second parameter - professional journalism, places Macedonian on at the 
second place after Bulgaria, which index is 2,38.

Macedonia, regarding "plurality of new sources", is on the sixth place with 
2,61 index, while regarding "business management" index is on the fourth 
place with 2,40 index, contrary to the one of 2,33 in 2003.

"Media Sustainability Index (MSI) panel discussion noted some improvement, 
particularly in terms of increased plurality. Panelists agreed that there 
are no restrictions to access to domestic and international sources. The 
panel also said journalism practice had reached a generally higher 
professional level, even though selfcensorship continued along with some 
overemphasis on politics and an absence of issue-based reporting on social 
and cultural concerns", the report reads. zs/nd/14:39/mia/MTnet/