* Pacific Media Watch Online - check the website for archive and links:
* Post a comment on this story at PMW's Right of Reply:
EUROPEAN PRESS COUNCILS UPDATE
PARIS (Independent Press Councils Online/Pacific Media Watch): Half the world independent press councils are located on
the Old Continent and new ones keep appearing there. No hint of one, however, in such nations as France or Greece.
Luxembourg now has a press council closer to the norm - statutory and with a strictly professional membership but with a
mission no longer limited to dealing out ID cards to journalists. It will now take complaints.
In addition to the Grand Jury in Moscow, Russia now has two regional councils, one in Rostov-on-the-Don and one in
Nijni-Novgorod. Others are being considered.
By the end of 2004, Bulgaria will have two genuine national councils, one for the press, the other for broadcasting -
the media having not agreed on a common one.
Lastly, concluding long negotiations with the government on the reform of harsh libel laws, Irish media will soon have a
Press Ombudsman and Press Council on the Swedish model. They will be "recognised in law" but strictly independent.
+++niuswire
PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH ONLINE http://www.pmw.c2o.org
PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH is an independent, non-profit, non-government organisation comprising journalists, lawyers, editors
and other media workers, dedicated to examining issues of ethics, accountability, censorship, media freedom and media
ownership in the Pacific region. Launched in October 1996, it has links with the Journalism Program at the University of
the South Pacific, Bushfire Media based in Sydney, Journalism Studies at the University of PNG (UPNG), the Australian
Centre for Independent Journalism (ACIJ), Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, and Community Communications
Online (c2o).
(c)1996-2004 Copyright - All rights reserved.
Items are provided solely for review purposes as a non-profit educational service. Copyright remains the property of the
original producers as indicated in the header. Recipients should seek permission from the copyright owner for any
publishing. Copyright owners not wishing their materials to be posted by PMW please contact us. The views expressed in
material listed by PMW are not necessarily the views of PMW or its members.
Recipients should rely on their own inquiries before making decisions based on material listed in PMW. Please copy
appeals to PMW and acknowledge source.
For further information, inquiries about joining the Pacific Media Watch listserve, articles for publication, and giving
feedback contact Pacific Media Watch at: E-mail: delaro@clear.net.nz pcronau@hotmail.com Fax: (+679) 30 5779 or (+612)
9660 1804 Mail: PO Box 9, Annandale, NSW 2038, Australia or, PO Box 78028, Auckland 1002, New Zealand. Website:
www.pmw.c2o.org