The conference is a follow up to the European Commission Study on Media & Diversity, which identified initiatives by, or about, the media that countered discrimination and addressed diversity in a responsible way, throughout 30 European countries, between 2003-2008. The study produced recommendations for future action in this area for policy makers, the media industry and civil society organizations on the EU and national level.
The recommendations of the study were finalised at a seminar in Prague in February 2009, which brought together leading figures from the media and civil society from across Europe to discuss and validate the recommendations.
At the Bucharest conference participants will have the opportunity to discuss the best practice identified by the Study, look at its applicability in their own countries and develop partnerships with other organizations to implement action plans to address media coverage of diversity. The EC Study on Media & Diversity recommendations will be used as a starting point for these discussions.
The first of four main recommendations in the Study calls for all actors to see the new opportunity in a diverse environment, and to recognize that a more balanced and faithful representation of Europe’s diversity will reap a dividend of greater social cohesion and security, public trust in the media, but also new avenues for income through journalism and production that has greater resonance with its audience.
The second recommendation stresses the need to “step up the dialogue”, i.e. to encourage and participate in balanced, inclusive national and European dialogues, platforms for reflection, debate, cooperation and partnerships between policymakers, civil society organizations and media organizations on the role of media in promoting diversity and combating discrimination in order to identify emerging opportunities and exchange best practices.
The third calls for comprehensiveness and equal recognition of all areas of discrimination.
The need for appropriate tools for setting aims, but also measuring outcomes is the forth recommendation for all partners in the social process.
