OSCE on media freedom legislation

VIENNA – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović on April 7 welcomed new legislation to foster the development of public broadcasting in Ukraine. On that day, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a bill amending the public broadcasting law, which includes the legal status of and the basis for the creation of public broadcasting, establishes supervisory and editorial councils and introduces changes to the system of funding. The bill was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on March 19. “This is one more assertive and important step made by the authorities to transform state media into a public broadcaster in Ukraine,” said Ms. Mijatović of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. “Public broadcasting should reflect the diversity of the entire population, offer quality content, and practice editorial independence free of the direct and indirect political and commercial pressures. I also strongly believe that true and independent public broadcasting has great potential to deter hostile propaganda by setting the standards of truth, pluralism and openness,” Ms. Mijatović said. “I urge the authorities to do their utmost in order to support implementation of the law.” The representative had commissioned a legal review on a public broadcasting law in 2013 and provided Ukrainian authorities with recommendations. (OSCE)