Television across Europe [antikvár]

PREFACEPrefaceThe EU Monitoring and Advocacy Program (EUMAP) of the Open Society Institute monitors human rights and rule of law issues throughout Europe, jointly with local NGOs and civil society organisations. EUMAP reports emphasise the importance of civil society monitoring and encourage a direct dialogue between governmental and nongovernmental actors on issues related to human rights and the rule of law. In addition to its reports on "Television across Europe: regulation, policy and independence", EUMAP has released monitoring reports focusing on Minority Protection, Judicial Independence and Capacity, Corruption and Anti-corruption Policy, Rights of People with Intellectual Disabilities, and Equal Opportunities for Women and Men. EUMAP is currently preparing reports on Equal Access to Quality Education for Roma; publication is expected in 2006.EUMAP reports are elaborated by independent experts from the countries being monitored. They are intended to highlight the significance of human rights issues and the key role of civil society in promoting governmental compliance with human rights and rule of law standards throughout an expanding Europe. All EUMAP reports include detailed recommendations targeted at the national and international levels. Directed at Governments, international organisations and other stakeholders, the recommendations aim to ensure that the report findings impact directly on policy in the areas being monitored.The present reports have been prepared in collaboration with the Network Media Program (NMP) of the Open Society Institute. The Media Program promotes independent, professional and viable media, and quality journalism. More concretely, it supports initiatives aimed at helping media-related legislation conform to internationally - recognised democratic standards, increasing professionalism of journalists and media managers, strengthening associations of media professionals, and establishing mechanisms of media self-regulation. The Media Program also supports media outlets that stand for the values of open society, as well as efforts aimed at monitoring and countering infringements on press freedom, and promoting changes in media policy that ensure pluralism in media ownership and diversity of opinion in media. The program works globally, primarily in countries undergoing a process of democratisation and building functioning media markets.The decision to monitor television across Europe was inspired by the observation that television - a basic component and gauge of democracy is undergoing rapid changes throughout Europe. Public service broadcasters face unprecedented challenges across the continent. The ever-increasing commercial competition and the emergence of new technologies are major challenges, while the transformation of former State-controlled broadcasters has proved controversial in many transition countries. Private television broadcasting, on the other hand, is also put into question with respect to its programming and to broadcasters' ownership patterns.