Skopje, 31 July 2018 – The Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services held a press-conference today, at which it presented the Draft Recommendations on Broadcasters’ Media Coverage of the Forthcoming Referendum. The monitoring of the Public Broadcasting Service and the commercial broadcasters will be conducted on the basis of these recommendations.
“Considering the fact that the Law on Referenda and Other Forms of Direct Expression of Citizens’ Will does not contain precise rules regulating the media coverage, the airing of public propaganda and the respect for the referendum blackout, the Agency has prepared Recommendations that address these issues,” Agency Director Zoran Trajchevski said at this occasion.
Reporting on the referendum should be made in accordance with the provisions and principles stipulated in the Law on Audio and Audiovisual Media Services and the Law on Referenda and Other Forms of Direct Expression of Citizens’ Will. Media are expected to act in accord with the role they play in the development and unhindered implementation of the democratic processes, i.e. abide by the principles of just, balanced and impartial reporting through creating conditions for equal access of the stakeholders of the referendum to the media.
The Draft Recommendations are available at this link and are open for public consultations until 17 August 2018. The Agency expects to receive constructive remarks and relevant proposals from all interested parties, the media in particular.