Booklet on “How to Provide Information for Persons with Sensory…(read more)
For the purpose of explaining, in an easy-to-understand way, how media outlets can ensure easier communication, depending on the type of impairment – hearing, vision, physical or mental disability – by means of subtitled videos, open or closed textual descriptions, sign language or audio descriptions, the Agency has prepared a booklet titled “How to Provide Information for Persons with Sensory Impairments – Approach, Services, Programmes, Materials and Alternative Formats”.
The booklet is printed into the Macedonian, Albanian and English languages. It highlights the needs, ideas and considerations of the severely and less severely sight- or hearing-impaired persons living in the Republic of North Macedonia.
Policy Adopted on Providing Access to Audiovisual Media Services for People with Sensory Disabilities
The Agency Council adopted, at its 45th session held on 17 December 2020, the Policy for Providing Access to Audiovisual Media Services for People with Sensory Disabilities. Prior to its adoption, a public debate had been opened on the Draft Policy, until 31 October 2020.
The document outlines and specifies the key courses of action for the regulatory body, while the concrete activities will depend on the current needs of the target group, as well as the capacities of the broadcasters and the providers of on-demand audiovisual media services, and will be planned annually.
The Policy for Providing Access to Audiovisual Media Services for People with Sensory Disabilities is available at the following link.
Workshop Held on the Media Needs of People with Disabilities
Skopje, 28 October 2022 – Today, as part of the 2022 Media Literacy Days, the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services held a workshop titled “Accessibility without Undue Delay – Media Needs of People with Disabilities”. The workshop was aimed at helping broadcasters and providers of on-demand audiovisual media services to manage more easily their obligations under the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive, according to which they will have to make their programmes accessible to people with disabilities. Read more…
Agency Adopts Report on Implementing the Programme for Ensuring Media Accessibility to Persons with Sensory Impairments (2016-2018)
At its 25th session, held on 17 June 2019, the Agency council adopted the Report on Implementing the Programme for Ensuring Media Accessibility to Persons with Sensory Impairments, 2016-2018.
The Report covers all activities and researches the regulatory authority carried out, as well as the brochures it published, in line with the two-year Programme, also including the activities that may, in the foreseeable future, contribute to improving access to the programmes for persons with disabilities.
Online Conference Held on “Media and Elections”
Skopje, 30 September 2021 – An online conference was organized with the support of the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services organized as part of the EU and the Council of Europe’s joint programme “Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022,” and the project on Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Media in North Macedonia. The Conference focused on two very important topics when it comes to media and elections: disinformation and access to information for persons with disabilities.
The attendees of the Conference actively participated in the discussions of the two panel sessions. The two international experts from the Council of Europe, as well as the local experts, addressed the panel sessions and contributed to the exchange of knowledge and experiences of the EU countries on the mentioned topics.
Workshop Held on Providing Access to Media for Persons with Disabilities
Skopje, 30 January 2020 – The Council of Europe and the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services held a workshop for broadcasters and providers of on-demand audiovisual media services yesterday, with the aim of using the experiences gained from the European and domestic practices to develop a self-regulating document that would provide better access to media for persons with sensory disabilities. The workshop was part of the second phase of the JUFREX project on “Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom in the Republic of North Macedonia” read more…
Working Meeting Held on Ensuring Access to Programmes for Persons with Disabilities
Skopje, 13. 12.2018 – As part of its efforts to promote certain activities among the broadcasters so that the latter would make their programmes accessible for persons with vision and hearing impairments, the Agency held a working meeting today with representatives of the national television broadcasters…read more
Research “Access to the Broadcasters’ Programmes for Persons with Vision and Hearing Loss – Offer and Needs”
The research concerning “Access to the Broadcasters’ Programmes for Persons with Vision and Hearing Loss – Offer and Needs”, envisaged by the three-year Programme for Ensuring Access to Media for Persons with Sensory Impairments, adopted in 2015, was completed in the fourth quarter of 2016. The results of this research were presented at the Fourth Public Meeting of the Agency, which was held on 29 December 2016.
For the needs of this research, a Questionnaire was prepared about the quantity and quality of the offer of television programmes intended for persons with sensory disabilities, and the same was sent to all TV services. Moreover, interviews were conducted with representatives of the organizations representing persons with vision and hearing loss, as well as other relevant organizations.
The presentation and the entire research titled “Access to the Broadcasters’ Programmes for Persons with Vision and Hearing Loss – Offer and Needs” are available at the links given below:
Research “Access to the Broadcasters’ Programmes for Persons with Vision and Hearing Loss. Needs and Offer (pdf)
Procedure for Communication with Citizens with Some Form and Degree of Handicap The Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services adopted, as part of the project titled “Accessible Administration for the Handicapped”, a Procedure for Communication with Citizens with Some Form of Handicap…read more
For communication with citizens with sensory impairments click here