Best practices in support for civil society, independent media and journalists were discussed at a conference organized by the Czech Presidency and the US Mission to the EU
24.10.2022 / 18:45 | Aktualizováno: 27.10.2022 / 11:39
The Czech Presidency and the U.S. mission to the EU in cooperation with the European Endowment for Democracy and the European Partnership for Democracy hosted a conference to discuss transatlantic cooperation to support civil society, independent media and journalists under challenging environments on 24 October 2022. H. E. Edita Hrdá, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the EU, and H. E. Mark Gitenstein, Ambassador of the United States of America to the EU opened the conference. H. E. Edita Hrdá addressed the need to ensure that democratic principles are respected, support to independent media and journalists is key in this regard. She also highlighted the importance of the transatlantic cooperation in this field. H. E. Mark Gitenstein underscored the important role that media plays in the fight against corruption. He also highlighted that free and independent media cannot thrive without sustainable sources of funding.
The first panel of the conference titled Civil Society and Independent Media Support as a Deterrent to Democratic backsliding aimed at the exchange of best practices in supporting civil society and the independent media ecosystem under challenging environments. Moderated by Ambassador Jitka Látal Znamenáčková (Czech Permanent Representative to the Political and Security Committee), the panel involved speakers such as Jerzi Pomianowski (European Endowment for Democracy), Rostislav Valvoda (Prague Civil Society Centre) and Aliaksandra Pushkina (Zerkalo.io).
The second panel discussion Creating Sustainable Business Models for Independent Media to Sustain Democratic Ecosystems focused on exploring concrete actions governments, the private sector, and civil society can take to defend journalists and their vital honourable profession not only with moral support but by building sustainable economic models that allow them to thrive in the 21 century and beyond. Among the speakers at the debate moderated by Joaquin Alvarado (Studiotobe) were Eric Prock (Microsoft), Vivian Schiller (Aspen Institute), and Meera Selva (Internews-Europe).
The conference contributed to the fulfilment of the five main political priorities of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU. Strengthening capacities to support civil society and independent media are addressed under the priority focused on resilience of democratic institutions. Support to civil society and independent media is also a long term human rights priority of the foreign policy of the Czech Republic.
Best practices in support for civil society, independent media and journalists were discussed at a conference organized by the Czech Presidency and the US Mission to the EU
Best practices in support for civil society, independent media and journalists were discussed at a conference organized by the Czech Presidency and the US Mission to the EU
Best practices in support for civil society, independent media and journalists were discussed at a conference organized by the Czech Presidency and the US Mission to the EU