Independent media 8
Polish-Czech-Slovak Solidarity Foundation
The "Independent media 8" program of the Polish-Czech-Slovak Solidarity Foundation is addressed to journalists and editors from newspapers and magazines, radio and television stations, internet portals and information agencies in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine. The program is financed by the National Endowment for Democracy (USA).
The program will consist of four 2-week study visits for about 30 persons from the aforementioned countries. During the visits, participants will have an opportunity to visit the editorial offices of newspapers and magazines, radio and TV stations, internet portals and information agencies. They will acquaint themselves with the work and experiences of their Polish colleagues. The study visits will be tailored to the professions and specializations of the guests. Also planned are seminars and lectures on such subjects as: the transformation of the Polish media after 1989, laws regulating public and private media, investigative journalism, media ethics, journalists' organizations, advertising and the media, the problem of competition in the media, political lobbying and independence of the media. The study visits are planned to begin in January 2008. Meetings and lectures will be translated into Russian.
Participants in the program will be selected by means of a competition, with the social Council determining the winners on the basis of entries containing the following documents:
<!–[if !supportLists]–>– <!–[endif]–>individual application of the candidate for the study visit in Poland and the editorial office he/she represents (*),
<!–[if !supportLists]–>– <!–[endif]–>letter of recommendation for the candidate issued by his/her editorial office.
(*) Application forms are available in the office and on the Foundation's website.
The application must be delivered to the Foundation by post, fax or e-mail.
Candidate evaluations will take into consideration their activities to date, usefulness of participation in the program for the participant and the editorial office he/she represents.
During the program, participants will be accommodated in a tourist-class hotel in 1-person rooms. The Foundation will pay a per-diem allowance to cover costs incurred during the stay in Poland (food, local transport, telephone calls, cultural program). It will also provide health and accident insurance.
The Foundation will reimburse the costs of travel to Poland by train or bus. In the case of participants from the Asiatic part of Russia and the Caucasus, the Foundation may reimburse the price of air tickets, but reserves the right to establish the maximum amount of the reimbursement.
Additional information about the program may be obtained in the Foundation's office.
Fundacja Solidarności Polsko – Czesko – Słowackiej
ul. Szpitalna 5, m 5, III p. 00-031 Warszawa, Poland
tel. (+48-22) 828 9128 w. 141, 826 35 98, fax (+48-22) 828 9129
e-mail: fundacja@spczs.engo.pl, spczs@szpitalna.ngo.pl
Independent media 8
Polish-Czech-Slovak Solidarity Foundation
Independent sources of information, particularly in the form of underground publications (samizdat), played an important role in the fall of communism in the Soviet bloc. Independent media also have an important mission to perform during the transformation of the system, promoting democracy and the free market, particularly on the local and regional level. Independent periodicals, radio, television, internet bulletins and publishing houses should provide objective information, explain the political and economic changes taking place, mobilize public opinion to support transparent and efficient government. Unfortunately, a majority of the media in post-Soviet countries remain weak, particularly in the provinces. Moreover, the political climate of these countries has not favoured the growth of free media in recent years.
The formerly communist country with the greatest experience in creating independent media under dictatorship as well as the growth of such media during the period of democratic transformation is Poland. Currently, Poland has a large sector of mutually competing public media (especially electronic) as well as private media. This fosters the development of objective journalism. At the same time, numerous local media have been established which are successfully supplementing the large nationwide media. These media are characterized not only by professional journalism, but also by professional management, technical preparation and distribution. Another important element is the functioning of laws that protect the freedom to publish as well as the right to information, together with organizations defending the rights of journalists and maintaining the profession's level of ethics. Poland's experiences can be used in the post-Soviet countries.
Since 1996, the Polish-Czech-Slovak Solidarity Foundation has been conducting the "Independent media" program
– internships and study visits for journalists and editors working in the print and electronic media. So far, some 280 people representing every post-Soviet country have taken part in the Foundation's 2- and 3-week programs in Poland.
The eight edition of the "Independent media" program is planned for this year. Nearly 30 journalists from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine will be invited to Poland. During study visits, they will have an opportunity to visit the editorial offices of newspapers and magazines, radio and TV stations, internet portals and information agencies. They will acquaint themselves with the work and experiences of their Polish colleagues. The study visits will be tailored to the professions and specializations of the guests. Also planned are seminars and lectures on such subjects as: the transformation of the Polish media after 1989, laws regulating public and private media, investigative journalism, media ethics, journalists' organizations, advertising and the media, the problem of competition in the media, political lobbying and independence of the media.
The program is financed by the National Endowment for Democracy (USA).
Participants will be selected by means of an open competition, with the winners chosen by the social Council of the Programme, consisting of:
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Michał Kacewicz (the weekly magazine Newsweek Poland)- Chairman of the Council,
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Izabela Kraj (the daily newspaper Rzeczpospolita),
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Maciej Łętowski (Catholic University of Lublin)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Izabela Kraj (the daily newspaper Rzeczpospolita),
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Grzegorz Miecugow (television TVN),
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Maria Przełomiec (independent journalist cooperating with the newspaper „Dziennik” and The Polish State Television),
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Bartosz Węglarczyk (the daily newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza),
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Jagienka Wilczak (the weekly magazine Polityka).
The Council will also evaluate implementation of the Project.
Detailed information on the project, together with application forms, can be obtained at the Foundation's office.
Fundacja Solidarności Polsko – Czesko – Słowackiej
ul. Szpitalna 5, m 5, III p. 00-031 Warszawa, Poland
tel. (+48-22) 828 9128 w. 141, 826 35 98, fax (+48-22) 828 9129