B.Galaarid, Globe International Board member said that “Mongolian media are in situation of tragedy. Media is acquired by others, but only not by journalists” when he closed the round table “Article 19 and Independent Journalism” held on that held on December 8, 2008 at Conference Hall of Open Society Forum.
The round table dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through Promoting Article 19.
Globe International has been working to promote the freedoms of expression and information guaranteed by Article 19 of the UDHR since our establishment in 1999.
The round table involved 42 participants represented journalism community, media professionals, journalism teachers and NGOs.
The round table discussed the current situation of freedom of expression and environment that affects freedom expression. It focused on three main areas: legal issues and censorship, problems of professional journalism and media self-governance and regulation.
Mr. Kh.Naranjargal began the round table with her presentation titled: “Article 19 and legal framework of freedom of expression”
10 media researchers and journalism teachers have taken their presentations on the topics:
- Mongolian media today, G.Gungidmaa , Head of research division, Press Institute
- Media freedom and reality, J.Batbaatar, Head of journalism department, University of Education of Mongolia
- Election “business news”, D.Tserenjav, media researcher
- Advertising and dependent journalism, D.Dagiimaa, Head of journalism department, University of Humanities of Mongolia
- Skills of moderators of televised debates, L.Ariun, journalism teacher of UHM
- Writing in newspaper, M.Narmandakh, Head of journalism department of journalism college “Soyol Erdem’
- Editorial independence, Press Institute
- At whose hands Mongolian media are? D.Galaarid, journalist, GI Board member
- Should we regulate or should Mr. Nyamdorj regulate? Ts.Onon, independent researcher
- Role of trade union in protection of journalists’ rights, Ch.Choisamba, Ph.D, professor of journalism department of Mongolian State university
Outcomes of the round table:
The participants stressed that Mongolia reached significant achievements to promote freedom of expression, particularly during the democratic changes.
- Freedom of expression and media freedom guaranteed by the Constitution and other important laws such as Media Freedom law and Law on Public Radio and TV adopted
- Occurred structural changes in the media
- Economic changes occurred
- Role of journalists in the society changed. It plays role of watch-dog
The participants highlighted that following problems are faced by media and journalists:
- Censorship is reality and it gets harsher
- Editorial independence is the biggest problem and journalists are like dolls at hands of media owners
- Writing skills of journalists are very bad because insufficient quality of secondary education
- Insufficient quality of journalism schools affects the journalism quality
- Media cannot be economically independent and it affects the journalism quality
- Journalism ethics failed
- Role of media as public watch-dog fails because media serve the politicians and business groups
- Conflict of interests is reality among media owners
- Advertising is not ethical
The participants focus on the following ways to solve the problems:
1. Need for laws enabling environment and regulating media activities including:
- Law on media ownership transparency
- Law on media concentration
- Law on freedom of information
- Broadcast law
- Law on protection of sources
2. Development of self- regulation
- Establishment of media council
- Establishment of journalists’ trade union
3. Other
- Support journalism training
- Establish a body to control press circulation
The round table was widely covered by broadcast media including Mongolian national radio and television, UBS, C1, SBN, Channel 25, Eagle TV and others