The experts of the School of Journalism and Public Relations involved in this Project worked on an analysis related to the role of media in promoting tolerance, understanding and cohesion between different groups in our society and in other multicultural societies. Some of the key findings were that there are numerous examples of reports which lack sensibility for the inter-ethnic, intercultural and inter-religious issues. These findings resulted from the qualitative interviews with editors, journalists and media owners or managers.

The key findings from the research were presented and debated at the conference titled “Journalism Education, Professional Values and Cultural Diversity” held in Skopje, on June 28th 2011.

Comparative Analysis on initiatives and mechanisms against discrimination    

Data and documents about similar initiatives and mechanisms on international level and in other European countries were analyzed. The research team collected and analyzed a range of online resources including the one developed by the UN Alliance of Civilizations. The report with conclusions and recommendations for development of similar mechanism in Macedonia was also promoted at the conference “Journalism Education, Professional Values and Cultural Diversity”. 

Working group established    

The expert group is composed of representatives of SJPR, local partner institutions and independent experts. They will analyze particular cases of media reporting on diversity and will react to the public in cases when significant violations of the professional ethical standards and provisions from the legal regulations are identified.

The expert team would be available to the journalists, editors, citizens, NGOs and other parties to offer expert opinion and assessment for particular events related to the media reporting and the respect of human rights.

A basis for reaction by the expert panel are the basic international standards from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention of Human Rights, the documents and recommendations by the Council of Europe and the European Commission for fight against racism and intolerance, as well as the legal regulations of the Republic of Macedonia and the Code of journalists of Macedonia.

Platform document and Monitoring Methodology

The Res Public platform document explaining the structure and content of the RRMM was finalized with the support of the foreign partners: Peace Institute from Ljubljana (SLO) and Media Diversity Institute from London (UK). The workshop with the foreign partners was conducted on July 4th – 5th 2011, in Skopje. 

A separate methodology was also developed for the monitoring to start from October 2011.