Broadcasters have been urged to reflect on the principle value of 'diversity,' during the opening session of the first public service media (PSM) conference on Roma minorities in the Western Balkans Region, (9-10 April).

In a video message to the conference in the Kosovan capital Pristina, European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Director General Ingrid Deltenre said the Roma community was "at times neglected, perhaps because unlike other minorities, it has no homeland to lobby on its behalf".

"The EBU hopes that this conference, opening a day after International Roma Day, will shine a light on the role of PSM to reflect and report on the richness of Roma culture," said Ms Deltenre. "One essential value that distinguishes public service media from our commercial rivals is universality. We aim to reach every segment of society without exception."

The two-day conference, hosted by Kosovan public broadcaster RTK, has three aims:

• to analyse the current situation of mainstream Roma programming and Roma media
• to share best practices from the region and beyond
• to initiate a network of experts and explore the possibility of both exchange of programmes and of co-production

The meeting forms part of a wide-ranging two-year EBU Action Plan sponsored by the European Union in Balkan countries preparing to join the EU. Funding for EBU activities to strengthen PSM in EU accession countries was released in March in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two organizations in July 2012.

The Pristina conference is being attended by representatives of Roma organizations, national broadcasters with significant Roma minorities and representatives of international organizations, such as the Council of Europe (CoE), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO).

Related links:

Conference programme

International Roma Day

The core values of PSM

The six core values of public service media identified by the EBU Community during its General Assembly in June 2012 are universality, independence, excellence, diversity, accountability and innovation. With encouragement from Members, the Declaration has become the basis for a set of Editorial Principles and sample Guidelines to steer Europe's PSM.