Public service media (PSM) from the Balkan region have agreed to intensify cooperation and co-produce minority programmes at a regional conference in Pristina (3 to 4 November). The event was organized by the EBU Partnership Programme under an action plan co-sponsored by the European Commission to strengthen PSM in European Union accession countries.

Broadcasters representing Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia  and Romania met for an exchange of ideas at the event titled ‘Challenges in programming for minorities on PSM,’ hosted by EBU Member Radio Television Kosovo (RTK).

Fellow EBU Members from Finnish public broadcaster YLE, Swedish Radio SR, German public broadcaster WDR, the Belgian public broadcaster VTR, the Netherlands' public broadcaster NTR also attended to share their experience and practice of serving minorities.

In their efforts to promote inclusiveness and tolerance through television content that celebrates social and cultural diversity, PSM in the Balkans face a variety of challenges ranging from working with limited financial resources to a shortage of media professionals skilled in producing programmes for minority groups.

However Frans Jennekens, who chairs the EBU Diversity Group encouraged participants to see diversity as a ‘creative opportunity’ rather than an obligation – a view supported by Ng Suaw Tjhoi, (journalist, senior editor VTR)

“Diversity is the norm nowadays,” said Mr Ng, “in fact, what we’re experiencing across Europe might well be described as ‘super-diversity.’

EBU director of Media Annika Nyberg Frankenhaeuser –  who previously served as Director of Programmes for the Swedish language branch of YLE, Finland – urged participants to embrace diversity, which she said was one of the hallmark values of public service media.

A coordinating group made up of representatives from HRT and RTK was created and Members also adopted a set of recommendations, encouraging PSM in the Balkans to:

• reach out to audiences on all possible platforms using every technological means
• give a particular focus to attracting young audiences
• develop joint projects for co-production of minority programmes, to look for partnership with high schools and Universities, to use better the potential of young people, and to further exchange experience and ideas, and boost cooperation.