23 December 2010, 11:21
Andrii Shevchenko, Committee Chairman, focused on the bill "On reforming State-Owned and Municipal Media" (Reg. No. 6468), submitted by People´s Deputy Stepan Kurpil and called on the participants to express remarks and proposals concerning not only this document, but also the reforms of the state-owned and municipal media in general.
Characterizing an issue, the speaker stated that the Verkhovna Rada adopted the Resolution "On Activity of the Cabinet of Ministers and other Authorities to support the Freedom of Speech" in 1999, whereby the concept on mass media privatization shall be drafted. In 2003, the Verkhovna Rada held the parliamentary hearings to put the bill "On the Concept of Media Privatization" on the agenda. The reporter stressed that since 2005 these issues should have been followed by the obligations in the framework of European integration of Ukraine.
A. Shevchenko stated that in 2006, the Committee on the Freedom of Speech and Information had held the hearings "Reforms of the State-Owned and Municipal Media."
The Head of the Parliamentary Committee reminded that in 2007, the Cabinet of Ministers submitted the bill on the reforms of the state-owned and municipal media containing the norm on the preliminary stage of privatization. However, due to the pre-termed elections of the parliament, the law was forwarded to the government.
The participants of the hearings stated that in the process of media privatization priority should be given to the publishing houses, artistic unions, and journalists to influence the editorial policy and quality of information. Still, the media policy can not be adjusted exclusively to the interests of owners instead of the interests of local community and the audience.
The delay in the settlement of this problem worsened the situation and degradation of several municipal media, transformation of several regional and city newspaper, radio and television channels into the "guided speakers of thr authorities."
In the results of the hearings, the subject parliamentary committee is recommended to set up a working group to draft the harmonized bill on the reforms of the state-owned and municipal media with the participation of state power representatives, media experts, journalists and public. The Committee shall also control observation of the effective legislation in the sphere. The State Committee on Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine is recommended to draft and submit the proposals on the reforms of the state-owned and municipal media.