Natrag Training on the protection of journalistic sources in view of the European standards

Training on the protection of journalistic sources in view of the European standards

In the framework of the action “Freedom of expression and freedom of the media in Montenegro – JUFREX 2” implemented under the joint European Union and the Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022" first training for journalists on the protection of sources has been organised on 14/15 November 2020.

The event has been organised under the grant with the Association of Professional Journalists of Montenegro and intended to strengthen thematic co-operation with media associations in promotion of the freedom of expression standards.

The protection of journalistic sources has been one of the key issues under the ongoing media legislative reforms, which have been supported by the Council of Europe with series of expert commentaries. Recently adopted Media Law (July 2020) has provided options for regulating the protection of journalistic sources, whereas part of the local media community and civil society voiced their concerns on the modalities for an effective implementation of legally binding protection measures.

Henceforth, JUFREX and Association of Professional Journalists organised training for the Montenegrin journalists, in order to present the European standards and empower journalists and media associations to assume proactive role in the public dialogue on how to better implement new media legislation and improve safeguards of media freedoms, to which the protection of journalistic sources is one of the cornerstones.

The event was facilitated by the Jonathan Price and Marc Gruber, Council of Europe experts, who focused on the European standards in the area of protection of journalists and their sources, relevant case-law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and relevant practices in European countries. Their lectures were complemented by the interventions of Sinisa Gazivoda, local legal expert, who focused on framing the international standards with the domestic legal framework and specific case studies.

The training was additionally focused on the good judicial and police practices, but also with the limitations to the freedom of expression that might be imposed by the public bodies (i.e. situations with the legitimate judicial claims for revealing the sources due to the security and public hazards) and how the journalists’ legal practitioners should protect their rights, by referring to the ECtHR caselaw and the practice in EU countries.

With new Government expected to be formed during the December 2020, this event would also resonate with the process of defining the new governmental priorities and highlight the importance of ensuring the implementation of the media laws along the lines of the European standards.

Podgorica 18 November 2020
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