The role of the regional public service broadcasters was highlighted by CIRCOM’s communications coordinator in a panel hosted by the Global Network for Rights and Development, NGO, under the theme “Public broadcasting services and freedom of expression”, which took place on 13th March in the facilities of United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva (Switzerland).
Fernando Ojea explained what CIRCOM Regional stands for and how the association reacted with criticism after the Greek ERT and the Spanish RTV Valencia were shut down by their Governments, and vindicated that closures of public service media never happen again. CIRCOM is now working as a media policy player in Europe, in order to enhance the value of regional public service broadcasters as providers of strong journalism, cultural life and economic growth to the regions, Ojea said.
The other panellists were Barbara Trionfi, form the International Press Institute, Yannis Kotsifos, from the Union of Journalists of Macedonia and Thrace, and Paco Audije, from the European Federation of Journalists.