Global: European Press Councils Update

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EUROPEAN PRESS COUNCILS UPDATE
www.presscouncils.org

PARIS (Independent Press Councils Online/Pacific Media Watch): Half the world independent press councils are located on the Old Continent and new ones keep appearing there. No hint of one, however, in such nations as France or Greece.

Luxembourg now has a press council closer to the norm - statutory and with a strictly professional membership but with a mission no longer limited to dealing out ID cards to journalists. It will now take complaints.

In addition to the Grand Jury in Moscow, Russia now has two regional councils, one in Rostov-on-the-Don and one in Nijni-Novgorod. Others are being considered.

By the end of 2004, Bulgaria will have two genuine national councils, one for the press, the other for broadcasting - the media having not agreed on a common one.

Lastly, concluding long negotiations with the government on the reform of harsh libel laws, Irish media will soon have a Press Ombudsman and Press Council on the Swedish model. They will be "recognised in law" but strictly independent.

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