Independent media in Belarus face serious competition from state-controlled media with access to public coffers

The media sector in Belarus is dominated by considerable engagement by state authorities. According to official information, the Belarusian state in 2006 allocated 60.55 million $ for the state media, which is 1,5 times more than in 2005 and twice as much as in 2004.

This is presenting non-state media with a tough market place as independent media are facing competition to attract readers, subscribers and advertisers from state-controlled media that have the economical means to apply the latest technology for layout and printing as well as paying good salaries to the journalists.

International concern

This is cause for concern internationally as public support to state-controlled media distort competition and poses an unfair challenge to independent media with no access to public coffers.

Within this context, IMS is working to support the space for freedom of expression and access for the public to independent information on a level playing field for all media in Belarus.

Also legislation on media and the press poses a challenge for independent media in Belarus. In 2007, the government of Belarus put forward a draft bill on the press and the media, which was deemed to restrict the work of journalists by the Representative on Freedom of the Media of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE. The draft laws allegedly include restrictions on Internet requiring registration of all Internet users in cafes and sites; a new law on advertisement and a new directive on satellite dishes prohibiting satellite dishes on the front side of houses.

IMS support

IMS is, among others, supporting cooperation between the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), The Danish Union of Journalists (DJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) to strengthen the organisation of BAJ through capacity building based on a demand driven approach.

BAJ is the key actor for media in Belarus. It is legally registered as such and focuses on monitoring press freedom and violations of the freedom of expression, providing legal support to journalists and media outlets; conduct research and campaigning as well as offering training to journalists.

BAJ is less a traditional union for journalists but rather it is seen as an umbrella organisation for the non-state media. The members are editors, owners and journalists. Consequently, the cooperation also includes capacity building on the issue of providing legal defence for individual journalists as well as media institutions and to advocate these issues.

The cooperation with international organisations also offers a welcomed opportunity for BAJ to establish international links with like-minded organizations, which may offer BAJ professional cooperation in fields of excellence related especially to media.

IMS is also engaged in supporting cooperation between Danish and Belarusian media as a means to promote professionalism among media actors through a framework of professional partnership across borders.