11th OSCE South East Europe Media Conference concludes in Tirana with renewed commitment to protecting and fostering journalism as a public good

TIRANA, 19 May 2026 - The 11th South East Europe Media Conference on "Strengthening Journalism as a Public Good", organized by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) in co-operation with OSCE field operations across the region, concluded today in Tirana.

Over two days, the conference brought together more than 140 participants from South-Eastern Europe and beyond. These included journalists, civil society representatives, government officials, legal experts, academics and representatives of international organizations, who discussed the ongoing challenges facing media freedom and independent journalism in an increasingly complex political and digital environment. They emphasized that protecting journalism as a public good requires sustained commitment and co-ordinated action at the national, regional and international levels.

The conference focused on strengthening the safety, sustainability and integrity of journalism across the region. Participants discussed practical ways to improve protections for journalists facing physical attacks, online threats, gender-based violence and surveillance, while supporting ethical and independent reporting amid deepening societal polarization. Discussions also addressed the growing impact of 'Big Tech' platforms and artificial intelligence on media visibility, viability and safety as well as ongoing efforts to advance media ownership transparency and media and information literacy as part of building more resilient and pluralistic information spaces.

"Strengthening journalism is essential for democratic resilience, accountability and public trust," said OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Ambassador Jan Braathu. "This requires genuine political will. It calls for concrete measures - including legal protections and rapid response mechanisms that are effective in practice, to protect journalists and media workers from safety threats, both online and offline, as well as transparent institutions, sustainable funding models and adherence to ethical and professional standards."

The conference also highlighted the importance of stronger regional collaboration and long-term support mechanisms for media professionals, including initiatives that promote investigative journalism, source protection and journalists' mental wellbeing. Reflecting the importance of engaging youth in regional dialogue, the conference featured a film screening showcasing collaborative storytelling projects by young journalists from the region.

"The OSCE's field operations across South East Europe, working together with our colleagues in Vienna, are uniquely positioned to support media freedom, strengthen media literacy, build institutional resilience, reinforce legal and policy frameworks, and foster dialogue across communities and borders," said the Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Michel Tarran. "In Albania, media ownership transparency requirements have been strengthened, and legislative amendments have enhanced the protection of media professionals. These efforts support a resilient, independent, and accountable media environment in Albania and across the region."

More information about the conference can be found here.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments.

Learn more at rfom.osce.org, X: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom