HUMAN DIMENSION SEMINARS FREE MEDIA 2 - 5 November 1993 Warsaw The fourth in a series of Human Dimension Seminars, "Free Media", took place 2-5 November in Warsaw. Prof. Jakubowski delivered the key-note address (see above). Excerpts of the moderators' reports from the three Discussion Groups and the Closing Plenary Summary follow below. Each report reflects the author's views alone and does not represent a CSCE negotiated document. Discussion Group 1: Creating legal foundation and a political climate encouraging free and democratic media: Because we have not sought to produce a negotiated agreement nor any follow up programmes as a result of the seminar, I hope these personal comments will be accepted as no more and no less than an honest reporter's reflection on many hours of discussion. The Helsinki Document setting up the seminar set the goal "to encourage the discussion, demonstration, establishment of contacts and exchange of information between government representatives and media practitioners." I believe we have met that goal. We have encouraged discussion... not only in the formality of the discussion group and the semiformality of the corridors of the conference centre but also in smoke-filled rooms and hotel bars all over Warsaw. We have encouraged demonstrations... with many colleagues showing their "know how" to those who may - or may not - need it. We have encouraged the establishment of contacts...again as often outside the meeting as within it...and my collection of business cards and telephone numbers is evidence of that. We have encouraged the exchange of information between government representatives and media practitioners...although it has to be said, it was often a one-way flow from government to media! It is, perhaps, a pity that this is not the norm in some member states, where so-called government information is jealously guarded and sometimes even protected by a hostile array of anti-media regulations. While we reached that first goal, I have to report that we were less successful in determining clearly how to achieve the longer-term aims...of creating legal foundation and a political climate encouraging a free, democratic media. I make no apology for that because we had first-hand reports which provided evidence, sometimes chilling, that the problem is both serious and complex. There is much work to be done in certain areas of Europe, especially in those countries beset by unrest. When we hear that in our so-called civilised society that journalists are killed because they are journalists, it underlines the enormity of the our task. Where and how do we begin? The logical approach failed. We were hopelessly unsuccessful in trying to determine an adequate definition of what constitutes a free press. Like beauty, it seems to be in the eye of the beholder. So if we don't know what it is, how can we hope to secure it across our continent? CSCE ODIHR BULLETIN Vol. 2, No. 1 25