Institution Building decision making in elections. The OSCE supported the establishment of the only inter-area radio network with a country-wide reach. The network’s objective was to provide professional, balanced multi-ethnic information to educate voters about election-related issues and candidate platforms. At that time, only half of the population had television, but nearly all had daily access to a radio. The radio network was praised for balanced and accurate reporting. As the radio broadcasting was too expensive to survive alone in the market economy, the OSCE provided financial support through donor contributions. After the donor support phased out, the radio station was incorporated into the newly-established, country-wide public broadcasting system. The OSCE continued to support the reform of the network in terms of upgrading technical facilities and providing international expertise. In an ethnically-divided town, the OSCE also supported a project that promoted inter-ethnic co-operation during elections among different local, ethnically-based media. Other activities included trainings that brought together journalists from all ethnic groups and areas on a bi-monthly basis. In many instances, these were the first and only inter-ethnic contacts among civilians in the early post-conflict period. Throughout the years, the OSCE co-operated closely with local stakeholders and other members of the international community to help the country’s media transform and restore trust between people. 30