Media
Media development action with informed and engaged societies
Media
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Kyiv Media Law Institute

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The Kyiv Media Law Institute (MLI), founded in 2005, operates with the support of the USAID-funded non-governmental organisation (NGO) Internews Network and its Strengthening Independent Media in Ukraine (U-Media) Program. Led by media lawyer Taras Shevchenko, MLI supports media law development, freedom of speech, and access to information in Ukraine. The institute monitors and comments on draft laws brought forth at parliamentary hearings, develops new media and information law curricula for law and journalism schools, and cooperates with Ukrainian and international organisations to protect freedom of speech and journalists’ rights. Topics of concentration for MLI as of this writing include: creation of public broadcasting in Ukraine, privatisation of the print sector, concentration and transparency of media ownership, and development of a new state information policy and regulations on the media.
Communication Strategies
MLI is an NGO that actively engages in discussion and development of solutions to media problems, undertaking legislative work, research, and education, as follows:

Legislative Work
  • PSB Draft Law: MLI presented its own draft law on Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) to Ukrainian parliament in April 2005. During the drafting process, MLI launched a public education campaign and published and distributed its book, European Standards of Public Service Broadcasting, to government ministers, members of parliament, the National Council on TV and Radio, the Central Election Committee, Supreme Court, and others. MLI’s director served on the working group at parliament that developed official draft Law on Public Service Broadcasting, using a substantial part of the MLI draft.
  • Election Law Amendments: In July 2005, Ukrainian parliament adopted a new Election Law that included several amendments on the media proposed by MLI. In particular, parliament removed from a previous law the provision that a journalist could comment on a party’s programme only if it was paid for by another political party. MLI targeted this provision as non-democratic and, in June 2005, it issued a widely distributed statement to this effect. MLI also worked on provisions that have already become part of the Election Law, such as candidates’ right to reply when they believe the media has defamed them. (The previous law prescribed that, in such cases, the media were automatically obliged to refute the information.)
Research
  • The Institute develops, publishes, and institutionalises new curricula on media and information laws for law and journalism schools, actively cooperating with Ukrainian and international organisations in research activities which investigate such issues as how best to support the protection of freedom of speech and journalists' rights. To share this information, MLI presents at and conducts various conferences.
  • The MLI also functions as a resource centre for U-Media partners and other organisations, including media associations, media outlets, journalists, state institutions, universities, and students, providing support in the form of analysis, legal commentaries, and publications (e.g., MLI's weekly electronic bulletin Media Law and Practice in Ukraine). The organisation also maintains a website.
Education
  • Distance-learning: In March 2005, with 37 students participating, MLI initiated what the organisation describes as "the first Internet media law course in Ukraine" - a distance-learning programme for journalists. The course addresses the lack of legal knowledge among journalists, while allowing participants to continue their professional work without interruption. Students in this programme are chosen on a competitive basis and represent electronic and print media in Kyiv and the regions of Ukraine. Participants receive 21 readings per course, along with additional internet resources, and are tested via e-mail. Course topics include freedom of speech, access to information, copyrights, protection of journalists’ sources, defamation, protection of privacy, European Court standards, public service broadcasting, and regulation differences in print and electronic media.
  • Summer School: In the summer of 2005, MLI launched a professional training programme for Ukrainian lawyers and law students. This Ukraine Media Law Summer School focused on the European Convention on Human Rights, the case law of the European Court on Article 10, and other media-related articles, as well as on Ukrainian legislation concerning media law issues. The 3-week programme featured lectures by Ukrainian and foreign media law experts.
Development Issues
Media Rights and Legislation, Transparency of Ownership.
Partners

Internews Network's U-Media Project is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Sources

Internews, February 11 2005; and email from Sue Folger to The Communication Initiative on January 23 2006.