Doc. 8031
26 February 1998

Role of the media in education for democracy and in the promotion of humanism and tolerance

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Jařab and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1. Media is a vital force in the process of creating opinions, in shaping political views and attitudes in all societies. There can be no doubt of the political role played by some media in contesting the communist regimes and that they helped and continue to help in the transition from totalitarianism to an environment of freedom.

2. Freedom of expression is one of the vital conditions for the creation and the existence of a democratic society – but it will also continue to be a matter of delicate debate, even struggle, as indeed it should be whenever the true meaning of freedom of individuals in a free society is considered.

3. We believe that we have now independent media in Europe and therefore we ask the Committee of Ministers, in close co-operation with media professionals and educational and cultural institutions, to analyse the current situation of the media in Europe with a view to finding out what would help the media to spontaneously become a vital force in educating the population to be better citizens and better people, out of its own respect for truth and humanity and in particular:

i.       how the media enhance not only freedom of speech and freedom in general but also how they contribute to the shaping of values that would give our societies a desirable orientation of development (respect for principles of democracy, rule of law and ideals of humanism);

ii.       how the media could do more in this field without becoming propagandistic (or even too didactic);

iii.       how the media could escape the influences of specific ideologies, including the danger of commercial and economic pressures.

Signed : 1

Jarab, Czech Republic, EPP/CD

Briane, France, EPP/CD

Brunhart, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

Busic, Croatia, EPP/CD

Jakic, Slovenia, LDR

Kandare, Croatia, EPP/CD

Kiratlioglu; Turkey, EPP/CD

Koucky Czech Republic, EDG

Kukk, Estonia, EPP/CD

Kuznetsov, Russia, EPP/CD

Martinez Casan, Spain, EPP/CD

Meier, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

Novakova, Czech Republic, EPP/CD

Plechata, Czech Republic, EDG

Raskinis, Lithuania, EPP/CD

Schreiner, France, EDG

Schwimmer, Austria, EPP/CD

Staes, Belgium, EPP/CD

Stepova, Czech Republic, SOC

Telgmaa, Estonia, EDG

Toshev, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

Wittbrodt, Poland, EPP/CD

Zingeris, Lithuania, EDG