The Media Movement backs adoption of Bill on Media, but calls to rectify some of its problematic provisions

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The Media Movement for Conscious Choice and its participating organizations have expressed support for changes to media legislation in Ukraine and for the adoption of draft bill No.

2693-d (as of July 2, 2020) "On Media" in the second reading.

At the same time, the Media Movement released an open statement calling to rectify some of provisions, which stirred negative reaction within the media community.

According to the Movement's participating organizations, the main problems that are present in the draft law are:.

Excessive powers of the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting to regulate and control the dissemination of information, not only by broadcasters, but also the Council's remit to oversee other information activities, including the dissemination of information by print media, unregistered online media, bloggers and social media contributors.

Introduction of the institution of co-regulation without a clear definition of the powers of the participants in such co-regulation and the division of powers between them.

Purely declarative norms on compliance with professional standards of journalism.

Preservation of old ineffective legislation, which should prevent excessive concentration of audiovisual media in the hands of one owner.

Taking into account the above, the Movement appeals to Ukraine's members of parliament (MPs) to finalize the draft bill, prepared for the second reading.

For their part, media civil society organizations that are members in the Media Movement are preparing their proposals with amendments to this bill.

They will be ready to submit these to the working group and MPs.

These proposals will be made public soon.