Methodology: Overview
Information about how each country report is produced and what standards apply to each final report.
TV across Europe: Follow-up Reports 2008 is a project of the OSI Media Program and the EU Monitoring and Advocacy Program (EUMAP) of OSI. The TV Across Europe Follow-up Reports are produced by a team of country reporters and editors, in consultation with national NGOs and experts.
The new reports follow up on a comprehensive set of monitoring reports on TV Across Europe: regulation, policy and independence, which were published in 2005-2006 and covered 20 countries. Those reports have become a reference in many countries and are widely used in universities and by policy makers.
The follow-up reports are each approximately 15 pages long, and cover nine countries that were included in the original monitoring project. In addition, they include a first, comprehensive country report on Montenegro. An updated overview report will be prepared as well.
Report methodology
The TV across Europe Follow-up Reports 2008 are based on a detailed methodology, prepared by experts. The methodology provides a common structure for the country reports, setting out exactly what questions and topics each country report must cover, which the reporters use as a template. This is intended to ensure that a coherent approach is taken across all the countries monitored, and that each country is approached in an equal manner.
In addition, each reporter has been issued with the EUMAP style guide for the format and language of the reports. The final reports will be formatted according to the conventions of previous EUMAP reports.
Country reports
For each country monitored, a country reporter is selected to prepare a draft based on the methodology. The country reporters are usually nationals of the country and most have links to national NGOs or academic institutions. All reporters have significant experience in the area monitored. The country reporters work in close cooperation with the editors, and each country report passes through several editorial reviews.
Report partners
As programmes of the Open Society Institute (OSI), EUMAP and the Media Program work closely with other OSI programmes, with the Soros foundations in the countries monitored, and with a wide range of NGOs. Report partners provide a crucial link at the local and national level that helps to ensure that the reports have a real impact in the longer term as well, following the publication of the reports.
Publications
Each country report includes an executive summary and a set of clear recommendations at both the national and international levels, to state and regulatory bodies as well as public service broadcasters. An international overview report will draw together the main findings across all the countries monitored as well as an analysis of international standards.
Report launches
Launches presenting the reports to civil society, decision makers and the media are held both in international locations (usually Brussels) and the countries monitored whereever possible.
