Methodology: Overview
Information about how each country report was produced, what standards applied to each final report, and what the procedure was for publications and launches.
Television across Europe: Regulation, policy and independence was a monitoring project of the EU Monitoring and Advocacy Program (EUMAP) of OSI, carried out in cooperation with the OSI Media Program. The monitoring on regulation, policy and independence was followed up on in the TV across Europe 2 project.
The Television across Europe country reports were produced by a team of country reporters and editors, in consultation with national NGOs and experts. The following document outlines an overview of the methodology used.
Report methodology
All EUMAP reports 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 ensures that a coherent approach is taken across all the countries monitored. The methodology includes aspects such as the legal framework and its implementation at both the international and national level, including relevant EU legislation, and Government policies and programmes.
In addition, each reporter follows an EUMAP style guide for the format and language of the reports. The final reports are 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 works in close cooperation with the editors, and each country report passes through several editorial reviews.
Report partners
As a programme of the Open Society Institute (OSI), EUMAP works closely with other OSI programmes, with the Soros foundations in the countries monitored and also with a wide range of NGOs. Report partners provide the crucial link at the local and national level and ensure that the reports have a real impact in the longer term, following publication of the reports.
Publishing
English language volumes contain all the country reports plus an overview section. The overview draws together the main findings across all the countries monitored as well as an analysis of international standards. In both the country reports and the overview section, clear recommendations are made at the national and international levels. Each country report, together with the overview section, is also published separately in translation into the national language.
Report launches
Launches presenting the reports to civil society, decision makers and the media are held both in international locations (usually Brussels) and in each of the countries monitored.
