11 August 2010

The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) Held yesterday 10 August 2010, the monthly consultative meeting to discuss "the crisis ofl private radio and television local stations, the immediate solutions and long-term ones". The meeting was attended by the Director of Radio and Television department in the Ministry of Information, Mohamed Abu Halawa, representatives of Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, and a group of independent journalists and workers in the local stations. 

MADA Director Mousa Rimawi welcomed the attendees and talked about the conditions of radio and television stations. Rimawi stressed on the important role of local media in calling for reconciliation, tolerance and dialogue, and spreading the culture of freedom of opinion and expression in Palestinian society, he also stressed that the existence of a large number of local radio and television stations, is a positive phenomenon that characterized the Palestinian territories, and enhance the diversity
of media.

Mohammed Abu Halawa presented a detailed review of the conditions of radio and television stations since the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, he also talked about the role of the Ministry of Information in support of these stations, Abu Halawa also said that the ministry has not issued any decision to close any station of them for professional reasons. He spoke in detail on the mechanisms for licensing, he noted that the income of the radio stations is much more than television stations income, so the numbers of radio stations that have paid frequencies fees are 55 out of 65 stations but TV stations are 5 out of 25. Abu Halawa stressed also
that the license terms for radio and television stations is simple and there is no difficulty in obtaining them. He added that all past excesses against the stations are not related to the Ministry of Information, and stressed on the need for commitment of those stations to the professional standards which set by the ministry.

Journalist Ibrahim Al-Hussari reviewed i the origins and evolution of local radio and TV networks, and the apparent positive and negative points accompanied by it, he also stressed on the importance and the need for upgrading it to reach its real media message. Al-Hussari added that the idea of the network has helped to improve the infrastructure and the performance of workers in many local radio and television stations. Member of the Secretariat of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate Montaser Hamdan said that the syndicate must give special attention to the conditions of the workers in radio and television station espicialy their salaries, employment contracts, and the need for respect for the rights of journalists, and the existence of clear administrative and financial procedures. 

On the conclusion of the meeting, the attendees recommended the following:

The need to complete the licensing procedures and correct the conditions of stations through the ministry of information, reduction of the fees requested from the television stations, enhancing the coordination between the local stations, to raise the professional level of workers, and the quality of their programs, to adhere the standards of professional and objectivity in their work, and to enhance the positive values, and principles of democracy and freedom of expression, condemning all attacks against the stations, the importance of coordinion between the Journalists Syndicate and the Ministry of Information, they stresed on importance of
the monthly meetings convened by the MADA center and the need for holding it regularly.
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Contact: 
Riham Abu Aita
Public Relation Officer
Ramallah
riham@madacenter.org
00970 2 2976519