5. Civil Society against Corruption (PDF, 293 kb)
5. Civil Society against Corruption (PDF, 293 kb) 5. Civil Society against Corruption (PDF, 293 kb)
112 ANTI-CORRUPTION REFORMS IN BULGARIA CHART 33. DISTRIBUTION OF CORRUPTION-RELATED ITEMS BY GENRE 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 688 Information 147 Interview Source: Media Monitoring by Coalition 2000 265 Analysis 23 14 Investigative report Editorial Investigative journalism is the most high-risk professional commitment as well as the costliest investment and serious media cannot afford to ignore it. It is still underused, though, since shortage of financial resources and a heavy reliance on advertising, typical of a most Bulgarian media, drive them to focus on more conventional reporting genres and general information. Investigative journalism is still viewed as a luxury that is not necessarily warranted and one that may, in the event of a clash of interests, affect the survival of the respective media. Journalistic disclosures still have a very low “life expectancy”. The blame is to be shared by the respective reporters/media and public authorities who for the most part still tend to ignore the investigative reports. On the other hand, there are also the stories aimed at discrediting particular public figures or organizations. Smear campaigns are part of the media landscape and tend to proliferate in periods of major political events, election times in particular. It is a professional test for journalism how susceptible the media are to this type of abuse of their public power, more often than not proving to be the turf of former and current officials in the security sector. One alarming tendency, however, is the tacit taboo in the professional community on publications concerning corruption in the media themselves. The media have undeniably managed to demonstrate that a wide range of dubious practices in Bulgarian society are in fact corruption. They have raised public sensitivity and encouraged intolerance to a broad spectrum of corrupt actions. They have also coined a matching discourse for the public to use in the debate on corruption. The media are now not simply reporting law enforcement action against corruption but publish facts which need further investigation. In this, besides the usual methods reporters rely more on whistleblowers and on non-governmental organizations. There are already numerous good practices where the media, civic organizations, law-enforcement bodies, and the public administration form effective coalitions. They, however, rarely outlive the particular purpose of their formation. In the last few years certain pieces of legislation related to judicial and economic reform were highlighted by some print and broadcast media because of the corruption risks involved. This was a good example how the media can do valuable preventive work as well.
CIVIL SOCIETY AGAINST CORRUPTION 113 Implementing professional and ethical journalistic codes is an important step towards enhancing media accountability. The fact that the code of ethics of journalists adopted in late 2004 was signed by major media provides some reason for hope. The code obliges the signatories to verify their sources and not to quote anonymous sources unless the information provided is of public importance; to differentiate information from commentary; to specially designate any paid advertisements and commercial messages, etc. 5.3. Anti-Corruption Education Education is arguably the most powerful instrument in shaping social attitudes. In acknowledging its role in anti-corruption, the National Strategy for Counteracting Corruption highlights the need to raise quality standards in secondary and higher education; to implement a policy aimed at restoring and reinforcing the authority and status of teachers; to develop and implement a national policy for monitoring and improving the quality of education through the system of staff recruitment in the various sectors, and to enhance the role of the national education system for the anti-corruption education and awareness of the nation. Aiming to leave a lasting impact in the field of anti-corruption, Coalition 2000 has also been successful in bringing Bulgaria’s young into the broader rule of law constituency. As a result of the Coalition work, there are now about 350 secondary schools in Bulgaria which have expressed interest in teaching anti-corruption as a part of the civic education program or as an optional subject. A working group put together by the Coalition with Ministry of Education representatives, teachers and NGOs is in the process of laying the long term framework for anti-corruption education by elaborating a policy Concept Paper on the formal introduction of anti-corruption education for the school year 2005/06. The working group, recognizing the need of teaching materials for teachers and students, promoted the preparation of resources such as training manuals, readers, course curriculum, online learning course. Upon the request of the Ministry of Education Coalition 2000’ training resources were distributed to schools and educational district administrations with the recommendation to be used as teaching tools. The Coalition has also prompted similar advancements in the universities where a number of optional anti-corruption courses were taught. For the first time anti-corruption was introduced in the curriculum of the Pedagogical Department at Sofia University as well as in the teaching program for 2004-2005 academic year at the Information and Qualification of Teachers Department, Sofia University. The Small Grants Program of Coalition 2000 was another important instrument to encourage anti-corruption education and to establish a nation wide network of NGOs working in this area. In different Bulgarian towns anti-corruption instruction at the secondary schools and onsite classes were piloted. Within these projects support was received from local and district authorities in introducing the “Open Doors” initiative
- Page 1 and 2: 105 5. CIVIL SOCIETY AGAINST CORRUP
- Page 3 and 4: CIVIL SOCIETY AGAINST CORRUPTION 10
- Page 5 and 6: CIVIL SOCIETY AGAINST CORRUPTION 10
- Page 7: CIVIL SOCIETY AGAINST CORRUPTION 11
CIVIL SOCIETY AGAINST CORRUPTION 113<br />
Implementing professional and ethical journalistic codes is an important<br />
step towards enhancing media accountability. The fact that the code of<br />
ethics of journalists adopted in late 2004 was signed by major media<br />
provides some reason for hope. The code obliges the signatories to<br />
verify their sources and not to quote anonymous sources unless the<br />
information provided is of public importance; to differentiate information<br />
from commentary; to specially designate any paid advertisements and<br />
commercial messages, etc.<br />
<strong>5.</strong>3. Anti-<strong>Corruption</strong><br />
Education<br />
Education is arguably the most powerful instrument in shaping social<br />
attitudes. In acknowledging its role in anti-corruption, the National Strategy<br />
for Counteracting <strong>Corruption</strong> highlights the need to raise quality standards<br />
in secondary and higher education; to implement a policy aimed at<br />
restoring and reinforcing the authority and status of teachers; to develop<br />
and implement a national policy for monitoring and improving the<br />
quality of education through the system of staff recruitment in the<br />
various sectors, and to enhance the role of the national education<br />
system for the anti-corruption education and awareness of the nation.<br />
Aiming to leave a lasting impact in the field of anti-corruption,<br />
Coalition 2000 has also been successful in bringing Bulgaria’s young<br />
into the broader rule of law constituency. As a result of the Coalition<br />
work, there are now about 350 secondary schools in Bulgaria which<br />
have expressed interest in teaching anti-corruption as a part of the civic<br />
education program or as an optional subject.<br />
A working group put together by the Coalition with Ministry of Education<br />
representatives, teachers and NGOs is in the process of laying the<br />
long term framework for anti-corruption education by elaborating a<br />
policy Concept Paper on the formal introduction of anti-corruption<br />
education for the school year 2005/06. The working group, recognizing<br />
the need of teaching materials for teachers and students, promoted<br />
the preparation of resources such as training manuals, readers, course<br />
curriculum, online learning course. Upon the request of the Ministry of<br />
Education Coalition 2000’ training resources were distributed to schools<br />
and educational district administrations with the recommendation to be<br />
used as teaching tools.<br />
The Coalition has also prompted similar advancements in the universities<br />
where a number of optional anti-corruption courses were taught. For<br />
the first time anti-corruption was introduced in the curriculum of the<br />
Pedagogical Department at Sofia University as well as in the teaching<br />
program for 2004-2005 academic year at the Information and Qualification<br />
of Teachers Department, Sofia University.<br />
The Small Grants Program of Coalition 2000 was another important<br />
instrument to encourage anti-corruption education and to establish a<br />
nation wide network of NGOs working in this area. In different Bulgarian<br />
towns anti-corruption instruction at the secondary schools and onsite<br />
classes were piloted. Within these projects support was received from<br />
local and district authorities in introducing the “Open Doors” initiative
Change language