Broadcasting Authority becomes president of Mediterranean Network of Regulatory Authorities

President of Malta George Abela inaugurated the 13^th Assembly of the Mediterranean Network of Regulatory Authorities (MNRA) for which the Broadcasting Authority assumed presidency.

After holding the role of vice presidency of the MNRA for a year, Chairman of the Broadcasting Authority Anthony Tabone accepted the role of Presidency of the MNRA to be taken on by the Broadcasting Authority.

The presidency role will expect the Broadcasting Authority to transmit the values, principles and fundamental rights in the regulation of audiovisual broadcasting services.

Two new regulators, the Independent Media Commission of Kosovo and the Agency for Electronic Media Regulation of Montenegro, were accepted to join the MNRA at the end of the conference

Representatives and presidents from 19 countries of the Mediterranean Basin and officials from two European organisations also attend the assembly.

Items on the agenda included the challenges of audiovisual regulation in the Mediterranean Basin especially following the introduction of new broadcasting services. The broadcasting of reality shows and their effect on society, and the broadcasting of thematic programmes including the introduction of product placement during this type of television programmes were also on the agenda.

The assembly was held in Malta as part of the Broadcasting Authority’s 50^th Anniversary making it the oldest regulator of the Mediterranean.

A Declaration was made by all member states of the Mediterranean on Reality TV shows to promote dialogue between audiovisual professions and representatives of civil society on safeguarding the fundamental rights of participants as well as the proper monitoring of all participants in such programmes. This monitoring would be done not only during the broadcasting of such shows but also after the end of the series.