The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is pleased to announce the launch of the first edition of the annual South East Europe Media Handbook 2003/2004.

Containing 17 reports covering 12 countries, the South East Europe Media Handbook 2003/2004 provides an invaluable examination of press freedom and media legislation in the South East region.

Published in the English, Serbian and Albanian languages, the aim of the Handbook is to enhance the understanding of the media situation in the region, to provide a database of all important media in South East Europe and to serve as a source of information concerning press freedom violations in 2003.

Speaking of the Handbook, SEEMO Secretary-General Oliver Vujovic, said, “The overall message of the Handbook is that the work of the investigative journalist remains dangerous in many countries in the region.”

“There is also a detailed examination of the laws affecting the media in the publication It’s my belief that if you are going to appreciate press freedom in a particular country it is essential to understand the legal framework that journalists are working under,” Vujovic added.

On the subject of SEEMO Vujovic commented, “This is an important period for SEEMO, and, in September 2004, the Handbook will be complemented by the publication of the quarterly South East Europe Media Magazine. The magazine will report on media developments in each country of the region and act as a platform for the exchange of information.”

* The English and Serbian edition of the South East Europe Media Handbook 2003/2004 was produced with the kind support of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Mission to Serbia and Montenegro. The Albanian edition was produced with the kind support of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

For any further information, please contact:

SEEMO - IPI, Spiegelgasse 2/29, 1010 Vienna, Austria, Tel (SEEMO+HELP LINE): +43 1 513 39 40, Tel (SEEMO): +43 1 512 90 11 11, Fax: +43 1 512 90 15, E-mail: info@seemo.org, http://www.seemo.org

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East Europe and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI)