Organized by the Union of Bulgarian Journalists / UBJ / it was held on 20 and 21 September in the town of Varna under the motto: “The economic crisis is over but the crisis in media - not! Why? ".

The topic gathered colleagues from different countries at the International House of the Journalists - Bulgaria, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine and others. The meeting was attended by Jim Boumelha, president of the International Federation of Journalists and Nadezhda Azhgihina - Vice President of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and Secretary of the Union of the Journalists of Russia.

A welcome address to the participants in the forum was sent personally by the Director General of UNESCO - Irina Bokova. In it she pointed out: "During your meeting you will discuss issues related to the protection of professional journalism, the fight against the monopolies, the transparency of the ownership and the funding of media. Prominent journalists from the Balkan countries and

The Black Sea region who has proved their professionalism and their sincere desire to fight for the freedom of speech will take part in the meeting ... From my heart I wish success to all participants in this International Meeting and

I believe that its results will gain wide recognition in the journalistic circles! "

Journalism is for the Brave

The meeting was opened by Snezana Todorova, Chair of the Board of the Union of Bulgarian Journalists, who first gave the floor to the President of the International Federation of Journalists.

Jim Boumelha welcomed the participants and reminded that the International Federation of Journalists, the seat of which is in Brussels, represents 180 organizations with more than 600,000 member journalists, including those from Bulgaria. He said that he owes great appreciation of our Union: "I visited Bulgaria for the first time 25 years ago when I was a young journalist and worked for Robert Maxwell. At the time, he was in the process of acquiring a number of editions, and I was of those who went on strike against him. I came to Bulgaria to seek solidarity and support. I would now like to express my gratitude to the Union of Bulgarian Journalists and Snezhana Todorova for opening their doors and listening to us.

Unfortunately, our profession is currently experiencing a crisis. And this is not just about what happens in the industry. In many cases we are talking about a crisis of survival. At present, in different parts of the world journalists are threatened, being sent to prison, abducted, and in Northern Iraq - even beheaded. Journalism is a profession for the brave!...

Times are not good. But at the same time, wherever I go, I see journalists, filled with optimism. Everywhere there are faculties of journalism; there are tens of thousands of promising young people who want to enter the profession. And journalists everywhere have strong resistance to negative phenomena,they stand shoulder to shoulder "- stated Jim Boumelha. He urged all colleagues to stay united. Only when we are united, we are strong and able to defend the honor of the profession.

Finally, the President noted that next year the International Federation of Journalists, which already has 90-year history, will have a congress: "During the Cold War we were separated. Now it is different. Now we are united and will work together to defend the rights of journalists. "

Save the profession

- urged Nadezhda Azhgihina - Vice President of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and Secretary of the Union of the Journalists of Russia. She congratulated UBJ for the creation and development of the Balkan and Black Sea media centre in Varna: "In May 2014 I had the honour to welcome the media forum dedicated to the 120th anniversary of organized journalistic movement in Bulgaria on behalf of the EFJ and the Union of Journalists of Russia. Then the idea of a Balkan and Black Sea Media Centre, was expressed for the first time. It was acclaimed by all participants and was supported by the European Federation of Journalists. Today, the centre in Varna is well known in the region and attracts journalists from all countries and undoubtedly has a leading role in the development of solidarity among the journalists, not only from the countries of the Black Sea region and the Balkans, but throughout Europe. "

According to Azhgihina the challenges in front of the journalistic profession are not few: monopolization of markets, economic problems, job cuts - these are processes that occur worldwide. What is important, however, is to assert the role of journalism as a significant sphere of social development.

"Journalism - in the service of society" is the motto of the International Federation of Journalists and EFJ "- stated Azhgihina. "This is sacred for the Russian journalists. As a kind of response to this motto is the program "Dialogue of Trust", that started a few years ago. It is called to unite goodwill, efforts and talents of people who work in the journalistic field in order to address a number of topical issues. She said that a big challenge for journalists and journalism are the conflicts around the world: "At such moments the attempts to use journalists as soldiers in the information war and to oppose each other are intensified. We, the journalists, must confront this phenomenon. Only through solidarity can all the problems we face be resolved. I hope that the International House of Journalists in Varna will become a place for many of our future meetings, a home of peace and cooperation for all “.

Be Ambassadors of Peace

The President of the Association of Journalists of Moudania - Yavuz Gercekci, also congratulated the participants on behalf of his colleagues and the authorities in the fourth largest city in Turkey - Bursa and green Moudania. He announced the big news of the day: a plaque of Constantine Fotinov will be placed in Bursa. This was confirmed by the Mayor of Nilufer, Bursa - Mustafa Bozbey in video streaming.

Snezhana Todorova excitedly thanked for the surprise and said that this is a long-standing idea of the Union of Bulgarian Journalists - to celebrate the great work of Konstantin Fotinov, whom we, Bulgarians, cherishing as the founder of the Bulgarian periodicals. His magazine "Lyuboslovie" was first published in Turkey. "I am extremely touched by the efforts of our colleagues from Moudania who helped our idea to finally take place. Thank you, colleagues! This act is your most vivid expression of journalistic solidarity. We are happy to have you as partners in the Republic of Turkey, and you know that you can rely on UBJ for support in the name of the freedom of speech, democracy and prosperity of journalists. "

The Association of Journalists of Moudania is the newest international partner of the Union of Bulgarian Journalists. In recent months it implements a European project entitled "Adaptation of Turkish regional media to European Union standards", in which our Union is a partner. This was the reason why Turkish journalists visited Bulgaria several times, and two months ago a Bulgarian delegation visited Moudania. Yavuz Gercekci said that the secretary of the Union of Bulgarian Journalists - Ivan Varbanov, emphasized on every meeting that the journalists are ambassadors of peace. "And in order to prove it we came here at the meeting in Varna with the news about the plaque ."

Greetings were presented by the representatives of Ukraine, Serbia and others. Then Snezhana Todorova asked:

To Seek for and Show the Truth

Just for the sake of the truth during the two days of the meeting, the journalists delivered speeches, shared opinions and discussed a number of topical issues. Assoc. Prof. Ivo Indjov spoke about the accountability and transparency in media, about the problems, models and perspectives in Bulgaria. He mentioned a few, almost unknown in Bulgaria, mechanisms and tools of media self-regulation: press councils, media ombudsman, editorial blogs, feedback from readers in social media, etc.

For defence of media freedom and independence through effective use of legal instruments for the protection of competition in the EU and the fight against monopolization of the media market through the use of antitrust rules at national and European level spoke Dobromir Tenev.

Vasil Sotirov, member of the Management Board of the Union of Bulgarian Journalists, presented issues related to the protection of professional journalism in the country: low salaries, reduction of staff in newsrooms, non-payment of fees, "colleagues with larger salaries are fired, as there is no legal way they could be reduced, and their positions are either blocked, or in their place a young and quite inexperienced colleagues are appointed for minimum wage, because the work must somehow be done - of course, at a much lower quality. "And he said

The crisis in Bulgarian media sphere is ubiquitous

"It is increasingly becoming a crisis of journalism itself as a profession and as a social phenomenon, threatens the very foundations of freedom of speech, hence the foundations of the democratic system."

During the second day of the meeting strong interest raised the statement of the journalist Kadrinka Kadrinova on the topic "Is there independent media in Bulgaria?" and the video conference report "Where did the problems in the media come from and can the journalists solve them?" of Svetoslav Terziev, a journalist from "Now" newspaper and board member of the Union of Bulgarian Journalists.

The event was closed with the adoption of a Declaration of the participants in the international meeting of journalists from the Balkans and Black Sea region.

As part of the event the colleagues visited the Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar". Assoc. Prof. Dr. Galina Momcheva, Head of the Informatics Department, presented new data products that will be used in the preparation of media platforms. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eleonora Tank, dean of the Faculty "International Economics and Administration" and Assoc. Prof. Georgi Kalaglarski acquainted the guests with the opportunities offered by the university for education and professional training in different specialties.

Later in the day the winners of the journalistic competition "My Province", which recently became famous in Russia, were presented. Their prize was a holiday at the International House of Journalists in Varna. The initiative for the competition belongs to Elena Vasilievna, who presented its idea and the way it was conducted last year and this year. In fact, the second edition was held recently in the city of Kostroma. Its organizer there - Svetlana Knyazev, told about it using a video streaming. The Russian guests invited Bulgarian journalists to take part in the next edition of "My Province".

All participants in the meeting had the opportunity to visit our sea capital, Aladzha Monastery, as well as to enjoy the music and poetry performance of Ivailo Dimanov "Cheers, Loneliness".

After the closing of the meeting, on 22 September, the Union of Bulgarian Journalists signed a cooperation agreement with the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine.

The International meeting of journalists from the Balkans and the Black Sea region was directly broadcasted on Radio Binary - BNR.

Partners of the event were: "Albena" AD, the Union of Brewers in Bulgaria, Varna Winery, 3 Bourbouns.

Photos: "Diplomatic spectrum" magazine.

Above: Snezhana Todorova, Chairman of the Union of Bulgarian Journalists, Nadezhda Azhgihina, vice president of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and Secretary of the Union of Journalists of Russia and Jim Boumelha, president of the International Federation of Journalists.

Below:

1. Snezhana Todorova, Chairman of the Union of Bulgarian Journalists and Jim Boumelha, president of the International Federation of Journalists, the opening of the meeting.
2. Mayor of Nilüfer - Mustafa Bozbey in video streaming confirmed the news of the day: a plaque of Constantine Fotinov will be placed in Bursa.
3. The guest from Ukraine telling about the situation there.
4. The participants in the meeting visited the Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" where they got acquainted with new information products.
5. The colleagues congratulated the newly married - Yavuz Gercekci, President of the Association of Journalists of Moudania and his wife.
6. The journalist Milan Petkovic from Serbia surprised us with his musical talent.
7. In the park of the International House of Journalists in Varna
8. At Aladzha Monastery