22 media lawyers from Ukraine, Moldova, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and the Russian Federation gathered in Kyiv at IMS-supported International Media Law Summer School. During three weeks members of the School learned international media law standards, shared experiences and exchanged their views on media situation in their countries.

The summer school participants studied legal regulation of privacy and freedom of expression, television and radio broadcasting, access to information, defamation, Internet regulation, regulation of electioneering, protection of public morals, copyright etc.

In addition to their usual activities school participants had an opportunity to visit themed events. On July, 6 they participated in an expert seminar ‘Concentration of media ownership and its impact on freedom and pluralism in media’. Besides on July, 14 the students took part in a round table ‘Denationalization of printed media’. They also discussed the concepts of public service broadcasting in Ukraine at the round table of the Public Council of the National Council on Television and Radio, which was held on July, 22.

The Summer School also serves as a platform for cross-cultural discussions and experience exchange. School participants talked about ethics in media, publication of paid materials and laws governing media in their native countries. This year Summer School included lecturers and experts from ARTICLE 19, European Court of Human Rights, Ukraine Parliamentary Committee on Freedom of Speech, Media Law Institute and other experts in the sphere of media law in Ukraine and abroad.