The Deputy Chief Executive of the IMC, Faruk Rexhaj, is participating in the 9th Regional South-East European Media Conference (SEEMC) entitled "At a Crossroads: Preserving Media Freedom to Protect Democracy". This conference is being held in Skopje on 16-17 May 2023, organized by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, in cooperation with the OSCE Mission in Skopje. This organization has gathered journalists, representatives of relevant state authorities, media and legal experts and researchers from the region and beyond.

The conference will also hold an AI masterclass for media professionals, national media regulators, human rights practitioners, as well as a Ted Talk, to be given by Noah Giansiracusa, entitled: "A look inside the algorithms that shape news environment".

In Session 5 on the topic "Transparency of media ownership as an essential component of pluralistic media", where Mr. Rexhaj was the speaker, the panel was composed of these experts:

Moderator: Josef Trappel, Professor of Media Policy and Media Economics, University of Salzburg, while speakers:

Olaf Steenfadt, Founder and Managing Director, Global Media Registry;

Faruk Rexhaj, Deputy Chief Executive, Independent Media Commission;

Roberta Carlini, Part-time Assistant Professor, European University Institute;

Besar Likmeta, Chief Editor, BIRN Albania.

In this session, Deputy Chief Executive Mr. In his speech, Rexhaj presented his views on the topic of transparency of media ownership, where the issue of media ownership has already surpassed the classic notions of regulation, precisely based on the rapid technological development. Therefore, media ownership should be regulated based on the following points and aims to achieve these objectives:

• establishing standards related to pluralism and media diversity;
• transparency in media ownership, defining the rules for the concentration of media ownership;
• prevention of monopoly in the media market, prohibition of dominance and pressure on the media;
• freedom of expression, preservation of editorial independence, the right to objective information in harmony with local legislation as well as European best practices.