Accreditation of Foreign Journalists in the OSCE region

The report examines international standards, scholarly approaches and accreditation rules of ministries of foreign affairs in a number of the OSCE participating States, seeking to explore and clarify the legal nature and specifics of accreditation for foreign journalists. The report produces recommendations on how to harmonize these rules with international standards. The report reveals that accreditation rules for foreign journalists in some participating States are often interpreted as a work permit and are thus inconsistent with international standards on freedom of expression. The report notes that international standards make a minor distinction between accreditation for foreign and national journalists, which grant additional privileges to foreign journalists because of the specifics of their professional activities outside their home countries. These privileges involve receiving multiple-entry visas, permits for staying, assistance in travelling and the like. If foreign journalists do not need such additional privileges, accreditation should not be necessary. The report provides main recommendations on how to make national media policies be more consistant with the international standards on media freedom.