Roster Call for Media Experts

Background:

The project aims to enhance Albania’s media landscape by improving its legal and regulatory framework, ensuring media pluralism, advancing digital capabilities within media outlets, and reinforcing ethical journalism standards. It addresses critical challenges such as the broader decline in media freedom, engrained political and business influence, and the persistence of sensationalism, all of which undermine the quality of reporting and public trust.

Through the project, the Presence will provide targeted support and enhanced oversight to relevant media institutions, including the Parliamentary Commission on Media and Education, the Audio-Visual Media Authority, and the Alliance for Ethical Journalism in order to ensure conformity with the respective mandates and legislative compliance with international standards and established best practices

Objective of Assignment:
The objective of this roster call is to establish a pool of qualified media experts who can provide technical expertise and support on a variety of media-related interventions. Experts will contribute to activities such as media policy analysis, legislative reform, media freedom assessments, and stakeholder consultations. The roster aims to identify individuals with diverse expertise in media law, ownership transparency, defamation issues, and media development, particularly in alignment with international standards and best practices. Selected experts may be called upon for short-term assignments to support initiatives aimed at strengthening media systems, enhancing freedom of expression, and promoting transparency within the media sector. The roster will ensure quick access to highly skilled professionals who can contribute to the advancement of media-related reforms and initiatives at both national and international levels.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

The consultants according to their experience and track record may be considered suitable and consequently selected (subject to additional screening and interviews) for various assignments such as, but not limited to:
1. Draft Legislative Recommendations
o Propose and draft recommendations for media policy reforms aligned with international standards, including laws, bylaws, strategies, and regulatory frameworks.
2. Develop Thematic Reports
o Compose in-depth reports on key media-related areas, with a focus on the transposition of international norms into domestic legal and policy documents.
3. Conduct Legal and Policy Impact Assessments
o Assess the impact of existing or proposed legislation and policies on media freedom, pluralism, and the broader media landscape.
4. Prepare Comparative Studies and Best Practice Reports
o Produce comparative analyses highlighting successful media regulation models and policy frameworks from European countries, tailored to the national context.
5. Design Training Curricula and Learning Materials
o Develop professional training materials and toolkits for media practitioners, covering areas such as digital optimization, ethical journalism, and public communication.
6. Deliver Specialized Media Trainings
o Conduct capacity-building sessions and workshops for journalists, media managers, and public communicators, focused on contemporary media challenges and standards.\\

Necessary Qualifications:

• A master’s degree or higher in Journalism, Media Studies, Communications, Law, Political Science, or a related field.
• At least 7 years of proven experience working in the media sector, with a strong background in media policy, media law, and media freedom issues.
• Demonstrated experience in media legislation and/or development, ideally in European, South-east European or transitional countries.
• Experience working with international organizations, government bodies, or NGOs on media-related projects, preferably in the context of EU integration or media reform.
• In-depth knowledge of international media standards, including European media legislation, and relevant best practices.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required. Knowledge of Albanian is a plus.
• Strong analytical and research skills, with proven experience in producing detailed reports, policy papers, and recommendations for legislative or institutional reform.

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will be based on the selected consultant's/expert's qualifications, experience, the tasks and deliverables for the specific consultancy and in accordance with the OSCE established rates.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process. Additional Information