<p>More than 30 participants discussed the results of a recent Monitoring  of media coverage of corruption in the country, on two workshops held in  Skopje on September 30, and October 4. Besides journalists and editors  from national and local media, representatives of all concerned  institutions: State anticorruption commission, Association of  journalists, Journalists and media workers trade union, and Broadcasting  council have also participated in the workshops.</p>
<p>The monitoring showed that the media don’t play  their full role in the fight against corruption in the country, and that  the media reports on corruption still lack of professionalism and basic  standards of modern journalism. Among other, half of the news reports  have either no source or only one source, represents only one side of  the story, and did not consult those who are blamed for corruption.  Corruption as a subject is treated only superficially and in an  informative way, without in-depth, comprehensive and detailed research  and analysis. Only 4% of the stories are investigative ones.</p>
<p>Discussions were focused mainly on the reasons for  this situation. Journalists and editors have openly spoken for everyday  problems they face with regarding investigative journalism and reporting  corruption.</p>
<p>Recommendations for improving the reporting of  corruption, and thereby to strengthen the role of media in fighting  corruption were drafted and they will be sent to all stakeholders. In  addition, journalists for nation-wide and local media will be trained in  investigative journalism and reporting corruption.</p>
<p>Strengthening the role of media in the fight against corruption is  part of the project “Media and civil society organizations against  corruption”. Besides media, the project will strengthen the role of the  civil society and it will increase the cooperation between media and  CSOs in the fight against corruption. The project is funded by the  European Union and it is implemented by the Center for Civil  Communications in partnership with BIRN and Eho from Stip.</p>