Macedonian investigative journalists develop a database on media ownership

The lack of transparency in the media ownership structure is one of the main problem affecting media outlets across South-East Europe. A team made by three Macedonian investigative journalists who received support from the South-East European Media Observatory (a regional partnership of civil society organizations working on media freedom and pluralism) are tracing the hidden ownership patterns of news web sites in Macedonia.

They will not only produce written investigative stories, but also build a new web site (MediaPedia.mk ) that will make closer to citizens the information on online news media ownership. MediaPedia.mk, with its interesting structure and innovative design, will shade light on the owners of online media outlets: what they own, to whom they are connected, which vested interests they have.

When released in early February in one single day MediaPedia.mk had 25.000 page views and 4.320 unique visitors; more than 1.300 twitted messages and more than 3.000 Facebook shares on its content.

The web site is in Macedonian language, while the investigative stories will be published in English also on the web site of the South-East European Media Observatory.