About us

The Lithuanian Journalism Centre (LJC) has been established by the Open Society Foundation on 30th of March 1995. The Centre has been registered as an independent non-governmental non-profit organisation for informal education.
The Lithuanian Journalism Centre:

  • offers a 4 months-long journalism course for people without a journalism degree;
  • offers a 4 months-long public relations course for people without a PR degree;
  • organizes mid-career training courses for journalism professionals;
  • organizes conferences, seminars and workshops on journalism and mass media problems;
  • does applied media research and offers insight into communication policies.
  • offers critical thinking, media and information literacy trainings
  • publishes journalism books and methodological materials.

During years of its existence, the Lithuanian Journalism Centre has played a major role in improving the professional level of Lithuanian journalists and enforcing democratic norms as well as developing international co-operation. In the period from 1995 to 2001, LJC and its partners (Council of Europe, Baltic Media Centre, the UNESCO, experts of other journalistic organisations of Lithuania) have participated in creating and suggesting norms of certain laws to the Lithuanian Parliament, namely:
1996 – The Law on the Provision of Information to the Public
1996 – Law of the National Radio and Television
2000 – Amendments to the Law on the Provision of Information to the Public
2000 – Law „On the Negative Impact of the Media to the Minors“.

Publishing activities: Encyclopaedia of Journalism, 1997, supported by the Journalism Centre of Nordic Countries; Freedom and Responsibility of Journalism. Council of Europe Instruments on Mass Media, supported by the Council of Europe, 1996; Code of Ethics of Journalists and Publishers, 1996, the conference for the adoption of the Code was held with the support of the Baltic Media Centre; Language Notes for Journalists, 1998.

LJC organizes conferences and seminars, both for Lithuanian and foreign journalists. The Centre has covered these topics:

  • the legal framework of Lithuanian media and its developments;
  • integration of Lithuania into the European Union;
  • ethics and culture of the media;
  • limits of the freedom of the media in a democratic society and the EU standards;
  • investigative journalism;
  • internet journalism: the relationship between traditional and electronic journalism;
  • media cases at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and at Lithuanian courts;
  • marketing and management of regional press;
  • radio journalism (proficiency, the work of the News Service, etc.);
  • seminars for photographers and designers;
  • election experience and analysis, political reporting, etc.

Over 6000 Lithuanian and foreign journalists took part in those events, from Lithuanian both journalists from bigger towns and cities and from regions, while some of the seminars were dedicated exclusively to regional media. A number of journalists participated in study visits abroad.

Lithuanian Journalism Center was founded by the Open Society Fund, founded by philanthropist George Soros. He was tasked with educating new journalists once in regions and nationally, introducing democratic and independent journalistic values for interests and political contexts, and providing expert insights into the development of media laws.

The Lithuanian Journalism Center, has focused on the first issue of the Code of Ethics for Journalists and Publishers of Lithuania, a document designed to guide professional journalists and their audiences. The Code project was adopted in 1996 of March 25 In the same year, the Lithuanian Journalism Center started organizing the popular 5 months old long journalism professional studies, which are taught by renowned national journalists, provides an opportunity to practice in the editorial board.

An important journal of the Lithuanian media – Journalism Encyclopedia (together with the Institute of Journalism, Faculty of Communication, Vilnius University) – was published. With the growing prestige of the journalism profession, the interest of young people in the possibility of studying journalism at national universities, journalism courses for schoolchildren (Sunday School of Journalism)

The Lithuanian Journalism Center expanded its focus and started offering 5 month long course for public relations specialists as there was lack of professional communication knowledge at that time. The course remains one of the most popular non-formal study programs offered by the Lithuanian Journalism Center. Nevertheless, the Lithuanian Journalism Center adheres to the principle of strict separation of journalism from public relations.

The Lithuanian Journalism Center began sharing its experience with journalists and journalism organizations in developing countries. It was just that year that the media management training program in Bosnia and Herzegovina was implemented.

In preparation for Lithuania’s accession to the European Union, the Lithuanian Journalism Center played a significant role in initiating public information policy discussions. Was held conference “Regulating the Media in the Context of the European Union”.

A World Press Photo Workshop was organized for print photographers.

Together with representatives of Lithuanian journalists and media organizations, a new version of the Code of Ethics for journalists and publishers of Lithuania was prepared. Representatives of the journalism center participated in ethical decisions at the Ethics Commission for Journalists and Publishers. In the same year, the book “Universal Journalist” by David Randall has been translated into Lithuanian and intended for participants in vocational courses, university students.

Democracy support projects were implemented in Moldova (“Investigative Journalism”, “The Role of the Public Broadcaster in the Democratic Process”).

Was held a round table “Criminalization of Freedom of Speech in Lithuania: Achievements and Losses in the Field of Human Rights” in the Constitution Hall of the Seimas.

The representative of the Lithuanian Journalism Center started work on the advisory policy on public information policy at the Media Council. In the same year, a short video journalism course for students was launched.

Former Directors

 

  • Aurelija Juodytė – PR expert.
  • Deimantas Jastramskis – scholar at Vilnius University Faculty of Communication.
  • Renita Paleckienė – former journalist and PR expert.
  • Laimonas Tapinas – journalist and journalism lecturer.

The activities of the Lithuanian Journalism Center would not be so successful without a wide network of collaborators.

More about our team

Director

About us

Džina Donauskaitė

Director of Lithuanian Journalism Center Leads the organisation from 2016. Former journalist and editor, scholar and journalism lecturer at Vilnius University, Faculty of Communication.