The media have always been a crucial pillar of democracies, but informing the public on issues that matter to their lives and holding those in power to account is even more important in the context of crises such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, fulfilling their important role in society has become increasingly difficult and dangerous for journalists, as they face growing challenges, amidst a rising tide of mistrust and safety risks.

This year’s South East Europe Media Conference (SEEMC) "Journalism in times of crisis", organized in co-operation with the OSCE Presence in Albania, serves as a call to affirm the importance of journalism as an essential public good and pillar of democratic societies. It aims to foster regional co-operation to address media freedom challenges by exploring opportunities for furthering the media environment in the region, within the context of the present health crisis.