From Brussels, a thousand journalists, academics and media professionals from all over Europe launched on Friday 25 November “an appeal to the political leaders of the European Union and of the countries which compose it, to defend the freedom of the press, an essential component of democracy”.
Through this call, the participants of the first European Conference on Journalism welcome the initiative of the European regulation for media freedom (Media Freedom Act), presented in October 2022 by the European Commission. They also undertake to show themselves “particularly vigilant” throughout the ratification process, so that “the result corresponds to the initial ambitions” and be a response to “threats of concern” weighing on the profession and the media.
Hopes and apprehensions
These ambitions, Vera Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency, recalled them from the Institute for Advanced Studies in Social Communications (IHECS) in Brussels. “It’s the pfirst timeshe insisted, that the European Union dares to legislate on the media so that journalists can do their job completely independently. »
During a round table on the text, media, regulators and unions made their hopes and apprehensions heard. The regulation aims to better protect the media from political pressure (by strengthening the independence of public broadcasting, for example) or economic pressure (by imposing transparency or the obligation to assess the effects of concentrations on pluralism). It also seeks to fight misinformation.
“Cooperate” to “better protect ourselves”
“There is not a European country where journalism is not exposed to attacks, pressure or intimidation”, insisted Maja Sever, the first woman to chair the European Federation of Journalists. Hence the need, according to her, to “to work together, to show solidarity and to defend better protection for journalists”.
Throughout the meetings, threats to journalism were discussed. Political assassinations, economic or legal pressures, undermining of public media, physical attacks, cyberbullying, “predation” of platforms… These threats have increased with social networks, accused of having cut the link with the media, capturing publicity value or radicalize society.
Journalism revival
“At a pivotal moment, when the war is on the borders of Europe and where the predation of the Gafa can make the press disappear, you must take up the pen to say the dangers that social networks represent for your profession and democracy”, launched the former journalist and MEP Jean-Marie Cavada. “We don’t want them dead, but that of their monopolies”underlined the president of the institute for the collective management of neighboring rights.
These meetings were also an opportunity to share the “common values of journalism” centered on freedom, truth or justice. Initiatives have been shared to regain trust through constructive journalism, which addresses problems while seeking solutions, as successfully promoted by the Constructive Institute in Denmark. Media like Divergent in Portugal or Answer online in Hungary also successfully involve their public.
Unifying climate
If a consensus quickly emerged during these days on the absence of a model of European journalism, and the observation of different practices “rooted in the history and culture of countries”networks have been developed on the climate issue.
In the Netherlands, Clean Energy Wire provides information and contacts to 200 journalists from 78 countries specializing in the energy transition. The Oxford Climate Journalism Network in Britain and the Climate Journalism Network in Switzerland have journalists working together on these issues. While the daily The Guardianthrough its Covering Climate Now initiative, publishes the articles of 400 media on the climate.