Media

Media recovery beyond regulation: a NEWS bundle across Creative Europe and Horizon, like MEDIA

The current EU budget negotiations risk squeezing programmes like Creative Europe, with the same crumbs as before for the struggling press. In addition to GAFA regulation, and learning from MEDIA dedicated to audiovisual and film, bundling scattered efforts under NEWS could sustain the media sector’s transformation, write a group of MEPs and media experts and Christophe Leclercq

Protests in Bulgaria are also about media freedom

Protests in Bulgaria are a genuine civil protest against the party-state and in favour of basic democratic rights such as media freedom, writes Maria Stoyanova.

To save European journalism, we need an anti-SLAPPS directive

The EU should better consider implementing legal measures to safeguard the freedom of the press, writes Jessica Ní Mhainín.

Press Freedom and Europe: Wolves, vultures, trolls… plus knights and journalists

The media and the EU face similar dangers. Christophe Leclercq, who established Fondation EURACTIV and the EURACTIV media network,  creatively illustrates how characters could cooperate to avoid the worst.

Health, trust and journalism: a Coronavirus Plan for the Media

In this Open Letter to the President of the EU Commission, media stakeholders and experts, in a personal capacity, along with MEPs and former MEPs ask for the Commission to support trust in public action, and to help sustain the media in this testing time.

Democracy and Digital: trusted media and platform regulation 

Democratic debates require trusted information, less economic pressure on media, and more policy pressure on platforms. Supporting citizens’ choices, three concepts will help the von der Leyen Commission: ‘co-regulation’, ‘trust indicators’, ‘systemic publishing platforms’. This open letter to the new...

The rising clout of digital media and the UK election

Campaigning for the decisive UK election on December 12 is going full tilt. As polarisation over Brexit overshadows Britain’s notoriously hard-to-call ballot, Jess Smee explains the impact of the media and, in particular, of digital channels.

Cooperation of four key Commissioners needed for healthy media, democracy

Democracy is at risk and requires healthy media, several portfolios from the new EU Commission are relevant. After years of fake news and weak self-regulation, this ecosystem could be rebalanced if four key Commissioners cooperate around the media sector, argues Christophe Leclercq.

MEPs: Demand VP Democracy, after Spitzenkandidaten setback

Last week’s Summit did not retain the principle favoured by the Parliament. Before endorsing the final ‘ticket’ proposed, parliamentary groups can make coalition demands: a new top job could help, for healthy media and sound platforms.

EU coalition and futureproof media: Europe needs a VP for Democracy

Given difficult elections, the new EU Commission President will need a theme supporting MEPs and Prime Ministers. After years of fake news, platforms’ self-regulation and media crisis, this ecosystem could be rebalanced by a Vice-President for Democracy, Media and Platforms, Christophe Leclercq argues.

A new Horizon for Europe’s Media, Cultural and Creative industries

Media and the Cultural and Creative Industries are underrepresented in policies and actions aimed at promoting research and innovation in the EU. Luciano Morganti and Heritiana Ranaivoson present their reflections and recommendations for the future of these sectors.

Beyond fake news: Strategic options for media ahead of EU elections

The European Commission has just released a short-term action plan on disinformation. Remarkably, the sustainability of the media sector is hardly addressed, write a group of MEPs and media industry experts.

After the copyright win, what strategy for Europe’s media sector?

The European Parliament has just voted to back the copyright directive, as part of the ‘Digital Single Market’ priorities. Now, fighting fake news before the EU elections is not enough: we should prepare a vertical strategy for the media sector 2019-2024, writes Christophe Leclercq.

Avoid censorship, dilute fake with quality news

The EU High-Level Expert Group on ‘fake news’ published its report with recommendations earlier this week. Christophe Leclercq, one of its members, offers his views on its potential impact ahead of the 2019 EU elections, and why it matters to the media sector.

Thinking about propaganda

Propaganda speaks the language of reason, even when its goal is to mislead, writes Jacob L. Shapiro.

Why the Remain camp is also to blame for Brexit

The Leave campaign won the EU referendum based on racist incitement, audacious lies and unrealistic promises it never intended to keep. Remain campaigners and voters have to acknowledge that they played a major role in enabling Brexit, writes Ragnar Weilandt.

A European media champion?

We have European champions in the automobile industry, in aerospace, in pharmaceuticals, but not in media, writes Philip Geddes. 

Turkey’s EU accession negotiations should now be suspended

Tuesday’s (16 December) meeting of the General Affairs Council is going to have to take a fresh look at the EU’s deteriorating relationship with Turkey. Turkey’s EU Accession Negotiations should now be suspended, writes Andrew Duff.

Current ‘Libor’ regulation is a threat to financial journalism

Financial reporting could fall under the scope of the  proposed Libor regulation on financial benchmarks, undermining the role played by journalists. EU regulators must recognise this and exempt the media from the regulation, writes Angela Mills Wade.

Women stereotypes: Time for a reflection within the media

As the European Union considers imposing binding quotas for women on companies' boards, similar instruments should also be envisaged for media boards, argues Klaus Heeger.