About: media policy

EU leaders must stand up to protect the news media sector

An open letter to EU leaders from more than 40 MEPs calls for immediate actions to support Europe's news media sector as it faces up to the sudden loss of advertising revenue caused by the COVID-19 crisis.

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.

MEPs to join forces against disinformation

A number of newly elected members of the European Parliament committed to joining forces in the upcoming five-year term in fighting disinformation, during an event organised by EURACTIV foundation.

European election candidates consider next steps for EU media policy

Lead candidates for the upcoming European elections are pondering ways of safeguarding the media sector's integrity in light of persistent economic challenges and emerging threats like Russian disinformation.

Emerging media policies for EU 2019-24

DISCLAIMER: All opinions in this dossier reflect the views of the author(s), not of EURACTIV.COM Ltd. “Healthy democracies depend on a healthy media sector,” Digital Commissioner Mariya Gabriel told a recent EURACTIV event. Yet, the media sector consistently faces multiple challenges, notably...

UK report: Tax relief and extra funding for news outlets

A UK government-commissioned report published on Tuesday (12 February) called for extra support to be given to smaller news outlets, including an innovation fund for local news and tax reliefs for public interest journalism.

Protecting journalism is not synonymous with protecting the interests of big press publishers

The review of the EU Copyright Directive must ensure that publishers, regardless of their size, equally benefit from this reform, writes Carlos Astiz.

Updating copyright rules for news: There’s a better way

The EU Copyright directive should avoid making reforms that takes away publishers’ choices about how to distribute and make money with their content online, writes Richard Gingras.

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.

Broadcasters face new levies to fund European films and TV

Broadcasters could be forced to pay into national funds to support European film and TV productions in any EU country, even if they’re based in a different member state, negotiators on an audiovisual media bill have agreed.

Gabriel to meet with media regulators over gender stereotypes in TV & film

EU Digital Commissioner Mariya Gabriel announced that she will meet with national audiovisual regulators from around the bloc to discuss possible ways to combat negative stereotypes about women in television and film.

Macron targets Russian fake news, moving ahead of Commission plans

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday (3 January) that a law against fake news is in the making in France. The legislation is clearly aimed at Russian propaganda and should be completed by the end of 2018, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux added on Thursday.

Broadcasting rules bring new dramatic twist to digital single market talks

A rumble in the European Parliament has added a dramatic twist to frantic negotiations over the EU’s flagship digital single market proposals.

European media ‘deeply regrets’ EU plans to ditch search engine payouts

European media groups voiced concern Tuesday (14 March) that the European Union could ditch plans to force search engines like Google to pay them when their content is used.

Greek broadcasters want exemption from wealth declaration

TV channel owners opened a new row with the Syriza-led government when they asked the country's administrative court to exempt its top executives from filing a wealth statement, citing privacy concerns.

Media scholar: Let’s be modest about creating a European public sphere

Attempts at creating Europe-wide media have so far fallen flat. But that doesn’t mean all are doomed to fail, according to Belgian Professor François Henderyckx, who says media bosses haven’t really learned the lessons of past mistakes.

Commission pushes controversial ‘Google tax’ to save news publishers

EU plans to charge internet companies for linking to online news were presented today (14 September) after a heated, two-year-long fight over whether the “Google tax” will help publishers stay profitable—or simply be overzealous regulation that could "break the internet".

Fight over ‘Google tax’ brews ahead of autumn copyright proposal

EU Digital Commissioner Günther Oettinger announced that the executive will propose its new copyright law in September or October. But, in the interim, ferocious debate is raging over whether it should include a controversial 'Google tax'.

EU campaign to counter Russian propaganda asks MEPs for help

Should Europe boldly go into the media battleground?

Media policy is a tough challenge facing the new Commission, writes William Horsley. He advocates greater guarantees against interference, and also new business models.