An increasing number of journalists in the EU find themselves in controlled media environments where their independent voices are suppressed by economic strain. As a result, journalists and media organizations are struggling to maintain financial stability, since critical media is frequently subjected to discrimination by politicians who block access to sustainable financial resources.
However, since independent media plays a critical role in shaping public opinion and influencing election outcomes, it is only through media freedom and diversity that we can secure stable democracies and adherence to the rule of law.
This is why we and other 50-plus signatories, made up of journalists, press freedom organizations, civil society groups, and digital rights organizations, are calling on Members of the European Parliament in this open letter to engage in a constructive debate on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) to ensure that it becomes a strong, coherent regulation that establishes harmonized legal safeguards for media freedom and independence across Europe.
This means:
- Freedom from editorial interference and illegal surveillance
- Guaranteeing media pluralism
- Providing greater transparency on ownership and financial relations with the state
- Ending the abuse of state funds to create clientalist media
- Protecting the independence of public service media
- Ensuring an economic environment in which independent journalism can flourish
