European Federation of Journalists

European Federation of Journalists

#MPM2016: No country free of risk on media pluralism, shows report


In 2016, the Media Pluralism Monitor (MPM) examined media freedom and pluralism indicators in 28 European countries as well as in Montenegro and Turkey, two applicant countries. The Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom (CMPF) released on Friday (19/05/2017) the report which shows alarming trends, in particular when it comes to journalistic profession including working conditions, safety, protection of sources, access and the role of unions and associations in protecting journalists. The report especially emphasized that no country is free from risks when it comes to media pluralism.

The risks were examined under different aspects and potential threats, related to four main thematic domains: basic protection, market plurality, political independence and social inclusiveness.

While most of the countries in general enjoy basic regulatory safeguards for the media, some deterioration to freedom of expression and protection to journalists can be analyzed in one third of the countries. The worst scenario for basic protections is examined in Turkey, where those risks are particularly high. Only a few countries score low risk in the areas of political independence, market plurality and social inclusiveness.

We encourage our affiliates to use the national reports for their advocacy work, in particular when it comes to improving regulation on media concentration, said EFJ President Mogens Blicher Bjerregard. Media concentration was a top point in our discussions at the EFJ Annual meeting entitled ‘Journalist under pressure’ last week in Bucharest.

The key risks for media pluralism, according to the report, include:

  1. concentration of media ownership – one of the greatest barriers to diversity of information and viewpoints;
  2. deterioration in the basic guarantees for an “enabling environment” for freedom of expression due to the chilling effect of awarding high damages and criminal legislation on defamation;
  3. lack of transparency – no reliable and accessible information on who owns and/or controls the media
  4. regulation and/or self-regulation containing provisions on the autonomy of journalistic and editorial work is usually insufficient/not efficient in ensuring that journalists and editors operate in an independent and free environment. Particularly neglected is the role of editors-in-chief;
  5. under-representation of women in media organisations and in news;
  6. failure to provide adequate and proportional access to media for the numerous minorities residing in the EU;
  7. complete lack of community media in certain countries;
  8. gaps in legal safeguards and policy measures for local and community media across Europe;
  9. underdeveloped media literacy policy or no media literacy policy at all in an overwhelming majority of European countries;
  10. editorial autonomy in media systems is susceptible to both commercial and political influences.

The full report in English is available here.

The MPM is based on a European Commission funded study published in 2009. The European Union is now funding projects to simplify and test the tool so that it can be realistically applied by Member States. For more background about funding, methodology and objectives, see here.

Photo credit: CPMF