As the review of the Media Freedom Act, a major text for the future of Journalism in Europe, begins, here is the appeal launched at the first edition of the European Journalism symposium.
The thousand or so journalists, academics and media professionals from the 27 European countries who gathered in Brussels from 23 to 25 November 2022 for the 1st The European Journalism Symposium calls on the political leaders of the European Union and its member states to defend press freedom as an essential component of democracy.
This meeting is being held at a time when the momentum for ratification of the Media Freedom Act is beginning. The participants in this Symposium welcome this initiative and hope that it will be translated into concrete action, both at European level and in each of the states that make up the European Union.
We will be particularly vigilant throughout the process and will keep a close eye on the legislative and regulatory work to ensure that the outcome matches the original ambitions. Indeed, our profession and the media are facing worrying threats.
The time is rife with false information, opinions become truths, nuance and doubt are heckled by certainties and injunctions. This makes the role of the journalist even more important, as he or she is one of the essential guarantees for building public confidence in publishing verified and verifiable information. In addition, self-regulation, a means of consultation between the profession and the public, helps to strengthen this trust.
At the same time, war is again being waged on European soil in Ukraine. We pay tribute to the courage and work of our sisters and brothers on the ground. They are the honour of our profession.
We also discussed the issue of fair remuneration for journalists and in particular neighbouring rights and their fair distribution between publishers and journalists.
During these days, a common denominator emerged during our work: in Europe, the profession is on the move, in the image of the observations made during the international conferences in Tours and Tunis.
With this appeal, all the participants of this first edition of the European Journalism Conference in Brussels underline the extent to which information is a public good and that the defence of freedom is more than ever an imperative.
Thank you.
Brussels, 25 November 2022.
ENGLISH VERSION
The European Journalism Symposium statement
A thousand of journalists, scholars and media professionals coming from the 27 European countries gathering in Brussels from November 23 to 25 2022, for the 1st edition of the European Journalism Symposium, are launching a statement to the political leaders of the European Union and its member states to defend press freedom, an essential element of democracy.
This Symposium takes place while the ratification of the Media Freedom Act is beginning. The participants welcome this initiative and they are looking forward that it will be translated into effective measures, both at the European level and at the level of the European state members level.
Throughout the procedure, we will be particularly diligent and carefully monitor the legislative and regulatory efforts, so that the outcome meets the initial ambition. Indeed, our profession and the media are faced with worrying threats.
The time is rife with fake news. Opinions have become truths. Nuance and doubts are undermined by certainties and injunctions. The role of the journalist has become even more relevant, as they become more concerned with the reporting of verified and verifiable information, which are one of the main guarantees of public trust. Moreover, self-regulation is a means of dialogue between the journalists and the public, which allows to strengthen this trust.
At the very moment, war is being waged on European soil in Ukraine. We pay tribute to the courage and efforts of our colleagues on the ground, who are the honor of our profession.
We have also discussed the issue of fair compensation for journalists and in particular neighboring rights, as well as the fair distribution between publishers and journalists.
During the course of these days, a common ground emerged: in Europe, the profession is constant change, as we have also grasped in Tours and Tunis.
With this statement, all the participants of the first edition of the European Journalism Symposium in Brussels underline the extent to which information is a public good, and the defense of freedom is, more than ever, a must.
Thank you.
Brussels, November 25, 2022.
