Press Freedom under threat: conference aims to refocus current discussion of media freedom in Europe
The media sector in Europe is facing an increasing number of challenges, and press freedom across the continent is being tested on numerous fronts.
On 1 July 2016, a coalition of journalist and press organisations are hosting the “(R)EVOLUTION OF EUROPE’S PRESS” conference in the European Capital of Culture 2016: Wroclaw, Poland. This event will bring together a high level group of approximately 90 politicians, media experts, journalists, start-ups and technology experts who will examine the state of press freedom in Europe through the political, market and technological lens.
“In uncertain times, with racism and hate speech on the rise and politicians losing their authority, we need free media more than ever,” says Jane Wyhatt, Programme Manager of the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom and moderator of the first interactive session of the conference. “We need to create the conditions for independent, investigative journalists to hold power to account. And media houses must be free to challenge, criticise and even make fun of those in power without political pressure, financial cuts or self-censorship. In Wroclaw we will talk about how to make these high ideals a practical reality.”
Changing political priorities, technological innovations and market fluctuations all impact the state of press freedom in Europe. This conference aims to refocus the debate so that a holistic view of real and potential press freedom threats can be identified and discussed.
