In a contested world, free and independent media are critical for democracy

In his opening remarks, EU Ambassador to the UK, Pedro Serrano, said:

We live in a contested world. Established rules are being tested to breaking point. A war is still raging on the European continent, following the illegal Russian aggression against Ukraine. A terrible crisis unfolds in the Middle East. Timely and accurate first-hand information is essential to help shape international public opinion. The role of media professionals who bear witness to these events is therefore critical.

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The Ambassador highlighted the provisions in the European Media Freedom Act, that seek to enhance editorial freedom, protect journalistic sources and improve the transparency of media ownership; the new provisions to protect journalists and human rights defenders from abusive legal practices designed to silence them (anti-SLAPP) and the EU's support for independent media across the world, for example support for Russian and Belarussian media in exile or for Ukrainian media in frontline regions.

Top and front of the discussion, expertly steered by Deborah Bonetti, an Italian journalist and the Director of the Foreign Press Association in the UK, was how to ensure journalists' survival against the changing nature of war. Our speakers flagged fundamental challenges - like access to the zones of conflict, nowadays often restricted by states, as well as practical problems, like what to do in case of a drone attack, a daily occurrence in their work. One alarming general conclusion was that provisions in international law, like the Geneva convention, no longer guarantee journalists' safety. To the contrary, they become targets if they wear "press" bullet-proof jackets and are identified as media. The panel focused on the role and challenges for women frontline reporters.

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Felicity Garvey, from the UK office of Reporters without Borders shared the topline trends in their annual index on media freedom, released the same day. For the first time in its history, the index shows that in more than half of the countries it is difficult for journalists to work or there are very serious obstacles. The index also identified significant deterioration in the legal environment when journalists are often targeted by lawsuits, putting them under significant financial strain even if they win in court.

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