Journalism is a Public Good
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) published a manifesto during the European elections. This document underlines that the European information ecosystem is at a crossroads. The editor of eCCO Magazine would like to draw readers’ attention to the manifesto.
According to the Manifesto, the 2024 European Parliament elections will set the direction for the EU in the next term.
The Manifesto stated:
“We need a parliament and a commission committed to a fair Europe, respecting trade-union and human rights, the rule of law, media freedom and pluralism, and overseeing implementation of the crucial regulatory mechanisms accomplished in the last five years: the copyright directive, Digital Services Act, the Artificial Intelligence Act, the anti-SLAPP directive and the European Media Freedom Act. For facts to thrive we need to join forces to build a healthy information ecosystem.”
Ahead of the European Parliament elections in June, the EFJ has set out a three-point action agenda to make journalism viable and safe, and to regulate AI.
Foster viable journalism.
Promote safety of journalists.
Regulate generative artificial intelligence.
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), representing 73 journalists’ unions and professional associations from 45 countries, is calling on EU decision-makers to defend journalism and journalists in Europe.
The EFJ manifesto highlights the work of journalists and Media Freedom. The EU has gone further than ever to create a safer and more sustainable space for journalism, not least by pursuing the European Media Freedom Act. It has supported a number of projects on press freedom and self-regulation for journalists, the safety of journalists, cross-border investigative journalism and freelance journalists, and social dialogue. Media organizations receive around €50 million per year under these categories.
The Manifesto makes it clear that it is not enough! Independent, professional journalism, the best antidote to disinformation, is expensive. Audience engagement, new journalistic formats, support for media literacy, and the appropriate use of artificial intelligence are essential to making journalism a tool for citizens to connect, debate, learn, and engage in public discourse in today’s polarized societies. However, this requires sustainable business models that guarantee fair working conditions and fair remuneration.
It is important that the EFJ’s manifesto is known not only to Eurojournalists but also to everyone else in the world because what it sets out is universal to journalism, the press, and the media worldwide.
If you are interested in the full text of the manifesto, you can access it on the EFJ website.
Thomas Barat is a journalist, photojournalist, foreign correspondent/editor and Head of the NY Branch Office of a Hungarian-based Press Agency (WBPI) and TV Channel (Heti TV) in New York. He is the Founder Editor in Chief of CCO MAGAZINE - the Magazine of the Chief Communication Officers. He has expertise in writing, editing and publishing.
He was TV talk show host on one of Hungary's tv-channel called Budapest Television. Thomas Barat is a retired Professor of Communication and he was the Education Director of European Media and Communication Institute. He wrote 17 books in the field of Applied Communication. Mr. Barat was the President of the Ethical Committee of the Association of Hungarian Journalists and also the President of the Media Self-Regulatory Body of Hungary. Thomas Barat is a member of different professional organizations.
Among others: Society of Professional Journalists USA, Association of Hungarian Journalists, Hungarian Public Relations Association, Chartered Institute of Public Relations UK, he is the Founder and President the American Hungarian Chamber of Commerce.