The regulation currently being negotiated in Brussels breathes the spirit of a regulatory upgrade against an impending danger. The European Parliament speaks in a message of “worrying trends” affecting freedom of the press. In the Polish election campaign, state television either did not portray the opposition candidate at all or barely concealed it as a traitor; in Italy, the Meloni government is converting the public broadcasting system into a state broadcaster; right-wing populists all over Europe are waiting for their chance to gag the annoying press. A decisive factor, writes Parliament, is the economic weakness of publishers, which is exploited to make newspapers dependent on governments. “From the European Commission’s perspective, the market is failing to provide sustainable returns for independent news and quality journalism.”
Media Freedom Act: The EU wants to secure press freedom in Europe – Media
