[Podcast] Media, censorship and self-censorship in Europe

By Euronews

Published on 20/11/2015 - 20:01

The following content is the product of the 2015 EYMD workshops. Organised by the European Youth Press and held in the European Parliament in Brussels, the eighth edition of the pan-European journalism event for young journalists. The event focused this year on media freedom. Euronews agreed to host the media outcomes of the workshops but did not interfere with the content.

The numerous face of self-censorship in Europe

How free really we are? Media freedom and censorship in 21st century in the EU
authors: Signe Lene Christiansen and Andreja GradišarJust a few weeks ago the debate on self-censorship once again made the headlines in Danish media. This year it is the 10th Anniversary of the controversial Mohammed cartoons, which aroused protests among Muslims in the past. Although Denmark is in the top three countries, according to the freedom index list, self-censorship is present and widely debated there as well. While in countries like Belarus (which is number 157 on the freedom index list) self-censorship is often connected with state pressure, in so-called democratic European countries where the media is generally considered free, self-censorship among journalists is nevertheless a big issue.

Interviews with:

Jean-Paul Marthoz, Commitee to Protect Journalists
Vytis Jurkonis, Freedom house
Guillemette Faure, French journalist
Aleksander Stilich, Belarus journalist

Journalists and citizens against propaganda 2.0

In the time of smartphones, social media and youtube, propaganda has taken the online turn
Celine Béal

“A chek-list to help you recognize propaganda. Here is a tool that can be potentially helpful for everyone. But this one, the one published by the European Federation of Journalists, is supposed to help journalists identify propaganda and hate speech… But shouldn’t journalists be the ones who are supposed to recognize propaganda and fight against it by reporting on the facts? In the time of internet, smartphones, social media and youtube, propaganda has taken the online turn, stepping up its game. In this reportage journalists talk about the new challenges in the battle against fake news.

Interviews with:

Anna Romandash , Ukrainian Journalist
Ricardo Gutiérrez, general secretary of the European Federation of Journalists

How free is the access to the EU documents?

The difficult balance between access to information and confidentiality
authors: Emmi Skytén and Polychronis KasidisAccessing information of EU decision – making can sometimes be difficult for journalists and citizens. In a phone call with the Strategic Committee on Immigration, Frontiers and Asylum reporters requested access to a specific document of the Council of the European Union. Meanwhile, the President of the International Press Association Tom Weingaertner give us an insight on how it works because the accessing to the EU documents and getting on the record statements is a daily challenge for the EU correspondents.

Interview with:

Tom Weingaertner, President of International Press Association (IPA)

Who tells us their stories?

Migrants in media and freedom of equality
authors: Tatyana Movshevich, Jerneja Zavec and Patricia NilssonHaving your opinions and struggles represented and discussed by the media is an important aspect of freedom – is it equal for all? In exploring media representation, this reportage focuses on an urgent issue: the refugee crisis, trying to answering the questions of how are refugee perspectives represented in European media and how does this affect the political debate.

Interviews with:

Juliana Santos Walhgren, European Network Against Racism
Ali Dabbah, Syrian asylum seeker in Belgium

Media in the political tycoons equation

Juggling between public and political interest. The backstage of media freedomauthors: Fruzsina Katona and Lucian Mihael Bălănuţă

Each year, thousands of young people across Europe choose to become journalists. An exciting job, but if they look behind the scene, they can see different types of interests. Media tycoons tend to play the role of the puppet master, shifting the editorial rule based on their interests. Journalism is a powerful force which cannot belong only to a group of rich people.

Interviews with:

Jean-Paul Marthoz, Commitee to Protect Journalists
Vytis Jurkonis, Freedom house
Anna Saraste, European Youth Press, coordinator Free our Media! project

Every media has an agenda

Media oligopoly in Europe and the decision on the hierarchies of information
authors: Katarina Lujak and Marta Cabot NavarroMoney makes the world not goes round and it is no different when it comes to journalism. On the other hand, talking about big media ownership concerns creates a debate on freedom of the flow of information. Among media makers the debate on what is public interest when it comes to information is a key issue, also because “any media has an agenda”.

Interviews with: