​​Circumventing News

Media concentration is a growing concern across Europe, as ownership increasingly consolidates in the hands of a few major players. High concentration can reduce media pluralism, limit the diversity of viewpoints, and increase the influence of owners over public debate. Why is news media is in such a precarious situation, and what can be done?

This Summer, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) approved the acquisition of RTL Nederland by DPG Media, subject to strict conditions. The ACM’s approval is a testimony to the efforts to preserve media diversity, protect independent news formats, ensure fair access to news content, and maintain independent oversight. The structural conditions attached to the approval prescribe at length the measures designed to safeguard editorial independence and continuation of news formats currently offered.

Our panel will discuss why news media is in such a precarious situation and which measures can be taken to maintain diverse and competitive news media markets, which are critical for democracy, public’s access to independent information and safeguarding democratic accountability.

Our panelists will consider the role of news media and independent journalism in European democracies. What arrangements can sustain an arm’s-length relationship between media owners, publishers, and editors? When the media ecosystem no longer supports a diverse news media landscape, what role should law and public policy play?

Speakers:

Nienke Venema (Stichting Democratie en Media)Gosia Kozak (Utrecht University)Edmund Lauf (Commissariat voor de Media)Gionata Bouché (University of Amsterdam)Moderator: Kati Cseres (University of Amsterdam)