The European Commission drew up towards the end of 2022 the Media Freedom Act (MFA)this legislation was created in order to prevent political interference in the media to ensure transparent and non-discriminatory state advertising.
However, media workers oppose this: “It would put journalists at greater risk and create a chilling effect on whistleblowers and other sources,” denounced the director of the European Federation of Journalists, Renate Schröder.
(Keep reading: Will Facebook and Google have to pay the media in Canada?).
According to DW, the Commissioner for Values and Transparency of the European Union (EU)Vera Jourova, justified: “Jourova believes that journalists need more protection against influence, threats and violence, even though the EU Charter of Human Rights and the constitutions of the 27 member states do in fact guarantee press freedom” .
The reports of the European Commission and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) violence against journalists has increased in many parts of the European Union, “in Hungary, Poland and Greece, the governments intervene massively in the ownership of the sector or try to steer the information in a direction favorable to the government”, justifies the aforementioned medium.
(Also: Media group ‘Vice’ files for bankruptcy.)
One of the countries most affected by the control of the media is Hungary, because according to DW, they are controlled by businessmen loyal to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
“This model has led to a unification of newspapers and online portals. Orbán had already brought public broadcasting under his control. The European Commission fears that “information deserts” are emerging in Hungary, that is, counties and cities where there is no media outlet independent of the government.”
(Also: EL TIEMPO, the most consulted by opinion leaders in Colombia).
For the law to enter into force, the members of the European Union must approve the new rules by means of a qualified majority, in turn, the European Parliament must approve the Law.
Having done this, the law would enter into force before the 2024 European elections.
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