Council Of Europe Agrees New Guidelines On Media Pluralism, Transparency Of Media Ownership

The Strasbourg, France-based Council of Europe today adopted a recommendation containing a range of guidelines aimed at managing the effects of modern technology on the media sector and media pluralism. The recommendation sets out a comprehensive framework of guidelines for a “pluralist, transparent and participatory” media environment, online and offline.

The Council of Europe press release is reprinted below:

“In a  Recommendation adopted today, the Committee of Ministers underlines that advances in modern technology have a profound impact on the functioning of the media sector and on media pluralism. To address this challenge, the recommendation establishes a comprehensive framework of guidelines for creating a pluralist, transparent and participatory media environment, both offline and online.

The recommendation lays down the essential conditions to be fulfilled in order to enhance media pluralism. States are encouraged to develop strategies for increasing the sustainability of a variety of media ranging from public service media, local, minority, community and cross-border media.

States are also encouraged to support quality independent and investigative journalism, whilst fully respecting the editorial and operational autonomy of the media. The recommendation also provides guidelines which are to assure visibility of diverse content across a number of platforms and help expose it to the widest possible audience through media literacy programmes.

Furthermore, the recommendation encourages states to develop regulatory frameworks to promote transparency of media ownership.”