The press is dying. This is the warning cry of 20 MEPs who are calling for a permanent fund to support journalism at EU level. They addressed their request to Vice-President Věra Jourová and Commissioners Didier Reynders (Justice) and Thierry Breton (Internal Market) in a letter dated Wednesday, 29 April.
The signatories, half of whom come from the group Renew Europe, emphasise the great job insecurity in which journalists are finding themselves during the Covid-19 pandemic. They point out the fact that the media have seen their advertising revenues fall by more than 80% and that thousands of workers have lost or are at risk of losing their jobs.
The Commission is due to make proposals by mid-May on the post-pandemic recovery plan and the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the 2021–2027 period, which needs to be reoriented to address the coming socio-economic crisis (see EUROPE 12477/6). According to the signatories, the current situation makes it necessary to update the future budget as well as to envisage an emergency fund to support independent journalism and media outlets deeply affected by the crisis. They think that this fund should be based on grants independently distributed by a dedicated EU body.
“It is absolutely vital that the Commission comes now to their help with a permanent fund, offering direct financial support for independent journalists and media outlets, freelancers and self-employed media workers, allowing them to continue to create quality, fact-based content, so much needed during these times.”
See the MEPs’ letter: https://bit.ly/2Sj8KDd (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)