Monday, 2 May 2016
12.00-14.00
Avenue de Cortenbergh 71, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

If an internet search has the potential to land a journalist on the blacklist of security services or if a reporter cannot guarantee for the anonymity of sources, free reporting is in danger. The same goes for journalists who have to pick their words carefully in order to secure their media company’s advertisement revenue. In several Central European states and in Europe’s neighborhood, particularly in Turkey, the government is tightening its grip on media companies. Meanwhile German journalists face accusations of biased reporting on the refugee crisis and the Cologne attacks (“Lügenpresse”) and in France journalists are alarmed at the new security laws which grant sweeping powers to intelligence agencies.

How does all this affect journalists’ reporting? How big is the danger that journalists start mincing words?

Join our expert discussion on the potential dimensions, prevalence and consequences of self-censorship in European media.

Speakers:
János Kárpáti
Former journalist of the Hungarian national newswire

Tanja Porčnik
Author “Human Freedom Index”

Sezin Öney
Haberdar Online News Site, Açık Radyo, Turkey

Wolfgang Grebenhof
German Federation of Journalists

Dominique Pradalié
Chief editor, France 2

Moderation:
Renate Schroeder
Director, European Federation of Journalists