A timely and stimulating event highlighting the role of financing schemes and regulation to support the production and sustainability of quality media content 

NEW (13 June 2023): Link to podcast added

 

On 29 March 2023, EPRA organised a landmark event - jointly with Cullen International - in Brussels. The event, which was kindly hosted by the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union, gathered more than 170 participants. About 15 regulatory authorities member of EPRA were represented on that occasion. It was more than 10 years since EPRA organised a public-facing event: the last joint public event took place in 2012 and focused on the Policy and Regulatory Challenges of Connected TV. 
 

A watershed moment

Amid the debates on the forthcoming European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and the future of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMS), the EPRA Board deemed it the right time to gather all stakeholders again (media industry, regulators, institutions and representatives of civil society) to discuss the role of financing schemes and regulation to support the production and the sustainability of media content "for good and for everyone". Media and Information for the public good is also one key focus of EPRA's Work Programme for 2023.
 

A 3-tier panel structure & critical thinkers

This full-day event analysed and discussed what are the preconditions to secure good financing (panel 1), good visibility (panel 2) and good regulatory decisions (panel 3) with regards to quality media content. Thoughtful input ahead of the panel discussions was provided through keynote interventions delivered by Amma Asante (Commissariaat voor de Media - NL), Maria-Luisa Stasi (ARTICLE 19), and Krisztina Rosgonyi (Austrian Academy of Sciences/Institute for Comparative Media and Communications Studies - AT).

Food for thought

From the point of view of regulators, the event delivered many relevant insights on how regulation can help safeguard the role that independent media play in the public good/interest. Ensuring the independence (both at national and European level) of media regulatory structures and providing them with an adequate level of financial and human resources as well as technical skills was also deemed essential.

A detailed summary of the event is now available at the link below.

• Media for Good and For Everyone - Summary by Jérome Dheur et Olha Hruba (Cullen International) 
• See also Maria Donde's (EPRA Chairperson ad interim) take on the event
• NEW - Tune in to an exciting podcast with Laura Sboarina from Cullen International and Maria Donde from EPRA - with some excerpts from the discussion  

Source: EPRA/Cullen International