“It’s time to determine quality standards.”

On Wednesday, 14 December 2022, MEP Irena Joveva addressed colleagues and the public at the plenary session in Strasbourg on the situation of journalists and the implications for the rule of law. She believes that it is high time we also set standards for determining the quality of the practice of the journalistic profession.

In her address, Joveva emphasised that not everyone can be a journalist just because, for example, they want to appear on television, let alone because they want to fulfil the goals and wishes of a particular political faction. She therefore stressed that it is essential to set standards for determining the quality of the practice of the journalistic profession. In her view, the forthcoming Media Freedom Act could be a good opportunity to do so.

She also spoke about ensuring the safety of journalists:

“Ensuring the safety of journalists is a prerequisite for effective media freedom, which is one of the cornerstones of the rule of law.”

Joveva also touched on the quality of reporting by journalists:

“We often mention the quality of reporting, which affects the credibility of the information provided. And with the rise of disinformation, interference in editorial policy and (self)censorship this quality is steadily declining.”

You can find MEP Joveva’s full address HERE.