This statement was originally published on europeanjournalists.org on 19 March 2019.
On 26 May, European citizens will elect their Members of the European Parliament (MEP) to represent them at the new European Parliament. During the campaign, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) is launching its Manifesto calling on all candidate MEPs to commit for the revival of a free and pluralistic media in Europe, so urgent in times of disinformation and losing trust in EU institutions.
The 2019 EP elections come at a turning point for the European Union which urgently needs to reconnect with its citizens and represent their interests. We wish a forward-looking EU where not only the economy and growth matter but where concrete action is taken to ensure that citizens’ right to know is guaranteed.
In recent years, journalists are witnessed their labour rights diminishing, working conditions deteriorating, quality in journalism dropping and the loss of public confidence in the media. Various forms of (self-)censorship as a result of political and economic pressures have also grown across Europe. Journalists have become the first casualty of these threats.
Over 15,000 MEP candidates are called to endorse the EFJ Manifesto by committing themselves to the following eight principles.
1. Media pluralism
2. Financial sustainability and the future of journalism
3. Investigative journalism
4. Collective bargaining and social protection for all workers
5. Trust and accountability through ethical journalism
6. Authors’ rights – fair contracts for all
7. Strong independent public service media
8. Safety at work : no to impunity
Download the EFJ Manifesto in English, Français, Deutsch or read it online and spread the word to your candidate MEPs.
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Source: MEDIA FEED
