Public Service Media for Democracy

The need for independent PSM has again become a strong evidence during the pandemic and in times of war. However, PSM’s sustainability and independence is challenged in an increasing number of countries.

22 November 2022, Vilnius, Lithuania

'Electronic evidence of war crimes' the role of journalists, media and social media

What are the differences between covering war crimes as a journalist and presenting that information to a legal investigation? How do Courts work with journalists? What are the challenges of investigative journalists? What about other media actors?

25 November 2022, 10:30-12:30

Mariupol: Testimony of a journalist

On 31 March 2022, 36th day of war in Ukraine, Anna Murlykina, a journalist from Mariupol gave a testimony from a place of war, in a webinar organised by the Group of Friends on the Safety of Journalists and Media Freedom in Strasbourg and the Council of Europe.

31 March 2022, Watch the recording

Symposium: Human Rights in the Digital Sphere

Co-organised by: Consulate General of Japan, Consulate General of the United States of America, Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe, European Court of Human Rights, René Cassin Foundation.

18 October 2021, hybrid format

Artificial intelligence – Intelligent politics

Challenges and opportunities for media and democracy

Ministers responsible for Media and Information Society will meet in Nicosiato  agree on the required action to address the radical changes brought by the new wave of technologies.

Ministerial Conference: 10-11 June 2021, online

Human rights challenges in the digital age: Judicial perspectives

The seminar is organised by the European Court of Human Rights, in cooperation with Directorate General of Human Rights and the Rule of Law of the Council of Europe (DGI).

28 June 2019, Strasbourg

Media Pluralism – how can we deliver? 19-20 March 2019

The conference will provide an insight into updated standards on media pluralism, ownership and literacy included in the Council of Europe’s Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)1 on media pluralism and transparency of media ownership, and ideas for embedding those standards into practice.

Governing the Game Changer – Impacts of artificial intelligence development on human rights, democracy and the rule of law

Conference co-organised by the Finnish Presidency of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers and the Council of Europe.

26 – 27 February 2019, Helsinki, Finland

#AIFINCoE

Regional Conference - Addressing hate speech in the media: the role of regulatory authorities and the judiciary, Zagreb, 6-7 November 2018

The regional conference will examine how hate discourse is regulated in different member States of the Council of Europe focusing on the specific role and work of national regulatory authorities, the judiciary and media self-regulatory bodies.

2nd Internet and Jurisdiction Conference 2018, Ottawa, 26-28 February 2018

Organised in partnership with the Government of Canada and institutionally supported by the Council of Europe, the OECD, UNESCO, the European Commission, and ICANN, this conference was an important milestone in addressing the management of the coexistence of different national laws and jurisdictions online.

Conference: "Free European Media", Gdansk, 15-16 February 2018

The conference was organised by the European Federation of Journalists in cooperation with the Council of Europe, the Nordic Journalism Centre, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom and the International Press Institute with the support of Polish authorities and journalists associations. Participants examined the current status of the press freedom from several critical angles.

Internet Freedom Conference: The Role and Responsibilities of Internet Intermediaries, Vienna, 13 October 2017

Building on the impetus given by the 2016 Conference “Internet Freedom: a constant factor of democratic security in Europe”, also jointly organized by the Council of Europe and the OSCE presidency, the Conference will again provide floor for debate on crucial issues related to human rights on the internet.

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Colloquium on the role of media actors in confronting terrorism, Strasbourg, 19 June 2017

In recent times, journalists and other media professionals have faced great challenges when covering repeated terror attacks. New dynamics of terrorism and the move to an increasingly digital and social media environment, with its wide reach and unprecedented speed with which information spreads across online channels, in particular pose a serious challenge to reporting on the issue.

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Freedom of Expression Online: Evolving European jurisprudence and standard setting activities in the digital age, Nicosia, Cyprus,28 April 2017

Building on the impetus given by the 2016 Conference “Internet Freedom: a constant factor of democratic security in Europe”, also jointly organized by the Council of Europe and the OSCE presidency, the Conference will again provide floor for debate on crucial issues related to human rights on the internet.

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Conference “Promoting dialogue between the ECtHR and the media freedom community”, Strasbourg, 24 March 2017

The Council of Europe is happy to give its support to the conference “Promoting dialogue between the ECtHR and the media freedom community”, organised by European Centre for Press and Media Freedom.

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High Level Seminar: “Role and powers of National Human Rights Institutions and Other National Mechanisms”, Strasbourg, 15 December 2016

On 15 December 2016 in Strasbourg the Council of Europe and the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) jointly organised a high level seminar to discuss the potential for co-operation to promote and protect freedom of expression and the safety of journalists in member states.

 "Public Service Media and Democracy" conference in Prague, 10-11 November 2016

The conference discussed the role of parliaments in protecting the media; the impact of PSM on society; governance; how broadcasters deal with hate speech and the long term independence and sustainability of PSM in the region.

Conference: “Internet Freedom: a constant factor of democratic security in Europe", Strasbourg, 9 September 2016

In the last years Internet freedom has emerged as an important priority in foreign policy agendas of several European and non-European states. Civil society has over a long period of time put forward demands to ensure an equal protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms online and offline. Yet, reports on Internet access cuts, censorship or other restrictions to freedom of expression, massive violations of privacy relating to surveillance programmes of intelligence services continue to take a significant part of public debate.

Conference: “Freedom of expression: still a precondition for democracy?” Strasbourg, 13-14 October, 2015

Over 400 participants, who attended the conference on 13-14 October in Strasbourg, assessed the major challenges facing freedom of expression today. The rich and intense debates raised real but constructive controversies regarding crucial issues concerning effective means for the preservation and protection of a free and safe environment for free expression.

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Seminar and Inter-regional Dialogue on the protection of journalists, Strasbourg, 3 November 2014

The Seminar addresses the need to improve legal protections for journalists whose safety and security are threatened because of their work. In recent years the number of killings and other violent attacks against journalists has markedly increased. Frameworks of legal protection vary greatly between different regions of the world.

Round Table on Safety of Journalists – From Commitment to Action, Strasbourg, 19 May 2014

The Round Table promoted dialogue between international institutions and media freedom organisations to identify ways of better addressing severe human rights violations against journalists.

Freedom of Expression and democracy in the digital age: opportunities, rights, responsibilities, Belgrade, 7-8 November 2013

The Council of Europe is constantly facing new challenges. Information and communication technologies are developing rapidly and the impact on our societies is considerable. New challenges to human rights and democracy continue to emerge by the day in the information society.

The 1st Council of Europe conference of Ministers responsible for media and new communication services, Reykjavik, 28-29 May 2009

Facing technology developments and the media–related change they trigger in the society, the Council of Europe decided to address fundamental questions that will set the working direction for the coming years to meet these new challenges.