Spotlight on press freedom in Eastern Europe
At the Economic Forum in Karpacz (Polish Davos') our partner organisation Media Dialogue launches joint declaration on press freedoms in Eastern Europe
At the Annual Economic Forum in Karpacz Poland (often referred to as the ‘Davos of the East’ more than 6,000 participants from politics, business and NGOs came together in September 2024 to discuss the economic, political and ecological challenges of the present under the motto ‘Time of New Leaders – Shaping the Future Together’.
Moderator
Dr Wolfgang Ressmann, Founder, Media Dialogue
Panelists
Mika Beuster, Chairman of the German Union of Journalists,
Nino Zhizhilashvili, Dean, Caucasus University and TV journalist from Georgia,
Andrei Bastunets, Chair, Belarus Association of Journalists in Exile,
Jolanta Hajdasz, Chair, Press Council in Poland,
Viorica Zaharia, Chair, Press Council Moldova.
The media and politicians in Germany are still not focussing enough on Eastern European countries.
In a joint declaration at the 33rd Economic Forum in Karparcz, Poland, the DJV and ‘Media Dialogue Eastern Partnership’ call for more networking with the region, but also more reporting on Eastern Europe in Germany.
There are important reasons for this, says DJV Federal Chairman Mika Beuster.
The media play an important role here. After all, it is journalists who will play a key role in shaping the future. In Germany, too, we should look eastwards with an open mind more often. Our future could depend on it.
In a panel discussion at the forum, we jointly shed light on the situation.
They reported on the fragile situation for journalists in their regions.
For example, by providing independent information in war-torn regions with frontline journalism, as in Ukraine, but at the same time ensuring that the staple food of information remains available even in times of war.
Similarly in Belarus, where journalists continue to work from exile to uncover the machinations of the regime and the acts of violence, even though many of their colleagues there are behind bars.
Or in Georgia, where a new law modelled on the Russian model is exerting pressure on civil society and journalists.
Or in the Republic of Moldova, where colleagues are fighting against Russian hybrid warfare with misinformation, propaganda and attempts at destabilisation.
As Chairman of the DJV, I have emphasised that independent journalism is the sine qua non for free societies. We need to look more to the East, expand networks, strengthen each other and network.
Our freedom in Western Europe is not only defended by weapons. We need resilient media systems, independent journalism and legal frameworks that guarantee this regardless of changes in government.
Ressmann emphasised the importance of the partnership with the Polish Economic Forum, which makes it possible to address the issues of free media and freedom of expression in the countries of Eastern Europe in Karparcz.
In a joint declaration, the DJV and the ‘Media Diaolgue Eastern Partnership’ call for four central aspects:
more freedom of the press in Europe,
more protection for journalists,
promotion of independent journalism and
better linking of co-operation.
There are many other aspects we need to work on together. Promoting media literacy, for example, to make Europe more resilient to fake news attacks, securing critical infrastructure so that media can continue to do their important work even if they are targeted by (state) hacker attacks.
Whether we succeed will be decisive for the future, whether we can maintain our liberal societies in the West.
After all, the negative developments that can currently be observed in some regions on the periphery of the EU are pushing powerfully towards the West – because that is what the powers that be in Moscow and Beijing want.
