site.btaPressure on Journalists and Media in Europe Grows Due to Social Media and Technological Rise, Experts Say

Pressure on journalists and traditional media in Europe is growing because of social networks and the rise of technology, experts told the European Parliament's Committees on Culture and Education and on the Protection of Democracy on Monday.

Katharina Schell, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Austrian Press Agency (APA) and Vice President of Pressclub Concordia, emphasized that the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into newsroom operations is undermining journalists’ professional autonomy. She described the impact of new technologies as part of a broader spiral of disruption affecting the very foundations of journalistic practice. According to Schell, technology is not only reshaping media consumption and business models but also fundamentally altering how journalism itself is conducted. She questioned whether existing ethical and legal frameworks are adequate to address such profound changes.

Schell said that there has been pressure against journalists and restrictions on their professional role. The number of media outlets has grown tremendously, but not everything is journalism. Do we agree that those who "do journalism" are journalists, Schell asked. In her words, Austria is looking for a definition of media companies and workers.

Traditional media are under pressure and many questions remain unanswered - for example, what do we do with "alternative" media that try to create a parallel reality. Who decides what is journalism, Schell asked. She noted that the number of lawsuits against journalists seeking exorbitant compensations is on the rise, which is why the professional guild in her country has set up a fund to help victims of such cases.

Liberal democracies have been getting weaker in the last 10-15 years and media diversity is increasingly limited, Einar Halien, an editor at Schibsted media, said. He noted the intense competition on social media, as well as users' lack of willingness to pay for content. 

Young people are shunning traditional media and this is making them more vulnerable, trust in media is declining, oligarchs are taking ownership, Halien added. He said the number of people avoiding news is dangerously high. He said journalism, which has a hard time reaching people, fails to refute politicians who abuse the trust of voters.

The Head of the European Broadcasting Union's Brussels Office, Wouter Gekiere, reported that EUR 21 billion is spent annually in the EU on local content in the public service media and that these media employ a total of 42,000 staff. Trust in European media remains high, but fake information online is on the rise, and there are campaigns against democracy and promoting distrust using AI, he said. He added that online platforms are not tackling misinformation and fake news.