In this event, an expert panel explores how media pluralism and independence can be maintained amidst the digital transformation and against the background of deteriorating media freedom across Europe. This panel examines how the European Commission’s European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) might help to protect media independence and pluralism amidst the digital transformation and assesses the EMFA’s implications for the digitalisation of media in both Ireland and Europe. The panel also considers how the EMFA may interact with other digital policies such as the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), the Digital Services Act (DSA), and the Code of Practice on Disinformation. The panel also considers the implications of these issues for Ireland.

This event is organised in collaboration with the Economic Regulators Network (ERN), a cross-sectoral group of economic regulators in Ireland. The ERN is composed of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), Coimisiún na Meán, the Central Bank of Ireland, the National Transport Authority (NTA), and the Commission for Aviation Regulation.

For more information about the ERN, please visit the ERN website at https://www.econreg.ie/

This panel includes:

Anna Herold, Head of the Audiovisual and Media Policy Unit in DG CONNECT, European Commission;

Renate Schroeder, Director of the European Federation of Journalists;

Dr Eileen Culloty, Assistant Professor in the School of Communications, Dublin City University (DCU), Deputy Director of the Institute for Media, Democracy and Society (FUJO);

Celene Craig, Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán (the Media Commission)