News Media Europe marks World Press Freedom Day 2026 under the theme 'Shaping a Future at Peace' and urges European and national decision-makers to strengthen the conditions that allow news publishers to serve the public interest. The organization's message aligns with Ursula von der Leyen's Commission Political Guidelines for 2024-2029, which assert that media freedom is a cornerstone of European democracy and that a free press underpins transparency, accountability, and an informed society. News Media Europe emphasizes that a safe, independent press is essential for an informed society and highlights ongoing challenges such as threats to journalists, political intimidation, government interference, platform dependency, and disruptive effects of AI on media markets. It notes that EMFA entered into force nearly two years ago and calls for its effective implementation, together with broader policy initiatives to sustain press freedom. The three priorities cited are journalist safety, publisher sustainability, and access to trustworthy information amid AI. The piece supports updating the Commission’s Safety of Journalists Recommendation and advancing the AgoraEU programme with ring-fenced funding, clearly defined budgets, and objective criteria. Contact: Daria Istayeva.
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