The freedom of the press is a vital pillar of democratic accountability, said Irini Charalambidou, Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and Special Representative for Combating Corruption, who hosted an event on the sidelines of the OSCE PA session titled “When Media Shapes Policy: Freedom and Influence.”
The forum coincided with the conclusion of the 25th Winter Meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Key speakers included OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Ambassador Jan Braathu, Ambassador Bakyt Dzhusupov, former OSCE PA President and IPU Science and Technology Committee Chair Margareta Cederfelt, Member of the European Parliament Kristian Vigenin, and OSCE ODIHR Head of Elections Meaghan Fitzgerald.
Media freedom central to democracy and anti-corruption
In her opening remarks, Ms Charalambidou highlighted developments in Cyprus and abroad, stressing that protecting independent journalism and strengthening the credibility of information are integral to democracy and the fight against corruption. She underlined the importance of shielding societies from malicious influence and ensuring national security.
Braathu emphasised that media freedom is essential for democratic accountability and broader security. He noted that combating misinformation must protect freedom of expression, transparency in media ownership and funding, and pluralism.
Meanwhile, Dzhusupov highlighted the link between corruption and information manipulation, warning that opaque financial flows can distort public information and influence political decisions, connecting media integrity with economic and institutional resilience.
Digital challenges and parliamentary oversight
Cederfelt pointed to the transformative role of technology and artificial intelligence in news production and dissemination, calling for clear accountability and transparency rules. She stressed the role of parliaments in shaping regulatory frameworks and promoting digital literacy and critical thinking, particularly among young people, as a safeguard against manipulation.
Vigenin added that democratic resilience requires transparency rules for political content, targeted advertising, and influence financing while respecting fundamental rights and pluralism. He also highlighted the need to protect journalists and independent media to maintain public trust.
Fitzgerald discussed the connection between the information ecosystem and election integrity, noting that digital manipulation and misinformation threaten equal participation and confidence in electoral results. She called for transparency in political communication, proportional monitoring, and robust evaluation mechanisms, particularly during election periods.
International cooperation is essential
The forum concluded with a consensus on strengthening OSCE collaboration with parliamentary and international partners to develop policies addressing misinformation and manipulation without undermining fundamental rights. Charalambidou stressed that defending media freedom and enhancing public information credibility is not just a communication issue but a matter of democracy and overall security, calling for steadfast support for independent, professional journalism.