Council of Europe

Media

Freedom of expression and information

Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights

News

3rd meeting of the Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI) - Strasbourg, 23-26 April 2013

The 3rd meeting of the CDMSI took place in Strasbourg, on 23 to 26 April 2013. The main outcome is the approval of a draft recommendation on Gender equality and media, which will soon be submitted to the Committee of Ministers for adoption. The Committee also progressed in the preparation of a Council of Europe Ministerial Conference on Freedom of expression and democracy in the digital age that will take place in Belgrade in November 2013. More information will soon be available on the Conference.

Karol Jakubowicz : freedom of expression loses an inspiring voice and an indefatigable advocate

The Council of Europe Secretary General expresses deep sadness over the death, on 28 April, of Karol Jakubowicz. Prominent Polish professor and journalist, he chaired during several years the important work of the Steering Committee on Mass Media (CDMM), then of New Communication Services (CDMC), as well as the Standing Committee on Transfrontier Television (T-TT). It is mainly following his impetus that the Council of Europe engaged on the exploration of a new notion of media, which then became the basis for the work of other organisations as well.

“We have lost a privileged mind, a man with vision and profound knowledge, the capacity to see beyond. During the last decades Karol Jakubowicz made a huge contribution to European media policy. His work for the Council of Europe, where he was hugely respected and considered a friend, was invaluable. One of his last contributions was his analysis of how technological development has changed the media as we knew them, giving every individual - the people – a crucial role to play.” said Thorbjørn Jagland.

In 2011, the Council of Europe published the collection of Karol’s enormous contribution to Council of Europe media work but this is only a symbol of his immense work on freedom of expression and freedom of the media.  

[19/0/12] Study on the alignment of laws and practices concerning defamation

This study investigates the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights on freedom of expression in the context of defamation cases and reviews Council of Europe and other international standards on defamation. It contains information on legal provisions on defamation in Council of Europe member States. It also attempts to identify trends in the development of rules on defamation, both in national legal systems and in international law, in particular as regards criminalisation of defamation.

The appendix to the study gives detailed information on the legislation and practices relating to defamation in the CoE member states as of September 2012. We welcome any information on more recent development.

See also the Committee of Ministers' Declaration on libel tourism, which points out that the prevention of libel tourism should be part of the reform of defamation laws in member states and calls for the creation of clear rules on applicable laws and jurisdiction in order to enhance legal predictability and certainty, in line with European Court of Human Rights' case law, and concerning the proportionality of damages in libel cases.

See previous news

Media, society and culture	Media and democracy
Media in time of crisis	Freedom of expression Freedom of the media
Diversity and concentration	Copyright Neighbouring rights
Public service media	Radio Television Cinema
Internet and children Media education	Internet and information society

Towards our goal to promote freedom of expression and information and freedom of the media in line with the Council of Europe standards, the co-operation activities in the media field include legal expertises, training programmes, seminars, conferences and other events with the participation mainly of public officials, media professionals and civil society.

It's a girl!  The media are surprised when women do something well!  If this comment rings a bell with you, read here  WOMEN AND JOURNALISTS FIRST.  A challenge to media professionals to realise democracy in practice, quality in journalism and an end to gender stereotyping.

The achievements of the CDMC and of the Media Division