The Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI) of the Council of Europe held its 24th meeting from 29 November to 1 December 2023 in Strasbourg, including an exchange of views with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities on the last day.
Mélanie Lepoultier, Rapporteur for local and regional media (France, ILDG), presented the Congress report and recently adopted Resolution and Recommendation on “Local and Regional Media as Watchdogs of Democracy and Guardians of Community Cohesion”. In the light of these texts, she notably reminded of the important role that local and regional media play for preserving European democracies as well as the need to preserve strong and independent media as guardians of community cohesion. Especially local and regional media were not only important vectors of information between political decision-makers and citizens, but actors in promoting democracy at grassroots level.
Mélanie Lepoultier also recalled that the protection of sub-national media was closely linked to the protection of human rights in all member states, in compliance with Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights relating to freedom of expression.
Finally, she reiterated Congress’ willingness to support the Council of Europe Campaign for the safety of journalists “Journalists matters” as stated, in its recent recommendation on local and regional media.
“Journalists matter”: Council of Europe Campaign for the Safety of Journalists
