On the margins of the International Press Institute (IPI) World Congress, the Journalists Matter Campaign, and the Secretariat of the Council of Europe Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI), met with partners from the Council of Europe Platform for the Safety of Journalists for an open discussion on progress, lessons learned, and next steps to strengthen joint action for the protection of journalists.

The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the Campaign’s  progress at its mid-term. A ongoing mid-term report assessing the Campaign impact confirms that, despite limited resources, the Campaign has made tangible progress by mobilising governments, fostering dialogue among key institutions, and encouraging the establishment of national focal points, cooperation mechanisms, and national action plans on the safety of journalists. It highlights the importance of maintaining active engagement, ensuring that dialogue remains at the heart of the initiative, and securing lasting institutional support for sustainable progress.

A central theme of the Vienna discussions was the need for stronger involvement of journalists themselves—as direct participants, communicators, and contributors to the Campaign’s next phase. Platform partners explored how to activate national focal points more effectively, enhance coordination among media and civil society, and use their networks to raise awareness of the Campaign’s objectives and results.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen cooperation between the Campaign and the Platform partners, and to ensure that the achievements to date are consolidated into a sustainable, long-term framework for journalist safety across Europe.