Image © Shutterstock In line with the Council of Europe Guidelines on protecting freedom of expression and information in times of crisis, the crisis situation should not be used as a pretext for restricting the public's access to information. Neither should states introduce any restrictions on media freedom beyond the limitations allowed by Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Freedom of expression, media independence and open deliberation, rather than information control, are the core principles underlying European democracy which will allow us to surmount the great challenges facing our countries.

Toolkit by the Secretary General on the impact of the sanitary crisis on freedom of expression and media freedom (SG/Inf(2020)19)

Read more on challenges to freedom of expression and media freedom in the times of crisis and human-rights compliant responses

  • Freedom of expression and information and media freedom are crucial for the functioning of a truly democratic society and continue to be so in times of crisis. The provision of timely information about public health risks is a critical element in crisis response.
  • Media play a key role, also coupled with increased responsibility, in providing accurate, reliable information to the public, but also in preventing panic and fostering people’s understanding for and cooperation with necessary restriction. Media organisations and journalists should adhere to the highest professional and ethical standards, give priority to authoritative messages regarding the crisis, and refrain from publishing, and thus amplifying, unverified stories.
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Back The impact of Covid-19 on media freedom

The impact of Covid-19 on media freedom

During the pandemic, reliable information became critical not only to keep people informed but also safe and healthy. The need for quality, fact-checked journalism has taken on even more relevance in this period. However, the pandemic has also added new concerns to the media sector, already weakened by the fragile financial situation and increasing threats and violence against journalists. The Covid-19 outbreak prompted response measures which included restrictions of access to information and places, claiming sanitary needs. In some countries, legislative initiatives were taken to prevent disinformation and disorder.

Webinar on the impact of Covid-19 on media freedom taking place today from 14.00 to 17.00 (CET) is an event jointly organised by the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and the Council of Europe, as part of Germany’s Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe from November 2020 to May 2021.

The webinar, livestreamed on our webpage, will focus on the human rights standards related to freedom of expression and media freedom which should guide States’ responses to the pandemic. It will provide further insights into the situation of journalists and other media actors on the ground, as well as explore good practices and recommendations for mitigating the impacts of Covid-19 on media freedom and pluralism, and the safety of journalists.

Strasbourg 7 May 2021
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"Everyone has the right to freedom of expression"

Art. 10 European Convention on Human Rights

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