Prague – The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) is now in effect. This regulation offers mechanisms to safeguard media freedom, diversity, and editorial independence throughout the European Union. Czech media organizations and public broadcasters have introduced a set of self-regulatory guidelines known as the ten commandments in response to this regulation.
Passed by the European Parliament last March, the act is set to be incorporated into Czech law through the Media Services Act, which is being developed by the Ministry of Culture. Although the ministry anticipated the law’s adoption by early August, it has yet to receive approval from the government or parliament.
The Act on the Protection of Journalists’ Freedom and Media Independence aims to shield journalists from political and economic pressures, ensuring transparency in media ownership and funding. It also stipulates regulations for state advertising allocation to media outlets.
The national implementation of European regulatory standards is encapsulated in the self-regulatory ten commandments, endorsed by seven industry associations and three public broadcasters: Czech Television, Czech Radio, and CTK. In the upcoming months, efforts will be directed towards establishing a memorandum to facilitate the implementation of these commandments. “The framework for self-regulation and the Ten Commandments emphasizes media freedom while ensuring high transparency and public accountability. This initiative reaffirms the signatories’ dedication to upholding the principles outlined in the Ten Commandments,” they announced. Additional details will be released in September.
The associations emphasize that defending freedom of expression and fostering a free media landscape are central to their self-regulation framework. The signatory organizations collectively express their readiness to meet the responsibilities designated by the regulation. They aspire to collaborate with both major platforms and state entities, as well as other public institutions, in all areas where the act anticipates self-regulation involvement.
The Ten Commandments outlines commitments including the publication of contact information for the person responsible for content, ensuring compliance with professional standards, establishing internal rules to safeguard editorial integrity, mitigating undue political and commercial influences, and effectively utilizing AI tools. Media entities must also adhere to an ethical code, prevent conflicts of interest, distinguish editorial content from advertising, and disclose their ownership identity. (August 8)
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