Media capture on the rise, UNESCO report finds
On the occasion of the 2020 World Press Freedom Conference, UNESCO has published a study on world trends in freedom of expression and media development.
The 'Reporting Facts': Free from Fear or Favour' report identifies media control in the form of media capture as a great menace to journalistic independence and professional standards. Governments and powerful interest groups aim to increase their influence on media, which, according to the study, led to the shrinking of journalistic autonomy and undermines journalism as a public good.
While state-administered media is naturally at greater risk to be influenced, this especially goes for countries where the rule of law is not upheld. Controversial calls for action to reform public service media have taken place to influence editorial control or funding mechanisms — sometimes both. The report suggests that this can end in the morphing of public service media into state propaganda channels.