Task Force for Co-ordination of Media Affairs
Task Force for Co-ordination of Media Affairs
The Media Task Force is based in the European Commission's Directorate General for Information Society and Media. Its mission is:
- to support growth and jobs (the key objectives of the 'revised Lisbon strategy') – specifically in the media industry
- to promote diversity and pluralism in the media and freedom of the press.
Four primary roles:
1. A sounding board for all policy affecting the media
- pre-screens Commission policy proposals to check for possible unintended effects on editorial freedom or industry competitiveness;
- coordinates policy-making for the media across all Commission policies
-
maintains an inventory of all current and planned policy initiatives affecting the media.
(November 2011)
2. An evolving observatory role
- monitors media pluralism in the EU - defined in terms of the variety of sources of information available to the public (see Commission Staff Working Paper on Media Pluralism);
- published an independent study to test concrete and objective indicators for assessing media pluralism in September 2009.
3. An economic research role
- works to develop the Commission’s understanding of publishing (see consultation on future policy orientations for publishing);
- talks to the publishing industries to discuss how they can adapt to the digital age and devise new business models.
4. A contact point for external enquiries
- handles media-related enquiries from media companies, organisations and citizens, referring them on to other Commission departments where appropriate.
- Contact e-mail: infso-taskforce-media@ec.europa.eu
Other activities
The Media Task Force participates in a number of initiatives managed by the Information Society and Media Directorate-General and other services, such as Content Online, Media Literacy, etc. It is responsible for all questions regarding fundamental rights in the media (freedom of expression and freedom of the press).
