News April 12, 2025
“Journalism is an essential infrastructure for democracy”
Independent journalism in Europe is under siege, but it remains a vital force for democracy, civic trust, and social cohesion, said Peter Matjasič at the Perugia International Journalism Festival on Friday.
Speaking at the launch of the Journalism Value Project (JVP) white paper, “Shaping the Future of Journalism: Lessons, Challenges and Policy Paths,” Matjasič unveiled findings from an 18-month research effort involving journalists, funders, policymakers, and civil society groups across Europe.
“What autocrats fear most is a free press,” Matjasič said. “The lengths they go to suppress it show how vital it is.”
The report paints a stark picture: half of surveyed independent newsrooms operate on budgets under €200,000 a year, and one-third can’t plan more than six months ahead. Many journalists are underpaid, overworked, and increasingly vulnerable to legal and physical threats, including SLAPP lawsuits, surveillance, and intimidation.
Despite the challenges, Matjasič struck a hopeful tone, celebrating a new generation of independent, often digital-native media outlets. These mission-driven organizations—led by local entrepreneurs, activists, and citizen-journalists—are stepping in where legacy media has collapsed.
“They are not just reporters,” he said. “They’re innovators, educators, and community builders.”
The JVP report offers a five-point roadmap for strengthening public interest media: shifting from project-based to core funding, enhancing collaboration and peer learning, advancing policy reforms including anti-SLAPP measures and charitable status for journalism, building newsroom capacity in business and tech skills, and restoring public trust through transparency and engagement.
“If we can measure it, we can support it,” Matjasič said. “Journalism is not a cost. It’s essential infrastructure for democracy—like clean water or public transport. Let’s start treating it that way.”
The event organized in the Spazio Modu coworking space underscored an urgent call: to fund, protect, and grow Europe’s independent media before it’s too late. By Zoltán Sipos