OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media meets with Ambassador of Luxembourg

On 18 March, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met with Ambassador Marc Ungeheuer to discuss current challenges and threats to media freedom in the OSCE region.

Ribeiro and Ungeheuer spoke about the diminishing media pluralism in several countries in the OSCE region, with some national regulatory bodies only allowing government-friendly media outlets, and the difficulties that the current economic environment, especially the current pandemic, and changing business models pose to the media. They discussed the danger of rapidly changing rhetoric in some participating States, which can be detrimental to the position of several media. These challenges and cross-cutting themes warrant an interlinked and versatile approach, they agreed.

Ribeiro and Ungeheuer also agreed upon the importance of the work of the RFoM in the larger OSCE security framework and the need to discuss media freedom within the broader human rights context. For this, an international approach must be taken, including co-ordination and regular dialogue with other organizations and institutions, they said. Ungeheuer confirmed once more his country’s dedication to media freedom.