WHO REALLY OWNS THE MEDIA?
IN ONLY 9 OUT OF 20 COUNTRIES CAN THE PUBLIC FIND OUT WHO THE
REAL OWNERS OF THE BROADCAST MEDIA ARE
YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW!
Why do we want this information?
Do you still have questions about why we need to know who owns the media? Check out our FAQs!
THE TEN RECOMMENDATIONS ON
TRANSPARENCY OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP
1. Disclosure of essential basic information
2. Information is findable and free
3. Information is regularly updated
4. Data is reusable and in open formats
5. Progressive increase in transparency
6. Transparency of influence
7. Clear and precise legal framework
8. Oversight by an independent body
9. Direct disclosure to the public
10. Transnational access and comparability
Download the Recommendations in full (.pdf), and scroll down for the country-by-country analysis
WHO ELSE THINKS TRANSPARENCY OF THE MEDIA
IS IMPORTANT?
Media transparency is important for those who are consuming media. If I’m reading a newspaper, or watching television, I would like to know who is providing me with this information.
Media products can affect and influence the way people think, what decisions people take, and so knowing who is behind the media, or a media enterprise, is key to a transparent society.
Every media transports some kind of opinión, some kind of mindset, and since media are so strongly involved in the creation of mindsets, in the influence of what people think, it’s important to know who are the people that tell you what to think.
I can’t think of any reason at all why the public or society at large should not know who owns any media organisation.
The civil society has the right to know who is speaking to them.
The media scene has changed globally, everywhere, and you have a situation where there’s so many ways of sophisticated pressures.
Country-by-Country Research and Analysis
Contact us if you are interested in researching the transparency of media ownership in your country.
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Georgia
Germany
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Morocco
Netherlands
Norway
Romania
Spain
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
WHO ENDORSES THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND
JOINED THE CAMPAIGN?
Check out who else has signed up to support the recommendations
International CSOs
Access Info Europe
African Initiative for Communication and Freedom of Expression
Corporate Europe Observatory
Freedom Forum
Open Society Program on Independent Journalism
Publish What You Pay
Sunlight Foundation
The MediaWise Trust
Universal Rights Network
Xchange Perspectives e.V.
Individuals
Ana Revuelta Alonso, Researcher
Carlos Pallarol, Journalist
Reynaldo Castro Melgarejo, Researcher
Media
Eldiario.es
Private companies
Openwise PC
National and other CSOs
ACEP
ALBANIAN MEDIA INSTITUTE
Amis de la Terre Isère
Association Funky Citizens
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio & Communication (BNNRC)
Berne Declaration / Erklärung von Bern
Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom
CDDI
Civil Control for Animal Defense
Civio Foundation
D.A.T.A.
European Federation of Journalists
Forum Informationsfreiheit
Fundación Civiliter
Fundación Economistas sin Fronteras
GONG
Independent Association of Georgian Journalists
Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine
Informace pro vsechny
Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI)
Investigative Journalism Center, Zagreb-Croatiater
K-Monitor (Hungary)
Media Reform Coalition
Mertek Media Monitor
National Council for Radio and Television (Greece)
Nexus Research
ONG Moral
Opcions
Palestinian center for development and media freedoms-mada
Peace Institute Ljubljana
Press Council of Kosovo
Press Institute of Mongolia
Public Association Center for Promotion of Freedom of Expression and Access to Information
Qué hacen los diputados
République Citoyenne
Right to Information Assesment and Advocacy Group
Solidaridad Postal
Transparency International Ukraine
MEDIA OWNERSHIP TRANSPARENCY LATEST NEWS
Croatia TMO Consultation
Can the public find out who owns the media through free access to the essential information required? In Croatia, it is possible to finds out who owns print, broadcast and online media in Croatia through information reported to: the relevant media authorities; directly to the public; or to corporate /trade registers. Through the various amendments to the Media Law (2011)
Bulgaria TMO Consultation
Can the public find out who owns the media through free access to the essential information required? Owners of print, electronic and online media which are registered companies can be identified in Bulgaria but only through cross-referencing the disclosures under the relevant media law with those under the Company Registry Act. None of the laws are, on their own, sufficient
Azerbaijan TMO Consultation
Can the public find out who owns the media through free access to the essential information required? It is not possible to find out who owns the media Azerbaijan through media-specific or company law. Since June 2012, amendments to the Law on the Registration of Legal Entities, on Commercial Secrecy and the Law on Obtaining of Information mean that information
Austria TMO Consultation
Can the public find out who owns the media through free access to the essential information required? According to the Media Act, as amended in 2011, it is possible to finds out who owns print, online and broadcast media through information reported directly to the public. All media must disclose enough information for their real owners to be identified, including
About the Transparency of the Media Ownership Project
Madrid, 1 August 2013 - Research by Access Info Europe and the Open Society Media Program in 20 countries (19 European region plus Morocco) has revealed that the legal framework in most countries is insufficient to guarantee transparency of media ownership. » In only 9 of the 20 countries (including only four of the EU member states surveyed), can the
Public Consultation on Transparency of Media Ownership in Europe
Madrid, 1 September 2013 – Access Info and the Open Society Media Program would like your input on our draft recommendations for improving the transparency of media ownership in Europe – please fill in this questionnaire – it has 10 questions and takes 8 minutes: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TransparencyMediaOwnership Recommendations: Access Info and the OSMP has developed a set of recommendations which are