After the European launch of the PSJ Framework in Brussels, NMC Chief Executive Andrew Moger reflects on what the event achieved and where the work goes next.
By Andrew Moger, Chief Executive, News Media Coalition :
Primary Source Journalism (PSJ) is well and truly on the industrial, political and civil society map. The European launch of the PSJ Framework is done.
Now to build support in capitals and boardrooms, and on the ground, for that is where PSJ quality news is at its best.
We had 50 of the smartest thinkers, strategists and doers working to protect the public’s ability to understand the world through quality news. Younger minds, wise executives and highly informed policy-shapers joined us in Brussels for the launch.
They are now re-energised and determined to secure and grow news reporting freedoms in all spheres. They want to take ownership of what is ours, and to make sure professional journalism, particularly hard-to-get news, plays its valuable part in the lives of citizens: informed, entertained, inquisitive and interested.
A common sense of purpose
There is a renewed and common sense of purpose across news publishers, news agencies, the journalist community and news media freedom advocacy.
No longer is it sufficient to nod that journalism matters. It has to be backed up with tangible support from governments, public figures and those with influence. That means support for newsgathering, and for the economic sustainability which makes it happen.
Not least, that means calling out the egregious, unlicensed misappropriation of our news media content by technology platforms. I have yet to see one directly deploy a reporter, photographer or video journalist at a protest, at a court hearing, at a sports or entertainment event, or in an area of conflict.
They are not us. We are accountable, contactable, trained and human, and occasionally wrong.
In Brussels, we heard personal testimonies about the challenges of newsgathering, signs of governmental understanding, and the beginnings of new narratives around what press freedom means for today’s and upcoming generations. Those generations do actually regard “understanding real news as cool”.
But it doesn’t stop there. In all democratic countries, news organisations are engaging, as best they can, with the goliaths of big tech, good and bad. They are determined to tell the public what is at stake in this rolling information maelstrom.
The Framework for Primary Source Journalism sets out the conditions NMC considers necessary for first-hand newsgathering to continue.
→ https://www.newsmediacoalition.org/enabling-primary-source-journalism/
PHOTO CREDITS: BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS
