EU Transparency Chief Says COVID-19 Proves Need for Real Journalists

With the media under siege by police and governments during the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, there's a need for quality journalism by veteran reporters providing real news, according to European Commission Vice President for Transparency Věra Jourová.

In a speech on countering disinformation, Jourová said journalism – decried as “fake news” by US President Donald Trump and authoritarian regimes – was essential.

“This crisis showed us once again that social media is not a replacement for quality journalism,” she said, explaining the pandemic showed the danger of inaccurate reports and digital hoaxes that can undermine public trust and health responses, The Shift reported.

The site had reported that disinformation outlets were turning out false stories about the virus to appeal to their specialized audience of believers and claim democracy was failing.

Jourová, formerly the EU's Justice Minister who spoke out against Malta's handling of the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruna Galizia, said there are “bad actors” she wouldn't identify who “want to exploit the crisis for economic or political gains.”

“They want to divide us, sow division, instil fear and even put lives at risk,” Jourova adds; all the while critics are disappointed that the EU refused to intervene when Hungary's Premier, Viktor Orban, took rule by decree and moved against journalists reporting on COVID-19 without any sanctions from the bloc.

“We need to ensure transparency and accountability. Citizens need to know how information is reaching them and where it comes from. And we need to invest in a society that is media savvy and critical. Media literacy and digital skills need to improve to ensure a more resilient society,” she said.

A public consultation exercise on the Digital Services Act has been launched, and the Commission is developing a European Democracy Action Plan.

Jourová said her aim was to improve the accountability and responsibility of online sites and prevent external interference in European elections but offered no ideas how to deal with governments going after journalists.

“It’s time to learn the lessons and to improve our digital environment, so our democracies can also flourish online,” she also said.