Critique of the “mainstream media” has become so widespread that it now risks undermining efforts to achieve political consensus on the critical task of updating democratic communication systems. In this talk, Damian Tambini unpacks the legal, economic, and constitutional realities that fuel perceptions of legacy media as being captured by powerful, opaque forces.

Tambini challenges us to confront the kernels of truth within these critiques while advocating for solutions to modernise democratic media systems. He argues that the notion of holding powerful media accountable, ensuring transparency, and reflecting public interest is not only valid but essential. These principles must apply not just to traditional media but also to new players like social media platforms, including X, as a condition for operating within European media systems.

Encouragingly, the building blocks for these reforms already exist within international law and European media’s own approaches to self-regulation. This talk explores practical steps to implement these changes, fostering sustainable media systems and breathing new life into the postwar vision of “responsible journalism.”