Written Interview

Q1. A functioning democracy needs journalists, editors and publishers to hold those in power to account. On a scale of 1 to 5, where does EurActiv stand in terms of independence?

One of the main functions of mass media is indeed to hold those in power to account and be prepared to go to Court to defend their journalists who take a stand for democracy, free speech and uncovering wrong-doing. EurActiv is more of a niche publisher with different objectives around policy and politics. Nevertheless [media] independence is crucial to EurActiv’s perceived authority. EurActiv rates 4 out of 5.

Q2. After LuxLeaks and SwissLeaks, should EurActiv work more with investigative journalists? Who should/can fund this work?

Personally I don’t think it is the role of EurActiv to be investigative in the classic mass media sense. Apart from anything else this is one of the most expensive parts of a newspaper’s editorial work. Nevertheless it is always interesting to take breaking stories of such scandals and make the link directly with policies under discussion or indeed historical ones to make the links.

Q3. Does EurActiv’s exchange of editorial content with national media erode or increase media independence?

I don’t think one is contingent upon the other. What is important is that EurActiv has clear editorial policies in place to deal with media independence, whatever the sources.

Q4. Can a media focused on EU policy, supported by a 12 country network, be critical of EU institutions?

EurActiv should be critical of the work of the EU Institutions.

It is EurActiv’s duty as an independent media to expose the failings of any particular policy area or proposal and stimulate a debate around the subject matter.

Being pro Europe does not imply that EurActiv must be pro EU or everything that the EU institutions do or propose.

Angela Mills Wade

Executive Director of the European Publishers Council

Author : EurActiv: Pioneering Values in European Media
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