ECREA supports the Public Service Media and Public Service Internet Manifesto

The European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA) endorses the recently-launched Public Service Media and Public Service Internet Manifesto (http://bit.ly/psmmanifesto), a collective work of communication scholars and practitioners that calls for the safeguarding of the existence, funding, and independence of Public Service Media as well as the creation of a Public Service Internet.

Public Service Media have been under attack, which constitutes a threat to democracy. In addition, in light of developments such as online “fake news”, “post-truth culture” and the Cambridge Analytica Scandal, it is evident how the profit-driven model of the Internet contributes to the endangerment of democracy and the public sphere. The Manifesto calls for Public Service Internet platforms as not-for-profit alternatives to the digital giants that help advancing the democratic public sphere.

Initiated by ECREA members, the Manifesto has already been endorsed by over 600 communication scholars and professionals, including Jürgen Habermas and Evgeny Morozov. The Manifesto was also signed by presidents of two international communication research associations - the International Association for Media and  Communicaton Research (IAMCR) and European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA).

ECREA Public Statement Committee encourages ECREA members to support and sign the Manifesto: http://bit.ly/signPSManifesto