Understanding the democratic role of media ownership transparency

Abstract

This chapter discusses the evolution of media ownership transparency requirements in Europe. Transparency of media ownership plays an important democratic function in society as it allows citizens to be critical about the information they access. Knowing who is behind a media outlet is a crucial part in the process of the formation of public opinion, helping to gain the public's trust, reducing levels of scepticism among audiences, and reinforcing the respect for high-quality news media and editorial independence. Taking into account the various aspects and functions that ownership transparency may assume in the media sector, and using the Media Pluralism Monitor (MPM), the chapter presents an overview of the effectiveness of regulatory frameworks for media ownership transparency rules across the European Union (EU). It further explores the future of media ownership transparency regulation in relation to EU legislation and its intersection with other rights, such as the right to information and the right to data protection.