Access Info Europe campaign: Who really owns the media?

The public availability of accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date data on media ownership is an essential component of a democratic media system. It is impossible to take steps to address excessive media concentrations and conflicts of interest without the tools to identify the owners; public knowledge of owners’ identities helps to ensure that abuses of media power can be assessed, publicised, openly debated and – even – prevented. Both media regulators and the general public must have access to information about who owns – and influences – media outlets.