Branded Content Research Network - Stakeholders

The Branded Content Research Network is a research and networking project based at the University of the Arts London, focusing on the more and more blurred delimitation between media and advertising. It explores branded content practices and implications, such as the issues that the new forms of integrated advertising raise for consumers and media outlets. One of the key features of the Network is its promotion of connections between people having different interests and perspectives on the subject, such as scholars, industry practitioners, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders. After being established in September 2016, the Network has been gradually expanding its range of activity by organising seminars and conferences, as well as by disseminating research and discussion findings in several ways. Researchers in the network lead the Branded Content Governance Project, an international research project examining the changing regulation and governance of content produced or funded by marketers.
Contact email: BCGproject@arts.ac.uk

Media and Journalism Research Center (MJRC) - Stakeholders

Media and Journalism Research Center (MJRC) is an independent media research and policy think tank that seeks to improve the quality of media policymaking and the state of independent media and journalism through research, knowledge sharing and financial support. MJRC continues the work of the Center for Media, Data & Society (CMDS), which until October 2022 operated as a unit of Central European University (CEU).

Freedom of the Press Foundation - Stakeholders

Freedom of the Press Foundation supports public-interest journalism worldwide. Involving prominent investigative journalists such as Glenn Greenwald and Laura Poitras as well as whistleblowers such as Edward Snowden, the foundation focuses on government transparency and compliance with the law and the constitution: as they state, "we strive to make government as open and transparent as possible". To this end, the Foundation promotes advocacy campaigns to defend the rights of journalists and whistleblowers and to keep authorities accountable.

Freedom of the Press Foundation also provides direct support to journalists and media outlets, notably by launching crowdfunding campaigns aimed at supporting critical work carried out by non-profit watchdog organizations, in order to defuse political and financial pressure on them. The Foundation supports investigative reporting also by developing, advertising and teaching journalists to use a variety of tools aimed at protecting digital communications and at making whistleblower submission safer, such as the SecureDrop system. 

Centre for Freedom of the Media - Stakeholders

The Centre for Freedom of the Media (CFOM) is a research and advocacy centre based at the Department of Journalism Studies of the University of Sheffield. It focuses on media freedom issues worldwide employing a variety of perspectives and tools. Besides traditional academic and educational activities, the Centre is active in the information and advocacy field, monitoring the state of media freedom and sharing best practice and resources for journalists. It seeks to counter threats to journalism safety and freedom in many different countries, and it promotes positive changes to laws, policy and practice concerning them.

Open Society Foundation - Stakeholders

The Open Society Foundation works since 1979 to build vibrant and tolerant societies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people. The Open Society Foundation fund a range of programs around the world, from public health to education to business development.

It supports efforts that expand and protect press freedoms, increase public access to knowledge and information, include minority voices in media, and use the arts to address pressing social issues.

MEDIADEM - Stakeholders

MEDIADEM was a European research project lasted from April 2010 to March 2013 focusing on the factors that promote or conversely prevent the development of policies supporting free and independent media.

The project combined a country-based study in Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey and the UK with a comparative analysis across media sectors and various types of media services. It investigated the configuration of media policies in the aforementioned countries and examined the opportunities and challenges generated by new media services for media freedom and independence. Moreover, external pressures on the design and implementation of state media policies, stemming from the European Union and the Council of Europe, are thoroughly discussed and analysed.

The coordinator of the project has been the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy.

European Commission - Stakeholders

The European Commission plays an active role in supporting freedom and pluralism of media inside EU Member states, in the Enlargement countries and in its external relations.

The DG Communications Networks, Content & Technology (DG Connect) manages the EU Digital Agenda promoting transparency, freedom and diversity in Europe's media landscape. On the DG Connect web page dedicated to media freedom and pluralism you can find several acts, documents and studies on the subject.

The DG Enlargement (DG NEAR) incorporates media freedom and pluralism as principles in the Enlargement negotiation. The European Commission's annual strategy on EU enlargement highlights freedom of expression and media as one of the most important challenges for the countries aspiring to EU membership. Important events sanctioning this commitment are the SpeakUp! Conferences on freedom of expression in the Western Balkans and Turkey.

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) - Stakeholders

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) promotes press freedom worldwide and defends the right of journalists to report the news without fear of reprisal. CPJ ensures the free flow of news and commentary by taking action wherever journalists are attacked, imprisoned, killed, kidnapped, threatened, censored, or harassed.

CPJ’s work is based on its research, which provides a global snapshot of obstructions to a free press worldwide. CPJ’s research staff documents hundreds of attacks on the press each year. CPJ denounces press freedom violations, meets with heads of state and high-ranking officials, spearheads or advises on diplomatic efforts, and works with other organizations to ensure that justice prevails when journalists are imprisoned or killed. CPJ also provides practical support to journalists and media support staff working around the world through up-to-date safety and security information and rapid response assistance.

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe - Stakeholders

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. Specific attention is devoted to freedom of the media through the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media that observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States, providing early warning on violations of freedom of expression and promoting full compliance with OSCE press freedom commitments.

Council of Europe - Stakeholders

The Council of Europe (CoE) is Europe's leading human rights organization seated in Strasbourg (France). The Convention on Human Rights, signed by all 47 CoE member states, is an international treaty designed to ensure the protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The European Court of Human Rights, a CoE organ, ensures the implementation of the treaty. The CoE work is organized through committees working on more specific topics within the vast field of Human rights, while the commissioner for Human Rights is an impartial institution established by the Council of Europe in 1999.

The Committee of experts on protection of journalism and safety of journalists (MSI-JO) is an inter-governmental committee operating within the Council of Europe. The MSI-JO mandate is to work on the protection of journalism and the safety of journalists and other media actors, taking account of the implementation of the UN Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists. official website

 The Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media focuses on issues relating to culture, science, education, youth, sport and media in Europe. It has tree sub-commitees among which the Sub-Committee on Media and Information Society. official website

The Commissioner for Human Rights is an impartial and non-judicial institution established by the Council of Europe in order to to promote awareness of and respect for human rights in the 47 member states. His/Her main activities include country visits, conducting studies and giving advice on systematic human rights work, as well as rising awareness of topics related to human rights. official website