
About Press Freedom Conference 2019
The murder of the Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak
and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová in Slovakia in February 2018 horrifies and bewilders us.
The perpetrators are enemies of freedom, people who are afraid of journalistic research and transparency. In 2018, 54 journalists were killed worldwide because they were journalists.
We must not accept that!
It is up to European governments, Parliaments and publishers to create the framework conditions that encourage journalists and enable them to work critically and independently.
But press freedom is not just a function of the law. Editorial independence depends as well on a market that can generate sufficient returns for the financial investments required. To research public records to uncover corruption, to send correspondents to relevant events and to thoroughly check an information, are time-consuming and expensive exercises. Therefore, economic viability is an essential component of a strong, independent and free press able to encourage and empower journalists, to continue to work critically and independently in the benefit of our democratic societies.
Conference Timeline
Timing
Topic
Speakers
9.00
Registration, welcoming coffee
9.30
Opening and welcome speeches
Short movie about Ján Kuciak
Andrej Kiska
President of the Slovak Republic
Valdo Lehari Jr.
Vice President ENPA
10.00
Status of investigations in the murder cases Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová, Daphne Caruana Galizia
Peter Bárdy
EiC Aktuality.sk
Tim Röhn
Investigative Journalist
Die Welt
10.45
Status of Media in CEE/V4
Panel debate
Peter Bárdy
EiC Aktuality.sk
Robert Čásenský
EiC Reportér Magazín
Matúš Kostolný
EiC Denník N
Beata Balogová
EiC SME/IPI: Hungary
Bartosz Węglarczyk
EiC Onet.pl
11.45
LUNCH break
12.45
The Threat to Freedom of the Press in Crisis and War Zones
Paul Ronzheimer
Chief Reporter – Bild
13.05
Changes to the Slovak Press Code in context of European legislative and practice
Panel debate
Tomáš Kamenec
Media lawyer
Juraj Porubský
EiC Forbes Slovakia
Iveta Radičová
Dean Faculty of Media
Pan-European University
Jane Whyatt
Communication Officer
European Centre for Press & Media Freedom
14.10
What needs to be done in order to assure and improve press freedom and economic viability of journalistic enterprises in the EU?
Mark Dekan
CEO Ringier Axel Springer Media AG
14.30
Future of Media in Europe, what has to be expected after the European elections?
High level Panel debate
Marc Walder
CEO Ringier
Ilias Konteas
Executive Director
ENPA/EMMA
Ivan Štefanec
Member of the European Parliament
Stephen Brown
Executive Editor
POLITICO Europe
Paul Ronzheimer
Chief Reporter – Bild
15.20
Closing remarks/End of conference
Valdo Lehari Jr.
Vice President ENPA
Ilias Konteas
Executive Director
ENPA/EMMA