Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released a comprehensive report on Monday, scrutinizing the current landscape of public media in 27 EU member states, the UK, and Switzerland, and raised alarms over the potential threats to media autonomy with the impending full implementation of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) on August 8.

Thibault Bruttin, the Director General of RSF, emphasized the urgency of reinforcing public media's independence. "Public media must urgently be restored to their rightful place by establishing strong safeguards for their independence and ensuring the long-term stability of their funding," Bruttin stated. He further stressed, "Creating the public media of tomorrow is a priority — and requires a sharp European awakening."

The report urges EU member states to align their national laws with the EMFA, particularly highlighting the necessity for media independence as stipulated in Article 5 of the Act. This article mandates that member states guarantee the editorial and functional independence of public service media providers, ensuring they deliver a diverse range of information and opinions impartially, in line with their public service obligations.

Furthermore, RSF proposed several actionable solutions to address the crises facing public service media broadcasters, including fiscal and funding issues. The report suggests investigating the feasibility of imposing a tax on digital platforms, which could serve as a new funding stream for public media. Additionally, RSF advocates for increased collaboration among European broadcasters and international media initiatives, such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which recently faced funding cuts and programming restrictions by the Trump administration in the US.

The RSF report also critiques the US government's approach to public media, drawing parallels with challenges faced in Europe. "US President Donald Trump’s decision to dismantle his country’s international broadcasting service echoes the offensive being waged by certain political forces against public radio and television broadcasters across Europe," the report notes, outlining a trend where the defunding and shutdown of media outlets are often included in political agendas inspired by Trump’s policies.

On a related note, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), representing public service media broadcasters, submitted feedback on Friday urging stringent compliance with the EMFA, particularly Article 18. This article imposes new procedural safeguards for very large online platforms (VLOPs) concerning the removal or restriction of media content visibility, requiring platforms to submit self-declarations that confirm their adherence to editorial standards and regulatory oversight.

As the EU Media Freedom Act prepares to take effect, the call for a fortified and independent public media landscape grows louder, highlighting the critical role of media in sustaining democratic values across Europe and beyond.