Media pluralism is an essential condition for any democratic society. It constitutes a source of access to a plurality of editorial lines and analyses, opinions and issues expressed, as well as a coexistence of public and private service media. Media pluralism is at risk due to several factors. First, the level of basic protection for journalists is threatened, for example in terms of the protection of their personal data online or abusive defamation charges against them. Second, most EU countries are characterised by a high degree of market concentration, with monopoly or oligopoly structures in most news media sectors. These main players co-exist with a myriad of smaller news media operators (e.g. focusing on local news or specialised in particular topics). Third, trust in the media is eroded by fake news and disinformation, and the perception of an alleged gatekeeping position by larger media groups. Initiatives are however emerging to improve transparency in the media, for example by establishing charters for the media to ensure the credibility and trustworthiness of sources, or by developing algorithms to debunk misinformation.Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP