The MeDeMAP – Mapping Media for Future Democracies project held its second in-person meeting in Milan from September 6 to 8. At the meeting, partners presented and discussed their progress on various work packages, including the theoretical framework that underpins the project's research.
The meeting also focused on tasks related to mapping legal and regulatory frameworks for media in the European Union, mapping media within the European Union, and tracking the evolution of audiences in the European Union. Partners will continue to work on these tasks over the next six months.
The MeDeMAP website is already available, and an update is underway. In the coming months, the team will launch its social media channels and a podcast focused on the project's main themes. To stay updated, visit the project website - https://www.medemap.eu
Media, Democracy and Trust in the EU in focus
The meeting also featured an insightful roundtable discussion centring on "Media, Democracy, and Trust in the EU." Renowned experts, including Cláudia Álvares (ISCTE-IUL), Nico Carpentier (Charles University), and Sergio Splendore (University of Milan, Network of European Political Communication Scholars), delved into the critical role that trust plays in fostering effective media communication within democratic societies.
During the session, participants engaged in a thought-provoking conversation about the importance of nurturing a balanced level of healthy scepticism in society. This scepticism serves as a valuable mechanism to scrutinize both media organizations and those in positions of authority, ensuring accountability and transparency.
The speakers underscored the significance of accountability and transparency as foundational principles for cultivating trust, particularly within the context of participatory democracy. They highlighted the challenge of transitioning from a corporate-oriented mindset that still prevails in society.
Moreover, the roundtable discussion highlighted the integral role of social capital, which is deeply rooted in trust, in shaping the relationship between media outlets and their audiences. This emphasized the ongoing need for further research and development in this critical area.
In addition to these insights, Cláudia Álvares, Nico Carpentier, and Sergio Splendore reflected on the rising prominence of social media platforms and the substantial challenges they pose to traditional media.
About MeDeMAP
To set out future-proof pathways to strengthen democracy through improving accountability, transparency and effectiveness of media production and expanding active and inclusive citizenship, the project aims to clarify the extent to which certain media under which conditions perform which democratic functions for which audiences, thus making it apparent what is at stake for democratic media - and for democracy itself.
Read more about this project here.