Does the corona crisis have an impact on the functioning of press councils and the complaints they receive? Is the number of complaints increasing or decreasing and are the complaints about reporting on corona and Covid 19?

Representatives of 17 press and media councils exchanged ideas and discussed these questions in a webinar. The debate included the balance between respect for privacy and public interest, responsible reporting on diseases and the treatment of diseases, hidden or open advertising for pseudo-medicines in articles, insufficient or too critical reporting on government policy, sentational reporting, etc.

Furthermore there was a conversation about access to information for journalists,  as well as potential threats or restrictions to freedom of the press due to the crisis.

Finally, the participants discussed the possible impact of the crisis on the functioning and the finances of the press councils themselves.