By Martin Banks - 8th September 2010
Public service broadcasters hold the key to informing the European public on EU-matters
Morten Løkkegaard
Parliament has approved a controversial report which calls for an increase in the “journalistic output and visibility” of the EU.
The non-binding report says “experienced media professionals” should be hired to “inform the public” of parliament’s activities.
Its adoption in Strasbourg comes in the wake of recent claims by UK think tank Open Europe that the EU last year spent over €8m on entertaining, training and 'informing' journalists with €2.6m spent on transport, accommodation and sustenance.
That sparked accusations that the EU was using taxpayers' money to “wine and dine journalists" something eurosceptics say represents a conflict of interest.
The latest move has been branded a "full frontal assault by the EU to create a propaganda machine."
The report by Danish ALDE deputy Morten Løkkegaard and adopted on Tuesday contains “concrete suggestions on how to increase the journalistic output and visibility of EU as well as encouraging politicians to communicate with the public via social media.”
He says parliament’s information offices in capitals should be strengthened, adding, "Parliaments information offices should play an active role in informing the public of its activities and this role should not only be done by EU-staff coming from the institutions.
"We have to look at new ways, where we hire experienced media professionals to undertake this role.”
He claims public service broadcaster have a “particular responsibility” to cover the EU, saying, "Public service broadcasters hold the key to informing the European public on EU-matters.
"Of course broadcasters have full independence to carry out the coverage as they see fit, the important thing is that they have EU-coverage at all and that they take their responsibility seriously.”
The report seeks to encourage policy makers to communicate with their constituencies and the public via social media, such as Facebook.
Løkkegaard added: "Civil servants and politicians within the system should undergo in-service training to give them the skills needed to inform and communicate with the public.
"Social media has proven to be an excellent way to do this by giving the public a chance to have a look at what goes on behind the walls. And finally this is the easiest way for citizens to talk and debate directly with decision makers".
UK deputy Emma McClarkin, European Conservatives and Reformists group culture committee spokesman, criticised the move, saying the report had been "hijacked to lament the poor coverage of the EU institutions and call for yet more money for EU propaganda."
She said, "Although it is not a binding report, it still calls for an EU training programme for young journalists on EU matters, a fund to support student broadcasters cover EU matters, increased money for parliament's information offices in national capitals and more money for EU communication policy. MEPs also call for the EU to be placed on secondary school curricular and for national broadcasters to include more EU content.
"This is nothing short of EU propaganda and taxpayers should not be forced to pay yet more money for it. Of course we need facilities to allow the EU to be reported but we must also understand that the European institutions' procedures do not make it easy for journalists and broadcasters.
"Throwing more taxpayers' money at the problem will only make the disconnect between people and the EU greater. All of the press officers, online TV stations and glossy leaflets will not help solve policies that do not connect with people.
"MEPs had an opportunity to produce a report that looked at the important issue of how we can engage people in democratic debate using social media. This report was a wish list for MEPs wanting more column inches and to manipulate how EU matters are reported."
UKIP MEP Paul Nuttall was equally critica, declaring, "This smells strongly of a move towards propoganda to me.It is a full frontal assault by the EU to create a propaganda machine and buy off journalists to saturate the media with pro-EU spin."
"Despite Barroso's "State of the Union address" which claimed everything is going fine and the people are calling for more EU in their lives, the alternative motion on journalism that was voted through today was a damning indictment admitting that the EU is totally out of touch with the people.
'The report calls for drastic measures to improve the EU perception and to put more resources into a propaganda campaign to promote itself.
"However the worst is that EU is seeking to create a propaganda machine at the taxpayer's expense.
"EU training schemes for journalists especially young ones, specialised EU affairs and parliament information offices that would see funding increased for locally targeted pro-EU campaigns. That the commission would fund exchanges between broadcasters and "train" the public and private media sources is very dubious.
"The report also highlights the commission's current funding of local radio and TV networks.
"This is a full frontal assault by the EU to create a propaganda machine and buy off journalists to saturate the media with pro-EU spin. This is totally unacceptable."
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