Media freedom and media pluralism are essential to our democracies and are enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The European Democracy Action Plan (EDAP) provides guidance for strengthening these freedoms in key areas. However, our ability and ambition to manage and promote these freedoms must consider challenges created by the management of social life through industry media monopolies. In Part 1 of this 5 part series, UCD Centre for Digital Policy will lead participants in considering what new obligations should exist as a result of the EDAP and what state regulatory frameworks and industry must do to achieve EDAP aims.

1:00 – 1:10pm Welcome from UCD Centre for Digital Policy

Professor Eugenia Siapera and Assistant Professor Elizabeth Farries, Co-Directors

1.10 – 2.00pm    Fireside chat with Hon Barry Andrews MEP and Brendan Howlin TD

Facilitated by Celene Craig, Chief Executive, Broadcasting Authority Ireland.

2.00 – 2.20pm    Coffee

2.20 – 3.20pm    Session I. Operationalising goals for media freedoms and pluralism

Facilitated by Stephanie Costello (PhD Candidate,  School of Media TU Dublin)

Panel. Chiara Sighele (OBC Trenseuropa) Lois Kapilla (Dublin Inquirer), Colin Scott, Professor of EU Regulation and Governance, UCD Sutherland School of Law (currently serving as Vice President, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, UCD and Principal, UCD College of Social Sciences and Law)

3.20pm – 3.40pm Coffee

3.40 – 4.40pm Session II. Platforming social life: The implications of commercialised media for freedoms and power

Facilitated by Professor Eugenia Siapera

Panel. Associate Professor Tanya Lokot (Digital Media, DCU) Mark Little (Kinzen), Dr Harry Browne (Senior Lecturer, School of Media TU Dublin)

4.40pm – 5pm    Closing remarks