Members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) are successfully combatting the waves of false news resulting from the pandemic and now the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EBU said in a statement from Brussels.
The Union said that eight months after public broadcasters had launched the joint program A European Perspective, editors had shared more than 6,500 stories.
“Of these, 5,400 were picked up by counterparts in newsrooms across Europe and published on national public service media websites,” the EBU said.
“Viewers responded, with more than 45 million views of A European Perspective reports,” it said.
“These original stories have received almost 100 million impressions, sharing headlines and logos of reliable news sources from throughout Europe to the viewing public.”
Head of Innovation and International Relations at French station FRTV, Eric Scherer said that when A European Perspective was launched in July 2021 no one expected what was to come.
“We knew this project had value, but there was no way to know if the public would respond,” Mr Scherer said.
“We are evaluating the audience response, but we can already see that there is an appreciation for unique, personal and often local stories from other countries,” he said.
“The ones you will not get watching general international coverage.
“We are enabling Europeans to get a new and balanced perspective on the news.”
Mr Scherer said the war in Ukraine highlighted how a diversity of viewpoints was essential to allow people to create their own, well-informed opinion.
“This is media freedom at its best,” he said.
Head of the Brussels Office of the EBU, Wouter Gekiere said A European Perspective merged trusted news with the latest AI translation and smart recommendation tools.
“It is a game changer and reminds us all of the true role of public service media and how it is upholding the European fundamental rights of media freedom and freedom of expression while also fighting disinformation,” Mr Gekiere (pictured) said.
Brussels, 17 March 2022
