EBU Director General Ingrid Deltenre has driven home the importance to democracy of a free and independent media, at the Center for Global Dialogue & Cooperation (CGDC) annual meeting, in Vienna.

Speaking on the theme of 'Democracy versus Economic Power', Ms Deltenre said strong and independent media were a "watchdog", and "one of the cornerstones of a modern democracy".

She added, "It is the most important task for (…) public service media, like the members of our organization, to make audiences understand the importance of politics and economics and to watch over these two powers so that they work to the benefit of not only a happy few, but society as a whole."

Ms Deltenre's fellow panellists at Friday's session (May 18) included former Albanian Prime Minister Ilir Meta and Dr. Claus Raidl, president of the Austrian National Bank.

The conference keynote speaker was former US President Bill Clinton.

Click here for the full text of Ingrid Deltenre's speech.