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A new DG ECHO article highlights the essential role of public service media in Europe’s crisis preparedness and response, reflecting on discussions from the "Channels of Resilience" event at the European Parliament which underscored how independent, accurate journalism contributes to societal resilience and helps safeguard communities during crises.

On 14 October, the EBU, with MEP Hélder Sousa Silva and the support of the European People’s Party as well as the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Resilience, Disaster Management and Civil Protections, organized the event Channels of resilience: Media's role in security and defence. The event has been featured by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), in the article “Channels of Resilience: How Media Support Europe’s Civil Protection Efforts”.

According to the article, MEP Hélder Sousa Silva said: “What people need most when disaster strikes, after immediate safety, is information. Public service media are Europe’s silent infrastructure of resilience.”

At the event, speakers ranged from Cilla Benkö, EBU Vice President and Director-General of Swedish Radio, and Sibyle Veil, CEO of Radio France to Sabine Verheyen, First Vice-President of the European Parliament and MEP Pekka Toveri, a former Major General of the Finnish army.

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Sofia Nobre

EU Policy Adviser

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Event recap: Public service media deliver trusted information in times of crisis

Watch the full event

Read the DG ECHO article