Perfect Storm: The multiple challenges facing public service news and why tackling them is vital for democracy

Second edition

News and current affairs are core to public service media (PSM). Informing all audiences with independent news and helping them to better understand the world is crucial for a democratic society. However today’s newsrooms are facing a myriad of challenges and how they tackle them will be key to the survival of PSM and, arguably, the very future of democracy itself.

Perfect Storm addresses these challenges and explores how Members throughout Europe are adapting to changing demands.

This second edition of the report is updated throughout. It contains a brand new chapter on the challenges faced by radio in the digital era, not least how to deal with competition from “smart speaker” boxes like Amazon Echo. It also updates procedures for establishing a relationship with Facebook, and delves into the measures social media platforms are taking to suppress fake news – with questionable success.

For many decades the EBU has played a critical role in supporting Members to deliver high-quality news and, with this report, we are launching a new Quality Journalism Initiative to build on the strength of the Eurovision newsroom, develop new services and act as the voice of high quality news provision.