EUobserver: Pursuit of profit hurting the media, say MEPs - Leigh Phillips

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The pursuit of profit is putting the historic role of the press as the watchdog of democracy at stake, MEPs from all political parties have warned. Measures to protect editorial independence and quality of content are desperately needed in order to prevent interference from owners, shareholders or governments, says a report adopted Tuesday in the European Parliament's culture committee.The cases of unrestricted ownership concentration or of scarce content pluralism in the media are endangering cultural diversity and freedom of expression not only within national markets but also at European level," said Socialist committee chair Katarina Batzeli. Passing 33 votes to one, with no abstentions, the report had the support of all parties. Liberal MEP Marielle de Sarnez said in the wake of the vote that Europe needed to pay attention to "the risk to independence posed by the existence of media groups owned by large companies."