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Brussels-based journalists: An endangered species?

After 50 years of continuous increase, the number of EU accredited media has begun to decline. What does this mean for you as a journalist? What are the implications for media diversity and informed reporting? Personally or professionally, we all have views on this. Is the trend inevitable? Can we try to make our work better understood and appreciated?
The International Press Association (IPA/API) invites all Brussels-based correspondents, whether members of the Association or not, to an extraordinary general meetingWHEN: 11am, Thursday 18 MarchWHERE: Polak Room, Residence Press Centre (155 Rue de la Loi, 1040 Brussels)Media organisations are increasingly downsizing, cost cutting and closing their operations in the capital of Europe

WHY?
Declining interest in EU news? Savings in a financial crisis? Home-based staff recycling freely available, and more plentiful, written and audiovisual news from EU institutions? Arrival of new, more flexible, media?

IMPLICATIONS?
What are the consequences for Brussels–based media, and, more importantly, for informed reporting of the EU?

RESPONSE?
How should we respond? Shrug shoulders and say “Bof”? Accept that increased transparency by EU institutions of their activities is for citizens’ greater good? Acknowledge that media reporting is changing? Develop new ways of working with EU institutions?

COME AND EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS

API/IPA

International Press Association

Extraordinary General Meeting

Members of the Association and journalists accredited in Brussels are invited to take part in a debate on the future of journalism and the working conditions of journalists based in Brussels organised within the framework of an Extraordinary General Meeting Called by the API/ IPA Council.

This meeting will take place on;

Thursday, 18th March at 11:00
Polak Room
Residence Palace Press Centre
155 rue de la Loi, 1040 Bruxelles

All of you are cordially invited to attend

Concerned by the direction taken by the communication and information policies of the European institutions and in particular by the European Commission whose negative effects on the presence of the media in Brussels have been reinforced by the economic crisis, the IPA considers an urgent taking stock and a broad debate are imperative.

With this aim, it has been decided by the representatives of foreign journalist based in Brussels to organise this meeting in order to consult and to help formulate their view. Resolutions will be submitted to the meeting to this end. A substantial participation of journalists will be appreciated by them.

The meeting should also enable focussing on the subject of problems concerning the residence conditions of foreign journalists in the host country. Despite the numerous presence of journalists from other European countries, fiscal and social security problems have never found a satisfactory solution. The absence of clarification despite the repeated requests by journalists, has often given rise to barely understandable measures and attitudes by the officials of the relevant administrations.

In other respects the absence of consistency among the arrangements outdated by the evolution taking place within the framework of the European construction has as a consequence given rise to numerous, useless measures for new journalists. API/IPA considers that on this level also taking stock by Belgium is also essential, “host country” of the institutions.

Proposed Agenda

  • Communication and information policies of the European institutions and in particular the Commission. Vote on a resolution on the issue.
  • Conditions regarding work and residence of journalists based in Brussels Vote on a resolution on the issue.
  • Improvement of contacts and collaboration at the heart of the press corps based in Brussels.

API/IPA Council