© MediaAcT

Abstract

As the integrity of the international media landscape is challenged by far-reaching transformations, the need for a functional system of media regulation is bigger than ever. In democratic societies, various instruments of media accountability (such as press and media councils, ombudspersons, media journalism, etc.) assume a key role in the process of safeguarding a free and responsible media performance. However, in the light of an advancing economization of media communication and recent technological changes, the established system of media accountability seems to be at the crossroads: On the one hand, the necessity of non-state means for holding the media responsible towards the public is largely undisputed; on the other hand, the effectiveness of such instruments as a guardian of press freedom and media plurality is often questioned – both by media practitioners and media researchers.

Our research aims at mapping the state of media accountability in Europe and beyond – and at highlighting perspectives for future developments in this field: Which instruments of media accountability are currently prevailing in the various journalism cultures around the globe and how can their mode of operation be assessed? What are the particular problems and challenges they are facing? And which possible strategies can help to overcome these challenges? These and similar questions are discussed from a variety of perspectives – and with the help of a growing network of international research partners. With our European Handbook of Media Accountability, for example, we can present the first comparative research effort to examine the status quo of media accountability in all EU member countries as well as selected key countries close to Europe (including Turkey and Israel). More than 30 country reports provide a sound overview over media accountability infrastructures all over Europe, national best practice cases and the state-of-the-art of academic research in each country. With the help of a European Media Accountability Index, it becomes possible to measure the state of media accountability across countries – and stimulate a wider media policy debate about self-regulation beyond academic circles.

Future initiatives will intend to globalize and de-Westernize research on the issue of media accountability.

Financing

Own funds

CMC Staff

Tobias Eberwein (Project Leader)

Matthias Karmasin

 

former staff:

Sandra Barthel

Katja Kaufmann

Cooperation Partners

Bulgarian Ministry of Transport, IT and Communications

Charles University Prague, Department of Media Studies

Corvinus University of Budapest, Institute of Marketing and Media

Cyprus University of Technology, Communications and Internet Studies Department

Danubius University, Faculty of Communication and International Relations

Dublin City University, School of Communications

Fontys University of Applied Sciences, School of Journalism

Free University Brussels, Research Center in Information and Communication

Galatasaray University, Faculty of Communication

Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP)

Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, Sammy Ofer School of Communication

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Journalism

Medienhaus Wien

Mid Sweden University, Department of Information, Technology and Media

Roskilde University, Department of Communication, Business and Information Technologies (CBIT)

School of Communication and Media (SKAMBA)

Sciences Po Toulouse, Institut d'Etudes Politiques

Technische Universität Dortmund, Erich Brost Institute for International Journalism

Turiba University, Department of Communication Sciences

University of Bucharest, Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication Studies

University of Copenhagen, Department of Media, Cognition and Communication

University of Cyprus, Department of Social and Political Sciences

University of Dubrovnik, Department of Journalism

University of Ghent, Center for Journalism Studies

University of Jyväskylä, Department of Communication

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Sciences

University of Malta, Department of Psychology, Department of Media and Communication

University of Milan, Department of Social and Political Sciences

University of Nantes, Department of Sociology

University of Porto, School of Economics and Business, Faculty of Arts and Humanities

University of Tampere, Journalism Research and Development Centre

University of Tartu, Department of Journalism and Communication

University of the West of England, School of Film and Journalism

University of Warsaw, Institute of Journalism

University of Wroclaw, Institute of Political Sciences

University of Zurich, Institute of Mass Communication and Media Research

University Pompeu Fabre, Journalism and Communication Department

Volda University College, Faculty of Media and Journalism

Vytautas Magnus University, Department of Public Communications

Lectures

Lectures

  • 27/05/2022 , Paris
    Dobek-Ostrowska, B. Eberwein, T. Kus, M.
    Media accountability in Western European countries and Post-Soviet states
    Annual conference of the International Communication Association (ICA)
  • 29/10/2021 , Jönköping
    Barthel, S.
    The quest for accountable media: Can media accountability instruments support sustainable newsrooms?
    Emma Conference 2021: Media Management and Sustainability
  • 15/09/2021 , München
    Barthel, S.
    Comparing online news media accountability instruments in Austria
    Doktorand:innen-Workshop im Rahmen der Jahrestagung der DGPuK-Fachgruppe Journalistik/Journalismusforschung
  • 11/07/2019 , Paris
    Eberwein, T.
    User participation is both the problem and the cure! A nuanced view on web-based media accountability processes
    5th World Journalism Education Congress
  • 08/07/2019 , Madrid
    Fengler, S. Eberwein, T. Speck, D.
    De-westernizing media accountability research
    Annual conference of the International Association for Media Communication Research
  • 15/06/2018 , Berlin
    Fengler, Susanne Eberwein, Tobias Karmasin, Matthias
    Media accountability – a global perspective beyond ‘The West’. Introductory talk.
    Workshop „Media and Transparency – A Global Perspective“ following the Herrenhausen Conference
  • 12/04/2017 , St. Petersburg
    Eberwein, Tobias Fengler, Susanne Karmasin, Matthias
    Transformations of media self-regulation - a comparative view
    5th international conference "Comparative Media Studies in Today’s World"
  • 31/03/2017 , Düsseldorf
    Eberwein, Tobias Fengler, Susanne Karmasin, Matthias
    Vernetzung der Medien(selbst)regulierung: Eine vergleichende Analyse von Media-Accountability-Strukturen in 30 europäischen Staaten [Networks of media (self-)regulation. A comparative analysis of media accountability structures in 30 European states]
    62th Annual Conference of the German Communication Association (DGPuK)
  • 08/11/2016 , Prague
    Eberwein, Tobias Fengler, Susanne Karmasin, Matthias
    Media accountability in Europe. Results from a 33-country study
    ECREA 2016 preconference : "Media Accountability at the Crossroads: European Challenges and Perspectives"
  • 06/10/2016 , Milan
    Eberwein, Tobias
    The accountable journalist 2.0. Monitoring newsroom responsibility in the digital age
    5th International Conference on Social Responsibility, Ethics and Sustainable Business
  • 10/06/2016 , Fukuoka
    Eberwein, Tobias Fengler, Susanne Kaufmann, Katja Brinkmann, Janis Karmasin, Matthias
    Measuring media accountability in Europe: A comparative study of infrastructures of media self-regulation in 30 European states
    Annual conference of the International Communication Association (ICA)
  • 13/11/2014 , Lisbon
    Eberwein, Tobias Fengler, Susanne Karmasin, Matthias
    Beyond the system boundary: Towards a transcultural theory of media accountability.
    5th European Communication Conference (ECREA)
  • 28/05/2014 , Passau
    Eberwein, Tobias Fengler, Susanne Karmasin, Matthias
    (Selbst-) Regulierung digitaler Öffentlichkeit(en). Medienpolitische Implikationen einer internationalen Vergleichsstudie [(Self-) regulation of digital public(s). Media-political implications of an international comparative study]
    59th annual conference of the German Communication Association (DGPuK)
  • 22/02/2014 , Münster
    Karmasin, Matthias Fengler, Susanne Lönnendonker, Julia Willner, Anja-Kristin Eberwein, Tobias
    Redaktionelle Transparenz und Vertrauen in Journalismus. Ergebnisse einer komparativen Kommunikatorstudie [Editorial transparency and trust in journalism. Results of a comparative communicator study]
    Tagung der DGPuK-Fachgruppe Journalistik/Journalismusforschung: Vertrauen im Journalismus
  • 13/02/2014 , Munich
    Karmasin, Matthias Fengler, Susanne Eberwein, Tobias
    Gender or Culture? Zu geschlechtsspezifischen Differenzen von Verantwortungswahrnehmung in europäischen Redaktionen [Gender or Culture? Gender-related differences of responsibility perception in European editorial offices]
    DGPuK Fachgruppentagung 2013/2014: Medien, Ethik und Geschlecht - Zur Frage nach Gerechtigkeit und Vielfalt in der Medienwelt
  • 10/05/2013 , Mainz
    Karmasin, Matthias Fengler, Susanne
    Grenzenlose Journalismusethik? Journalisten und ihre Einstellung zu Medienselbstkontrolle und Media Accountability - eine internationale Vergleichsstudie
    Von der Gutenberg-Galaxis zur Google-Galaxis. Alte und neue Grenzvermessungen nach 50 Jahren DGPuK. 58. Jahrestagung der DGPuK
  • 14/02/2013 , Munich
    Karmasin, Matthias Fengler, Susanne Eberwein, Tobias Porlezza, Colin Ruß-Mohl, Stephan
    Eine Frage des Gewissens? Zur Wirksamkeit journalistischer Selbstregulierung unter den Bedingungen des Medienwandels
    Neuvermessung der Medienethik. Jahrestagung der DGPuK-Fachgruppe Kommunikations- und Medienethik und des Netzwerks Medienethik

Books and Monographs

Books and Monographs

  • Susanne Fengler,, Tobias Eberwein,, & Matthias Karmasin, (Eds.). (2022). The global handbook of media accountability. London, New York: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780429326943
    DOIRISENWBIB
  • Eberwein, T., Fengler, S., & Karmasin, M. (Eds.). (2019). Media accountability in the era of post-truth politics. European challenges and perspectives. London / New York: Routledge.
    RISENWBIB
  • Eberwein, T., Fengler, S., & Karmasin, M. (Eds.). (2018). The European handbook of media accountability. London, New York: Routledge.
    RISENWBIB
  • Fengler, S., Eberwein, T., Mazzoleni, G., Porlezza, C., & Ruß-Mohl, S. (Eds.). (2014). Journalists and media accountability: An international study of news people in the digital age. New York: Peter Lang.
    RISENWBIB

Articles and Book Chapters

Articles and Book Chapters

  • Fengler, S., Eberwein, T., Karmasin, M., Barthel, S., & Speck, D. (2022). Summary of country chapters. In S. Fengler, Eberwein, T., & Karmasin, M. (Eds.), The global handbook of media accountability (pp. 525 - 548). London; New York: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780429326943-61
    DOIRISENWBIB
  • Eberwein, T., & Brinkmann, J. (2022). Germany: Beyond the beacon. In S. Fengler, Eberwein, T., & Karmasin, M. (Eds.), The global handbook of media accountability (pp. 120-130). London; New York: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780429326943-12
    DOIRISENWBIB
  • Eberwein, T., Fengler, S., & Karmasin, M. (2022). Overview: Western Europe. In S. Fengler, Eberwein, T., & Karmasin, M. (Eds.), The global handbook of media accountability (pp. 109 - 110). London; New York: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780429326943-10
    DOIRISENWBIB
  • Fengler, S., Eberwein, T., Karmasin, M., Barthel, S., & Speck, D. (2022). Media accountability: A global perspective. In S. Fengler, Eberwein, T., & Karmasin, M. (Eds.), The global handbook of media accountability (pp. 3 - 57). London; New York: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780429326943-2
    DOIRISENWBIB
  • Eberwein, T. (2020). Medienselbstkontrolle [Media self-control]. In J. Krone & Pellegrini, T. (Eds.), Handbuch Medienökonomie (pp. 1493-1509). Wiesbaden: Springer VS. doi:10.1007/978-3-658-09632-8_72-1
    DOIRISENWBIB
  • Eberwein, T. (2019). Press councils. In T. P. Vos & Hanusch, F. (Eds.), The International Encyclopedia of Journalism Studies. Oxford / Malden: Wiley-Blackwell. doi:10.1002/9781118841570.iejs0103
    DOIRISENWBIB
  • Eberwein, T., Fengler, S., & Karmasin, M. (2019). Theory and practice of media accountability in Europe: an introductory overview. In T. Eberwein, Fengler, S., & Karmasin, M. (Eds.), Media accountability in the era of post-truth politics: European challenges and perspectives. London / New York: Routledge.
    RISENWBIB
  • Eberwein, T., Fengler, S., & Karmasin, M. (2018). Vernetzung der Medien(selbst)regulierung. Eine vergleichende Analyse von Media-Accountability-Strukturen in 30 europäischen Staaten [Integrating media (self) regulation. A comparative analysis of media accountability structures in 30 European countries]. In C. Eilders, Jandura, O., Bause, H., & Frieß, D. (Eds.), Vernetzung. Stabilität und Wandel gesellschaftlicher Kommunikation (pp. 268-287). Köln: Herbert von Halem.
    RISENWBIB
  • Eberwein, T., Fengler, S., Kaufmann, K., Brinkmann, J., & Karmasin, M. (2018). Summary: Measuring media accountability in Europe – and beyond. In T. Eberwein, Fengler, S., & Karmasin, M. (Eds.), The European handbook of media accountability (pp. 285-300). London, New York: Routledge.
    RISENWBIB
  • Eberwein, T., Fengler, S., Bastian, M., & Brinkmann, J. (2018). Germany: Disregarded diversity. In T. Eberwein, Fengler, S., & Karmasin, M. (Eds.), The European handbook of media accountability (pp. 90-98). London, New York: Routledge.
    RISENWBIB
  • Karmasin, M., Bichler, K., & Kaltenbrunner, A. (2018). Austria: Back on the democratic corporatist road?. In T. Eberwein, Fengler, S., & Karmasin, M. (Eds.), The European handbook of media accountability (pp. 7-13). London, New York: Routledge.
    RISENWBIB
  • Eberwein, T., Fengler, S., & Karmasin, M. (2018). Introduction: Putting media accountability on the map. In T. Eberwein, Fengler, S., & Karmasin, M. (Eds.), The European handbook of media accountability (pp. 1-6). London, New York: Routledge.
    RISENWBIB
  • Kus, M., Eberwein, T., Porlezza, C., & Splendore, S. (2016). Training or improvisation? Citizen journalists and their educational background: A comparative view. Journalism Practice, 11, 355-372. doi:10.1080/17512786.2016.1221737
    DOIRISENWBIB
  • Eberwein, T., Porlezza, C., & Splendore, S. (2015). Media as political actors. In G. Mazzoleni (Ed.), The International Encyclopedia of Political Communication (pp. 703-711). Oxford (UK), Malden (MA): Wiley-Blackwell.
    RISENWBIB
  • Eberwein, T., Evers, H., & Groenhart, H. (2015). Medienverantwortung und journalistische Transparenz: Optionen für Redaktionen im digitalen Umbruch [Media responsibility and journalistic transparency: Options for newsrooms in the digital transformation]. In P. Grimm, Keber, T., & Zöllner, O. (Eds.), Anonymität und Transparenz in der Digitalen Gesellschaft (pp. 117-131). Stuttgart: Franz Steiner.
    RISENWBIB
  • Fengler, S., Eberwein, T., Bichler, K., Karmasin, M., Alsius, S., Baisnée, O., et al. (2015). How effective is media self-regulation? Results from a comparative survey of European journalists. European Journal Of Communication, 30, 249-266.
    RISENWBIB
  • Eberwein, T., Fengler, S., & Karmasin, M. (2015). Praktisch wirkungslos? Perspektiven einer angewandten Medienethik [Practically ineffective? Perspectives of applied media ethics]. In M. Maring (Ed.), Vom Praktisch-Werden der Ethik in interdisziplinärer Sicht: Ansätze und Beispiele der Institutionalisierung, Konkretisierung und Implementierung der Ethik (pp. 85-104). Karlsruhe: KIT Scientific Publishing.
    RISENWBIB
  • Eberwein, T., Fengler, S., Karmasin, M., Porlezza, C., & Ruß-Mohl, S. (2015). Eine Frage des Gewissens? Zur Wirksamkeit journalistischer Selbstregulierung unter den Bedingungen des Medienwandels [A question of the conscience? The effectiveness of journalistic self-regulation under the conditions of media change]. In M. Prinzing, Rath, M., Schicha, C., & Stapf, I. (Eds.), Neuvermessung der Medienethik: Bilanz, Themen und Herausforderungen seit 2000 (pp. 223-242). Weinheim, Basel: Beltz Juventa.
    RISENWBIB
  • Eberwein, T., & Porlezza, C. (2014). The missing link: Online media accountability practices and their implications for European media policy. Journal Of Information Policy. Special Issue. Contemporary Issues In European Media Policy, 421-443.
    RISENWBIB
  • Fengler, S., Eberwein, T., & Pies, J. (2014). Journalists, journalism ethics and media accountability: A comparative survey of 14 European and Arab countries. Journal Of Shanxi University (Philosophy And Social Science Edition), 72-80.
    RISENWBIB
  • Eberwein, T. (2014). Journalistic quality as crowd wisdom? What journalists think about criticism on the social web. In M. Scheiber & Zimmermann, C. (Eds.), Journalism and technological change: Historical perspectives, contemporary trends (pp. 205-224). New York: Campus.
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  • Fengler, S., Eberwein, T., Mazzoleni, G., Ruß-Mohl, S., & Porlezza, C. (2014). Summary: Perspectives for newsrooms, policy-makers and journalism educators. In S. Fengler, Eberwein, T., Mazzoleni, G., Porlezza, C., & Ruß-Mohl, S. (Eds.), Journalists and media accountability: An international study of news people in the digital age (pp. 265-289). New York: Peter Lang.
    RISENWBIB
  • Eberwein, T., Fengler, S., Philipp, S., & Ille, M. (2014). Counting media accountability - the concept and methodology of the MediaAcT Survey. In S. Fengler, Eberwein, T., Mazzoleni, G., Porlezza, C., & Ruß-Mohl, S. (Eds.), Journalists and media accountability: An international study of news people in the digital age (pp. 65-79). New York: Peter Lang.
    RISENWBIB
  • Fengler, S., & Eberwein, T. (2014). Mapping media accountability - in Europe and beyond. In S. Fengler, Eberwein, T., Mazzoleni, G., Porlezza, C., & Ruß-Mohl, S. (Eds.), Journalists and media accountability: An international study of news people in the digital age (pp. 31-50). New York: Peter Lang.
    RISENWBIB
  • Fengler, S., Eberwein, T., Leppik-Bork, T., Lönnendonker, J., & Pies, J. (2014). Introduction: Media accountability - basic concepts and theoretical foundations. In S. Fengler, Eberwein, T., Mazzoleni, G., Porlezza, C., & Ruß-Mohl, S. (Eds.), Journalists and media accountability: An international study of news people in the digital age (pp. 7-30). New York: Peter Lang.
    RISENWBIB
  • Fengler, S., Eberwein, T., Lönnendonker, J., & Schneider-Mombaur, L. (2014). Journalists, journalism ethics and media accountability: A comparative survey of 14 European and Arab countries. In W. N. Wyatt (Ed.), The ethics of journalism: Individual, institutional and cultural influences (pp. 85-105). London: I.B.Tauris.
    RISENWBIB
  • Fengler, S., Eberwein, T., Karmasin, M., & Ruß-Mohl, S. (2014). Grenzenlose Journalismusethik? Medienselbstkontrolle und Media Accountability im internationalen Vergleich [Journalism ethics without borders? Media self-regulation and media accountability - an international comparison]. In O. Quiring, Jackob, N., & Stark, B. (Eds.), Von der Gutenberg-Galaxis zur Google-Galaxis: Alte und neue Grenzvermessungen nach 50 Jahren DGPuK (pp. 269-287). Konstanz: UVK.
    RISENWBIB
  • Koinig, I., Weder, F., & Karmasin, M. (2014). Wahrnehmung kommunikativer Verantwortung. Wie die Top 50 Unternehmen der D-A-CH-Region wirtschaftsethische Themen im Web behandeln und aufarbeiten [Perception of communicative responsibility. How the top 50 enterprises of the D-A-CH-Region treat and handle economic-ethical subjects in the web]. Medien Journal, 38, 52-68.
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  • Murschetz, P., & Karmasin, M. (2014). Austria: Press subsidies in search of a new design. In P. Murschetz (Ed.), State aid for newspapers: Theories, cases, action (pp. 133-149). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer.
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  • Karmasin, M., & Kraus, D. (2014). Strategies for stakeholder management and crowdsourcing. In M. Glowacki & Jackson, L. (Eds.), Public media management for the twenty-first century (pp. 59-81). Abingdon: Routledge.
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  • Karmasin, M., & Weder, F. (2014). Stakeholder-Management als kommunikatives Beziehungsmanagement: Netzwerktheoretische Grundlagen der Unternehmenskommunikation [Stakeholder management as a communicative relation management: Network-theoretical bases of the enterprise communication]. In A. Zerfaß & Piwinger, M. (Eds.), Handbuch der Unternehmenskommunikation: Strategie - Management - Wertschöpfung (pp. 81-105). Wiesbaden: Springer/Gabler.
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  • Karmasin, M., Bichler, K., & Kraus, D. (2013). Pro-active media accountability? - An Austrian perspective. Central European Journal Of Communication, 6, 5-16.
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  • Krone, J., & Pellegrini, T. (Eds.). Media self-regulation [accepted]. In Handbook of media and communication economics. Wiesbaden: Springer.
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Research Papers

Research Papers

Popular Publications

Popular Publications

  • Eberwein, T. (2020). Österreich: Die Corona-Krise und die Medien. Ejo - European Journalism Observatory. Retrieved from https://de.ejo-online.eu/qualitaet-ethik/oesterreich-die-corona-krise-und-die-medien
    WebsiteRISENWBIB
  • Karmasin, M., Kraus, D., Kaltenbrunner, A., & Bichler, K. (2013). Innovative forms of media self-regulation on the internet. In A. Hulin & Stone, M. (Eds.), The online media self regulation guidebook (pp. 80-84). Wien: OSCE. Retrieved from http://www.osce.org/fom/99560
    WebsiteRISENWBIB
  • Bichler, K., Karmasin, M., Kraus, D., Mazzoleni, G., & Splendore, S. (2013). Proposal for an EU index of media accountability. Retrieved from http://www.mediaact.eu/
    WebsiteRISENWBIB

Popular Talks

Popular Talks

  • 20/04/2021 , Brasilia
    Eberwein, T.
    Communication and democracy in debate: Media accountability
    Podcast LabAudio/FAC

    Website

  • 18/10/2013 , Klagenfurt
    Karmasin, Matthias Mitschka, Konrad
    Wozu Public Value?
    Diskussion zum fünften Public Value Bericht des ORF
  • 23/09/2013 , WIen
    Karmasin, Matthias
    Sportberichterstattung und Public Value
    Dialogforum: Sportberichterstattung und Public Value
  • 06/06/2013 , Brussels
    Karmasin, Matthias
    Media monitoring for Europe?
    Mediaact final Conference
  • 06/06/2013 , Brussels
    Karmasin, Matthias
    Media accountability and recommendations for European policy makers
    Mediaact final conference
  • 03/06/2013 , Wien
    Karmasin, Matthias
    Medien zwischen Freiheit und Verantwortung-Braucht es ein EU-weites Monitoring?
    Presseclub Concordia: Medien zwischen Freiheit und Verantwortung

In the media

Molitor, Carmen (2017). Sorry seems to be the hardest word. Journalisten machen Fehler: Wie können sie besser damit umgehen? DJV Journal 1/2017, https://www.djv-nrw.de/startseite/unser-plus/journal/2017/journal-117/thema-fehlerkultur.html (Tobias Eberwein im Gespräch über Fehler im Journalismus)

Kleut, Jelena (2019). Media accountability in the era of post-truth politics. Interview with the editors: Tobias Eberwein, Susanne Fengler, Matthias Karmasin. ECREA Newsletter, 29.03.2019, https://ecrea.eu/Newsletter/7251416

Congress organization

Fengler, Susanne; Eberwein, Tobias; Karmasin, Matthias (15.6.2018). Media and transparency: A global perspective. International conference at the Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin, D.

Eberwein, Tobias; Fengler, Susanne; Karmasin, Matthias (8.11.2016). Media accountability at the crossroads. European challenges and perspectives. ECREA Pre-Conference at the University of New York in Prague, CZ.