Findings from the Mediadem project: Supporting free and independent media in Europe: Introduction

This editorial introduces the four articles of this Special Section that draw on studies carried out for the European research project "European Media Policies Revisited: Valuing & Reclaiming Free and Independent Media in Contemporary Democratic Systems" (MEDIADEM). The project explored the factors that promote or hinder media freedom and independence in 14 European countries. The articles consider how the diversity of media markets and the independence of the media from political and commercial influence can be supported by legal and nonlegal means at international (particularly European), national, and substate levels. In particular, they focus on 3 key themes that were central to the research project: the future of journalism in Europe and, in particular, the position of the media and journalists in the postcommunist states in Europe; how the established tradition of public service broadcasting in Europe is adapting to political and technological changes; and how well placed existing regulatory frameworks are to address the increasingly important regulatory role of private operators in Europe.