Support to Media and Information Environment in a Shifting Geopolitical Landscape

Alexandra Kurth, Klara Panther and Vivien Schönberger of the TED Secretariat explore the broader ideas, goals, methods and tools of the initiative to support independent media and the information environment in a contested time. The article highlights the growing importance of media support and information integrity in a context of democratic backsliding, geopolitical competition and shrinking civic space. It argues that access to trustworthy and independent information remains essential for democratic resilience and that support to media and the information environment should be treated as a strategic component of EU external action.

The article points to a worsening global environment for independent media, shaped by financial pressures, political repression, platform-driven disruption and growing disinformation. It stresses that these trends affect not only media actors themselves, but also citizen participation, public trust and the ability of democratic institutions to respond effectively to crises. In this context, the article presents information integrity as a key area for cooperation across institutions, Member States and civil society.

It also outlines how TED, and in particular Working Group 3 on Media and Digital, contributes to this agenda by supporting exchange, practical guidance and coordination among EU and Member State actors. Among the examples featured is the TED Media Support Toolkit, developed with the Global Forum for Media Development, which helps operationalise the OECD DAC Principles for Relevant and Effective Support to Media and the Information Environment. As the article notes, stronger cooperation across sectors and more consistent support for independent media will be essential to safeguarding democratic governance in the years ahead.

This article is an excerpt from the Defence Horizon Journal. You can purchase the full issue at the following link:
THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY – TDHJ Special Editions