EU moves to use taxpayers’ money to pay for news coverage is blatant propaganda says local MEP

The European Parliament has hijacked a report on journalism to further its own cause, says local East Midlands MEP Emma McClarkin.

Ms McClarkin, the Conservative spokesperson for Culture, is appalled that a report that was centred on how new media (for example blogs) was changing journalism around the EU and the opportunities it provides for journalists has become a report focussed on how EU institutions can better sell themselves to the public.

Some of the proposals within the report include:

• EU to be taught in school curriculums
• National broadcasters should include more EU content
• EU institutions should expand their social networking

In addition the report calls for new EU funds to be spent on:

• A training programme for young journalists in European affairs
• A fund to support student radio and TV broadcasters to cover EU matters
• Increasing budgets for Parliament’s information offices
• More money for the EU communication policy

Emma McClarkin said today,

“There is no doubt that there are vast and untapped opportunities for the journalism industry to exploit using new media and technology.

“However, this EU report has been hijacked by some MEPs who want to change the rules on how the European Parliament is reported by forcing broadcasters to include more EU content, by funding training programmes for journalists in EU affairs and by funding student radio and broadcasters to cover EU matters.

“It is completely unacceptable to use more taxpayers money to promote the European Union. You can’t buy newspaper or broadcast coverage. To do so is dishonest, manipulative and frankly something you would expect from an authoritarian regime.”