Collaboration key to journalistic integrity in age of influence

Journalists, fact-checkers, and content creators from all over the world came together in late October in the bustling atmosphere of Brussels, Belgium to take part in the Connecting Media Communities conference. Connecting Media Communities (CMC) seeks to increase the resilience of global media communities and explores ways to create an atmosphere of integrity in the media landscape, often under fire from low quality information and digital manipulation.

With over 120 participants from 65 countries, the event was timed to coincide with Global Media Literacy Week which promotes the importance of media literacy, critical thinking, freedom of information and freedom of expression. The theme of the conference "Press Forward: Journalism in the Age of Influence" revolved around the ways in which technology, shifting audience behaviours and political and economic pressures are shaping the future of journalism. In an era marked by information manipulation, the conference-goers explored the power of collaboration to defend information integrity.

European Union

Speaking at the inauguration, Olivier Bailly, Deputy Secretary-General (Acting) of the European External Action Service (EEAS), reinforced the EU's commitment to safeguarding information integrity. Paula Pinho, Chief Spokesperson of the European Commission, underscored the essential role played by a free and sustainable media sector within democratic life.

Attendees were invited to participate in lively debates around trust, AI ethics, and sustainable funding models with panels such as Disinfo Fight Club and The Newsroom of the Future. Illustrator Silvia Draws added some creative flair to proceedings by capturing the debates in real-time, transforming ideas into vibrant visual notes that captured the diversity and celebrated the innovation of the global media community.

There are still people determined to defend the integrity of information

As the curtains came down on the 2025 edition of CMC, the sense of shared purpose and determination to uphold journalistic integrity was unmistakably clear. Collaboration emerged as the cornerstone for building resilience in media. Participants were reminded that, despite the turbulence of the world today, truth is fortified by a global network ready to defend it.

“This gathering was more than a conference. It was a declaration that there are still people determined to defend the integrity of information,” said US journalist JJ Green, reflecting on the event.