Uni Vienna / EU Commission presumption of innocence press conference & workshop info

Press conference invite

EU-funded Uni Vienna study shows persistent violation of presumption of innocence in reporting on suspects

Muslims, refugees particularly affected

A study headed by the Hungarian Helsinki Committee in partnership with the Media Governance & Industries Research Lab of the University of Vienna as well as human rights organisations and universities in Spain, France, Greece, Malta and Croatia has found serious deficiencies in media reporting on suspects, with regard to respect for EU Directive 2016/343 which seeks to counter the presentation of suspects in court and in public in ways which may suggest guilt.

Transgressions were found to be particularly common when the suspect was a foreign citizen (even by origin), of the Muslim faith, or a migrant, refugee or asylum seeker.

It is our pleasure to invite you to a press conference on 7 June at 09:30 at Haus der Europäischen Union to present the findings of this EU-Commission-funded project examining adherence to the presumption of innocence in journalistic reporting in seven EU countries, including Austria and Hungary.

The press conference will include:

• Dr. Dr. Wolfgang Bogensberger, Deputy Head of the Representation of the EU Commission in Austria
• Prof. Katharine Sarikakis, Director of the Media Governance & Industries Research Lab, University of Vienna
• Zsofia Moldova, Program Coordinator, Hungarian Helsinki Committee.
• Dr. Rubina Möhring, Head of Reporters without Borders, Austria

The press conference will be moderated by Anthony Mills (Media Governance & Industries Research Lab member & France 24 correspondent in Vienna)

Press conference location:

Haus der Europäischen Union in Wien, Wipplinger Straße 35, Vienna 1010

Workshop invite

Study: Persistent violation of presumption of innocence in media reporting

On June 7th 2019 the University of Vienna's Media Governance & Industries Research Lab will hold a workshop on the presumption of innocence in journalistic reporting.

The workshop will take place at the Haus der Europäischen Union in Vienna and is aimed at journalists, student journalists and civil society representatives, as well as officers and professionals engaged in public information.

Lack of respect of Human Rights and EU Directive

The results of a research project examining respect for the presumption of innocence by journalists in seven EU countries found serious deficiencies in media reporting on accused people and suspects, with regard to respect for the Human Right to the presumption of innocence and for upholding the EU Directive 2016/343, which seeks to counter the presentation of suspects in court and in public in ways which may suggest guilt.

Transgressions were found to be particularly common when the suspect was a foreign citizen, even by origin, of the Muslim faith, or a migrant, refugee or asylum seeker.

The workshop will focus on best and worst practices, challenges in reporting and conveying information on accused people, the power of images and the role of regulation. It is useful for journalists and individuals involved in public communication about accused people, for example, including law enforcement officers, press representatives, rights advocates.

It will be led by Sahel Zarinfard (co-founder of the investigative platform Dossier), Werner Reisinger (editor at Wiener Zeitung) and Lab member Anthony Mills (France 24 Vienna correspondent; former CNN Beirut correspondent).

The research project was funded by the European Commission and led by the Hungarian Helsinki Committee and on which the Media Governance & Industries Lab collaborated.

Press Conference

The workshop will follow a press conference at 9:30, during which the results of the research project will be presented.

The press conference will include the input of:

• Dr. Dr. Wolfgang Bogensberger, Deputy Head of the Representation  of the EU Commission in Austria
• Prof. Dr. Katharine Sarikakis, Director of the Media Governance & Industries Research Lab, University of Vienna
• Zsofia Moldova, Program Coordinator, Hungarian Helsinki Committee.
• Dr. Rubina Möhring, Head of Reporters without Borders, Austria

The press conference will be moderated by Anthony Mills, Media Governance & Industries Research Lab member & France 24 correspondent in Vienna)

Following a short coffee break, the workshop will start at 10:30 and will be completed with lunch at 13:00.

The workshop will be held in German (and English as necessary)

Attendance is free but spaces are limited, please register via Email at anthony.mills@univie.ac.at.