Only free and independent from political and economic influence media may counteract the dangerous processes that threaten democracy. This is what President Rumen Radev said at a meeting with Deutsche Welle Director General Peter Limbourg, who is visiting Bulgaria. German Ambassador to Bulgaria Christoph Eihhorn also attended the meeting at 2 Dondukov street.
The two discussed the methods for guaranteeing the media’s financial and political independence, including the forming of budgets of the public media, the challenges the professional journalist standards are facing in the competitive environment of the social networks, and also encouraging the media literacy of the audience. “We need clear and transparent criteria for funding particularly as far as the money form the European programs is concerned,” the Head of State said. Rumen Radev and Peter Limbourg were unanimous that the pluralistic media environment is not only a pillar of democracy, but also part of every country’s good image.
Peter Limbourg familiarized the President with the activity of the German media, its funding and its initiatives. The work of the Deutsche Welle academy was also presented, which is related to the development of media literacy and fighting fake news. Deutsche Welle broadcasts in 30 languages and reaches an audience of 197 million people a week through a content broadcast on television, radio and internet.