Media Ombudsman shall protect citizens from influencers

Media Ombudsman to Protect Citizens from Influencers

The Media Ombudsman will be established to ensure better protection for citizens against influencers.

The Culture Minister "steps down" as the media's overseer and presents an agreement on a new Media Ombudsman.

- I say today that I step down as the media's overseer. The parties present a Media Ombudsman instead. (Photo: © Sebastian Elias Uth, Ritzau Scanpix) 17 minutes ago

The government, the Social Democrats, and the Red-Green Alliance are in agreement to establish a Media Ombudsman, which will ensure better protection for "ordinary Danish citizens."

According to the Culture Ministry, this is stated in a press release.

- I say today that I step down as the media's overseer. It is a post, the media do not need, even though the right-wing would like to give me the title when the media do not do as the parties wish, says Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt (M) in the release.

The parties are in agreement that there should be better protection for "ordinary Danish citizens."

The parties are also in agreement to establish an independent Media Ombudsman, which will primarily "keep alternative media actors, such as influencers, in check."

According to the agreement, alternative media actors can also include bloggers, netizens, and podcasts.

Currently, alternative media actors are not subject to the media responsibility system that exists through the Press Council.

According to the press release (https://kum.dk/aktuelt/nyheder/aftale-om-medieansvar-skal-beskytte-borgere-og-sikre-trovaerdigt-indhold), it is described that the Media Ombudsman's competencies regarding alternative actors will involve the ability to make decisions about compliance with "good public disclosure practices and issue orders for the publication of rebuttals."

If the order is not followed, it can be subject to legal action.

The Media Ombudsman's competencies regarding traditional mass media will involve the ability to bring cases of significant or principal importance to the Press Council, but will not have the authority to make a decision.

The Media Ombudsman will have the authority to report cases of peace and honor violations to the police, but will not be able to make a decision on prosecution. It is up to the police and the prosecution.

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To be selected by nine representatives from the media industry

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In order to ensure that the Media Ombudsman is independent, nine representatives from the media industry will select the ombudsman.

Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt first mentioned in August (https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/kulturministeren-vil-have-en-medieombudsmand) that he would like a state Media Ombudsman. He made this statement on the basis of a recommendation from the Media Responsibility Committee, which was delivered in January (https://kum.dk/aktuelt/nyheder/medieansvarsudvalget-har-afleveret-sine-anbefalinger).

It was former minister from the Liberal Party, Søren Pind, who was chairman of the committee.

He stated that he hopes that "the committee's recommendation can lead to justice for people who have been unfairly treated in the media and especially on digital services."

A Media Ombudsman should be able to intervene on its own initiative if there is "unreasonable media behavior," according to Søren Pind.

However, it was not all members of the Media Responsibility Committee who supported the recommendation for a Media Ombudsman.

Director of JP/Politikens Hus Stig Ørskov, who is also a member of the Media Responsibility Committee, chose to stay out of the agreement.

9.3 million DKK is allocated in 2026 and 18.7 million DKK annually from 2027 until the establishment of a Media Ombudsman.

/ritzau/

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