OGP Global Summit session – Keeping news alive: strengthening media independence and viability

From October 7-9, 2025, the Government of Spain hosted the 2025 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit. On 9 October, the Media Freedom Coalition, together with the Government of Ghana, organised a side session at the Summit.

Journalism and independent media bring profound benefits to society and humanity. They hold power to account, support citizens’ right to information, and provide a bulwark against authoritarianism. The information provided by journalists is also essential in maintaining peace and security and in ensuring prosperity. Yet all over the world, independent media organisations are increasingly struggling to survive. Producing journalism does not attract the revenue it once did, now that information – reliable or otherwise – is so freely available online. Meanwhile economic levers are being used to pressure media organisations away from fearless, independent reporting. 

This session discussed the critical importance of independent media and the range of ways it can be enabled and strengthened – including through policy reforms and OGP commitments.