For more than a decade, the Media Pluralism Monitor (MPM) has done something rare in European policy: It has turned media pluralism from a principle into an object of measurement.
In this video, we dive into how it extends well beyond press freedom and the safety of journalists. Brogi explains how the MPM also examines the economic sustainability of the media sector, patterns of media ownership and their impact on editorial independence, as well as the inclusiveness and diversity of media systems, among other key dimensions.
The findings, which each year contribute to the European Commission’s Rule of Law Report, are based on highly granular data generated through an academic methodology and the work of more than 70 researchers, including a core research team and a network of national experts.
The MPM is built around 20 indicators and more than 200 variables designed to identify potential risks to media pluralism across EU Member States and candidate countries. Its findings provide a comprehensive risk assessment framework that was further refined last year, when the previous three-tier classification system—low, medium and high risk—was expanded into a six-tier scale ranging from very low to very high risk.
This greater level of detail enhances the Monitor’s comparative value, making it possible to track developments over time, compare performance across countries, and pinpoint the areas where media pluralism faces the greatest challenges. In doing so, the MPM has provided policymakers with robust evidence for the development of the European Media Freedom Act, which entered into full force in August 2025.
“The Media Pluralism Monitor fed the debate first even before it created the conditions for a common language to understand what are the principles that should be considered when analysing media pluralism and when boosting and protecting somehow media pluralism in a democratic setting,” explains Elda Brogi. “This is a great example of how research can serve policy.”
The Media Pluralism Monitor 2026 edition, due to be launched on 29 June 2026, will be the first edition produced under a binding European regulatory framework. It comes at a pivotal moment to assess the early implementation and impact of the European Media Freedom Act, and to offer an initial evaluation of how media pluralism is evolving across Europe under this new regime.
Watch the full video on our YouTube channel.
Learn more about the Media Pluralism Monitor and browse the interactive data.
Elda Brogi is a Part-Time Professor and Deputy Director of the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom of the EUI’s Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies. Member of EDMO, the European Digital Media Observatory, and former member of EDMO Executive Board. Elda Brogi’s main interests span Constitutional, European, Media and Internet law. She holds a degree in Law (University of Florence), a PhD in Public Law and Constitutional Law (University La Sapienza, Rome) and she is an Italian qualified lawyer.