C Explanatory memorandum
by Ms Tone Wilhelmsen Trøen, rapporteurNote
1 Introduction
1. This report originated in the
motion for a resolution on “Media freedom in sport”
(Doc. 16036), which was referred to the committee on Culture, Education
and Media, on 29 November 2024.
2. The media plays a pivotal role in the global sports industry
and the sports economy, acting as a conduit between sports competitions
and the public. Sports journalists have a vital role in informing
the public and can play a significant part in exposing misbehaviour
and scandals that affect sports organisations and athletes. They
can also promote value-based sports governance.
3. Recent press reporting across football, tennis and the Olympic
Games points to a broader trend of increasingly regulated accreditation
systems, restricted media zones and tightly controlled access to
athletes and venues, which together limit the scope for spontaneous
questioning and independent newsgathering by journalists at major
sporting events. These practices illustrate a broader trend towards
increased institutional control over media access and content production
in elite sport.
Note
4. The challenges currently facing sports journalism are similar
to those impacting other forms of independent journalism. These
challenges are a result of the crisis of traditional media in the
current global digitalisation era, as well as the rise of social
media. However, the unique characteristics of sports journalism can
present additional challenges. Journalists who address critical
issues within the sports family they cover are often met with disdain
by their colleagues, and marginalised because they put harmony within
the sports family at risk. The de facto monopoly status of sports
organisations serves to reinforce a culture in which criticism is
not tolerated, and sports journalists are subject to pressure, threats
and retaliation measures because of their reports.
5. To fulfil their role effectively, media organisations and
journalists must have proper access to sports event venues. While
copyright and broadcasting rights impose limitations, these must
be balanced with the freedom of information, and there should not
be any undue restrictions on how sports news content is created and
disseminated. It is vital that sports journalists are protected
from violence, intimidation, harm, discrimination, and self-censorship.
They should also have the right to protect the sources of their
information, which, in many instances, is jeopardised.
6. In line with the motion for a resolution, the report will
examine the challenges faced by sports journalists when it comes
to conducting investigations and gaining access to venues, athletes,
and sports officials.
7. This report is based on desk research and on contributions
from several experts with whom we had the privilege of speaking
in committee hearings.
Note More
recently, on 12 March 2026, the Committee held an exchange of views
with Mr Andreas Selliaas, sports journalist (Norway), and Ms Mejdaline
Mhiri, co-president of the Association of Women Sports Journalists
(France). The hearing provided further insight into the structural,
political and societal challenges affecting media freedom in sport,
including growing restrictions on journalistic access, increasing
political influence in sport governance, and persistent inequalities
in sports media, notably with regard to gender representation.
2 Standard-setting of the Council of
Europe
8. The
Revised
European Sports Charter (ESC) is the Council of Europe standard which lays down the basic
principles for national sports policies and provides guidance to
member states on how to perfect their existing sport legislations
or other policies and to develop a comprehensive framework for sport.
Its Article 5 states that dialogue and co-operation should be undertaken
with representatives of companies and occupational categories involved
in sport in sectors, including the media. According to Article 8(2),
sport integrity policies should encourage and co-operate with whistle-blowers
and free media.
9. The
16th Council
of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Sport (November 2020 – February 2021) adopted a Resolution
concerning “Human rights in sport”
Note in which the Ministers encouraged
the member States to harness the potential of the Council of Europe
to further enhance the protection and promotion of human rights
in the field of sport, in particular by continuing developing standards
and tools on the protection of whistle-blowers, paying attention
that they can be effectively applied in the field of sport. Furthermore,
they invited the member States to use the Council of Europe standards
and tools in particular to adopt or enhance policies aimed at defending
media freedom in the field of sport and hosting of major sports events,
within the boundaries of sports competitions organisers’ property
rights and in accordance with the principles of proportionality.
10. The Parliamentary Assembly, in its
Resolution 2200 (2018) “Good football governance”, recalled that sports organisations
have a role to play in protecting human rights and must exert a
positive influence on the attitude of countries that host sports
events. In this regard, the Assembly recommended that FIFA and UEFA, each
within its sphere of responsibility, insist with the governments
of host countries on the necessity to protect fundamental civil
and political rights, and in particular freedom of expression –
including the freedom of the media – and freedom of peaceful assembly,
and this not only in connection with their competitions, but beyond.
11. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has, in its jurisprudence,
has addressed issues of human rights, including freedom of expression
and information, in the sports field.
Note
12. The EtCHR dealt in particular with the issue of the importance
of sports journalism for society in
Ressiot and Others
v. France. The case concerned investigations at the offices of
the newspapers L'Équipe and Le Point, as well as the homes of journalists
accused of breaching the confidentiality of the investigation and receiving
stolen goods. The ECtHR found a violation of Article 10 (freedom
of expression) of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
The subject of the articles in question — doping in professional
sport, in this case cycling — and the associated problems, were
of very great public interest. Moreover, the articles responded
to a growing and legitimate public demand for information on doping
practices in sport, particularly in cycling.
13. It is important to note that defamation proceedings against
journalists may have a chilling effect on freedom of expression
and public debate. The Council of Europe promotes the decriminalisation
of defamation and provides guidance to its member states with a
view to ensuring that defamation laws and their application comply
with the principle of proportionality with regard to human rights.
Note In
Colaço Mestre et
SIC v Portugal the ECtHR was required to deliver a ruling on an accusation
of defamation relating to an article that alleged corruption among
referees in Portugal. The ECtHR found a violation of Article 10
ECHR because the complainant was a well-known public figure who
played an important role in the nation’s public life, and the debate
around issues of corruption in football was clearly of public interest.
Punishing a journalist would seriously hamper the contribution of
the press to the discussion of problems of general interest.
14. The right of the public to information can also be undermined
by the exercise of exclusive broadcasting rights by a broadcaster.
The original Article 9 of the European Convention on Transfrontier
Television (ECTT)
Note included
a rather vague provision that required each Party to examine how
avoid that the exercise of exclusive broadcasting rights by a broadcaster
deprive a large part of the public of the opportunity to follow
an event of high public interest on television, undermining thereby
the right of the public to information.
15. In its
Recommendation
No. R (91) 5 on the right to short reporting on major events, the Committee of Ministers stated that the exercise
of exclusive broadcasting rights in a transfrontier context should
be subject to limitations in order to protect the public’s right
to information, and proposed that secondary broadcasters (that is,
those which do not have exclusive right on an event of high interest
to the public) should be entitled to provide information on a major
event by means of a short report by recording the signal of the
primary broadcaster and/or by having access to the site to cover
the major event. It also proposed rules for the use of such short
reports by secondary broadcasters.
16. Following the principles of this Recommendation, the 1998
Protocol amending the ECTT introduced a new provision in Article
9, which now mentions introducing the right to short reporting on
events of high interest for the public as one possible measure to
avoid that the right of the public to information is undermined
due to the exercise of exclusive rights for the transmission or
retransmission of major events.
18. The Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) also addressed
the issue of media freedom in sport through policy dialogue and
stakeholder engagement. On 5 June 2019, a round table on “Sport
and Media Freedom” brought together journalists, media freedom experts
and representatives of sports organisations. The discussions highlighted
the ambivalent role of the media in sport, as both a key driver
of the sports economy and a watchdog capable of exposing misconduct
and governance failures. Participants underlined that undue restrictions
on access to information, accreditation, filming rights or editorial
independence undermine the public’s right to receive impartial information.
19. The round table also emphasised the particular risks faced
by investigative sports journalists, especially when covering issues
such as corruption, match-fixing or doping, where links with organised
crime may expose them to intimidation, legal pressure or even physical
threats. The discussions further pointed to a lack of awareness,
both among journalists and within media organisations, of the human
rights dimension of media freedom in sport.
20. Participants stressed the need to strengthen co-operation
between sports organisations, media actors and public authorities,
including through the development of voluntary charters of good
practice and awareness-raising initiatives on media freedom standards.
They also underlined that respecting media freedom should be seen
not as a constraint but as a means to enhance transparency, accountability
and public trust in sport.
3 European
Union law and policy
21. As mentioned above, the exercise
of exclusive broadcasting rights by a broadcaster may undermine
the right of the public to information.
22. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), in its
judgment
regarding the Football Association Premier League (FAPL) case, defined the nature of those exclusive rights. The Court
explained that the organiser of a sporting event cannot claim copyright
in matches themselves, as sporting events cannot be regarded as
intellectual creations classifiable as works within the meaning
of EU Copyright legislation. It is, however, permissible for a Member
State to protect sporting events by putting in place specific national legislation,
or by recognising protection conferred upon those events by agreements
concluded between the persons having the right to make the audiovisual
content of the events available to the public and the persons who
wish to broadcast that content to the public of their choice.
23. A report by the European Audiovisual Observatory
Note explains that some countries have
expressly regulated the rights on audiovisual sports events (Bulgaria,
France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovak Republic, Spain),
whereas in some of the countries where no specific protection is
granted to sports events (e.g. Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany),
sports event organisers can rely on domiciliary rights (also referred to
as “house” rights), that allow the rightsholder of the event to
claim rights on the recordings made within the venues where the
events take place.
24. With regard to the public’s right to information, Article
15 of the EU’s
Audiovisual
Media Services Directive contains an obligation for its member states to “ensure
that for the purpose of short news reports, any broadcaster established
in the Union has access on a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory
basis to events of high interest to the public which are transmitted
on an exclusive basis by a broadcaster under their jurisdiction”.
Note Broadcasters must be allowed to
freely choose short extracts from the transmitting broadcaster’s
signal with, unless impossible for reasons of practicality, at least
the identification of their source. These short extracts are to
be used solely for general news programmes and may be used in on-demand audiovisual
media services only if the same programme is offered on a deferred
basis by the same media service provider. The modalities and conditions
regarding the provision of such short extracts must be defined with
respect to any compensation arrangements, the maximum length of
short extracts and time limits regarding their transmission. Where
compensation is provided for, it shall not exceed the additional
costs directly incurred in providing access.
4 Systemic
challenges: political influence, access restrictions and journalistic
risks
4.1 Structural
transformation of the media environment
25. At a time of disinformation,
untrustworthy synthetic AI-generated information and economic constraints on
newsroom operations, it is vital for governments and other institutions
to proactively support and enable professional witness-based newsgathering
and reporting, as it has the potential to uncover and report the
truth, and hold back the tide of fake disinformation campaigns and
manipulation of public knowledge and opinion.
26. A recent analysis by the European Audiovisual Observatory
confirms that the European news media sector is undergoing profound
structural transformation driven by digital technologies, with significant implications
for media freedom and sustainability. Digitalisation, platformisation
and changing consumption patterns are reshaping news production
and distribution, while creating new economic pressures on traditional media
and increasing dependence on large online platforms.
27. These developments raise concerns regarding editorial independence,
market concentration and the long-term viability of quality journalism,
including in specialised fields such as sports reporting, where investigative
work is particularly resource-intensive. At the same time, evolving
regulatory responses at European level seek to balance the fight
against disinformation and harmful content with the protection of freedom
of expression and media pluralism.
Note
4.2 Specific
features of sports journalism
28. Sports journalists are subject
to the same legal constraints and challenges than other journalists,
but they also have specific issues. The institutional culture is
a key factor in shaping the context in which journalists operate,
and sport journalists are a diverse group of journalists constrained
by the institutions they work for.
29. There are two challenges that are specific to sports journalism:
- Sports are run by monopoly organisations.
This yields a lot of power to those who are in charge of these organisations,
and it gives ample opportunity to isolate marginalised people or
ignore critical voices inside and outside the organisation;
- For 150 years, sports journalism has very much been based
on fans and on the media and journalists acting as fans. But sport
has become a very powerful international entertainment industry
that needs public control by the media and policymakers more than
ever. For example, according to the UNODC Global
Report on Corruption in Sport, illegal gambling could have a turnover of up to 1.7
trillion U.S. dollars, and its part of the gambling sector is estimated
to be around 60% of the total.
4.3 Political
influence and governance risks
30. A growing concern highlighted
during the hearing of the Committee on Culture, Science, Education
and Media of 12 March 2026 relates to the increasing influence of
State actors in sport governance and its implications for media
freedom. This trend contributes to a progressive blurring of the
distinction between sport and politics. As sport becomes a strategic
tool for geopolitical influence, journalists investigating governance, corruption
or human rights issues may face heightened risks, including restricted
access, surveillance and political pressure. This development affects
both democratic and non-democratic contexts and calls into question
the autonomy of sport as a regulatory space.
31. These concerns are also reflected in the work of
Play the Game, an international initiative dedicated to promoting
transparency, democracy and freedom of expression in sport. Through
its conferences, research and advocacy, Play the Game has consistently
highlighted the shrinking space for investigative sports journalism
and the growing pressures faced by journalists reporting on governance,
corruption and human rights issues in sport. It has underlined the
need to strengthen protections for journalists, improve access to information
and ensure greater accountability of sports governing bodies. Its
findings point to structural challenges in the relationship between
sport, media and power, reinforcing the view that safeguarding media freedom
is an essential component of good governance in sport.
32. In response to these challenges, recent initiatives have sought
to promote greater transparency and integrity in the governance
of sport and its interaction with the media. In this context, the
ClearingSport
initiative aims to strengthen co-operation between public authorities,
sports organisations and other stakeholders, and to improve access
to reliable information on sport governance. By fostering transparency
and accountability mechanisms, such initiatives may contribute to
a more enabling environment for independent journalism and help
address structural imbalances in access to information.
33. These developments also highlight the need to integrate media
freedom considerations into broader human rights due diligence processes
in sport governance and the organisation of major events, ensuring
that risks to freedom of expression and access to information are
identified, prevented and addressed in a systematic manner.
4.4 Access
restrictions and control over information
34. Economic pressures and restricted
access to events severely hamper journalists' ability to perform
their role. In particular, there are restrictive practices of some
sports organisations and event organisers which often stem from
a desire to control the narrative and prioritise direct communication
with fans over independent reporting. This trend is troubling as
it diminishes the public's access to unbiased information.
35. There are also inconsistencies in media access across different
sports and countries, and even if some entities recognise the importance
of a free press, others treat journalism as an afterthought.
36. While there is a broad recognition of the importance of news
media in the form of universal declarations, and in the Council
of Europe Sports Charter, this has not been translated into a positive
environment for journalism in and around the stadium. Sports now
conform to many of the rules that exist within the media entertainment
industry. Rightsholders have a lot of power and influence, and they
control media rights in relation to sport events. Some sports organisations
still regard and refer to journalistic content as being their own
Intellectual Property and therefore subject to limitations on use.
The sale of broadcasting and media rights frequently includes exclusivity
clauses that exclude independent news organisations, further hindering
the free flow of information.
37. Journalists are always obliged to sign accreditation access
contracts which can have a variety of restrictions, including copyright-assignment
to sport organisations, obligations to acknowledge that the event owns
‘all rights to event-related content’ and limits on commercial exploitation
of a journalist’s or employer’s legal copyright. Some sports events
have even attempted to insist that ‘nothing detrimental’ can be
published about the game, participants, its organisers or even commercial
partners. Even when this is challenged, journalists can feel intimidated
by access being withdrawn, by abuse online, because sports leaders
denigrate the role of journalism or where legitimate investigations
into in-stadia events and poor administration result in physical
threats and harm. Subsequently, where sports news coverage is limited,
this has an impact on the viability of news operations. Many sports
organisations attempt to secure for themselves the ability to exploit new
information technologies and for them (or commercial partners) to
be the exclusive provider of their (non-independent) news.
38. These concerns are also reflected in the preparation of upcoming
major sporting events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where media
and policy discussions have already highlighted potential challenges related
to increasingly restrictive accreditation systems, the growing control
of content by rights holders, and the complexity of ensuring consistent
media access across multiple host countries. These developments illustrate
broader structural trends which may further affect the ability of
journalists to report freely and independently on sport.
Note
39. The number of professional journalists (written press reporters,
professional sports-news photographers and video journalists) allowed
into sports events can vary significantly. Even where the press
contingent is sufficient, their access is often limited. Reporters
not able to ask questions at press conferences, video journalists
being unable to record in-stadia press events, photographers not
being allowed into the best of positions around the field of play.
In addition, newsrooms can be prevented from accessing footage of
events (from sport organisations, or broadcast partners) which they
had been barred from or unable to video themselves. When such material
of important news moments is accessible, it is often subject to
conditions, including rules preventing use on digital news platforms
and limiting when it can be used.
40. Getting access to athletes can be quite challenging and difficult:
journalists have often to go through commercial agents who work
for sponsors. Also, getting access to information around this complex
global sports media industry is more challenging at present. In
cases of publicly listed companies, financial information is more
easily accessible, but there are still many cases where it was incredibly
difficult to get this information.
41. A special challenge for sports journalists is the rise of
professional public relations in sport that have adopted many of
the techniques that are commonplace in the media and entertainment
industry. There is no access, or copy and picture approval is requested,
in order to control the narrative.
4.5 Conflicts
of interest and economic pressures
42. Conflicts of interest within
the media ecosystem represent a further structural challenge. Media organisations
holding broadcasting rights may face inherent tensions between commercial
interests and editorial independence. This dual role can limit critical
reporting and contribute to a homogenisation of narratives around
major sporting events, reducing space for investigative journalism
and pluralistic debate.
43. Furthermore, investigative sports journalism is time consuming
and costly, and it is difficult to find organisations that will
support that kind of investment. The tendency today is not to send
journalists to sporting events and not allow them to build networks.
These trends must be understood in the broader context of the structural
transformation of the news media sector, where digital disruption
and shifting revenue models increasingly limit the capacity of media
organisations to invest in costly investigative journalism.
44. Some of the space left by sports journalism had been taken
up by sports documentaries made by streamers like Amazon, Netflix,
or Apple TV. Many of these documentaries straddle a difficult position
between on one hand being promotional videos and then having some
grains of journalistic work.
45. A rising challenge for sports journalism is AI-generated content.
On the one hand, AI tools are being used e.g. by the MLS to produce
journalistic content (match summaries) without any human control
Note while other organisations such as
the International Olympic Committee forbids the sharing of posts
with video or photographs using artificial intelligence (AI) or
containing any AI generated content or outputs.
Note
4.6 Legal
pressure, intimidation and safety of journalists
46. In addition to contractual
restrictions linked to accreditation, journalists covering sport
are increasingly exposed to legal intimidation and surveillance
practices. Strategic lawsuits, visa restrictions, and administrative barriers
are used to deter critical reporting. These pressures may lead to
self-censorship, particularly in cases involving powerful sports
organisations or host States of major events. The protection of
journalistic sources and whistleblowers is therefore becoming more
fragile in the sports context.
47. Beyond institutional constraints, journalists are increasingly
confronted with hostile environments, including online harassment,
threats and intimidation from supporters or interest groups. Such
dynamics are amplified by digital platforms and can disproportionately
affect those reporting on sensitive issues such as corruption, governance
or human rights. These pressures contribute to a climate that discourages
critical reporting and weakens the watchdog role of the media in
sport.
48. Recent developments concerning French sports journalist Christophe
Gleizes also illustrate the risks faced by journalists reporting
on sport in sensitive political contexts. In June 2025, his sentencing
in Algeria prompted calls for his immediate release by Reporters
Without Borders (RSF) and by our Assembly’s General Rapporteur on
the safety of journalists, raising concerns about press freedom
and the criminalisation of journalistic work.
Note
49. A recent example illustrating these risks concerns whistleblower
Rui Pinto, whose disclosures through the “Football Leaks” investigations
contributed to major public interest reporting on corruption, financial misconduct
and governance failures in international football. In April 2026,
a Lisbon court acquitted him in a second hacking-related trial,
finding that the repeated prosecutions violated fundamental procedural guarantees,
the principle non bis in idem and human dignity under the Portuguese
Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. The case
has been widely cited as illustrating the tensions between the prosecution
of digital offences and the protection of whistleblowers and investigative
journalism acting in the public interest.
Note
4.7 Case
study: investigative journalism in football
50. During the Sub-committee meeting
in Edinburgh (9 September 2024), Mr Håvard Melnæs, Editor of Josimar,
presented the work of the platform dedicated to investigative football
journalism. Football was described as increasingly exposed to risks
linked to corruption, money laundering, organised crime and human rights
concerns, while mainstream media was portrayed as focusing largely
on entertainment content, influenced by commercial pressures and
dependence on access to key stakeholders, to the detriment of investigative
reporting.
51. Josimar operates in a context of financial instability and
legal threats, and attention was drawn to the limited transparency
and accountability of major football organisations, such as UEFA
and FIFA. The links between parts of the football economy and illicit
betting networks, with limited coverage of these issues in mainstream
media, are also issues of concern. Reference was made to the Norwegian
model of public support for journalism, alongside the difficulty
for investigative outlets to meet funding criteria due to irregular publication
patterns.
5 Gender
equality and diversity in sports media
53. The hearing of 12 March 2026 also highlighted that media freedom
in sport cannot be fully assessed without addressing structural
inequalities within the media sector itself, in particular gender
disparities. Gender inequality affects access to the profession,
career progression, representation and editorial content, and has direct
implications for pluralism and diversity of perspectives in sports
journalism.
54. Women remain underrepresented in sports journalism across
Europe and globally, particularly in senior editorial and decision-making
roles. While progress has been made in recent decades, structural
barriers persist, including discriminatory hiring practices, unequal
access to high-profile assignments and limited professional networks.
55. According to the
Association of
Women Sports Journalists, although the proportion of women in journalism has
increased over time, reaching around 40% in some contexts, they
remain concentrated in less visible or less influential roles. In
sports media specifically, women are still a minority, especially
in areas such as broadcasting, commentary and technical production.
56. Gender inequality is also reflected in the content of sports
media. Despite growing interest and audience engagement, women’s
sport continues to receive significantly less coverage than men’s
sport. Recent data indicate that women’s sport accounted for only
around 8% of prime-time sports coverage globally in 2025, despite
generating disproportionately high audience engagement.
Note
57. The limited visibility of women’s sport contributes to reinforcing
stereotypes and reduces opportunities for investment, sponsorship
and professional development.
58. Women working in sports media frequently face discrimination,
gender stereotyping and harassment. These may take the form of exclusion
from certain roles, questioning of professional credibility, or
exposure to sexist narratives and online abuse.
59. Such dynamics contribute to a hostile professional environment
and may discourage women from entering or remaining in the profession.
They also affect the diversity and quality of sports journalism
by limiting the range of perspectives represented in media coverage.
60. Gender inequality in sports media is not only a labour market
issue but also a matter of media freedom and democratic pluralism.
A lack of diversity within newsrooms influences editorial choices,
storytelling and the framing of sports narratives. It may result
in the marginalisation of certain topics, including gender equality, safeguarding,
and social issues in sport.
61. Ensuring equal participation and representation in sports
journalism is therefore essential to guarantee a pluralistic media
landscape and to strengthen the watchdog function of the press in
the sports sector.
62. Despite persistent challenges, recent developments point to
a growing recognition of the value and potential of women’s sport
and women-led sports media. New specialised media platforms dedicated
to women’s sport have also emerged, aiming to address gaps in coverage
and provide alternative narratives.
63. Professional associations, such as networks of women sports
journalists, play an important role in supporting career development,
mentoring and advocacy. Initiatives such as charters for gender
equality, data collection and benchmarking contribute to raising
awareness and promoting structural change within media organisations.
64. The committee hearing underscored the need for improved data
collection and international benchmarking on gender equality in
sports media. Evidence-based policymaking is essential to identify
gaps, monitor progress and design effective interventions.
65. Addressing gender inequality in sports media requires a comprehensive
approach, including regulatory frameworks, support for professional
networks, incentives for media organisations, and measures to combat harassment
and discrimination. Greater co-operation at European level could
facilitate the exchange of good practices and strengthen common
standards.
6 Conclusions
and way forward
66. The information presented in
this report confirms that media freedom in sport is increasingly
under pressure from a combination of structural, economic, institutional
and political factors.
67. Sports journalism continues to play a crucial democratic function
by informing the public, scrutinising powerful actors and contributing
to transparency and accountability in sport. However, the analysis
shows that this role is becoming more difficult to fulfil in practice
due to growing restrictions on access, contractual limitations,
and increasing control over information by sports organisations
and commercial rights holders.
68. These challenges are not isolated but are linked to broader
transformations in the media landscape, including digitalisation,
‘platformisation’ and economic pressures on news production. Within
this context, sports journalism appears particularly vulnerable
due to its dependence on access to events, proprietary content regimes
and the commercial value of sports media rights.
69. At the same time, the evidence gathered points to specific
features of the sports environment that further constrain journalistic
work, including the monopoly-like structure of many sports governing
bodies, the increasing professionalisation of public relations strategies,
and the growing tendency to frame media access as a matter of control
rather than transparency.
70. The hearings organised by the committee have also underlined
the increasing risks faced by journalists covering sensitive topics
such as corruption, match-fixing, governance failures or human rights
concerns in sport.
71. These risks include legal pressure, intimidation, restricted
access and online harassment, all of which contribute to a chilling
effect on investigative reporting.
72. Particular attention has also been drawn to the structural
inequalities within sports media itself, including persistent gender
disparities in access, representation and leadership. These inequalities
affect both the diversity of perspectives in sports journalism and
the visibility of women’s sport in media coverage.
73. Despite these challenges, important initiatives are emerging
in civil society and non-governmental organisations and human rights
defenders to promote transparency and accountability in sport governance. Such
initiatives illustrate the growing recognition of the need for stronger
integrity frameworks and improved access to reliable information
on sport governance.
74. The existing Council of Europe and European Union standards
already provide relevant principles to safeguard media freedom,
including access to information, short reporting rights and protection
of journalistic sources. However, gaps remain in their practical
implementation in the specific context of sport.
75. Against this background, the recommendations put forward in
the draft resolution aim to translate these observations into concrete
policy recommendations for member States, sports organisations and
other relevant stakeholders.
