On 4–5 November 2026, the European Parliament hosted an Interparliamentary Committee Meeting (CULT ICM) in Brussels, bringing together Members of the European Parliament, national parliamentarians, EU representatives and media stakeholders to discuss the implementation of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA).

As part of the meeting, a dedicated session explored the relationship between the EU media framework and gender equality, examining how media policies can contribute to a more equal society.

Daria Istayeva, representing News Media Europe and speaking as a member of our team, contributed to the discussion by highlighting the ongoing challenges facing women in journalism, particularly in the context of artificial intelligence and digitalisation.

In her intervention, Daria acknowledged the progress made by the publishing sector in promoting women’s participation and leadership. She highlighted positive developments, including the growing representation of women in senior positions and the commitment of publishers to creating more inclusive newsrooms.

However, she stressed that the fight for gender equality in journalism is far from over. While progress is being made within media organisations, women journalists continue to face increasing threats from outside, particularly online violence, harassment and intimidation.

Concluding her remarks, Daria underlined the importance of keeping gender equality high on the European policy agenda. She welcomed the European Parliament’s attention to the issue and reaffirmed News Media Europe’s readiness to work together with European institutions and other stakeholders towards a safer, fairer and more inclusive media environment.

At News Media Europe, we believe that media freedom and gender equality go hand in hand. Ensuring that women can participate, lead and report freely and safely is essential to building a diverse, independent and sustainable European media landscape.