The News Media Landscape: An overview of the context of Press Freedom and Regulation in Belgium

The News Media Landscape: An Overview of the Context of Press Freedom and Regulation in Belgium examines the structure, regulation and cultural context of journalism in Belgium. The report was produced as part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council funded project Defining Freedom of the Press: A Cross-National Examination of Press Ethics and Regulation, which explores and compares systems of press freedom and ethics across a range of European democracies. Focusing on Belgium’s multilingual and federal media system, the report provides an overview of constitutional protections, regulatory arrangements and self-regulatory bodies. It analyses the media landscape, patterns of media ownership and consolidation, audience news consumption and levels of public trust. Further sections explore public service media, online-only news provision, journalism culture and professional ethics, and recent challenges affecting press freedom. The report provides a detailed national case study designed to inform research on press regulation, ethics and media freedom within democratic systems.