Free media are a fundamental pillar of democracy. Yet across Europe, they are under increasing strain due to efforts to exert political influence, economic dependencies, digital manipulation, and targeted disinformation campaigns. Truth is being distorted, and trust is systematically undermined.

The next edition of Debating Europe focuses on this pressing issue. Experts from journalism, media research, politics, and civil society analyze how disinformation is created and spread, and who stands to benefit. They discuss threats to independent reporting and the responsibilities of politicians, platforms, and the media.

The discussion will focus on key questions such as: How can freedom of media be protected in an era of hybrid information warfare? What role do social networks play in the spread of fake news? And how can democratic societies build resilience against deliberate manipulation without undermining freedom of expression?

Matúš Kostolný is the editor-in-chief and one of the founders of Denník N (Daily N), a liberal independent daily in Slovakia financed by its subscribers. Denník N has more than 70,000 subscribers and is the leading voice in Slovakia advocating for press freedom and responsible journalism. Kostolný has been working in the media for more than 30 years.

Alexandra Borchardt is an independent media consultant, researcher, and journalist. She serves as a board director at Republik AG and is a member of the expert panel of the World Association of News Publishers. She holds an honorary professorship in Leadership and Digitalisation at the TUM School of Management, Technical University of Munich, and is a senior research associate at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, University of Oxford.

Moderated by: Gerold Riedmann, DER STANDARD

Venue: Burgtheater Vienna, Universitätsring 2, 1010 Vienna

Tickets will be available here from 10 February 2026.

Debating Europe – Europa im Diskurs
This series of public morning debates brings leading politicians, scientists and intellectuals on to the stage of Vienna’s Burgtheater to discuss topical issues of political and social relevance. This long-standing event is a collaborative production of Burg, ERSTE Foundation, Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) and Der Standard.