As the integrity of the international media landscape is challenged by far-reaching transformations, the need for a functional system of media regulation is bigger than ever. In democratic societies, various instruments of media accountability (such as press and media councils, ombudspersons, media journalism, etc.) assume a key role in the process of safeguarding a free and responsible media performance. However, in the light of an advancing economization of media communication and recent technological changes, the established system of media accountability seems to be at the crossroads: On the one hand, the necessity of non-state means for holding the media responsible towards the public is largely undisputed; on the other hand, the effectiveness of such instruments as a guardian of press freedom and media plurality is often questioned – both by media practitioners and media researchers.

The one-day conference “Media Accountability at the Crossroads” aims at mapping the state of media accountability in Europe – and at highlighting perspectives for future developments in this field: Which instruments of media accountability are currently prevailing in the various journalism cultures across Europe and how can their mode of operation be assessed? What are the particular problems and challenges they are facing? And which possible strategies can help to overcome these challenges? These and similar questions will be discussed from an international and interdisciplinary perspective. By bringing together scholars with different national and professional backgrounds, the conference organizers hope to broaden the view on media accountability, which only becomes graspable if it is approached as a cross-sectional research topic.