In an era where misinformation spreads faster than facts, the unsung heroes of journalism—the news agencies—are quietly reclaiming their place at the centre of truth-telling. At the recent Delphi Economic Forum X, Alexandru Ion Giboi, Secretary General of the European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA), and Aimilios Perdikaris, Chairman of the Athens/Macedonian News Agency (AMNA), peeled back the curtain on the complex web of digital disinformation, democratic erosion, and the silent revolution within the media ecosystem.
News agencies, often invisible to the public eye, are the foundational layer upon which mainstream reporting is built. “If you read the news today, there’s a big chance it originated from a news agency,” said Giboi. And yet, in the information economy dominated by clicks, sensationalism, and AI-generated content, the factual, measured, and meticulously sourced style of agency reporting often gets drowned out.
Misinformation in a distrustful age
Two core problems drive today’s disinformation crisis: a profound lack of media literacy among the public and an erosion of trust in both media and politics. “People are gravitating toward content that resonates emotionally or ideologically, even if it’s factually incorrect,” said Giboi. This shift reflects not just a technological disruption but a deeper societal malaise.
Perdikaris highlighted a growing irony: “While we claim to defend freedom of the press, in practice, even news agencies are being denied access to sources.” This trend, exacerbated by governments and political actors bypassing traditional media in favour of direct communication via social media, weakens the media’s role as an institutional check.
Public funding, private independence
Public news agencies such as AMNA walk a fine line. While partially funded by the state, their editorial independence must be fiercely protected. Giboi emphasized the need for governments to support media infrastructure without political strings. “Funding should be guaranteed, but not conditional. It’s not about sustaining a company—it’s about safeguarding democracy.”
In this context, the European Media Freedom Act plays a pivotal role, offering legal grounding for transparent and secure financing models that do not compromise editorial sovereignty.
AI as a double-edged sword
While AI is often cast as a disruptor of journalism, both speakers argued it could also be a powerful ally—if used ethically. “AI should not be feared, but managed. Journalists must always have the final say,” Giboi stressed. The mantra is simple: augment, not automate.
Yet, a more urgent ethical and legal dilemma looms—AI companies using news content without permission to train their models. Giboi was adamant: “You wouldn’t walk into a market, grab an orange, and walk away without paying. The same logic should apply to news content.”
The European Alliance of News Agencies, through events such as their recent dialogue at the European Parliament, is actively shaping policy discussions around AI and copyright. Their core message? Content has value. Licensing is not optional.
The case for collaboration
Perhaps the most poignant takeaway was a call for mutual understanding between tech companies and news organizations. “You can’t have meaningful dialogue if the tech world doesn’t understand the value of journalism,” said Giboi. Bridging this cultural gap—between engineers raised on free content and journalists who believe in verified truth—is the next frontier.
With 32 member agencies and a reach of 750 million citizens, EANA embodies the collective strength of European journalism. But their mission, as echoed at Delphi, is clear: protecting the architecture of truth in a digital age built on shifting sands.
