The European Press Corps (EPC) is made up of journalists who travel to EU countries to report on happenings within the EU. While the European press corps is a vital part of how information from the European Union (EU) gets disseminated to the wider public, the impact of the EPC is limited. This begs the question, why can’t the EPC cover the EU?
Size of the EU
One of the primary challenges faced by the EPC is the sheer size of the EU. As of 2021, the EU is comprised of 27 countries, including the United Kingdom, with Croatia being the 27th and most recent addition. Add to that over 30 official languages, multiple roles and bodies and the EU quickly becomes a convoluted web of politics, initiatives, and bureaucracy. This can make it difficult for the EPC to trot around the entire EU to get accurate information.
Limitations of Financial Resources
Moreover, the EPC is limited by their financial resources. Many of the EPC’s members are bound by the same costs of travel, accommodation and food that all tourists are faced with. As such, attending all public debates, events and meetings as part of their coverage is in many cases, financially prohibitive.
Limitation of Language
Furthermore, language can become a barrier to reporting for EPC members. The sheer number of languages within the EU is both a blessing and a curse for many EPC members. While nearly all EU countries recognize English as the world’s primary business and communication language, the EPC can sometimes run into circumstances where the pertinent language of a meeting may not necessarily be English.
Sometimes this may be due to a Directorate within the EU itself establishing a particular language as the official language of an event. Additionally, sometimes local governments may adopt a particular language as the sole language of a particular meeting or event. Regardless of the situation, navigating the conversational and textual landscapes of the EU member countries can be extremely challenging for the EPC.
Lack of Visibility
Additionally, despite being prominent in the collective conversation about news coverage within the EU, the EPC finds itself extremely limited when it comes to visibility. In other words, the EPC often finds itself shut out of many of their positions of potential contention.
For example, in instances when the EU plans a new action or takes a new stance, the EPC is not included in the conversations that lead to those decisions. This can include key EU meetings and events, the focus of initiatives and even the definition of EU policy. This lack of visibility further limits the scope and impact of the EPC’s coverage.
Limitation of Access
Access to information is another issue that the EPC faces. Despite knowing that an event or meeting is taking place, EPC members can sometimes be barred from entering the premises or receiving information on the proceedings. In this way, the EPC can be shut out of their own coverage.
Overall, the European Press Corps is limited in its ability to cover the EU. From the size of the EU to the lack of financial resources available and the limited language capacity, the EPC often faces many challenges. Moreover, the lack of visibility and access further limit their ability to cover the EU. As such, the EPC’s impact on how news from the EU is disseminated remains limited.
