This open access book provides an up-to-date and focused account of the relationship between the media and democracy in the European Union, in times of democratic backsliding, exploring the intricate relationship between news media and the erosion of democratic values. As backsliding democracies challenge the foundational principles of free press and accountability, members of the news media find themselves increasingly at risk. This volume situate this crisis within the broader framework of democratic theory, examining the changing dynamics between the news media (and in particular journalism) as pillars of democracy, and the growing strenght of illiberal forces, leaderims, populism, and the far-right. Its aim is to highlight both the vulnerabilities and the available defences of the media in front of several threats, including the erosion of trust in journalism, the increasing violence against the press, and a general degradation of press freedom.
