“A Turning Point for Media Reform” is more than just the title of a campaign launched by Maharat. It is a call to adopt the new media law that decriminalizes expression-related cases, strengthens transparency in media ownership, and establishes an independent media council.

The campaign comes in parallel with the conclusion of the work of the parliamentary subcommittee that originated from the Administration and Justice Committee, chaired by MP Georges Adwan, which was tasked with reviewing the draft media law. This subcommittee finalized its report last June after seventeen sessions during which it redrafted the law and submitted its report along with the revised text of the draft media law to the Administration and Justice Committee, hoping that the committee would discuss it as it deems appropriate. The proposal includes substantial reforms such as abolishing licensing requirements, introducing transparency obligations for the ownership and funding of media outlets, establishing an independent national media council to ensure proper compliance with the law, decriminalizing expression-related cases by subjecting them to civil liability, and adding protective frameworks for journalists and their sources.

“We have an opportunity to establish an independent regulatory framework, free from political interference, that protects pluralism, ensures the safety of journalists, and guarantees professional accountability. Over the past years, Maharat Foundation has worked to push for the adoption of a law that addresses all these priorities, and the time has come to pass it now!” says Maharat Foundation’s Executive Director Roula Mikhael.

Therefore, starting Tuesday, July 15, 2025, and with support from the European Union, Maharat Foundation is launching a one-month digital media campaign titled “A Turning Point for Media Reform in Lebanon,” across Maharat’s various social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, and X.

Through its core messages, the campaign aims to highlight the key reforms needed in any media law, most notably:

- Decriminalizing expression-related cases and issues connected to journalistic work.
- Protecting journalists from arrest and imprisonment for performing their duties and safeguarding their sources.
- Ensuring transparency in media ownership and funding, so that the public has the right to know who controls the media narratives and how they are financed.
- Establishing an independent national media council that protects pluralism, upholds professional standards, and serves as a guarantor of media freedom, free from political interference.
 

This campaign calls on all stakeholders—from decision-makers to civil society and the general public—to support this vital reform path toward a free, responsible, and pluralistic media that befits a democratic society.

The campaign will feature recorded testimonials from members of parliament, political representatives, journalists, and academics, each addressing one of the key reform areas, including: transparency in media ownership and funding; decriminalization of expression-related cases; protection of journalistic sources; legal safeguards for journalists; media pluralism; the role of public service media in promoting diversity and balanced coverage; establishing an independent national media council; a participatory approach to developing ethical and professional principles; and reforming the legal framework for elections.

Maharat Foundation calls on journalists, citizens, media institutions, civil society organizations, policymakers, and members of parliament to join this campaign and contribute to supporting the adoption of a media governance system built on rights, accountability, and the public interest.

This campaign is a continuation of Maharat’s ongoing work in the field of media law reform, and is part of the project “Media Reform to Enhance Freedom of Expression in Lebanon,” which Maharat Foundation is implementing in partnership with Legal Agenda and the Media and Journalism Research Center, with the support of the European Union in Lebanon. Over the past two years, Maharat and its partners have organized national research conferences and developed policy papers aimed at setting standards to advance the media sector in ways that enhance freedom of expression, protect journalists, and develop public policies that sustain the media sector and encourage innovation in line with Lebanon’s realities and the international standards it has committed to.