In our present moment, concentrated media ownership, declining public-interest journalism, and the spread of disinformation have weakened the informational foundations of democratic governance. When access to reliable and pluralistic information is unequal, those already facing poverty and exclusion are deprived of the knowledge necessary to claim rights and participate meaningfully in public life. Information asymmetries have thus reinforced structural inequality and disempowerment, and the corporate and political capture of media ecosystems has led to distorted public debates on how to set up our societies and economies to serve democratically determined needs. In response, this proposal calls for ensuring universal access to accurate, pluralistic, and independent information through a comprehensive public-interest framework. This includes stable and independent financing models for public-service media; dedicated funds and protections for investigative journalism; and strong safeguards for editorial autonomy. Additionally, regulatory measures such as limits on media concentration, transparency of ownership structures, whistle-blower protections, and robust freedom-of-information regimes can prevent political or corporate capture. Digital platform governance is equally central: measures should address disinformation, mandate meaningful algorithmic transparency, regulate targeted political advertising, and ensure fair visibility and distribution of trustworthy content. Enabling conditions include independent media regulators, legal protections for journalists and civil society actors, and enforceable guarantees of universal access to public data and government information. By treating information as a public good rather than a commodity, this policy strengthens democratic discussions on questions of public necessity and enables ordinary people to meaningfully participate in collective decision-making.
