The Chamber of Deputies adopted a law on Tuesday with 53 votes in favour and none against, giving professional journalism additional tools.
In future, journalists will have a right of access to information. This is intended to make it easier for them to request information from public bodies, such as municipalities or the state, and to receive concrete answers.
By granting journalists a right of access to information held by public institutions, the new law "explicitly recognises the essential role of professional journalists in a democratic society", according to a statement issued after Tuesday's vote.
Journalists should also receive support in identifying the documents they are looking for and be informed of the approximate time frame within which they can expect a response.
If documents contain sensitive information, the relevant passages may be redacted before they are shared, according to the new law.
Press aid will also be revised through amendments to certain provisions of the 2021 law, in order to respond to changes in the sector.
In future, support will be indexed, while smaller projects will be able to benefit from 'de minimis' aid, a form of limited public support allowed under EU rules without requiring full state aid approval. At the same time, the ceilings for certain forms of support are to be raised.
The new law also sets out a clearer definition of professional journalists. It states that anyone applying for a press card must work primarily as a journalist and must have been practising the profession for at least three months. It also specifies that the profession is incompatible with any activity linked to advertising.
