In order to create a democratic society, we first have to create a democratic media.

31 May 2025, 10:00 – 18:00 GMT
Fyvie Hall, London (University of Westminster)

A huge thanks to the more than 150 people who joined us at Media Democracy Festival 2025, along with our 30+ incredible panel speakers and workshop organisers.

Every year, the Media Democracy Festival brings together activists, independent media organisations, researchers and policymakers to expose the failures in the UK media, and to build the solutions for creating a more independent, accountable and independent media system that serves the public interest.

Watch interviews with MDF25 speakers & attendees in TurnLeft’s highlights video:

We were thrilled to welcome broadcaster journalist Sangita Myska and Green Party deputy leader Zack Polanski as keynote speakers.

The Festival also featured a prestigious line-up from UK media and politics, including Ava Evans of PoliticsJOE, journalist Peter Oborne, Byline Times editor Hardeep Matharu, Declassified UK’s Mark Curtis, Bristol Cable journalist Priyanka Raval, Novara Media’s Aaron Bastani and many more.

VIEW THE FULL PROGRAMME (new tab)

Featuring keynote addresses on the failures of the mainstream media, alongside debates on how to break up the power of Big Tech, the impact of AI on creative workers, how to create a democratic media commons, the role of journalism in global conflicts, and how online platforms are making society more fragmented.

Whether you’re a hardened media reform advocate, a disillusioned media worker looking for change, or a curious media consumer, join us at next year’s Media Democracy Festival and help to reshape the media so that it works for people, not profit.

Our media is broken. Be part of the movement to fix it.

Supported with a grant from the Barry Amiel & Norman Melburn Trust, and organised with support from Impress Media Services.