All over the world, authoritarian regimes are gaining power through populism and the curtailment of free media. DW is seeking to counter the populist rhetoric with this year's Global Media Forum (GMF). The two-day media congress opens on Monday in the western German city of Bonn, and the motto this year is "Breaking barriers, building bridges."

The presence of Steve Capus, the president of the US international broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is an indication of the pressure free media, such as public service radio, are currently under, even in the United States. Donald Trump's administration wants to stop funding the Prague-based broadcaster, which for decades has been a key pillar of the transatlantic partnership between Europe and the US.

Like DW, RFE/RL also broadcasts uncensored reports to countries where the media landscape is dominated by propaganda. "We have got to survive. If we don't, it is a huge gift to Russia and China," Capus said in the run-up to the conference.

In Bonn, Capus will be in discussion with Michal Broniatowski, head of the Polish international broadcaster TVP World, DW's Director General Peter Limbourg, and Jonathan Munro, Global Director for BBC News.

"Political instability is on the rise in many parts of the world, and the consequences for all of our audiences are enormous," says Munro. "At the same time, colleagues from the United States........

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