News Mfrr

Intimidated, attacked and barred from entering the country: press freedom organizations urge for protection of journalists’ rights in Georgia

31/10/2024

International community must place effective pressure on Georgia to uphold press freedom and secure a safe environment for journalists

SLAPP in Croatia, a plague

21/10/2024 -  Giovanni Vale Zagreb

Over a thousand lawsuits filed between 2016 and 2023 against journalists and media outlets, nearly half of which are SLAPPs, or strategic lawsuits against public participation. These are frivolous lawsuits that aim to silence freedom of expression

Serbian judge’s lawsuits set to chill press freedom

15/10/2024

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) expresses grave concern regarding the legal threats facing the Serbian investigative news organization KRIK and its journalists. These abusive legal actions include demands for imprisonment and bans from journalism. We stand with the journalists on trial, and urge Serbia to implement anti-SLAPP safeguards to protect independent media

Ukraine: MFRR and partners mourn death and demand justice for Victoria Roshchyna

14/10/2024

Ukrainian journalist died in unclear circumstances in Russian custody

Media Freedom in the Western Balkans: Challenges in the Framework of EU Enlargement

11/10/2024

As political interference and threats to journalists grow, the EU's new legislative measures, including the anti-SLAPP directive and the European Media Freedom Act, aim to safeguard press freedom in member and candidate countries. A recent webinar highlighted the struggle for media independence in Albania and Serbia amid their EU accession efforts

Albania: Smear campaigns against independent media and civil society organizations must stop

08/10/2024

SafeJournalists Network and organizations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) strongly condemn the attacks on the Council of Media Ethics of Albania (KSHM) and the think tank - Center Science and Innovation for Development (SCiDEV) that has issued a shadow report on media freedom in Albania, as well as on researcher Blerjana Bino

Croatia: Major challenges ahead to improve media freedom

25/09/2024

The international media freedom mission to Croatia has highlighted several significant concerns regarding media law reform, transparency of state advertising, and the safety of journalists including SLAPPs. While some promising initiatives have been noted, the path is still long ahead for Croatia to ensure a free and independent media landscape

Press freedom on trial in Greece: support Alterthess' appeal

19/09/2024

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium expresses its full support for Greek journalist Stavroula Poulimeni and media outlet Alterthess ahead of their appeal on 19 September 2024

Call for independent investigation into Emilia Șercan case

17/09/2024

OBCT joins free expression organisations and media outlets in urging Romanian authorities to ensure that the legal cases concerning investigative journalist Emilia Șercan are handled independently and swiftly, following recent court decisions that exposed prosecutorial mishandling of the investigations

MFRR Monitoring Report: January - June 2024

10/09/2024

In the first six months of 2024, the Media Freedom Rapid Response recorded 756 media freedom alerts across Europe