News Mfrr

Turkey, earthquake fall out takes political turn

14/02/2023 -  Kenan Behzat Sharpe

The devastating earthquakes that shook Turkey on February 6 have uncovered a divided country, where many denounce the earthquakes as an announced tragedy. The government responds to the protests by tightening censorship

Turkey: call on local authorities to respect media freedom in the aftermath of devastating earthquakes

10/02/2023

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) coalition expresses its condolences with the victims of the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and reiterate the need for a free media atmosphere as a crucial element of all disaster relief processes

Restoring trust in Greek journalists: George Tragkas’ controversial legacy

02/02/2023 -  Mary Drosopoulos Thessaloniki

George Tragkas was a prominent journalist who passed away in December 2021. The post-mortem discovery of his colossal wealth has sparked public controversy on the role and power of journalists in the country

Montenegro: after a new acquittal, the hopes and projects of journalist Jovo Martinovic

30/01/2023 -  Paola Rosà

After over seven years of judicial ordeal and after spending fifteen months in pre-trial detention on drug trafficking charges, investigative journalist Jovo Martinovic was acquitted for the second time by the Appellate Court on 17 January. We interviewed him while waiting for the final verdict

Romania: plagiarism, a gateway to corruption

19/12/2022 -  Sielke Kelner

In this conversation with Emilia Șercan, investigative journalist and senior lecturer at the University of Bucharest, we explored the state of the art of Romanian journalism and reflected upon the different meanings of plagiarism in a country where corruption remains rampant

Latvia: Media regulator urged not to revoke Dozhd license pending court review

12/12/2022

Together with our MFRR partners, we express concern over the decision to revoke the broadcast license of the independent TV station Dozhd: independent Russian journalism should be provided a safe refuge in Europe

Multiple journalists threatened and harassed in Serbia, authorities must take urgent action

06/12/2022

OBCT joins the Media Freedom Rapid Response partners and the Safe Journalists Network in condemning in the strongest terms the intimidation and often orchestrated campaigns by pro-government media outlets and members of the public to silence journalists in Serbia

Bulgarian far-right party’s ‘foreign agent’ bill sparks media freedom concerns

29/11/2022

Press freedom groups raise alarm that law appears intended to target critical media in Bulgaria

Italy: Newspaper Domani sued for defamation by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

25/11/2022

At the conclusion of the preliminary hearing in the case of aggravated defamation against two journalists from the daily newspaper Domani initiated by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, an appeal for the lawsuit to be dropped and for a comprehensive reform of defamation laws in Italy

Gag complaints, an anti-SLAPP shield is coming

22/11/2022 -  Paola Rosà

OCCRP, the transnational investigative journalism platform against crime and corruption, has devised a system to prevent lawsuits, prevent self-censorship, and defend journalists from gag lawsuits – an actual shield in defence of reporters. We interviewed Drew Sullivan, co-founder of OCCRP