Short news

Italy: Concern after authorities search Report editorial office and home of journalist

27/05/2022

The partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today express serious concern over the searches carried out by police at the offices of Rai 3’s investigative programme ‘Report’ and the home of investigative journalist Paolo Mondani. We urge the Italian Anti-Mafia Investigative Directorate (DIA) to provide assurances that the confidentiality of journalists’ sources will not be jeapardised and to reaffirm its respect for the principles of press freedom

Launching Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) III

19/05/2022

The consortium running the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) – consisting of the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), ARTICLE 19 Europe, European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Free Press Unlimited (FPU), International Press Institute (IPI), and Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBC Transeuropa) – has been granted funding for 18 months from the European Commission to continue its work to defend and support press and media freedom throughout all EU member states, candidate countries, and Ukraine

JiR Milan: the new call

12/05/2022

As part of the new edition of the Media Freedom Rapid Response running from May 2022 till October 2023, the Journalists in Residence programme – Milan launches a new call for applications open to journalists and media professionals who are experiencing some risk/threat/intimidation to their person as a direct result of their journalistic work

Lawsuits like bullets. Who is afraid of journalists? The MFRR Italy Mission Report

05/05/2022

With an open dialogue among journalists, the MFRR and the European Commission, on 11 May the Media Freedom Rapid Response launches the publication of the report containing the findings of the Italy Mission, which took place in Rome and Naples from 4 to 6 April

Press briefing on EU anti-SLAPP proposals

22/04/2022

At a press briefing on Thursday 28 April, representatives from the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE) will respond to the European Commission’s proposed measures (due to be announced on 27 April) to tackle the growing problem of SLAPPs in Europe

MFRR to hold press freedom mission to Italy

30/03/2022

From 4 to 6 April, representatives of all partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) will be in Italy for a fact-finding mission focused on two main topics: safety of journalists and state protection measures on one side, and SLAPPs against journalists and the need for comprehensive legislative reforms of the framework of defamation and media freedom on the other

EFJ: Fighting disinformation with censorship is a mistake

03/03/2022

While UE Member States are officially invited to ban Russian state televisions RT and Sputnik, the European Federation of Journalists, our partner in the Media Freedom Rapid Response, fears the effects of this spiral of censorship on freedom of expression in Europe

University of Trento: two research fellowships available for the project "Scholars at Risk"

01/02/2022

A new call for two more beneficiaries within the protection programme "Scholars-at-Risk": asylum seekers and refugees can apply

Azerbaijan: according to the Council of Europe, the new media law violates human rights

25/01/2022

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović writes to the President of Azerbaijan, inviting him to act in order to bring the law in line with international and European standards on freedom of expression and media freedom

Frontex denies ‘expelling’ migrant watchdog team from Greek border

17/12/2021

EU border agency denies forcing team from Italian-based rights watchdog to leave Greece and go back to North Macedonia, saying due process was followed – and the team had expressed a wish to return to North Macedonia