Short news

Journalists in Residence: the program is starting for the second year in Milan

19/07/2021

Journalists and media workers active in the UE Member States and Candidate Countries can apply for support to the program JiR Milan: within the second year of the Media Freedom Rapid Response, OBC Transeuropa and QCode Mag will host a journalist in distress, offering training, covering travel and lodging expenses and promoting their professional skills

Albania: Concern after government ally elected to head key media regulator

14/07/2021

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) expresses deep concern about the future impartiality and independence of Albania’s Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA) following the election of a close associate of the ruling Socialist Party to head the media regulator

A webinar series on data protection, privacy and journalism

11/06/2021

The European legal framework on personal data protection is constantly evolving and the issue of citizens’ privacy is increasingly central to the public debate. Journalists must move confidently in this area, to ensure that people’s fundamental rights are respected while fulfilling their reporting role

Ethnonationalist drift in the Balkans: Open Letter to EU, US, and NATO Governments

03/05/2021

Civil society, academia, citizens of the Balkan region, the EU and the United States have written a letter addressed to their respective governments to denounce and prevent the ethno-nationalist drift that seems to be increasingly taking place in the Western Balkans, of which the recent "non-papers" are a striking example

Italy: wiretapping of journalists reporting on migration must be investigated

12/04/2021

The Media Freedom Rapid Response and partner organisations welcome the launch of an investigation into the wiretapping of journalists and their sources in Sicily. However, a robust, swift and systematic investigation will be essential for rebuilding trust and ensuring that all journalists, sources and legal professionals in Italy are protected

Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence 2021: transformation

11/03/2021

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network and ERSTE Foundation inform that the Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence is opening its 2021 call for applications

MFRR Summit. Locked Down: Protecting Europe's Free Press

01/03/2021

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) announces the first MFRR Summit, taking place online between 17th and 20th March. Locked Down: Protecting Europe’s Free Press will feature keynote speeches by Irene Khan and Věra Jourová, and bring together 32 journalists and experts from 16 countries to explore the threats facing media freedom in Europe across eight panels and two workshops

The Need for a Council of Europe Recommendation on Combatting SLAPPs

23/02/2021

Time till 4 March to sign the statement in which the undersigned groups, representing a range of different public watchdogs (including journalists, activists, NGOs, lawyers, trade unions and whistleblowers), call on the Council of Europe (CoE) to act on the growing threat of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs)

Hate crime: Call for Civil Society Submissions

17/02/2021

Civil society groups can report hate incidents that happened in 2020 to ODIHR by 30 April 2021

Hungary: MFRR worried for Klubrádió

05/02/2021

MFRR partners share their concerns over the 4th February decision by a court in Budapest to reject the temporary license extension to Klubrádió in Hungary, warning it will have far-reaching implications for what remains of media pluralism and independent journalism in the country