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Croatia: Tackling political pressure, legal challenges and precarity to revive media freedom

24/02/2025

Outdated media laws, compromised public media independence, SLAPPs, as well as mounting economic, political, and physical pressures are undermining journalism and media freedom in Croatia, as outlined in the latest Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) report

Ukraine: MFRR partners stand with journalists, 3 years since start of full-scale invasion

24/02/2025

On 24 February 2025, Ukraine marks three years since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. While the current scale of Russian attacks against journalists cannot be compared to that at the start of the war, they remain worryingly high and persistent

Italy: MFRR calls for full transparency after Fanpage editor-in-chief surveilled with spyware technology

18/02/2025

The partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today urge Italian authorities to shed full light on the recent surveillance of an editor-in-chief in Italy and others using spyware technology developed by Israeli firm Paragon Solutions.

Yes, journalism needs public funding

14/02/2025 -  Lorenzo Ferrari

The sudden cut in US support for civil society organizations abroad is also putting many media outlets in crisis, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. Their voice is important for democracy, but there are not many viable alternatives for their financial sustainability

MFRR Monitoring Report 2024

12/02/2025

The latest annual Monitoring Report analyses the press freedom situation in 35 European countries, including the 27 EU Member States and nine countries with EU candidate status. Between January and December 2024, Mapping Media Freedom documented 1,548 press freedom violations targeting 2,567 media-related persons or entities – an alarming increase compared to the 1,153 violations recorded in 2023

USAID suspension in BiH, a hard blow to media and civil society

18/02/2025 -  Darko Kurić Sarajevo

The suspension of the US government's international aid programmes, one of the first decisions taken by Donald Trump after taking office, has triggered a wave of uncertainty around the world, and Bosnia and Herzegovina is no exception

Trentino, journalism and gag complaints (2)

28/01/2025 -  Paola Rosà

Media outlets in Trentino are targeted by mayors, entrepreneurs and even magistrates; however, tracking this form of legal harassment remains challenging. Second part of an investigation into the phenomenon of SLAPPs in Trentino

Trentino, journalism and gag complaints

27/01/2025 -  Paola Rosà

Between announced complaints and warnings, we heard from 4 newspaper editors, the union and an investigative journalist. First part of an investigation into the SLAPP phenomenon in Trentino

Press freedom partners call for release of Mzia Amaglobeli, end to crackdown on free press

24/01/2025

OBCT joins press freedom and human rights organizations in calling for the immediate release of Georgian journalist Amaglobeli, an end to media repression, and an investigation into her mistreatment

Salonicco, journalism on the metro

17/01/2025 -  Mary Drosopoulos Thessaloniki

By combining investigative rigour with creative storytelling, local journalists in Thessaloniki have kept the public informed, but also ensured that the metro remains a shared civic concern, a story owned by the people as much as by the trains themselves

Open letter to Mr. Albin Kurti, President of Vetevendosje Movement and Prime Minister of Kosovo

13/01/2025

The undersigned media freedom organisations express concern about the decision of the Vetevendosje party to boycott some mainstream TV channels during the election period in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Albin Kurti

Press freedom groups in solidarity with journalists and media in Georgia

20/12/2024

The undersigned press freedom, freedom of expression, media, journalists and human rights organisations express solidarity towards journalists and media in Georgia

Georgia, threats against the media

20/12/2024 -  Federico Baccini Tbilisi

Physical attacks, insults, obstacles at work, damage to equipment, arrests. In Georgia journalists have become a target of police violence during the street protests, while state broadcasters are accused of disinformation

Serbia: Urgent need for a swift investigation into intelligence invasive surveillance of journalists and sources

18/12/2024

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) join the SafeJournalists Network (SJN), in expressing serious concern over the revelations in Amnesty International's forensic analysis, exposing the invasive use of spyware and other digital tools by Serbian intelligence services and police to hack journalists' phones as part of a covert surveillance campaign

Urgent call on the European Union to react to the critical press freedom situation in Georgia

13/12/2024

OBCT and partner organisations express deep concern about the ongoing violence against journalists in Tbilisi in a joint letter to EU institutions

Self-defence against SLAPPs in Serbia

11/12/2024 -  Massimo Moratti Belgrade

In Serbia, the investigative newspaper KRIK is the target of frequent legal harassment. To counteract it, the editorial team has developed strategies based on civil society solidarity, public denunciation and monitoring of trials

Joint letter to European Commission President: EU should oppose Türkiye’s “agent of influence” bill

10/12/2024

In a joint letter, 55 international and local press freedom and human rights organisations urge the EU Commission to call for full withdrawal of the "agent of influence" bill in Turkey.

Georgia: Press freedom partners condemn assault on journalists during demonstrations in Tbilisi

03/12/2024

International community must pressure Georgia to end violent attacks on media

Albania, media trapped in a triangle of pressure

22/11/2024 -  Serena Epis

Journalists across Europe are often subjected to subtle forms of pressure and intimidation, including vexatious lawsuits frequently initiated by influential politicians or businesspeople. Blerjana Bino, Executive Director of SCiDEV and Researcher at the SafeJournalists Network, provides insight into the situation in the country

Serbian journalism, stronger EU support is needed

13/11/2024 -  Serena EpisSava Mirković

Amid a systematic erosion of editorial independence by the government, stronger international support is needed to uphold media freedom in the country. An interview with Igor Božić, news director of the independent N1 TV

Bosnia Herzegovina: urgent call for stronger protection for journalist Nataša Miljanović Zubac

07/11/2024

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners together with the SafeJournalists Network (SJN) firmly call for thorough and swift investigations into numerous threats against Nataša Miljanović Zubac, journalist for the Radio Television of Republika Srpska (RTRS)

Attacks on journalists during Bulgaria’s parliamentary elections receive condemnation

06/11/2024

The undersigned press freedom, freedom of expression and journalists’ organizations strongly condemn the four cases of violence and intimidation against Bulgarian journalists covering the parliamentary elections held on October 27

Fact-Checking in Albania: Confronting Disinformation and Intimidation

06/11/2024 -  Luisa ChiodiSukanya Sengupta

The disconnect between the younger generation and traditional media, the struggles to hold public institutions accountable, and the urgent need for a syndicate to protect journalists’ rights. These are just some of the challenges that the media sector has to face in Albania. An interview

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

Addressing Key Challenges to Media Freedom in Albania and Serbia

30/10/2024 -  Serena EpisSukanya Sengupta

To contribute to the European Commission’s Rule of Law monitoring, OBCT, in partnership with SCiDEV and IJAS, produced two Shadow Reports outlining the challenges and gaps in media freedom in Albania and Serbia. The main findings were presented during a webinar

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

Tribute to Daphne Caruana Galizia and all courageous journalists threatened for their work

16/10/2024

On 16 October at 12 pm in front of the Residence Palais, seven years after the tragic death of the Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, Media Freedom Rapid Response, journalists and representatives of media freedom community will come together to commemorate her brilliant work and dedication

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

Islands of integrity: the struggle of independent media in Albania

14/10/2024 -  Luisa ChiodiSukanya Sengupta

Lufti Dervishi, a founding member of the Albanian Center for Quality Journalism, emphasises the challenges that Albanian journalism faces today. The media are entangled in corruption, self-censorship, and state-sponsored disinformation. However, not everything is negative, and there is still reason for hope