News

Petition against attacks on Domani newspaper, and for media freedom in Italy

23/04/2024

Over 70 international organisations and media, including the Media Freedom Rapid Response, signed a petition in support of three journalists from the daily newspaper Domani who risk up to nine years in prison. While the European Media Freedom Act promises to strengthen the protection of journalistic sources, in Italy investigative journalism risks being turned into a crime

Georgia: MFRR partners strongly condemn new attempts to introduce a law on “Transparency of Foreign Influence”

11/04/2024

The move comes one year after mass protests forced the government to withdraw a similar initiative

Safety and justice: demanding accountability for attacks against journalists in Serbia

11/04/2024

Media freedom advocates condemn 25 years of impunity for Ćuruvija’s murder

Three years later: still no justice for murdered Greek journalist

09/04/2024

Media freedom advocates reissue call to end impunity on the third anniversary of Giorgos Karaivaz's murder

Independence of Slovakia’s leading TV news channel must be protected

08/04/2024

OBCT joins the undersigned members of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in expressing concern about the actions of the Slovak government towards Slovakia’s leading commercial broadcaster, TV Markíza, aimed at silencing its critical journalism. We call on Markíza’s owners, the Central European Media Enterprises (CME), to resist the pressure and guarantee the editorial independence of the newsroom

CoE’s Recommendation represents a significant milestone in the fight against SLAPPs

05/04/2024

CASE welcomes the Council of Europe’s Recommendation on SLAPPs, approved by the Committee of Ministers today - Friday, 5 April. The Recommendation is comprehensive and, if genuinely implemented, could significantly limit the damage caused by SLAPPs

Report on media freedom in Romania ahead of Super Election Year

04/04/2024

Mission report highlights political influence, vexatious lawsuits and online harassment in Romania

Media in Albania, under the blows of power

03/04/2024

The recent angry attack by the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama against a journalist has brought the constant pressure and intimidation that the power in Albania exerts on the media and media professionals back under the spotlight

By Erion Gjatolli

Originally published by OBCT, also available in ITA

North Macedonia, media and public funds

21/03/2024

In view of the upcoming political and presidential elections, the Macedonian government has reintroduced forms of public funding for the media. However, the country's media organisations argue that the move may aggravate the influence of political interests on news outlets

By Aleksandar Samardjiev

Originally published by OBCT, also available in ITA

Serbia: escalating threats and attacks against journalists in Novi Sad

21/03/2024

The escalation of threats and violence suffered by journalists in Novi Sad, northern Serbia, has reached an unprecedented level in the past fortnight. OBCT joins the undersigned organisations in urging the Serbian authorities to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation into the persistent attacks on journalists and ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted accordingly