News

Slovakia: the last hearing of the trial for Ján Kuciak's murder

04/08/2020

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today renewed its call for justice for Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová, as a court in Pezinok prepares to issue a verdict in the trial of their suspected killers. The court announced that the hearing of 5 August has been cancelled and rescheduled until Sep 3. IPI is going to attend expected verdict announcement

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The first MFRR-report documents severe threats to media freedom

03/08/2020

During the first four months, the project has seen a wide range of threats against media freedom in Europe. Few countries are spared: two-thirds have had at least one violation of media freedom since the beginning of March. Main reasons were the impact of Covid-19 crisis, police violence and online harassment

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Serbia: authorities launched a financial investigation into journalists, media and civil society organisations

30/07/2020

Article 19, as part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response, expresses concern for a financial probe launched by Serbian authorities. The investigation could be an abuse of legal mechanism in order to exert pressure on the critical voices

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SLAPP: an analysis by Flutura Kusari and Nik Williams

29/07/2020

An op-ed published by openDemocracy about strategic lawsuits that threaten freedom of expression. The two authors, working for ECPMF and for the Media Freedom Rapid Response, remind of the need of a strong action at European level

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Hungary: a letter of concern to EU institutions

28/07/2020

Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners are profoundly concerned about the latest media freedom attacks in Hungary, which follow only days after the EU Summit, where Prime Minister Viktor Orbán praised the rule of law situation in his country

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Spain: a new law against fact-checking

28/07/2020

An analysis by Javier Luque, IPI Head of Digital Communications, for Media Freedom Rapid Response: polarization and attempts by far-right party to smear fact-checkers and journalists corner press freedom in the country

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Poland: new plans to limit foreign-owned media

27/07/2020

The governing Law and Justice (PiS) party announces the will to pass the new law before the end of its term in 2023. This is a new threat to media freedom coming from legislation within the EU, and the platform Mapping Media Freedom keeps track of it, too

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Bulgaria: death threats against journalist Nikolay Staykov require transparent investigation

23/07/2020

The Sofia City Prosecutor's Office ordered police protection for the investigative journalist. However, at the same time it is questioning Staykov as part of a separate investigation into the allegations made in his documentary. IPI expresses concern about the independence of the Prosecutor's Office in properly investigating the case, asking for the assignment of a special prosecutor

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SLAPP: a new engagement by the EU Commission DG Justice

21/07/2020

The Directorate-General Justice and Consumers of the EU Commission answers the letter sent by ECPMF and co-signed by OBCT and dozens of organisations: the committment to develop new rules to protect journalists and activists from strategic lawsuits is now a written promise. Here some text of the answer signed by Marie-Helene BOULANGER, Head of Unit

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SLAPP: an op-ed by Jessica Ní Mhainín on Euractiv

20/07/2020

The Senior Policy Research and Advocacy Officer at Index on Censorship gives an updated overview about strategic lawsuits against public participation and the present need to have an anti-SLAPP legislation at EU level

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