News

Italy: a call in support of Roberto Saviano, defendant in a defamation trial

16/11/2022

At the conclusion of the first hearing in the proceedings for aggravated defamation initiated by current Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni against Roberto Saviano in 2021, we express our solidarity with the Italian journalist for his commitment to the public interest

Serbia: Protect journalists and denounce death threats against them

15/11/2022

The partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response express deep concerns about the death threats against journalists of the daily independent newspaper Danas

“Predatorgate”, dozens of Greek ministers and journalists under surveillance

09/11/2022

New revelations reopen the surveillance scandal in Greece: dozens of journalists, politicians, and entrepreneurs were targeted by secret services and spyware. Who gave the orders?

by Alessio Giussani

Against SLAPPs, the first European conference

07/11/2022

The first European conference for the fight against SLAPPs, also known as gag or reckless complaints, was held in Strasbourg on 20 October, organised by the European Center for Press and Media Freedom and the Coalition against SLAPP in Europe. The report of the event

by Sielke Kelner

Romania: the interference of parties in the media

03/11/2022

A recent report by the Council of Europe exposes the flow of money that goes from political parties to the media in Romania, and the consequent subordination

by Mihaela Iordache

Italy: Concern about prosecutor’s demand for prison sentence for three journalists in response to their factual reporting

28/10/2022

Media freedom groups raise concern over Lecce’s prosecutor request that three journalists be jailed for six months in connection with their reporting about a labour lawsuit involving a former government minister. No journalist should face nor fear prison sentences for having published information in the public interest

Netherlands: Press freedom groups concerned about video with hostile rhetoric by Dutch politician against political reporter

25/10/2022

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and its partners express today their concerns about hostile rhetoric used against an independent journalist by Dutch political party Forum for Democracy (FvD). Such problematic language creates an intimidating climate for public interest journalism, normalises both online and physical targeting of the press, and can lead to self-censorship amongst the journalistic community. We urge the FvD to put an end to its dangerous smear campaign against independent media

Anti-SLAPP Declaration and Call to Action

24/10/2022

At the end of the Anti-SLAPP Conference, the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (Case) launched a declaration and call for action to protect journalists and public watchdogs from SLAPPs

Greece: Letter to Grigoris Dimitriadis, SLAPP Politician of the Year

21/10/2022

In this letter to the former general secretary of Greek Prime Minister's office, MFRR partners express concern about defamation claims filed against investigative journalists and media outlets

Malta: Civil society denounces government's lack of transparency in reforms and renews calls for full justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia

16/10/2022

Five years ago today, investigative reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia was brutally assassinated in a car bomb attack in Malta. Our thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues. Together with them, we continue to fight for full justice