News

Suppressing Stories: How legal threats and challenges impact investigative journalism

04/05/2021

An online event organized by the Foreign Policy Centre (FPC), Index on Censorship and the Justice for Journalists Foundation: Tuesday 4 May from 5 to 6.30 pm

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ENI's abuse of SLAPPs: a letter to the European Commission

29/04/2021

Together with several ngos, we co-signed a letter to the European Commission highlighting the need for the upcoming European Commission’s initiative on SLAPPs to include a legislative proposal for an anti-SLAPP Directive that will protect all watchdogs from SLAPPs and legal intimidation tactics, currently used extensively by fossil fuel companies in Europe. On this occasion, the attention goes to the use of SLAPPs by the partly government-owned Italian oil company Eni Spa (“Eni”), who is suing the Italian paper Il Fatto Quotidiano for 29 articles on the company's activities.

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Albania: a letter to the new leaders asking to protect journalists

27/04/2021

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) calls on all state bodies in Albania to ensure journalists, media workers and sources are protected and able to work freely

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Launch of the Report of the CoE's Safety of Journalists Platform

27/04/2021

Ahead of Press Freedom Day on 3 May, the 14 partner organisations to the Council of Europe’s Platform to Promote the protection of journalism and the safety of journalists will publish their annual report, where they examine the threats to media freedom in Europe. The event on 28 April is organized to launch the report

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Romania: concern about abusive legal action by former bishop against journalists and outlets

26/04/2021

The undersigned civil society organisations are concerned about the legal action taken by a former bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Church against The Centre for Investigative Media (CIM), Dela0.ro and three journalists, in relation to their reporting on alleged sexual abuse. We consider the proceedings have many of the characteristics of a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) and hope the courts will deal with them swiftly with due respect for European human rights law and standards

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World Press Freedom Conference 2021

23/04/2021

The 2021 Global Conference is hosted by UNESCO and the Government of Namibia. It will take place on 29 April - 3 May in Windhoek. The event will be a physical and digital experience combining virtual and in-presence participation

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Media Freedom Rapid Response concerned about attacks and threats to journalists reporting on agro-business in Brittany

22/04/2021

On Earth Day 2021, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) is concerned about repeated attacks, threats and intimidation of journalists and media workers reporting on the agro-food industry in Brittany. These attacks, legal threats, harassment and intimidation must end and we call on all relevant public authorities to take the necessary measures to enable critical reporting on this issue

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Demanding justice for Lyra McKee and safety for Northern Ireland journalists

18/04/2021

MFRR calls for justice for Lyra McKee

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Greece: demanding swift investigations on the murder of a journalist

12/04/2021

Giorgos Karaivaz was murdered on Friday 9 April in front of his house. The MFRR demands a robust response

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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

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