News

Spain: Fine against photographer underscores urgent need for reform of Gag Law

21/06/2022

Media freedom organisations urge the Spanish government to undertake a reform of the controversial Ley Mordaza in line with international human rights standards

Temporary Relocations. A toolkit

14/06/2022

This summary of issues, open questions, recommendations, and suggestions on how to implement a residency programme for journalists under pressure is the result of OBCT research consulting existing literature and conducting several interviews with managers and beneficiaries. This 10-page document goes through the main aspects of the implementation of a journalists-in-residence programme, highlighting 19 issues that are considered to be the most problematic and interesting at the same time. The toolkit is also accessible as a pdf.

Curated by Paola Rosà, May 2022

Turkey: international groups call on parliament to reject the “disinformation” bill as a tool of digital censorship

08/06/2022

Law designed to expand censorship online and criminalize free flow of information

PATFox: training for lawyers to identify SLAPPs

03/06/2022

Pioneering anti-SLAPP Training for Freedom of Expression seeks to train the lawyers defending journalists and media organisations, NGOs and activists against companies and governmental figures using lawfare to shut down legitimate criticism

Renate Schroeder, EFJ: Why we need a strong Media Freedom Act in Europe

30/05/2022

An analysis by the Director of the European Federation of Journalists

Italy: Concern after authorities search Report editorial office and home of journalist

27/05/2022

The partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today express serious concern over the searches carried out by police at the offices of Rai 3’s investigative programme ‘Report’ and the home of investigative journalist Paolo Mondani. We urge the Italian Anti-Mafia Investigative Directorate (DIA) to provide assurances that the confidentiality of journalists’ sources will not be jeapardised and to reaffirm its respect for the principles of press freedom

A series of Thematic Directories. WOMEN JOURNALISTS

26/05/2022

Another issue of our guides to the database of the Resource Centre, to help users navigate and understand what is available and where to find it. This directory is based on OBCT research about women journalists and their special needs for support, and gives an orientation among EU measures and support centres run by ngos. Also available as a pdf

Curated by Maria Francesca Rita

Serbia: Tendering process of national FTA TV licences must be open and transparent

25/05/2022

Partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) are concerned about the lack of a transparent process for the allocation of national free to air (FTA) TV licences in Serbia and of a Development Strategy for radio and audiovisual media services

Needs and Gaps Brief No. 4: Sweden

19/05/2022

The fourth of a series of briefs presenting the results of the Needs and Gaps analysis

Curated by Maria Francesca Rita

Media and surveillance, the Predator scandal shakes Greece

19/05/2022

As Greece loses 38 positions in the annual Reporters Without Borders ranking compared to 2021, the public learns about the surveillance of investigative journalist Thanasis Koukakis. The spyware used is called Predator and it is still unclear who is behind it

by Alessio Giussani