News

Czech Republic: Public media funding bill raises concerns over compatibility with EMFA

23/04/2026

A new government bill which would overhaul the funding model for the Czech public media risks financially weakening the broadcasters, eroding safeguards for their financial independence and violating EMFA, MFRR partners warn today

Italy: Landmark ruling in press freedom case

17/04/2026

The Media Freedom Rapid Response consortium welcomes the acquittal of Roberto Saviano in a case brought by Minister Matteo Salvini, a landmark ruling for press freedom in Italy

Fist published by OBCT, also available in Italian

Hungary: Media freedom reform must be priority for incoming Tisza government

16/04/2026

OBCT joins MFRR partners in calling on the new Hungarian government to make media freedom reforms a priority

Serbia: Total impunity entrenched 27 years after killing of editor Slavko Ćuruvija

10/04/2026

Twenty-seven years after the assassination of Serbian newspaper publisher and editor Slavko Ćuruvija in Belgrade, the undersigned media freedom organisations mark the upcoming anniversary of the killing by lamenting the complete impunity for those responsible for one of the most serious attacks on journalism in the country’s history.

Serbian authorities must stop the spiral of violence against journalists

31/03/2026

Media freedom in Serbia remains trapped in a downward spiral amidst record levels of physical violence against journalists, death threats and online smear campaigns, alarming levels of impunity, and tight political control over the media landscape, a coalition of media freedom organisations concluded.

EU rule of law erodes further as Commission struggles to respond

30/03/2026

Examining the most significant infringements of justice, corruption, media freedom, and checks and balances across the European Union (EU) in 2025, the Liberties Rule of Law Report 2026 has found stagnation as the dominant trend in the rule of law, with very limited progress among Member States

International organisations urge Kosovo government to reverse media freedom decline

27/03/2026

Media freedom in Kosovo has experienced a period of decline since 2023 amidst a series of negative developments, which calls for immediate political action by the government, an international media freedom mission concluded today

Hungary: Espionage charges against Szabolcs Panyi mark a dangerous step toward Orbán’s authoritarian rule

27/03/2026

OBCT joins MFRR partners in standing in solidarity with Hungarian journalist Szabolcs Panyi, who faces espionage charges in response to his investigations regarding Russian interference in Orban's election campaign

Albania: Constitutional Court ruling on TikTok ban reinforces freedom of expression protections

16/03/2026

The SafeJournalists Network (SJN), the undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcome the ruling by the Constitutional Court of Albania, which found that the Council of Ministers decision suspending nationwide access to the social media platform TikTok for one year constituted a violation of freedom of expression and freedom of the press

Council of Europe Platform partners and other partners to conduct fact-finding mission on media freedom in Kosovo

11/03/2026

From 24 to 25 March 2026, partner organisations of the Council of Europe Platform on the Safety of Journalists and other organisations will conduct a two-day fact-finding mission to Prishtina, Kosovo. The purpose of the mission is to assess the challenges to media freedom in the country and to discuss the possible solutions with media stakeholders and authorities