To protect media freedom we need to have an accurate picture as to the threats facing journalists and media workers across Europe. Mapping Media Freedom offers everyone a way to report media freedom violations in real time. All you need is an internet connection.
So far in 2020, 241 alerts have been uploaded, verified and published to the platform from 30 countries. These include everything from physical attacks that require hospitalization, arrests and detention, vexatious legal actions, harassment and smear campaigns to attempts to censor journalistic output, ban journalists from government events or bringing forward laws restricting media freedom. All these actions, large and small, happen every day and prevent journalists from being able to do their job. If these threats are undocumented or unaddressed, they are normalised and journalists will continue to be at risk.
But this is not normal and media professionals need to be able to work free from violence, intimidation, legal actions or censorship. By uploading every threat or violation to Mapping Media Freedom we can direct support where it is needed and gain a more accurate picture of the media environment.
It couldn’t be simpler to upload an alert:
- Go to: https://www.mappingmediafreedom.org/report-it
- Add the subject (a title for the incident i.e. Journalist threatened at protest in Paris)
- Include a description of the incident with as much detail as possible to help us verify the alert. This can include hyperlinks
- Include the date of incident
- Add the location
- Press submit
That’s it! Our network of experts from ECPMF, European Federation of Journalists and the International Press institute will verify every alert before they are published.
When an alert is verified and published we can work with our partners to get support and solidarity where it is needed, so by taking this quick step you are protecting media freedom in Europe.
Tags: Safety of journalists Research Media freedom
This content is part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries. The project is co-funded by the European Commission.
