Reports and papers

Analyses on specific aspects related to press and media freedom, performed and published by research centres, non-governmental organizations and public bodies

2025 Rule of Law Report – Country Chapter: Italy

The 2025 Rule of Law Report highlights both progress and persistent challenges in Italy's media landscape, including regulatory reforms and funding for public service media. Concerns remain over journalist safety, legal pressures, and stalled defamation law reform

read more Italy Freedom of expression Media freedom Media pluralism Safety of journalists SLAPP Public broadcasting

2025 Rule of Law Report – Country Chapter: Romania

The 2025 Rule of Law Report highlights persistent challenges to media independence in Romania, including opaque political advertising, weak regulatory enforcement, limited ownership transparency, and stalled reforms to public service media governance

read more Romania Rule of Law Media freedom Media ownership Safety of journalists SLAPP

Challenges to the Rule of Law and Media Freedom in Montenegro

This shadow report provides an updated overview of the media landscape in Montenegro, highlighting the most pressing issues affecting the sector. Particular attention is given to political influence over the public broadcaster, the media regulator, and the broader impact of foreign actors

read more Montenegro media freedom Rule of Law

Shadow Report on Media Freedom in North Macedonia

This shadow report offers an updated overview of North Macedonia’s media landscape. It highlights both positive developments and persisting or emerging challenges. The report also includes a set of recommendations addressed to national authorities and EU stakeholders, urging decisive action to uphold media freedom in line with European and international standards

read more North Macedonia Media freedom Rule of Law

What’s in a joke? Assessing humor in free speech jurisprudence

Primarily aimed at legal professionals, yet also valuable to policymakers or advocacy groups, this toolkit is conceived to provide orientation in assessing humour in the context of free speech adjudication, exploring the specific challenges it poses, the legal safeguards protecting humour and satire as well as the limitations of their exercise, to present concrete interpretative tools in free speech cases, while also considering the relevant intersections with intellectual property law

read more Freedom of expression Legal harassment legal protection SLAPP

Submissions Open for the 2025 Luchetta Award

The Luchetta Foundation has launched the 22nd Premio Luchetta, honoring Marco Luchetta, Alessandro Saša Ota, and Dario D’Angelo. Submissions are due by Wednesday, 25 June 2025

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Am I facing a SLAPP?

An interactive tool for self-assessment supplied by Index on Censorship launched on May 27th, “Am I facing a SLAPP?” was developed by leading anti-SLAPP experts in order to offer a first evaluating instrument to raise awareness and empower SLAPP targets to quickly assess their situation

read more SLAPP Freedom of expression Legal harassment

Liberties' Media Freedom Report 2025

The Media Freedom Report 2025 (Report) is the fourth annual report on media freedom in the European Union (EU) produced by the Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties). It is based on data and input from Liberties’ member and partner organisations and complements Liberties’ annual Rule of Law Report

read more Media freedom Rule of Law European policies and legislation

Study Trip to Thuringia for Young Journalists organized by Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Paris

Applications are open for aspiring and young journalists to join a study trip to Thuringia, focused on memory, history, and the rise of the far right

read more Germany Freedom of expression

CMPF Summer School for Journalists and Media Practitioners

The call for the 2025 CMPF Summer School for Journalists and Media Practitioners is now open. From June 23 to June 27 2025, this year’s edition will be exploring journalism, tech, and democracy in a rapidly evolving information landscape.

read more Digital rights Media freedom Media pluralism