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

How to protect journalists and other media actors? Implementation guide

Implementation Guide by the Council of Europe to selected topics under the Protection and Prosecution pillars of the Guidelines of Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4 on the protection of journalism and safety of journalists and other media actors

read more Safety of journalists Media freedom

SLAPP in the EU context

A research requested by the EU Commission about SLAPP, strategic lawsuits against public participation

read more SLAPP European policies and legislation Croatia Italy Malta Hungary France

Covid and Free Speech. The impact of COVID-19 and ensuing measures on freedom of expression in Council of Europe member states

Background Paper, Ministerial Conference of the Council of Europe, Cyprus 2020: Artificial Intelligence – Intelligent Politics, challenges and opportunities for media and democracy

read more COVID-19

Media Freedom made in Scandinavia: six examples of best practices

This report of a fact-finding mission to Scandinavia organised by ECPMF with the participation of EFJ and OBCT shows policies and approaches that can inspire change for the better, suggesting what governments and media actors can do to defend media freedom

read more Media capture SLAPP Freedom of expression Media freedom Media ownership Media pluralism Sweden Denmark

Advice concerning the introduction of anti-SLAPP legislation to protect freedom of expression in the European Union

The paper analyses the current EU legal framework and recommends that the European Union adopt with urgency a series of measures to limit the abuse of defamation laws and the chilling effect on press freedom

read more SLAPP Freedom of expression Media freedom

Hands Off Press Freedom: Attacks on Media in Europe Must Not Become a New Normal

2020 Annual Report by the partner organisations to the Council of Europe Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists

read more Safety of journalists SLAPP Council of Europe Member States


Internet Freedoms in the Western Balkan Region

Developed in cooperation with the SHARE Foundation, the report presents in-depth research on the state of internet freedoms in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Albania. It provides a comparative overview of specific indicators – according to the European Convention on Human Rights – and develops a set of recommendations for governments of these countries to improve the state of citizens’ freedoms online

read more Digital rights Digital safety Western Balkans


Trust in media 2020

Traditional media remain the most trusted in Europe as citizens turn to Public Service Media for trustworthy news, especially in times of crisis

read more Trust in media Public broadcasting Social media