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

Around the corner, around the world. Reviving local news globally

An IPI global network report on how local news media around the world are rethinking everything in the digital age, and what they need now to sustain the vital journalism serving their communities

read more Local media

Towards a safer haven: Advancing safety of journalists amidst rising threats in the Netherlands

The report details the findings and recommendations of the MFRR’s online fact-finding mission that took place in February 2022, led by Free Press Unlimited (FPU) together with the European Centre of Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) and the International Press Institute (IPI), with the participation of the other MFRR partners plus the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, and in collaboration with the Nederlandse Vereniging voor Journalisten (NVJ)

read more Netherlands Safety of journalists

»Feindbild Journalist« 6 – Hate on the Doorstep

From 01 January 2015 to 01 March 2022, ECPMF has recorded 287 assaults against media professionals. Assaults include punching, kicking, pushing, and spitting, as well as assault with weapons. ECPMF is a non-profit organisation based in Leipzig that campaigns for press freedom throughout Europe

read more Germany Trust in media

The State of Democracy in 2021

The report monitors ten issues that are essential for evaluating the state of democracy and rule of law in a country. Among them, it analyses access to information of public interest, public media funding, threats and harassment against journalists and activists, freedom of association and of assembly in Romania

read more Romania Safety of journalists Access to information Trust in media Rule of Law

CJA's poll: at least 951 active lawsuits against journalists and media

Currently, there are at least 951 lawsuits active in Croatia against journalists and the media, from which the prosecutors are demanding the amount of almost € 10.3 million for damages, according to the results of a survey, conducted for the fourth year in a row by the Croatian Journalists' Association

read more SLAPP Croatia

Media Freedom Report 2022

The first annual report on media freedom in the EU, produced by the Civil Liberties Union for Europe to supplement the Rule of Law Report and supported by the Policy paper on media legislation

read more Media freedom Research

Controlling the Message: Challenges for independent reporting in Greece

The report details the findings and recommendations of its online fact-finding mission to Greece. The mission, involving interviews with more than thirty local stakeholders, was implemented by the MFRR together with Reporters Without Borders in December 2021

read more Greece

Media Capture in Bulgaria: Hidden Alliances and Vested Interests

Third report as part of IPI’s campaign on media capture: a new report on media freedom and independence in Bulgaria. The report explores the capture of media by vested business and political interests and the corrupting relationship between media owners and politicians as they compete for power and profit

read more Bulgaria Media capture Rule of Law

Media Capture in the Czech Republic: lessons learnt from the Babiš era and how to rebuild defences against Media Capture

This IPI report examines growing pressure on the public-service broadcaster Czech Television (CT) under the Babiš government. In this light, the report looks at key reform proposals to strengthen Czech public media’s defenses against future attempts to compromise its independence, and it also details how government advertising funds were directed to benefit Mafra media owned by Babiš and recommends policy reform to end the abuse of government funds to reward positive media coverage

read more Media capture Czech Republic

Media Freedom in Hungary Ahead of 2022 Election

A report published by the International Press Institute, assessing the challenges of independent journalism in Hungary

read more Hungary Media capture