Serbia: One year of unpunished attacks on journalist Dinko Gruhonjić, culture of impunity must end - Article

The members of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium and partner organisations of the Council of Europe’s Safety of Journalists Platform are deeply concerned about the ongoing year-long persecution campaign against journalist Dinko Gruhonjić, programme Director of the Independent Association of Journalists of Vojvodina (NDNV) and Associate Professor at the Department of Media Studies at the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad

Croatia: Tackling political pressure, legal challenges and precarity to revive media freedom - Article

Outdated media laws, compromised public media independence, SLAPPs, as well as mounting economic, political, and physical pressures are undermining journalism and media freedom in Croatia, as outlined in the latest Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) report

Croatia: Brutal assault on Dario Topić must be punished, swift activation of police safety protocols a positive step forward - Article

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners and the SafeJournalists Network (SJN) strongly condemn the brutal attack on Dario Topić, editor-in-chief of the local media portal Komarilos.com. The consortium calls for the perpetrator to be held accountable without delay, in line with the Croatian Penal Code which prescribes higher penalties for attacks on journalists

SLAPP in Croatia, a plague - Article

Over a thousand lawsuits filed between 2016 and 2023 against journalists and media outlets, nearly half of which are SLAPPs, or strategic lawsuits against public participation. These are frivolous lawsuits that aim to silence freedom of expression

By Giovanni Vale 

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA

Croatia: Major challenges ahead to improve media freedom - Article

The international media freedom mission to Croatia has highlighted several significant concerns regarding media law reform, transparency of state advertising, and the safety of journalists including SLAPPs. While some promising initiatives have been noted, the path is still long ahead for Croatia to ensure a free and independent media landscape

MFRR Monitoring Report: January - June 2024 - Article

In the first six months of 2024, the Media Freedom Rapid Response recorded 756 media freedom alerts across Europe 

Croatia, media under attack - Article

Media campaigns and even kidnapping threats to marginalise and silence an inconvenient media outlet: this is what is happening in Croatia to the maritime affairs website "morski.hr", an episode that reopens concerns about freedom of the press in the country

By Giovanni Vale

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA

Croatia: International mission to assess media freedom challenges - Article

On 9 September, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) will begin a press freedom mission to Croatia. The delegation will meet online with government representatives, journalists and journalistic associations, civil society, and renowned media experts to discuss the most pressing challenges to media freedom and pluralism in the country

Mapping Media Freedom Monitoring Report: January - June 2024 - Reports

The report analyzes and compares the nature and type of media freedom-related incidents witnessed in the EU member states and candidate countries in the first half of 2024  

International organisations call on the EU to act against Israel’s killings of Palestinian journalists - Article

OBCT joins 59 other organizations in condemning Israeli authorities’ killings of Palestinian journalists, and calling for the suspension of EU-Israel Association Agreement and further EU targeted sanctions