North Macedonia: International press freedom mission finds fragile progress in need of further support - Article

This week OBCT joined MFRR partners in a fact-finding mission to North Macedonia organised by the Association of Journalists of Macedonia. While the coalition recognises an improvement in media workers' working conditions, it also warns that the landscape of journalism in the country remains fragile

Republika Srpska, the criminalisation of defamation and the squeeze on media freedom - Article

The parliament of Republika Srpska approved in the first instance a bill to amend the criminal code which reintroduces the crime of defamation. Now sixty days of public debate and then back to the assembly. A dangerous step backwards for freedom of expression 

By Arman Fazlić

Originally published by OBCT, also available in ITA and BHS

Albania: Press freedom organisations and journalist associations call for swift justice following deadly attack on Top Channel - Article

OBCT joins MFRR partners in urging Albania’s authorities to pursue the perpetrators who shot dead Pal Kola, Albanian TV station Top channel’s security guard

France: Three journalists summoned by security agency over suspected violation of national defence secrecy - Article

OBCT joins its MFRR partners in expressing its concern regarding the questioning of French journalists from Disclose and Radio France 

Bulgarian far-right party’s ‘foreign agent’ bill sparks media freedom concerns - Article

Press freedom groups raise alarm that law appears intended to target critical media

UN-EU High-level Policy Dialogue on safety of journalists and media freedom - Article

Under the title "Protecting the safety of journalists, media freedom and pluralism in the European Union: challenges and opportunities", a full day of discussions and meetings will analyze the state of media freedom and safety of journalists, collecting recommendations and stories. On 24 February 2022, from 9:30 to 18:00, the event will be both in-person in Brussels, and online

SLAPP: a new engagement by the EU Commission DG Justice - Article

The Directorate-General Justice and Consumers of the EU Commission answers the letter sent by ECPMF and co-signed by OBCT and dozens of organisations: the committment to develop new rules to protect journalists and activists from strategic lawsuits is now a written promise. Here some text of the answer signed by Marie-Helene BOULANGER, Head of Unit

Women harassment on social media: new tools to identify abuse - Article

A team of Columbia researchers is developing new computational tools designed to automatically identify abusive, offensive and harassing speech on social media platforms. Women journalists are asked to contribute to the research

Malta: Renewed call for justice 1,000 days after the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia - Article

Together with other media freedom and human rights organisations, OBCT again demands justice for all those involved in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was also a victim of several SLAPPs. Here the text of the call

New attacks against journalists during protests and demonstrations - Article

IPI drafts an overview of the attacks suffered by reporters and media workers in the first six months of 2020: the situation is alarming and the MFRR partners raise further concerns inviting authorities to protect journalists working during protests and demonstrations. Recommendations for States and police officers include the invitation to develop cooperation schemes