State of SLAPPs in Serbia - Reports

The latest report by ARTICLE 19, the American Bar Association (ABA) Center for Human Rights, and the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS), analyses the provisions that are most commonly misused to file SLAPPs, strategic lawsuits against public participation, in Serbia. The report highlights patterns from multiple cases brought against journalists and activists by public officials and other powerful individuals in the past 10 years

Needs and Gaps Brief No. 1: Italy - Article

The first of a series of briefs presenting the results of the forthcoming Needs and Gaps analysis

Curated by Maria Francesca Rita

State of SLAPPs in Spain - Reports

A country report published by Article 19, to describe how journalists and media outlets in Spain are facing multiple lawsuits for exposing corruption, reporting on matters of public concern or covering protests

MFRR to hold press freedom mission to Greece - Article

The Media Freedom Rapid Response will hold an online fact-finding mission to Greece in the first half of December to assess increasing concerns about media freedom and the safety of journalists in the country

Poland: Journalists must be allowed access to Belarus border - Article

Since early September, access to the border with Belarus is denied to journalists. MFRR partners urge the Polish authorities to immediately allow journalists to re-enter the border zone, stressing the fact that the free and uninterrupted flow of information at the border is vital

Poland: access to public information must not be constrained - Article

On 15 December, the Constitutional Tribunal will hold a hearing regarding the bill that regulates access to public information. MFRR partners are highly concerned about new possible restrictions on the right to information, as imposing constraints on existing legislation would undermine public transparency and impede media outlets to fulfill their watchdog role

Slovenia: MFRR welcomes end to STA funding crisis - Article

A deal signed on 8 November restored state funding to STA for the rest of the year and agreed to a court settlement on overdue back payments. However, MFRR partners raise concerns that UKOM's oversight of STA's financial activities could infringe on editorial independence, while the deal could weaken the financial sustainability of STA in the long term

Journalists working from home? A labour right perspective for a hybrid future - Reports

A survey by the European Federation of Journalists aimed at mapping out the existing practices and gather information to develop better policy to ensure the fail and safe working conditions for journalists when telework/home office practices continue to exist after the pandemic

Romania: filmmakers badly beaten while shooting documentary on illegal logging - Article

On 16 September, two filmmakers and an activist were attacked and badly beaten by a group of 20 armed people while documenting the issue of illegal logging. MFRR partners call on the Romanian authorities to ensure all those responsible are brought to justice

The Resilience Report 2020: How Europe’s independent media dealt with the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 - Reports

This report published by the European Journalism Centre in partnership with Evens Foundation is based on the Resilience Reports, a series of in-depth studies looking at how dozens of news organisations across Europe dealt with the pandemic during the first wave