Romania: a joint letter on the case of Emilia Șercan - Article

OBCT joins a group of media freedom organisations in a letter to Romanian authorities concerning the case of Emilia Șercan. We express our concern about the delay in the investigations into the publication of her stolen photos and the alleged leak of key elements of the investigation into this offense. Romanian translation is available below

Media and surveillance, the Predator scandal shakes Greece - Article

As Greece loses 38 positions in the annual Reporters Without Borders ranking compared to 2021, the public learns about the surveillance of investigative journalist Thanasis Koukakis. The spyware used is called Predator and it is still unclear who is behind it

by Alessio Giussani

New report by the Media Freedom Rapid Response finds systemic challenges to press freedom in Greece - Article

Today, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) publishes the report “Controlling the Message: Challenges for independent reporting in Greece”, which details the findings and recommendations of its online fact-finding mission to Greece

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

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

Hungary: MFRR highly alarmed by Pegasus surveillance revelations - Article

A leak revealed the use of the Pegasus spyware program against journalists, human rights defenders and lawyers. MFRR partners call the implicated governments, which include the Hungarian government, to immediately stop using the spyware

Portugal: four journalists under illegal police surveillance - Article

The European Federation of Journalists denounces a clear violation of the confidentiality of journalists’ sources and demands urgent clarification from the General Prosecutor

Greek police urged to explain detention of German documentary crew - Article

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) sent a letter to Greek authorities seeking an urgent explanation for the recent detention of a German documentary on the island of Samos

Italian journalist beaten over reporting on alleged judicial corruption - Article

As part of the MFRR, IPI calls for thorough investigation into brazen daylight attack on Michele Santagata

Slovakia: the last hearing of the trial for Ján Kuciak's murder - Article

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today renewed its call for justice for Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová, as a court in Pezinok prepares to issue a verdict in the trial of their suspected killers. The court announced that the hearing of 5 August has been cancelled and rescheduled until Sep 3. IPI is going to attend expected verdict announcement