Romania: Renewed call for action after fresh smear campaign against Emilia Șercan - Article

OBCT joins media freedom organizations in expressing their solidarity to Romanian investigative journalist Emilia Șercan. We condemn the latest smear campaign launched against her and urge Romanian authorities to prosecute the authors of the harassment Șercan has been subjected to

Turkey, earthquake fall out takes political turn - Article

The devastating earthquakes that shook Turkey on February 6 have uncovered a divided country, where many denounce the earthquakes as an announced tragedy. The government responds to the protests by tightening censorship

By Kenan Behzat Sharpe

Originally published by OBCT, also available in ITA

Call on Turkish authorities to abstain from further restrictions on media in the aftermath of devastating earthquakes - Article

The undersigned partners in the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) express their condolences with the victims of the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and reiterate the need for a free media atmosphere as a crucial element of all disaster relief processes

Greece: MFRR alarmed by latest revelations of spying on journalists - Article

OBCT joins the undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response in reiterating the call on the Greek authorities to provide transparency and accountability for the severe attacks on press freedom and privacy, and to put an immediate halt to surveillance of journalists 

Romania: plagiarism, a gateway to corruption - Article

In this conversation with Emilia Șercan, investigative journalist and senior lecturer at the University of Bucharest, we explored the state of the art of Romanian journalism and reflected upon the different meanings of plagiarism in a country where corruption remains rampant

By Sielke Kelner

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 

Latvia: Media regulator urged not to revoke Dozhd license pending court review - Article

Together with our MFRR partners, we express concern over the decision to revoke the broadcast license of the independent TV station Dozhd: independent Russian journalism should be provided a safe refuge in Europe

Multiple journalists threatened and harassed in Serbia, authorities must take urgent action - Article

OBCT joins the Media Freedom Rapid Response partners and the Safe Journalists Network in condemning in the strongest terms the intimidation and often orchestrated campaigns by pro-government media outlets and members of the public to silence journalists in Serbia

Italy: Newspaper Domani sued for defamation by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni - Article

At the conclusion of the preliminary hearing in the proceedings for aggravated defamation initiated by current Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni against Emiliano Fittipaldi and Stefano Feltri, respectively correspondent and editor of the daily national newspaper “Domani”, we call on Prime Minister Meloni to withdraw the defamation lawsuit and to initiate a reform process targeting defamation laws in the country

Slovenia: Media freedom groups back legislative efforts to depoliticise public media - Article

We welcome the initiative of the Slovenian coalition government to reduce the influence of politics over RTV SLO. The draft proposal is an important first step towards the depoliticisation of the broadcaster