Who is afraid of journalists? Report of the MFRR fact-finding mission to Italy 4-6 April 2022 - Reports

From 4 to 6 April a delegation of the MFRR, Media Freedom Rapid Response, was in Italy for an intense 3-day of meetings organised by OBC Transeuropa

Czech Republic: Independence of public broadcasters must be insulated against future attacks - Article

Recent boost in press freedom should drive legislative reform for public service media

Interviewing Journalism II. Needs and gaps in support for women and local journalists - Article

As part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response, OBC Transeuropa published a new needs and gaps analysis building on the findings of the research carried out in 2021. The study, conducted by Maria Francesca Rita, focuses on the needs of women and local journalists and the gaps in the existing support mechanisms

Albania: Investigations needed over intimidation of journalists reporting on prosecutor’s vetting - Article

Together with other media freedom and journalists’ organisations, we sent a letter to the Albanian Commissioner for the Right to Access to Information and Personal Data Protection to express our serious concern over the recent private data breaches and intimidation of at least two journalists

Open Letter to European Commissioners for a strong Media Freedom Act - Article

On the occasion of Europe Day 2022, OBCT joined 16 journalists, human rights and press freedom organisations in reiterating the vital role of a free, independent and pluralistic media in safeguarding Europe’s values

Estonia: Criminal fines for journalists over public interest reporting send dangerous signal - Article

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners are concerned about the imposition of fines on two journalists and a news outlet in Estonia after they published information about pre-trial criminal proceedings without seeking permission or informing the prosecutor’s office

Strengthening press freedom at home and abroad: 10 recommendations for the world’s democracies - Article

With authoritarianism and illiberalism on the rise, democratic governments must lead by example. Ten recommendations by the International Press Institute

Needs and Gaps Brief No. 3: Bulgaria - Article

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

Curated by Maria Francesca Rita

Turkey: Spectre of a Digital Lockdown - Reports

The report led by IPI examines government efforts to increase digital censorship through further control of online information in the build up to the next elections due in 2023. The report is based on the media freedom mission led by IPI in October 2021 which met with journalists, politicians, and the Constitutional Court and draws on IPI’s media monitoring programme conducted under the #FreeTurkeyJournalists campaign

Media freedom in Croatia: the problem is not the laws, but their application - Legal Resources

951 trials against journalists, claims for damages for 10.3 million Euros. Numbers that show how the media world in Croatia is under pressure. We talked about it with Vanja Juric, a lawyer specialising in freedom of expression

by Giovanni Vale