MFRR Monitoring Report: January - June 2021 - Reports

The MFRR monitoring report summarises press and media freedom violations across EU Member States and candidate countries from January 2021 until June 2021. Throughout the reporting period, 272 alerts have been documented, ranging from verbal attacks to legal incidents. 438 individuals or media entities in 26 countries have been subject to one or more press freedom violations

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

Poland: Journalist must not be jailed for refusing to disclose source - Article

The undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today call on the District Prosecutor's Office in the Polish city of Gdansk to drop its legal case against Gazeta Wyborcza reporter Katarzyna Włodkowska and to respect the journalist’s right of source confidentiality protected under the European Convention of Human Rights

Slovenia: Concerns over controversial changes to RTV programming - Article

The undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today express concern over proposed modifications to news programming at the Slovenian public television RTV, which would reduce the broadcaster’s ability to inform the public and scrutinise power. We therefore urge the broadcaster’s management to enter into dialogue with its editorial board to ensure adjustments are proportionate and in the best interest of public interest reporting

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

IPI Job Announcement: Head of Advocacy - Article

Deadline 8 December: the International Press Institute (IPI) is seeking an enthusiastic, experienced Head of Advocacy to drive the organization’s global advocacy and campaign work in support of press freedom and independent journalism at a critical time

Remembering Daphne - Article

International civil society coalition marks fourth anniversary of the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia with renewed call for justice

Greece: Justice Ministry must withdraw proposed amendments on ‘false news’ - Article

MFRR partners understand the threat that misinformation poses, but the passing of heavy-handed legislation is not the correct response, as subjective interpretation of a vaguely worded law can open the door to censorship of legitimate reporting

Albania: MFRR urges government to scrap new Media and Information Agency - Article

MFRR partners express concern over a new Media and Information Agency that would centralise control over the government's public relations within a single entity. Until greater safeguards can be established to ensure the agency operates in a fair and transparent manner, we urge the government to cancel its establishment