European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) - Support Centres

ECPMF offers several support programmes for journalists at risk.

- Journalists-in-Residence programme: The ECPMF’s Journalists-in-Residence (JiR) programme offers temporary shelter for journalists facing harassment and intimidation as a direct result of their work. Journalists get the chance to rest and recuperate in a safe and discreet place, and also to continue their investigative work at their own pace and use their time in Leipzig for networking and finding solidarity. The JiR programme lasts for either three or up to six months, and includes a rent-free furnished apartment in Leipzig, as well as a monthly stipend to cover basic living costs. It also covers travel and visa expenses, health insurance, psychological counselling, and journalism-related training sessions on topics like digital security, mobile reporting and social media management. More info here .

- Legal support: ECPMF offers and coordinates legal support on matters related to free speech for individuals and organisations working in countries located geographically in Europe. More info here .

- Helpdesk: he Helpdesk is ECPMF central tool for responding to the individual needs of journalists at risk and under threat. ECPMF supports media professionals across Europe in order to find a place of safety in emergency cases and we assist exiled journalists in Germany, irrespective of their origin. More info here .

- Women’s Reporting Point: it aims to deepen a gender-specific aspect of the safety of journalists and encourages female media workers to report it if they are subjected to harassment or they witness it in their journalistic work. Reports received are given priority, treated confidentially and are only handled by women staff. More info here .

CMPF E-learning for journalists: Ethics and Security - Training

This online course provided by the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom (CMPF) addresses the dimension of ethics and security in journalistic work

Online Media Autonomy: Security Risks and Protection Mechanisms. Walking on the Digital Edge - Reports

The Guide “Online Media Autonomy: Security Risks and Protection Mechanisms. Walking on the Digital Edge” by Share Foundation assesses the conditions of online media and journalists in the Serbian digital environment

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe - Stakeholders

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. Specific attention is devoted to freedom of the media through the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media that observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States, providing early warning on violations of freedom of expression and promoting full compliance with OSCE press freedom commitments.

Media reform stalled in the slow lane. Soft censorship in Serbia - Reports

The document released by WAN-IFRA in collaoration with BIRN as part of the project on soft censorship around the world, reports on Soft Censorship practices and its effects on media liberty in Serbia

Promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression - Reports

The September 2015 report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and the protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye focuses on the protection of sources of information and whistle-blowers

Report by the CoE Commissioner for Human Rights following his visit to Serbia - Reports

This report by Nils Muižnieks, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe (CoE), following his visit to Serbia from 16 to 20 March 2015, assesses the state of human rights in Serbia, devoting attention to media freedom in the country. Among the issues raised by the Commisioner there is the importance of the ongoing process of privatization, the recurrence of attacks against journalists and the lack transparency in media funding

A difficult profession. Media freedom under attack in the Western Balkans - Reports

A 2015 Human Rights Watch report documents the hostile environment in which journalists work in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia

Defence Handbook for Journalists and Bloggers on Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Information Principles in International Law - Manuals

The Defence Handbook for Journalists and Bloggers is unique in its kind as it focuses specifically on the application of international legal principles to the work of journalists

Employment conditions of journalists in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia - Reports

A regional report by the South East European Partnership for Media Development on the employment conditions of journalists in SEE countries highlights the poor conditions of those working in the media sector