Daphne Caruana Galizia: Landmark Public Inquiry recommendations must be implemented - Article

We the undersigned organisations welcome the conclusions and recommendations of the milestone Public Inquiry into the assassination of Malta’s leading investigative journalist, Daphne Caruana Galizia. Now is the moment for the Maltese authorities to consider and accept the Board’s detailed recommendations and to publish a plan of action on how they will be implemented in a non-partisan manner without delay and ensure better protection of journalists going forward

Turkey: CFWIJ demands action to end police brutality against journalists - Article

The Coalition for Women in Journalism launches a petition that recognizes police violence in Turkey as one of the most urgent issues

Freelance Journalism Assembly - Stakeholders

Freelance journalists from all across the world came together for the Freelance journalism empowerment conference 2021 to gain new skills, create meaningful connections and celebrate the power of the community to make a difference.

The Assembly is a free programme offering online events, pitching and safety sessions, pitching rounds, resources and a community matchmaker.

It is a project by the European Journalism Centre (EJC) with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The website offers access to several resources, such as online training sessions designed to build skills and provide the members of the Assembly with practical tools, one-on-one mentorship activities and online unconferences, i.e. participant-driven meetings where freelancers can connect and exchange knowledge, experiences and ideas.

The Situation of Human Rights Defenders in Selected OSCE Participating States - Reports

The report provides an analysis of findings of ODIHR's assessment visits to the Czech Republic, Georgia, Italy, Mongolia and Montenegro, undertaken as part of the first country-specific assessment cycle focused on human rights defenders

European Commission Recommendations on the Safety of Journalists: MFRR submission - Article

Following the European News Media Forum, the MFRR drafted a submission to the European Commission as part of their proposed Recommendations on the Safety of Journalists

Turkey: Concern over proposals to introduce new regulation of “fake” and “foreign-funded” news - Article

OBCT co-signed a statement condemning the proposal to introduce a new regulation of "fake" and "foreign-funded" news in Turkey. If approved, these measures will further undermine media freedom and pluralism in the country

UK: oil firm whistleblower Jonathan Taylor released - Article

On Wednesday 7 July 2021, the request to extradite Jonathan Taylor has been formally rejected by the Minister of Justice of Croatia. This decision is a victory for the public's right to be informed, as whistleblowers play a vital role in our democracies

Slovenia: a letter to EU Presidents - Article

MFRR partners shared with Charles Michel, President of the European Council, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament, the newly published report "Press Freedom Deteriorating in Slovenia under Latest Janša Government"

Prison for defamation: a partially good news, the decision of the Italian Constitutional Court - Article

The MFRR partners welcome the decision of the Italian Constitutional Court but ask for more engagement by the Parliament: a reform of media laws is necessary to protect media freedom in the country

Resolution 2382 (2021) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe: Media freedom, public trust and the people’s right to know - Legal Resources

With 111 votes in favor, 4 against and 16 abstensions, the PACE adopted a resolution promoted one year and a half ago by the Italian Roberto Rampi. The motion stated that "today, human rights, democracy and the rule of law are challenged by post-truth narratives, which are unfortunately gaining strength and public support. At the same time, the concentration and lack of transparency of media ownership hamper true media pluralism, and recurrent attempts to manipulate public opinion undermine constructive public debate. In this alarming context, people are losing their entitlement to a free and conscious self-determination, and public trust in media and democratic institutions is declining"