Protection of business secrets does not rule out the right of the press to be informed by government - Legal Resources

On 25 March 2015 the Federal Administrative Court of Germany in Leipzig ruled that representatives of the press can demand information about facts that protect business secrets from government agencies, if their right to be informed outweighs the interest of business secret protection.

IREX Media Sustainability Index (MSI) - Monitoring tool

IREX Media Sustainability Index (MSI) considers developments over time, with a specific focus on economic sustainability; quality of journalism and management practices

Reporters Without Borders - Stakeholders

Reporters Without Borders was founded in 1985 in France, where it is registered as a non-profit organisation. RWB mission includes the monitoring, denounce and prevention of attacks on freedom of information worldwide. The organization specialised spheres of activity also include a focus on Internet Censorship and the New Media, and the support to journalists working in dangerous areas.

Reporters Without Borders has an active presence in five continents through a network of over 150 correspondents, and enjoys a consultant status at the United Nations and UNESCO.

Dunja Mijatovic - Let’s do something - HTML5 video

Dunja Mijatović, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media speaks about the challenges for the freedom of speech and freedom of media in the context of highlighted importance given to the online and offline security

Russian surveillance law - Legal Resources

In a case related to alleged mobile phone surveillance, the European Court of Human Rights decided that an editor in Russia was entitled to claim to be a victim of a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Anti-terrorist surveillance law - Legal Resources

After a case filed by a non-governmental watchdog organisation, the European Court of Human Rights has decided that the Hungarian anti-terrorist surveillance law violates the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)

Media Development Center (North Macedonia) - Support Centres

The Media Development Center (MDC) is a Skopje-based NGO, providing free legal and advocacy support to North Macedonian staff journalists, editors and media outlets. Person to be contacted for help is Dejan Georgievski (dejan@mdc.org.mk or +38978483102).

Hungarian Civil Liberties Union - Support Centres

Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (TASZ) is an NGO operating in Hungary. TASZ provides legal and advocacy support to staff and freelance journalists, editors, media outlets, civic journalists or bloggers, NGOs, and journalist associations on a pro-bono fee basis. The responsible person is Dalma Dojcsák, contactable via email ddalma@tasz.hu or phone +3612790046.

ARTICLE 19 - Support Centres

ARTICLE 19 is an international NGO based in London and operating all over Europe. Article 19 offers free legal advice and advocacy support for Staff journalists, editors, media outlets, civic journalists/bloggers, freelance journalists, NGOs, and/or journalist associations.

E-mail: info@article19.org

Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI) - Support Centres

Media Defence (also known as MLDI) provides legal defence to independent media, journalists and bloggers around the world who are under threat for their reporting. MLDI does this by administering an emergency defence fund, helping journalists, bloggers and independent media pay legal fees, and provides legal expertise to the lawyer(s) defending a case. 

MLDI also engages in strategic litigation to challenge repressive laws and expand the space for media freedom. Through this, it seeks to advance respect for international law and norms on the right to freedom of expression. MLDI submits cases to domestic courts and international tribunals and intervenes in cases already under way, as well as supporting national lawyers to do the same.

In countries where the threat of legal action is high and constant, MLDI provides financial support and legal expertise to national organisations that provide legal defence services to journalists.

MLDI also runs training and networking programmes for lawyers in the fields of media law and human rights. 

E-mail: info@mediadefence.org