What’s in a joke? Assessing humor in free speech jurisprudence - Reports

Primarily aimed at legal professionals, yet also valuable to policymakers or advocacy groups, this toolkit is conceived to provide orientation in assessing humour in the context of free speech adjudication, exploring the specific challenges it poses, the legal safeguards protecting humour and satire as well as the limitations of their exercise, to present concrete interpretative tools in free speech cases, while also considering the relevant intersections with intellectual property law

Poland: New president urged to commit to press freedom reforms - Article

Following the victory of Karol Nawrocki in Poland’s presidential election on 1 June, the undersigned media freedom organisations today call on the president elect to commit to building a cross-party consensus required to bolster press freedom and strengthen Polish democracy

Croatia: Weekly Novosti faces drastic funding cuts amid political pressure - Article

MFRR partners condemn the drastic cuts in funding for the weekly magazine Novosti, the only print media for the Serb minority in Croatia

Commissioner Virkkunen acknowledges crucial role of journalism in Europe’s Defense and Preparedness agenda - Article

Partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) met with European Commission Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, on 27 April 2025, to address increasing challenges concerning the economic viability, online safety of journalists, and the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the media landscape

Free expression organisations in solidarity with the award-winning artist and human rights defender Badiucao - Article

More than 40 organisations from around the world stand in solidarity with the award-winning Chinese-Australian political cartoonist, artist and human rights defender Badiucao as he faces legal harassment in relation to his protest art

CMPF Summer School for Journalists and Media Practitioners - Reports

The call for the 2025 CMPF Summer School for Journalists and Media Practitioners is now open. From June 23 to June 27 2025, this year’s edition will be exploring journalism, tech, and democracy in a rapidly evolving information landscape. 

SafeJournalists Network and Media Freedom Rapid Response: TikTok ban in Albania threatens freedom of expression ahead of general elections - Article

SafeJournalists Network (SJN), the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners, and civil society organizations express serious concern regarding the Albanian Council of Ministers' decision to suspend nationwide access to the TikTok platform for 12 months

Croatia: Tackling political pressure, legal challenges and precarity to revive media freedom - Article

Outdated media laws, compromised public media independence, SLAPPs, as well as mounting economic, political, and physical pressures are undermining journalism and media freedom in Croatia, as outlined in the latest Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) report

Slovakia: New report highlights growing media freedom crisis - Article

Media freedom in Slovakia is facing a deep crisis, serving as a critical test case for the European Union’s commitment to safeguarding media freedom and democratic values, Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partner organisations warn today in a new report

Self-defence against SLAPPs in Serbia - Article

In Serbia, the investigative newspaper KRIK is the target of frequent legal harassment. To counteract it, the editorial team has developed strategies based on civil society solidarity, public denunciation and monitoring of trials

By Massimo Moratti

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA.