Disputes over access - A Study on Journalists’ Practices and Freedom of Information Policies in the Baltics - Reports

Despite their high rankings in the World Press Freedom Index, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania face notable deficiencies in freedom of information. Supported by RSF, Balticada Investigations Studio conducted a study on the challenges that media professionals face when trying to access public data in the region

Italy, journalism and the rule of law - Article

In a country where media freedom and pluralism are formally protected by a solid legislative framework, the ability of journalists to conduct their investigative work still faces several challenges. We discussed these issues in an interview with Lorenzo Bagnoli, IrpiMedia journalist

by Maria Francesca Rita

Malta: Joint statement in support of The Shift News - Article

OBCT co-signed a statement in support of the independent media outlet The Shift News, as it faces a freedom of information battle with the government of Malta

The State of Democracy in 2021 - Reports

The report monitors ten issues that are essential for evaluating the state of democracy and rule of law in a country. Among them, it analyses access to information of public interest, public media funding, threats and harassment against journalists and activists, freedom of association and of assembly in Romania

Malta: Media battle for access to public information - Article

Press freedom groups raise concern over unprecedented FOI obstructions

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

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

Italy: Access to information law should not override protection of journalistic sources - Article

On 18 June 2021, the Administrative Court of Lazio (TAR Lazio) ordered the Italian Media Public Broadcaster (RAI) to release documents held by TV Program Report following an access to information request

Safety of Journalists and the Fighting of Corruption in the EU - Reports

A study commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the LIBE Committee (Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) examines the chilling effect of crimes and threats against media workers, exploring regulatory and other measures to counter the phenomenon

CPDP 2019: The GDPR and the freedom of expression - A rocky relationship - HTML5 video

Art. 85 GDPR leaves most of the responsibility to reconcile the right to the protection of personal data pursuant to the GDPR with the right to freedom of expression and information (Art. 11 CFR) to the member states. However, many states did little to nothing to pass specific rules to relieve the mentioned addressees. Thus, has the situation for the freedom of expression fundamentally changed? To what extent do certain rules of the GDPR enable or require a media-friendly interpretation? Which member states fulfilled their obligations to pass rules under Art. 85 GDPR? Could the lack of such rules enable a misuse of Data Protection Law that could jeopardise media freedoms?