Albania: open letter to protect journalists, media workers and public watchdogs - Article

During the recent violent protests in Tirana on 13 October, several journalists reported being physically assaulted and obstructed by police officers, and three media workers required hospital treatment. An open letter calls on the Albanian authorities to intervene without hesitation to safeguard the work of the media

The severe escalation of internet censorship in Türkiye - Article

ARTICLE 19, Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD), Human Rights Watch and the undersigned human rights and media freedom organisations are deeply concerned by the severe escalation of internet censorship in Türkiye in the past month. We urge social media platforms to take meaningful steps immediately to uphold their human rights responsibilities and avoid contributing to the suppression of independent media and violations of the right to freedom of expression.

Steadfast support for Massimo Moratti, MFRR researcher, as he is facing an expulsion order from Serbian authorities - Article

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), press freedom and free expression partners express our firm support for our colleague Massimo Moratti, the Senior Research Affiliate for the Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT), as he faces expulsion from Serbia in apparent connection with his human rights work.

Albania: Social media platforms must protect media and public-interest accounts from coordinated manipulation - Article

The partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), the SafeJournalists Network (SJN), and other partner organizations are concerned about recent incidents in Albania in which media, journalists, civic initiatives and other public-interest accounts have faced unexplained restrictions, removals and apparent attempts to manipulate social-media enforcement systems.

SLAPPs in Moldova: Lessons from investigative media outlet Cu Sens - Article

The Moldovan investigative journalism outlet Cu Sens has faced numerous legal threats in recent years. In this interview, Felicia Crețu and Liuba Șevciuc discuss how they responded to these challenges and the lessons they learned from their experience

By Gian Marco Moisé

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA

World Press Freedom Day: Six years of monitoring reveals emerging threats against media freedom in Europe - Article

To mark World Press Freedom Day, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) is today publishing an analysis  of six years of monitoring data, which reveals in granular detail the most serious challenges and trends threatening freedom of the press in Europe

Italy: Landmark ruling in press freedom case - Article

The Media Freedom Rapid Response consortium welcomes the acquittal of Roberto Saviano in a case brought by Minister Matteo Salvini, a landmark ruling for press freedom in Italy

Fist published by OBCT, also available in Italian

Moldova’s media targeted by SLAPP - Article

SLAPPs, or vexatious lawsuits, often target media outlets that engage in investigative journalism. Moldova is no exception. We discussed the issue during a recent workshop in Chisinau

This article has been first published by OBCT, also available in ITA

Albania: Constitutional Court ruling on TikTok ban reinforces freedom of expression protections - Article

The SafeJournalists Network (SJN), the undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcome the ruling by the Constitutional Court of Albania, which found that the Council of Ministers decision suspending nationwide access to the social media platform TikTok for one year constituted a violation of freedom of expression and freedom of the press

Women’s Day: Gender-based violence, a growing weapon against women journalists - Article

To mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) publish alarming data highlighting how women journalists across Europe continue to face enhanced risk through systematic gender-based violence in the past year