Country Report: Albania - Article

The media sector in Albania is rather unstable. While certain areas have seen progress, the state of media freedom and protection for journalists remains precarious and needs stronger safeguards

By Sukanya Sengupta 

Belgium: Serious concerns over cases of preventive censorship involving four media outlets - Article

OBCT joins Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners in strongly condemning the numerous judicial decisions aimed at preventing the publication of information by four Belgian media outlets. The return of preventive censorship, which the Belgian Constitution prohibits, marks an alarming deterioration of press freedom in the country

SLAPP in Croatia, a plague - Article

Over a thousand lawsuits filed between 2016 and 2023 against journalists and media outlets, nearly half of which are SLAPPs, or strategic lawsuits against public participation. These are frivolous lawsuits that aim to silence freedom of expression

By Giovanni Vale 

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA

Turkey: condemnations for regulator’s decision to shutter Açık Radyo - Article

Press freedom and freedom of expression groups, media outlets and civil society condemn regulator’s decision to shutter Açık Radyo

Honouring the unworthy: The Atlantic Council’s dangerous missteps in rewarding free speech oppressors - Article

The undersigned civil society and journalists’ organisations (CSOs) are appalled by the decisions of the Atlantic Council to award Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis Atlantic Council Global Citizen Awards

Serbian judge’s lawsuits set to chill press freedom - Article

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) expresses grave concern regarding the legal threats facing the Serbian investigative news organization KRIK and its journalists. These abusive legal actions include demands for imprisonment and bans from journalism. We stand with the journalists on trial, and urge Serbia to implement anti-SLAPP safeguards to protect independent media

Letter to the PM of Malta on the eve of the anniversary of Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder - Article

Ahead of the seventh anniversary of the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, OBCT joins 10 journalist and media freedom organisations in calling on the Maltese government to speed up reforms to create a safer environment for the media community in the country

Ukraine: MFRR and partners mourn death and demand justice for Victoria Roshchyna - Article

Ukrainian journalist died in unclear circumstances in Russian custody

Islands of integrity: the struggle of independent media in Albania - Article

Lufti Dervishi, a founding member of the Albanian Center for Quality Journalism, emphasises the challenges that Albanian journalism faces today. The media are entangled in corruption, self-censorship, and state-sponsored disinformation. However, not everything is negative, and there is still reason for hope

By Luisa Chiodi, Sukanya Sengupta

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA

Access to Information Day: Blocking of freedom of information requests must be reported - Article

28 September is International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), as announced at the UN in 2015. The right to access information is the foundation of all democratic processes and societies. Any obstacle in this field directly impacts the work of journalists and society’s right to be informed. Documentation of violations targeting this right from a media freedom perspective draws attention to this notion and contributes to transparency and journalistic freedom

By Gürkan Özturan, ECPMF Monitoring Officer

Originally published by MFRR