Italy: MFRR flags ongoing media freedom erosion - Article

Media freedom in Italy has continued its overall downward trajectory in the past two years, amidst the car bomb attack on one of the country’s most famous journalists, new spyware attacks on reporters, politicisation of the public broadcaster, legal harassment of journalists by governing politicians, and continued concerns over media pluralism, partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) said today

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

North Macedonia: Appeal court ruling on Investigative Reporting Lab a worrying setback for media freedom - Article

A recent defamation decision by the Court of Appeal in North Macedonia against the Investigative Reporting Lab (IRL) is a worrying development for media freedom in the country, which should be overturned on further appeal, the partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) said today

Albania: Democratic reform of public broadcaster RTSH remains only viable option - Article

The undersigned Albanian and international media freedom and journalist organisations jointly call on the Albanian government to support the reform of the public service broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) through lawful, democratic and institutional means, in line with democratic norms and EU standards

Georgia: Restrictive new funding law would further cut off media and journalists - Article

The MFRR partners strongly condemn the proposals of the Georgian Dream (GD) ruling party to implement a series of legislative amendments that would impose additional restrictions and penalties on recipients of grants and foreign funding. 

EU’s Dangerous ‘Return Hubs’ Policy: A Threat to Journalists in Exile - Article

OBCT joins ECPMF and partner organisations call on the EU to reconsider the policy and place the protection of those fleeing persecution at the centre of its approach

Ukraine: Peace plan must ensure accountability for crimes against journalists - Article

As negotiations continue over a peace plan to end the Russian war on Ukraine, Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and partner organisations strongly oppose any proposals on granting amnesty for potential war crimes committed in the course of Russia’s full-scale invasion, especially for those against journalists.

Ukraine: Peace plan must ensure accountability for crimes against journalists - Article

As negotiations continue over a peace plan to end the Russian war on Ukraine, Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and partner organisations strongly oppose any proposals on granting amnesty for potential war crimes committed in the course of Russia’s full-scale invasion, especially for those against journalists

SLAPP in Montenegro: between hesitant courts and missed reforms - Article

Strategic lawsuits against public participation remain an under-recognized practice in the country. The ongoing proceedings before the Podgorica court, initiated by Andrej Vučić, brother of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, against the daily newspaper Vijesti, could set an important precedent for establishing judicial practices in handling SLAPPs

By Olivera Nikolic and Massimo Moratty 

Instagram hacked for the Macedonian media outlet Sloboden Pechat - Article

The attack, which has been ongoing for more than a week, is extremely sophisticated, multi-layered, and continues to evolve. The aim, as Sloboden Pechat told Meta.mk, is to make the outlet less visible, with the attackers causing a so-called shadow ban. According to cybersecurity experts, there is no real protection against such attacks

By Antonija Janevska