Open letter on Albania's draft anti-SLAPP legislative package - Article

European and regional media freedom organizations and Albanian civil society organisations welcome the draft anti-SLAPP law and the progress made towards establishing stronger safeguards for journalists, media workers, civil society and others engaged in public participation

Influence of Political Clientelism on Media Freedom under Vucic and the Progressive Party - Reports

Aleksandra Dragojlov's article examines how political clientelism has systematically shaped Serbia's media landscape under the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) since 2012. Despite formal legislative reforms in 2014 and 2023 that ostensibly aimed to reduce state involvement in media operations, the government has employed more subtle, indirect mechanisms of control.

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.

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

Hungary: Media freedom reform must be priority for incoming Tisza government - Article

OBCT joins MFRR partners in calling on the new Hungarian government to make media freedom reforms a priority 

Analysis on Mental Health of Journalists - Reports

In recent years, the OSCE Mission to Serbia has been paying close attention to the systematic assessment and analysis of journalists’ mental health. The goal of this initiative is to collect reliable data in order to develop concrete recommendations and sustainable support measures.

Serbian authorities must stop the spiral of violence against journalists - Article

Media freedom in Serbia remains trapped in a downward spiral amidst record levels of physical violence against journalists, death threats and online smear campaigns, alarming levels of impunity, and tight political control over the media landscape, a coalition of media freedom organisations concluded.

International organisations urge Kosovo government to reverse media freedom decline - Article

Media freedom in Kosovo has experienced a period of decline since 2023 amidst a series of negative developments, which calls for immediate political action by the government, an international media freedom mission concluded today

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