Mapping Fake News and Disinformation in the Western Balkans and Identifying Ways to Effectively Counter Them - Reports

A study requested by the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, concluding that the European Union should focus on the role that it can play in bolstering the quality of democracy and governance in the Western Balkans, as the most powerful potential bulwark against disinformation

France: one defamation action dropped, but the threat remains - Article

The MFRR welcomes the dropping of the defamation action against Inès Léraud but vexatious legal threats continue to threaten media freedom across Europe

CINS Center for Investigative Journalism of Serbia - Stakeholders

Center for Investigative Journalism of Serbia – CINS (Centar za istraživačko novinarstvo Srbije – CINS) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to investigative journalism according to the internationally recognized standards, including the use of new tools and techniques.

The goal is to continuously offer important facts about Serbian society that were hidden or unknown. CINS hopes to help citizens reach informed decisions in this manner.

Center for Investigative Journalism of Serbia was founded by the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia with the aim to show that independent journalism in line with the highest professional standards is possible in Serbia.

CINS is funded by donations in order to avoid the influence of funding sources originating from business and politics.

CINS supports the inclusion of vulnerable groups and the equality of all Serbian citizens, regardless of their gender, race, national, religious or political affiliation and other diversities. CINS also supports the right of citizens to transparency of the work of public bodies and the right to be informed about all the facts important for our society.

Montenegro: MFRR letter to authorities for threats to Olivera Lakić - Article

The Media Freedom Rapid Responses calls for urgent police protection for Olivera Lakić following assassination threats made against her

Civil Rights Defenders - Stakeholders

An Expert Organisation for Human Rights. CRD partners with and supports human rights defenders who work in some of the world’s most repressive regions on four continents.

Through advocacy, litigation, and public campaigns, CRD advances people’s rights globally. The organisation also acts as Sweden’s watchdog civil rights group.

Every year, CRD has The Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award, an award for outstanding work in defence of civil and political rights, to recognise a prominent human rights defender who, despite the risk to their own safety, continues the struggle for civil and political rights.
The award highlights the situation of human rights defenders at risk. It enhances their human rights work by providing international recognition and support to the organisation represented by the award recipient. The award recipient is a person who carries out their work without the use of violence and within an independent human rights organisation or network.

Among the support activities, there are security training, emergency support, expertise, organisational development, and long-term financial support.

CRD also brings together its partners so they can exchange experiences, as well as learn from and inspire each other.

Extradition proceedings against Jonathan Taylor need to end! - Article

A wide range of organisations calls on Croatia and Monaco to end extradition proceedings and asks the European Parliament to condemn the ongoing harassment of such an important whistleblower

Slovenia: Radio Študent threatened to lose its funding - Article

The European Federation of Journalists supports the call for the provision of funding

Malta: Threats to the independence of the public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia must stop - Article

16 December marks 38 months since Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated in Malta, yet barriers to justice remain as Maltese official continue to threaten the public inquiry set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding her murder. A statement signed by MFRR

Maltese court fails to protect press freedom: Gafà acquitted for threats to Nello Scavo - Article

The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) as part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) condemns the court ruling in the criminal proceedings against Neville Gafà for threats he made on Twitter against Italian journalist Nello Scavo

Montenegro: the new government must prioritise and uphold press and media freedom - Article

As Montenegro’s new coalition government under the leadership of Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapićwas formally approved by the Montenegrin Parliament on 4 December, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) and key partners, urge it to put press and media freedom high on its agenda. The detailed report from their virtual fact-finding mission raises a number of concerns