Advocacy Turkey: IPI and partners urge NATO to reconsider denial of independent media accreditation June 27, 2026 International Press Institute (IPI), together with press freedom, freedom of expression, and human rights organisations, has written to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to raise urgent concerns about the denial of accreditation to independent media in Türkiye seeking to cover the 2026 Ankara Summit. To: Secretary General Mark Rutte Ms. Delphine Mauss , NATO Summit […] Read more »
Advocacy Poland: Passing of Anti-SLAPP Act a victory for media freedom June 23, 2026 The passing of a law by the President of Poland which will establish stronger safeguards against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) is a long-awaited victory for media freedom which will provide important legal protections for public interest journalism, IPI and Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) said today. Our organisations welcome the passing of the […] Read more »
Advocacy Mexico: IPI condemns killing of crime reporter Luis Ángel López Valdez June 18, 2026 The International Press Institute (IPI) condemns the killing of Mexican crime reporter Luis Ángel López Valdez and calls on Mexican and Veracruz authorities to ensure the investigation into his killing is conducted swiftly and transparently, and holds those responsible accountable. We urge the Sheinbaum government to act urgently to protect members of the media amid […] Read more »
Consultancy call: Risk assessment guide and training for climate and environmental journalists in Africa The International Press Institute (IPI) is seeking a consultant to develop a risk assessment guide for reporters covering climate and environmental topics in Africa. The consultant will also develop corresponding training materials and deliver a risk assessment workshop. This initiative is part of IPI’s ongoing programme aimed at protecting and strengthening climate and environmental journalism […] Read more »
IPI and IMS announce 2026 recipients of World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer awards June 16, 2026 Today, the International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) are proud to announce this year’s recipients of the World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer awards, who together demonstrate remarkable courage, ingenuity, and resilience amid an increasingly challenging environment for press freedom and independent journalism around the world. The 2026 recipients of […] Read more »
(Applications closed) Europe Research and Network Coordinator *Please note that we are no longer accepting new applications for this position. The International Press Institute (IPI) is seeking a Europe Research and Network Coordinator to support and expand our work to protect media freedom in Europe, with a focus on network and capacity building and combating media capture. Specifically, this position will coordinate […] Read more »
Consultancy call: Researcher/report writer on ATI policy and practice in Africa The International Press Institute (IPI) is seeking a consultant to research and draft a report on trends and challenges of access to information for climate and environmental reporting in Africa. This research will be undertaken as part of IPI’s Climate and Environmental Journalism Africa (CEJA) programme to strengthen climate and environmental journalism in Africa. This […] Read more »
Advocacy Iran: IPI raises urgent concerns about health of imprisoned journalist Reza Valizadeh June 9, 2026 Following imprisoned journalist Reza Valizadeh’s urgent plea for medical treatment, sent from Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, the International Press Institute (IPI) calls on the U.S. government to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to secure treatment for him, and ensure his release is part of ongoing peace negotiations. Valizadeh, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen, has […] Read more »
IPI digitises 75 years of press freedom history Seventy-five years and 18,000 pages of press freedom history are now available — in state-of-the-art, searchable format — to journalists, researchers, and the general public. The International Press Institute (IPI) announces the digitisation of the IPI Report, the organisation’s flagship monthly publication between 1952 and 2005. The IPI Report was a central forum for documentation […] Read more »
Advocacy Africa Media Monitoring January to March 2026 June 5, 2026 During the first quarter of 2026, IPI’s monitoring programme recorded 103 press freedom violations in 26 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. These spanned legal threats, arrests, and physical attacks, including the killing of a journalist in Somalia by a police officer. As in previous monitoring reports, state actors (86%) remain the primary source of these violations, […] Read more » TaggedAfrica attacks on journalists journalist killed safety of journalists
Advocacy Turkey: IPI and partner organisations call for the release of journalist İsmail Arı ahead of June 5 court hearing June 4, 2026 The undersigned press freedom, freedom of expression, journalists’ and human rights organisations call for the immediate release of BirGün journalist İsmail Arı, who has been behind bars for 75 days. Arı is due to appear before an Ankara court on June 5, after being jailed under Turkey’s so-called “disinformation law” in connection with his investigative […] Read more »
Press release 11 trailblazing organisations shortlisted for 2026 IPI-IMS Free Media Pioneer Award June 1, 2026 Today, IPI and IMS are proud to announce the 11 organisations shortlisted for the 2026 IPI-IMS Free Media Pioneer Award in recognition of their creative and innovative work to sustain independent journalism amid an increasingly hostile global environment for press freedom. This year’s shortlist is made up of organisations from around the world that have […] Read more »
Advocacy Somalia: Escalating attacks against journalists in May raise alarm May 29, 2026 The IPI global network expresses deep concern over the escalating attacks, arrests, intimidation, and harassment of journalists in Somalia and especially throughout the month of May 2026. IPI calls on the international diplomatic community to intensify engagement with Somali authorities and urge them to prioritise the protection of journalists and press freedom. As Somalia has […] Read more »
Russian strike damages multiple media offices in Kyiv On 24 May 2026, multiple offices of Ukrainian and international media were damaged in a combined Russian strike on Kyiv, involving various types of missiles and drones, according to reports by the media outlets in question. The damaged offices were those of: Stay informed. Stay engaged. Join thousands of journalists who receive the IPI Weekly […] Read more »
Advocacy Colombia: IPI condemns killing of journalist Mateo Pérez Rueda May 22, 2026 The International Press Institute (IPI) condemns the killing of Colombian journalist Mateo Pérez Rueda. We call on Colombian President Gustavo Petro and the country’s attorney general to conduct a transparent and credible investigation into Pérez’s death and take immediate steps to protect the safety of journalists reporting on armed conflict. Pérez, 25, was found shot […] Read more »
IJ4EU backs fresh wave of investigations with €610,000 in grants May 22, 2026 Investigations into alleged war crimes, deadly gangs, Europe’s environmental footprint abroad, and Big Tech lobbying in Brussels are among the projects selected for support under the latest round of grants from IPI’s Investigative Journalism for Europe (IJ4EU) fund. An independent jury awarded a combined €610,000 to 18 reporting teams working across 34 countries, as demand […] Read more » Taggedfunding grants ij4eu
Analysis Analysis: Foreign agent laws are becoming the scourge of media freedom across Europe May 18, 2026 Teona Sekhniashvili, Europe Advocacy Officer at IPI This op-ed by IPI was originally published in OC Media on 7 May 2026 to mark World Press Freedom Day. Click here to read the original article World Press Freedom Day has passed by as attacks against independent journalism escalated at an unprecedented rate. From smear campaigns and digital threats, to vexatious lawsuits […] Read more »
Advocacy Maldives: IPI, partners call on President Muizzu to reverse retaliatory legal action against Adhadhu News May 11, 2026 The International Press Institute (IPI) joined six press freedom and human rights organisations in writing to Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu expressing concern over an April 27 police raid of Adhadhu News’s office, during which reporting equipment was seized and several journalists were placed on travel bans. In the letter, the groups urge President Muizzu to […] Read more »
Advocacy Philippines: IPI condemns killing of journalist RJ Nichole Ledesma May 7, 2026 The International Press Institute (IPI) strongly condemns the killing of journalist RJ Nichole Ledesma during a local military operation. IPI calls on the Commission on Human Rights to undertake an expedited, credible, and transparent investigation into his death and demands that those responsible for this attack be brought to justice. Ledesma, who was the chief […] Read more »
Advocacy As deadline passes, MFRR renews call for urgent transposition of EU Anti SLAPP Directive May 7, 2026 Today, 7 May 2026, marks the deadline for EU Member States to transpose the EU Anti-SLAPP Directive, also known as Daphne’s law. As we mark this landmark, however, the European Anti-SLAPP Monitor shows a fragmented and uneven picture for transposition across Europe, as the deadline is being missed by nearly all Member States. While the […] Read more »
Advocacy Turkey: IPI and partner orgs condemn escalating use of “disinformation law” against journalists April 28, 2026 The undersigned press freedom, freedom of expression, journalists’ and human rights organisations strongly condemn the intensifying use of Article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code — widely known as the “disinformation law” — to arrest, detain, and prosecute journalists, and call on the government to repeal the provision immediately and release all journalists imprisoned under […] Read more »
Meet 15 media in IPI’s first Global AI Accelerator 2026 cohort April 24, 2026 This March, IPI kicked off our first Global AI Accelerator for Media. The accelerator offers eight months of funding and advisory support for small- to medium-sized independent media from Global Majority countries. It is designed for organisations seeking to experiment with AI and new technology, and to invest in the medium- and long-term viability that […] Read more »
Advocacy Kuwait: IPI demands release of Kuwaiti-American journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin April 20, 2026 Seven weeks after the arrest of Kuwaiti-American journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin by Kuwaiti authorities, the International Press Institute demands his immediate release and calls on authorities to cease the use of new national security laws to restrict the free flow of news and information. Shihab-Eldin, an award-winning journalist who has contributed to the New York Times, […] Read more »
Advocacy Serbia: Total impunity entrenched 27 years after killing of editor Slavko Ćuruvija April 10, 2026 Twenty-seven years after the assassination of Serbian newspaper publisher and editor Slavko Ćuruvija in Belgrade, IPI today joins the undersigned media freedom organisations in marking the upcoming anniversary of the killing by lamenting the complete impunity for those responsible for one of the most serious attacks on journalism in the country’s history. The undersigned organisations, […] Read more »
Advocacy Azerbaijan: IPI condemns confirmation of lengthy prison sentences for 7 journalists from Abzas Media and RFE/RL April 9, 2026 The International Press Institute (IPI) today condemns the recent Supreme Court verdicts upholding politically-motivated prison sentences handed down to seven journalists in the so-called “Abzas Media case.” These rulings by Azerbaijan’s Supreme Court serve the Aliyev regime’s longstanding goal of wiping out press freedom and independent journalism within the country. With these latest rulings, all […] Read more »
Advocacy Georgia: Afgan Sadygov’s deportation represents a stark example of transnational repression, demands urgent international response April 8, 2026 IPI is joined by undersigned MFRR partners, and other media freedom, journalist and freedom of expression organisations in condemning the arrest and deportation of Afgan Sadygov, founder of Azerbaijani news outlet and youtube channel Azel.tv from Georgia to Azerbaijan. Sadygov’s deportation constitutes a blatant violation of Georgia’s commitments under the European Convention on Human Rights […] Read more »
Analysis Feature: The information frontline — Press freedom and the security crisis in the Sahel March 26, 2026 Executive summary Following a series of military coups in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, press freedom in the three Sahel countries has witnessed an increasingly downward trend. Independent journalism faces threats from both regime authorities as well as broader insecurity in the region from terrorist groups. Under the guise of countering terrorism and safeguarding national […] Read more » TaggedAlliance of Sahel states arrested journalist conscripted journalists imprisoned journalists press freedom attacks suspended media outlets
Advocacy Turkey: Joint letter to the EU on current visa policies obstructing Turkish journalists’ mobility March 26, 2026 The undersigned MFRR partners and other press freedom, freedom of expression, journalists’ and human rights organizations sent the following letter to: > Drahoslav Stefanek, Chair of the Working Party on Human Rights (COHOM), Council of the European Union > Ellis Mathews, Head of Human Rights Division of European External Action Service (EEAS) > Beate Gminder, […] Read more »
Advocacy IPI welcomes landmark African Commission resolution on access to environmental and climate information March 19, 2026 The International Press Institute (IPI) welcomes the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights’ adoption of a landmark resolution calling on African states to uphold access to climate and environmental information – including by safeguarding the rights of journalists reporting on environmental harm, climate impacts, and resource exploitation. Adopted on March 9, the Resolution on […] Read more » Taggedaccess to information African Commission environmental reporting resolution
Advocacy Zimbabwe: Alarming escalation of attacks against journalists March 13, 2026 The IPI global network expresses deep concern over a series of recent incidents in Zimbabwe that signal an alarming escalation of pressure, intimidation, and violence targeting journalists. In recent weeks, individual journalists in Zimbabwe have faced threats from senior government officials, criminal prosecution linked to their reporting, and physical attacks while carrying out their work. […] Read more » Taggedattacks on journalists cybercrime law journalist detained zimbabwe
Systemic Siege of Journalism in Turkey A coalition of eight international press freedom, free expression and human rights organisations participated in a mission to Türkiye from November 24 to 26, 2025, in Ankara. In discussions with a range of Turkish institutions and stakeholders, the mission delegation raised a wide variety of issues that have contributed to a further decline in press […] Read more »
Advocacy Georgia: New laws threaten to paralyze independent media March 11, 2026 The International Press Institute (IPI) today strongly condemns the Georgian parliament’s adoption of a sweeping new legislative package that criminalizes foreign funding and cooperation, warning it will paralyze the operations of the country’s vital independent media sector. The measures threaten to cut independent journalism and civil society off from vital lifelines of financial support and […] Read more »
Advocacy Turkey 2025 Mission Report March 10, 2026 A coalition of eight international press freedom, free expression and human rights organisations participated in a mission to Türkiye from November 24 to 26, 2025, in Ankara. In discussions with a range of Turkish institutions and stakeholders, the mission delegation raised a wide variety of issues that have contributed to a further decline in press […] Read more »
