Protocol for newsrooms to support journalists targeted with online harassment (Arabic) Online harassment and attacks on journalists – including threats, insults, and smear campaigns – are increasingly deployed as a means to silence journalists and challenge their credibility in the public arena. While addressing online harassment and its negative impact on the free flow of information requires a multi-actor approach, newsrooms have a key role to […] Read more »
Pakistan: Amended cybercrime law poses new threats to press freedom March 7, 2025 The IPI global network is deeply concerned by measures introduced in Pakistan’s newly amended cybercrime law, including provisions related to hate speech and misinformation, that can be used to target journalists and curtail press freedom. We urge the government to revise the legislation in line with international human rights standards, in consultation with the media community […] Read more » Taggedcybercrime law online media threats to press freedom vague provisions
Bosnia: Adoption of ‘foreign agent’ legislation in Republika Srpska must be suspended March 5, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) joins the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners and SafeJournalists Network (SJN) in strongly condemning the adoption of legislation in the Republika Srpska entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina which will establish a “special registry” of NGOs, many of which are independent media. Viewed as retaliation against government critics, this law […] Read more »
Council of Europe Platform report: Persistent threats to media freedom across Europe March 5, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) today marks the publication of a new annual report by the Council of Europe’s Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists, which outlines major threats to media freedom across the continent in 2024. The report, entitled “Europe Press Freedom Report 2024: Confronting Political Pressure, Disinformation and […] Read more »
Campaign Call: Free Mzia Today February 20, 2025 The undersigned journalists, newsrooms, press freedom advocates, human rights defenders, and journalists’ organizations, call upon the Georgian authorities to immediately release veteran journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, who has been on hunger strike for five weeks since her arrest in early January. As of February 18, Mzia announced an end to the hunger strike after doctors warned […] Read more »
Advocacy Slovakia: New report highlights growing media freedom crisis February 20, 2025 Media freedom in Slovakia is facing an unprecedented crisis, serving as a critical test case for the European Union’s commitment to safeguarding media freedom and democratic values, IPI and Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partner organisations warn today in a new report. The MFRR report – which can be downloaded here – concludes that since […] Read more »
Mozambique: Authorities must investigate forced disappearance of journalist February 7, 2025 The IPI global network is deeply concerned following reports of the enforced disappearance of journalist Arlindo Chissale from the online newspaper Pinnacle. Chissale went missing on January 7, after being forced into an unmarked vehicle by suspected agents of the state security forces as he was traveling from Pemba, Cabo Delgado, to Nacala. Chissale’s family […] Read more » Taggedenforced disappearance safety of journalists
Portugal’s media sector struggles January 29, 2025 IPI contributor Vânia Maia Access to information is a challenge for Portuguese journalists, who, within a financially devastated media landscape, face increasing anti-press rhetoric fuelled by right-wing populists. Vânia Maia, an award-winning freelance Portuguese journalist, provides an overview of the most pressing media freedom challenges facing Portuguese journalists today. Media freedom in Portugal faces a complex array of challenges, […] Read more »
IPI, partners call for release of Mzia Amaglobeli, end to crackdown on free press January 23, 2025 IPI joins the undersigned press freedom, journalists and human rights organisations in calling for the immediate release of veteran Georgian journalist and founder and director of the online newspapers Batumelebi and Netgazeti. Amaglobeli, who announced on January 20 to have been on hunger strike since January 12 after being abused while held in detention said […] Read more »
IPI condemns the abduction of Tanzanian journalist Maria Tsehai in Kenya January 21, 2025 The IPI global network strongly condemns the abduction of Tanzanian journalist, commentator, and activist Maria Tsehai by unknown perpetrators in Kenya where she fled seeking safe haven after facing threats from the Tanzanian authorities. On January 12, Tsehai was abducted in Nairobi by unidentified, masked individuals who shoved her into a black van while she […] Read more » Taggedabducted journalist safety of journalist
Ghana: New president should uphold pledge to ensure justice for journalist Ahmed Suale January 15, 2025 On January 7, 2024, President John Dramani Mahama was sworn into office – days ahead of the sixth anniversary of the killing of journalist Ahmed Suale. In May 2023, Mahama pledged that if elected, he would ensure justice for Ahmed Suale, who was killed on January 16, 2019, in Accra. IPI calls on President Mahama […] Read more » Taggedimpunity killing of journalist
Georgia: IPI demands immediate release of veteran journalist Mzia Amaglobeli January 15, 2025 The IPI global network calls for the release of veteran Georgian journalist and IPI member Mzia Amaglobeli, who has been ordered to remain in pre-trial detention after being arrested on January 12. An outspoken regime critic, Amaglobeli faces charges of assaulting a police officer — carrying up to seven years in prison — following an […] Read more »
IPI, partners urge new Sri Lankan president to protect press freedom January 13, 2025 The International Press Institute today joined 24 civil society organizations in urging recently elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to respect freedom of the press and to take concrete steps to end impunity for crimes against journalists. Together with our partners, we urge President Dissanayake to seize this opportunity to make critical legal reforms, […] Read more » Taggednew President press freedom Sri Lanka
Guide to Decoding Disinformation (Swahili) The Guide to Decoding Disinformation offers a step-by-step approach to identifying the tactics, techniques, and procedures behind disinformation campaigns, increasingly used to silence critical reporting and erode public trust in fact-based news. The guide aims to help journalists and fact-checkers preserve the integrity of their work. Support press freedom in Africa Join IPI’s Africa […] Read more »
Guide to Decoding Disinformation (Portuguese) The Guide to Decoding Disinformation offers a step-by-step approach to identifying the tactics, techniques, and procedures behind disinformation campaigns, increasingly used to silence critical reporting and erode public trust in fact-based news. The guide aims to help journalists and fact-checkers preserve the integrity of their work. Support press freedom in Africa Join IPI’s Africa […] Read more »
Guide to Decoding Disinformation (French) The Guide to Decoding Disinformation offers a step-by-step approach to identifying the tactics, techniques, and procedures behind disinformation campaigns, increasingly used to silence critical reporting and erode public trust in fact-based news. The guide aims to help journalists and fact-checkers preserve the integrity of their work. Support press freedom in Africa Join IPI’s Africa […] Read more »
Protocol for newsrooms to support journalists targeted with online harassment (Swahili) Online harassment and attacks on journalists – including threats, insults, and smear campaigns – are increasingly deployed as a means to silence journalists and challenge their credibility in the public arena. While addressing online harassment and its negative impact on the free flow of information requires a multi-actor approach, newsrooms have a key role to […] Read more »
Press freedom groups and newsrooms stand in solidarity with journalists and media in Georgia December 20, 2024 IPI joins press freedom, freedom of expression, media, journalists and human rights organizations express solidarity towards journalists and media in Georgia. Faced with violence, threats, detentions, equipment destruction and seizure, journalists in Georgia are entering what is supposed to be a festive period with uncertainty and fear for their safety. Solidarity and support is needed […] Read more »
Africa Media Monitoring November 2024: Threats to press freedom in DRC and Mozambique December 19, 2024 The security situation in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to threaten safety of journalists while protests and post-election repression in Mozambique spilled to November See the factsheet below or download it here. In November 2023, IPI documented 14 violations and threats to press freedom in 9 countries in […] Read more » TaggedAfrica
Urgent need for a swift and thorough investigation into intelligence and police invasive surveillance of journalists and sources December 18, 2024 IPI joined partner organizations from the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and the SafeJournalists Network (SJN), in expressing serious concern over the revelations in Amnesty International’s forensic analysis, exposing the invasive use of spyware and other digital tools by Serbian intelligence services and police to hack journalists’ phones as part of a covert surveillance campaign. […] Read more »
IPI joins partner organizations in calling on the European Union to react to the critical press freedom situation in Georgia December 12, 2024 President of the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen President of the European Council António Costa President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola Hearing of High Representative/Vice President-designate Kaja Kallas, European Parliament Dear President Ursula von der Leyen, Dear President António Costa, Dear President Roberta Metsola, Dear High Representative / Vice-President Kallas, We, […] Read more »
Joint letter to European Commission President: EU should oppose Türkiye’s “agent of influence” bill December 10, 2024 Ursula von der Leyen President of the European Commission CC: Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice President of the European Commission CC: Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement CC: Thomas Ossowski, EU Ambassador to Türkiye Open Letter to the European Commission Re: Urgent Need for EU Action to […] Read more »
IJ4EU awards €475,000 to 13 investigative projects November 21, 2024 Environmental threats, arms production and AI in the EU’s security apparatus are among the topics to be tackled by 13 cross-border teams awarded funding under the latest call of IPI’s flagship support scheme for investigative journalism in Europe. From examining Europe’s preparedness for future flooding to exposing the risks posed by extractive industries to global […] Read more » Taggedfunding grants ij4eu investigative journalism
Journalist Magomed Toriyev designated as “foreign agent” On 15 November 2024, the Russian Ministry of Justice designated journalist Magomed Toriyev as a “foreign agent”, Russian media reported. Authorities accused the journalist and the outlet of “disseminating fake news” about the Russian government and its decisions, distributing content created by other “foreign agents”, and opposing Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Toriyev is known […] Read more »
Azerbaijan: As COP29 is held in Baku, repression against journalists continues November 15, 2024 The IPI global network is alarmed by the repression of independent journalists in Azerbaijan, the recent scale of which is unsettling even in the context of the country’s grim political reality. The intensity of this repression – and the impunity for violence against journalists – is all the more striking as the COP29 global climate […] Read more »
Netherlands: concerns about transposition of EU anti-SLAPP Directive November 12, 2024 Undersigned press freedom and human rights organizations call on the Dutch government to take more effective measures to transpose the EU anti-SLAPP Directive. While we welcome the swift steps taken to implement the Directive in the Netherlands, the current proposal does not do justice to the severity of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) and […] Read more »
States must recommit to fighting impunity for attacks on journalists November 8, 2024 Journalists in many parts of the world today face unprecedented levels of violence, attacks, and harassment, amid an increasingly hostile and dangerous climate for the media. Most crimes against the press go unpunished, fueling further violence against the media and enabling other abuses at a moment when autocrats are gaining strength around the world. This […] Read more »
Bosnia and Herzegovina: call for stronger protection for journalist Nataša Miljanović Zubac November 6, 2024 The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners together with the SafeJournalists Network (SJN) firmly call for thorough and swift investigations into numerous threats against Nataša Miljanović Zubac, journalist for the Radio Television of Republika Srpska (RTRS). Since the arson attack on her car in 2022, Zubac has been targeted by at least seven criminal acts, […] Read more »
Intimidated, attacked and barred from entering the country: press freedom organizations urge for protection of journalists’ rights in Georgia October 31, 2024 IPI and undersigned press freedom and freedom of expression organizations are deeply concerned about incidents of intimidation, threats, and physical and verbal assaults on journalists covering Georgia’s parliamentary elections on October 26, 2024. MFRR documented at least 30 election-related media freedom violations involving 34 media workers. Journalists and camera operators faced physical attacks on them […] Read more »
IPI call to action: International community must act urgently to pressure Israel to protect journalists, respect international laws October 23, 2024 The IPI global network today reiterates its call on the international community to take urgent and immediate action to ensure the safety of all journalists in Gaza, as Israel intensifies bombardments in the northern region of the territory. We urge all states – particularly allies of Israel and members of the Media Freedom Coalition – […] Read more »
Belgium: Serious concerns over cases of preventive censorship involving four media outlets October 22, 2024 The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners strongly condemn the numerous judicial decisions aimed at preventing the publication of information by four Belgian media outlets. The return of preventive censorship, which is prohibited by the Belgian Constitution, marks an alarming deterioration of press freedom in Belgium. On 10 October, the President of the Court of […] Read more »
Turkey: Press freedom and freedom of expression groups, media outlets and civil society condemn regulator’s decision to shutter Açık Radyo October 21, 2024 The International Press Institute (IPI), together with 66 undersigned press freedom and freedom of expression groups, media outlets and civil society organizations, condemns the official revocation of the terrestrial broadcasting license of independent radio station Açık Radyo by Turkey’s broadcast regulator RTÜK (Radio and Television Supreme Council). This action marks a severe blow to independent […] Read more »
Serbian judge’s lawsuits set to chill press freedom October 15, 2024 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. KRIK is […] Read more »
