Malta: Media freedom groups write to PM Abela over court judgement publication December 7, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI) joined other media freedom groups in writing to the Maltese Prime Minister and Justice Minister to express concern over now codified rules regarding the online publication of court judgments and its potential effect on journalistic reporting and open justice. Prime Minister of Malta, Dr Robert Abela Minister for Justice, Equality […] Read more »
The antidote against tyranny: Independent journalism wins Nobel Peace Prize December 7, 2021 IPI Contributor Anne ter Rele On December 10, 2021, this year’s Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to two outstanding journalists and fighters for press freedom: Maria Ressa, an IPI Executive Board member and CEO of the independent Philippine news outlet Rappler; and Dmitry Muratov, co-founder of Russian independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta. Today’s ceremony highlighted the importance of independent media for […] Read more » TaggedDmitry Muratov Maria Ressa Nobel Peace Prize 2021 Nobel Prize Novaya Gazeta Philippines press freedom Rappler Russia
Case Study: Kloop (Kyrgyzstan) December 6, 2021 Local Journalism Project Case Study: Kloop (Kyrgyzstan) The backstory: Kyrgyzstan lacks independent media organizations that hold the government accountable. In response, Kloop was founded in 2007 by Bektour Iskender and Rinat Tuhvatshin and has become both a news website with a local focus and a journalism school known for teaching investigative reporting and media […] Read more »
Case Study: Khabar Lahariya (India) December 6, 2021 Local Journalism Project Case Study: Khabar Lahariya Backstory: Khabar Lahariya offers hyper-local watchdog journalism with a feminist lens. Founded by a Delhi-based NGO as a weekly print edition in 2002, Khabar Lahariya began as a women’s collective led by a group of urban and rural feminists. Eighteen years later, the “country’s only digital rural […] Read more »
Case Study: El Surtidor (Paraguay) December 6, 2021 Local Journalism Project Case Study: El Surtidor (Paraguay) The backstory: El Surtidor (also called El Surti) was born in 2016 as a Facebook page founded by a group of journalists and designers to become a benchmark for visual journalism in Latin America. Paraguay has one of the most unequal land distributions in the world, which […] Read more »
Thailand aims to further censor media reporting of protests December 6, 2021 The IPI global network today expressed grave concern over growing censorship in Thailand after the country’s telecommunications regulator warned the media against covering ongoing pro-democracy protests. Late last month, the Thai National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) “invited” media representatives to a meeting in which the NBTC made a series of demands, which were cloaked […] Read more »
Serbia: Penal Code amendments require open and comprehensive debate December 2, 2021 IPI today joins the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) and the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights in Serbia (YUCOM) to express concern over the limited time and space available to openly debate various amendments of the Penal Code proposed by the Ministry of Justice of Serbia. While well […] Read more »
Poland: Journalist’s criminal defamation conviction may impair freedom of expression December 1, 2021 The undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) express deep concern over the recent judgement in the case brought by two judges in Poland in their private capacity against Polityka journalist Ewa Siedlecka, who was convicted of criminal defamation. Amid the ongoing erosion of media freedom in Poland, we believe that this verdict […] Read more »
After Czech elections, new push for public media independence (HlídacíPes) December 1, 2021 Vojtěch Berger, HlidaciPes.org This piece is published in collaboration with HlidaciPes.org as part of a content series on threats to independent media in Central Europe. Read more. Back in September, just before the parliamentary elections, then-Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš attacked Czech Television for allegedly “dividing society” during the pandemic. The far-right SPD movement spoke openly about its […] Read more »
Event wrap: Investing in the survival of Belarus’s media November 30, 2021 IPI Contributor Anne ter Rele How can journalists in Belarus carry on reporting in extreme conditions? How can international organizations support Belarusian media? And what is the future of journalism in the country, which is currently facing a severe crackdown on media? On November 23, 2021, five journalists and media freedom advocates discussed these questions during the panel discussion “Reporting […] Read more »
Albania judge’s suit highlights defamation law abuse November 29, 2021 IPI Contributor Austin Faulds and IPI Staff A controversial Albanian judge’s efforts to inflict punishing fines for “moral damages” on media outlets and journalists that reported on his wealth and his status as a target in a corruption investigation underscore the challenge defamation law abuse poses to media freedom in Europe. Albanian media NGO BIRN and newspaper Shqiptarja, and two journalists from […] Read more »
Poland: Journalist must not be jailed for refusing to disclose source November 29, 2021 The undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today call on the District Prosecutor’s Office in the Polish city of Gdansk to drop its legal case against Gazeta Wyborcza reporter Katarzyna Włodkowska and to respect the journalist’s right of source confidentiality protected under the European Convention of Human Rights. If the prosecutor issues […] Read more »
Panel wrap-up: Press freedom and the threat to encryption November 26, 2021 Ronja Koskinen, Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Fellow at IPI Global threats to encryption and many other press-freedom-related issues were on the table at the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s annual Trust Conference on November 17 to 18. The two-day event brought together online over 600 delegates from more than 60 countries. Press freedom, internet access and freedom of expression are cornerstones of democracy and human rights, […] Read more »
Documentary “Writing with Fire”: Online screening (Dec. 8, 2021) Synopsis In a male-dominated media landscape, India’s only newspaper run by Dalit women, Khabar Lahariya (News Wave), is blazing a trail. Armed with smartphones, these journalists break with tradition – whether on the frontlines of India’s biggest problems or in their own homes. A film about fearless journalists who, in the face of a hostile […] Read more »
Poland: Journalists must be allowed access to Belarus border November 19, 2021 The undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today call on the Polish government to respect and facilitate the free flow of information by allowing journalists access to the border with Belarus to report on the humanitarian situation. We also urge Polish police and military personnel to refrain from arbitrary detentions and intimidation […] Read more »
Greece: Answers needed over alleged state surveillance of journalist November 19, 2021 The undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today urge the Greek government to immediately provide clarity over allegations that a state intelligence agency conducted surveillance on journalist Stavros Malichudis and the investigative media organisation Solomon, which focuses on refugees and migration in Greece. The revelations published by Greek newspaper Efimerida ton Syntakton […] Read more »
Reporting against all odds: Journalism in Belarus today (Zoom, Nov. 23) Since the fradulent August 2020 presidential elections, the Belarusian regime continues to relentlessly tighten its grip on the few remaining independent media in the country and viciously harass journalists. Since the beginning of the protests at least 497 journalists have been detained. As of 9 November 2021, 29 journalists – among over 800 political prisoners […] Read more »
SLAPP lawsuit in Greece underscores need for swift EU directive November 16, 2021 The undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today express serious concern over a SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) targeted against the small independent media outlet Alterthess and its journalist Stavroula Poulimeni by a Greek gold mining executive convicted of serious environmental crimes. Our organisations note that this case again underscores the […] Read more »
Poland: Access to public information must not be constrained November 15, 2021 The undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) are highly concerned about new possible restrictions on the right to information in Poland that could further erode press freedom in the country. On 15 December 2021, the Constitutional Tribunal will hold a hearing on the constitutionality of core provisions of the bill that regulates […] Read more »
Rasha Abdullah Al-Harazi, Yemen On November 9, 2021, Rasha Abdullah Al-Harazi, a journalist from Yemen, died in a targeted car bomb attack while she was nine months pregnant. Al-Harazi had also received many threats in the months before her death, Khalid Ibrahim of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights told IPI last year. “By phone she was told to […] Read more »
Belarus: Government moves to stamp out remaining independent media November 8, 2021 The IPI global network today expresses grave concern over the latest efforts by state authorities in Belarus to stamp out any remaining form of independent media left within the country and urges the international community to respond firmly to the latest string of attacks on media freedom and freedom of expression. On 4 November, the […] Read more »
IPI welcomes U.S. blacklisting of NSO Group over Pegasus spyware abuses November 4, 2021 The IPI global network today welcomes the decision by the United States government to blacklist Israeli company NSO Group over the abuse of its spyware technology Pegasus to target journalists and others, and urged other democratic countries around the world to follow the Biden administration’s lead by sanctioning and regulating the technology. On November 3, […] Read more »
IPI Job Announcement: Head of Advocacy Position description The International Press Institute (IPI) is seeking an enthusiastic, experienced Head of Advocacy to drive the organization’s global advocacy and campaign work in support of press freedom and independent journalism at a critical time. The public’s right to information is coming under increased threat around the world. The Head of Advocacy will play […] Read more »
IJ4EU awards €430,000 to 14 cross-border investigations October 28, 2021 Fourteen teams of investigative journalists from across the European Union have secured grants under the second round of IPI’s IJ4EU Investigation Support Scheme for cross-border journalism. An independent jury awarded a combined €430,000 for investigations on topics ranging from international money laundering and the Belarus–EU border crisis to war crimes prosecutions and corruption in sport. […] Read more » TaggedEU grants ij4eu investigative journalism
Rwanda: IPI calls for release of YouTube journalist Theoneste Nsengimana October 25, 2021 IPI Contributor Anne ter Rele The IPI global network of editors, media executives, and leading journalists condemns this month’s arrest of Rwandan journalist Theoneste Nsengimana of Umubavu TV. IPI calls for his immediate release. On Tuesday, October 13, journalist Theoneste Nsengimana was arrested at his home by the Rwandan authorities. Earlier that day, Nsengimana, who runs a channel called Umubavu […] Read more » TaggedAfrica arrested journalists Dalfa-Umurinzi International Press Institute IPI Rwanda
Protect encryption: IPI joins 150 other groups in global call October 21, 2021 Strong encryption is a critical technology that helps keep people, their information, and communications private and secure. It underpins online trust, protects members of vulnerable communities, and safeguards the data of governments, businesses, and everyday citizens from criminals and hostile governments. However, some governments and organizations are pushing to weaken encryption, which would create a […] Read more » Taggeddemocracy encryption independent journalism press freedom privacy
Post-election, Russia extends ‘foreign agent’ labels October 11, 2021 IPI Contributor Anne ter Rele The IPI global network condemned the labeling of two Russian media companies and two journalists as “foreign agents” by Russian authorities. The move, which is part of a months-long crackdown on activists and journalists, discredits their work and endangers their financial survival. IPI urges international condemnation of the escalating assault on media freedom. On September […] Read more »
Turkey’s press freedom crisis compounded by increasing digital censorship October 9, 2021 Turkey’s press freedom crisis is being compounded by increasing digital censorship, a group of international press freedom, journalism and human rights groups said following a joint mission to the country this week. The government has announced plans to table a “disinformation” law that is likely to result in the further criminalization of freedom of expression […] Read more »
IPI leads international mission to Turkey, Oct. 6 – 8, 2021 October 6, 2021 A coalition of international press freedom and journalist groups will carry out a three-day mission to Turkey this week to investigate serious, continued threats to independent journalism in the country. From October 6 to 8, mission delegates will meet in Ankara and Istanbul, as well as online, with editors, journalists, local civil society groups, Turkish […] Read more »
Croatia: Wave of abusive legal actions against Index.hr September 23, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joins its partners in the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) is expressing serious concern about the wave of abusive legal actions against Croatian online news outlet Index.hr. Its publisher Index Promocija d.o.o. is currently facing 56 defamation lawsuits and nine further defamation suits target its journalists. Three of the […] Read more »
IPI mourns the death of long-time director Johann Fritz The International Press Institute (IPI) mourns the death of Johann Fritz, director emeritus of the organization, who passed away on September 14 in Vienna, Austria at the age of 81. A former manager of Austria’s respected Die Presse newspaper, Fritz became IPI’s director designate in 1992. In 1993, as the director, he successfully moved its […] Read more »
South Africa’s Khadija Patel elected new IPI Executive Board chair September 17, 2021 Khadija Patel, the head of programmes for the International Fund for Public Interest Media and the former editor-in-chief of South Africa’s Mail & Guardian newspaper, was elected yesterday as the 35th chair of the International Press Institute (IPI)‘s global Executive Board. “I’m honoured to be entrusted with this position”, she said. “And I look forward […] Read more »
MFRR: EU action needed to tackle spyware abuses after Pegasus revelations September 15, 2021 As the European Parliament today debates the Pegasus spyware scandal, the undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) call for an immediate investigation into the alleged use of the spyware against journalists by Hungarian authorities and urge the strong implementation of new EU rules on the export of cyber-surveillance technology around the world. […] Read more »
