Poland: PKN Orlen media purchase violates EU merger rules and media pluralism standards June 14, 2021 The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today said that allowing the acquisition of regional newspaper publisher Polska Press by Poland’s state-controlled oil giant PKN Orlen to go forward would violate both EU and Polish merger rules and undermine media pluralism. The MFRR supports legal arguments to this effect made by consortium member ARTICLE 19, which […] Read more »
Albania: Accredited journalists to face unequal access restrictions in parliament June 11, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in writing to the speaker of the Albanian Parliament to raise shared concerns over restrictive and unequal new rules for accredited journalists inside the building. The groups raise a number of issues and urge the National Assembly to reconsider the rules to […] Read more »
Gunmen attack home of Arab Israeli journalist June 11, 2021 IPI Contributor Sasha Schroeder The International Press Institute (IPI) strongly condemns the attack on Arab Israeli reporter Hassan Shaalan amid growing violence against members of the press in the region. Masked gunmen fired shots at Shaalan’s home and car in the Israeli city of Taibeh on June 3. Shaalan writes about Arab affairs for the Israeli news website Ynet. […] Read more »
Albania: Accredited journalists to face unequal access restrictions in parliament June 11, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in writing to the speaker of the Albanian Parliament to raise shared concerns over restrictive and unequal new rules for accredited journalists inside the building. The groups raise a number of issues and urge the National Assembly to reconsider the rules to […] Read more »
Poland: Orlen continues editorial purge at Polska Press June 10, 2021 A purge of editorial management at regional newspapers owned by Polska Press has gathered pace in the last month, as the shockwaves of the controversial takeover of the publishing house by Poland’s state-controlled oil giant PKN Orlen continue to be felt. A total of eight editors-in-chief have now been dismissed or pushed out since Orlen […] Read more »
Lydia Cacho Ribeiro to head IJ4EU jury June 9, 2021 Lydia Cacho Ribeiro, an award-winning Mexican investigative journalist living in exile in Spain, will serve as the jury chair of the flagship grant scheme of the IJ4EU fund in 2021, the International Press Institute (IPI) said on Wednesday. Cacho takes over the role from Wolfgang Krach, editor-in-chief of Germany’s Süddeutsche Zeitung, who oversaw the independent jury’s selection […] Read more » Taggedij4eu Lydia Cacho Ribeiro
Slovenia PM’s ‘fake news’ comment about COE Commissioner condemned June 9, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI) has joined its partners in the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in expressing dismay at Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša’s disparaging tweet about Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović. On 6 June 2021, Prime Minister Janša said the Commissioner is “part of #fakenews network” in response to […] Read more »
Pakistan should withdraw sweeping new media regulation June 7, 2021 In an open letter, the IPI Global Network has urged Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to withdraw a sweeping planned new media regulation, called the Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) Ordinance 2021, that would severely undermine press freedom in the country. Underscoring the importance of press freedom in Pakistan, IPI called on the prime minister […] Read more »
IPI condemns arrest of Al Jazeera Jerusalem correspondent June 5, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI) strongly condemned today‘s arrest of Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent Givara Budeiri by Israeli police in East Jerusalem. Budeiri was detained after covering protests in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood. Video of the incident shows that Budeiri was wearing a vest clearly marked “Press” and according to Al Jazeera was attempting to […] Read more »
Turkey: SLAPP lawsuit filed against academic over Paradise Papers tweet May 31, 2021 NGOs and journalists’ organisations call for the dropping of a lawsuit launched against the academic Prof Yaman Akdeniz by Serhat Albayrak, seeking 100,000 Turkish lira (€9,600) in damages for his tweets about the censorship of reports into the criminal investigations and civil lawsuits against journalists who reported on the Paradise Papers. Serhat Albayrak is the […] Read more »
IPI Vacancy: Africa Programme Officer May 18, 2021 IPI Vacancy: Africa Programme Officer Location: IPI Secretariat (Vienna) Deadline for applications: 15 February 2022, 23:59 (Central European Time) About IPI: The International Press Institute (IPI) is a global network of editors, journalists, and media executives dedicated to defending press freedom and independent journalism. Founded in 1950, IPI is one of the world’s leading global […] Read more »
IPI: Vacancy: Head of Communications and Campaigns IPI is hiring! We’re currently looking for a head of communications and campaigns. Please read the full job description and instructions below. The deadline for applications is June 30, 2021. Stay informed. Stay engaged. Join thousands of journalists who receive the IPI Weekly Digest—press freedom news, opportunities, and media innovation insights delivered weekly. Join us! […] Read more »
Offices of AP and Al Jazeera in Gaza destroyed in Israeli bombing May 15, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, today vehemently condemned the attack on the building housing the offices of the Associated Press and Al Jazeera Network in Gaza by the Israeli defence forces. According to media reports, a high-rise building in Gaza city that housed the offices of […] Read more »
Serbia: The government must support media freedom May 11, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined ARTICLE 19 and the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in launching a report detailing the findings of a recent online fact-finding mission to Serbia. The report followed an international advocacy mission to Serbia, led by ARTICLE 19, that took place virtually from 29 January to 2 February 2021 […] Read more »
Media face financial ruin under Russian “foreign agent” law May 10, 2021 IPI Contributor Antonio Prokscha On April 23, Latvia-based independent newspaper Meduza and PASMI, a Russia-based news medium reporting on corruption, were both declared a “foreign agent” by the Russian state. The decision by Russia’s Justice Ministry made the two publications the latest in a string of independent media to be added to the list of co-called “foreign agents”, throwing […] Read more »
IJ4EU rebooted: €1.1M in grants for investigative journalism in Europe May 5, 2021 IJ4EU relaunches in 2021 with €1.1 million for cross-border projects in EU Includes new support scheme for freelancers First call launches in June Stay informed via our newsletter and website The Investigative Journalism for Europe (IJ4EU) fund will disburse €1.1 million in grants to cross-border projects in EU member states in 2021 and launch […] Read more » Taggedij4eu investigative journalism
WPFD Pakistan: Target on their backs May 3, 2021 Naziha Syed Ali To mark World Press Freedom Day, IPI’s media partners in the South Asia Cross-border journalism project in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Nepal have documented several press freedom violations in their countries. These stories are published in all the five news publications – The Daily Star, The Week, Dawn, Republica and Nagarik. [separator style_type=”single” top_margin=”20px” bottom_margin=”20px” […] Read more »
Turkey: IPI condemns police directive preventing audio-visual reporting on protests May 1, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI) today condemned a directive sent on Tuesday by Turkey’s Security General Directorate (EGM) to all police departments in the country requesting officers to prevent audio and visual recordings of protests and public demonstrations. The note circulated is seen as a clear move to prevent citizens and journalists from reporting on […] Read more »
Poland: Purge of editors begins despite court ruling suspending purchase of Polska Press April 30, 2021 The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today calls on Poland’s state-controlled oil giant PKN Orlen to immediately halt its interference in the newsrooms and editorial independence of Polska Press media and to fully respect the court’s interim decision suspending its purchase of the publisher pending a review. The MFRR warns that yesterday the long-expected purge […] Read more »
MFRR writes to Albanian PM after seizure order against news outlet Lapsi April 23, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined its partners in the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFFR) in writing to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to express deep concern over the recent seizure order approved by a judge against online news outlet Lapsi.al after it revealed the existence of a massive voter database. ————– To: Edi […] Read more »
MFRR writes to Albanian PM after seizure order against news outlet Lapsi April 23, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined its partners in the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFFR) in writing to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to express deep concern over the recent seizure order approved by a judge against online news outlet Lapsi.al after it revealed the existence of a massive voter database. ————– To: Edi […] Read more »
Japanese freelance journalist detained again in Myanmar April 19, 2021 IPI Contributor Riikka Maukonen The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network for editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today condemned the detention of Japanese freelance journalist Yuki Kitazumi in Myanmar and demanded his immediate release. According to news reports, Yangon-based Kitazumi was detained and taken away from his home in a police vehicle during the […] Read more »
Ahmet Altan: ECtHR finds rights violations in case of Turkish journalist and writer April 14, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI) welcomed a European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruling yesterday, April 13, finding that Turkey had violated the rights of Ahmet Altan, a prominent writer and journalist with the now-shuttered Taraf newspaper. Altan has been jailed for four-and-a-half years over his alleged links to the now-outlawed Gülen movement and articles critical of […] Read more »
Over 600 COVID-19 related press freedom violations in past year April 14, 2021 A little more than one year after the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic, IPI data show the extent to which media outlets and journalists have faced harassment and attacks while doing their jobs in reporting on the unprecedented health crisis. Since February 5, 2020, IPI’s COVID-19 Press Freedom Tracker has recorded 620 press freedom […] Read more »
Wiretapping of journalists in Italy must be thoroughly investigated April 12, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined its partners in the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and other groups in writing to Italian ministers to express serious concerns over reports that prosecutors in Sicily wiretapped journalists and their sources during a probe and urge them to ensure a thorough investigation is conducted. To: Marta Cartabia, […] Read more »
Greece: MFRR urges thorough investigation into murder of Giorgos Karaivaz April 11, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI) today publishes a letter sent by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) to ministers in the Greek government and the chief of Hellenic police which urged them to ensure a swift and thorough investigation into the murder of journalist Giorgos Karaivaz. ———————— To: Minister for Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrisochoidis Minister of […] Read more »
New Tanzania president to lift ban on media organizations April 6, 2021 IPI Contributor Antonio Prokscha The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today welcomed President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s decision to lift sanctions imposed on media outlets in Tanzania. The announcement by Tanzania’s new president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, suspending all bans on media organizations is a welcome first step to […] Read more »
Malta: Submission to Public Inquiry into assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia April 2, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI) joined a coalition of nine freedom of expression and media freedom organizations, led by ARTICLE 19, to make a submission to the Public Inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Since its establishment in December 2019, our organisations have closely monitored and participated in the work of the independent […] Read more »
International groups call on EU leaders to prioritize fundamental rights ahead of Turkey visit April 1, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI) and 20 international human rights and freedom of expression organizations sent today a joint letter to the presidents of the European Council and European Commission to call on EU leaders to prioritize improved human rights records in Turkey ahead of their visit to the Turkish president Erdoğan on April 6. […] Read more »
Myanmar journalists brave crackdown to continue reporting April 1, 2021 IPI Contributor Antonio Prokscha The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media managers and leading journalists for press freedom, today vehemently condemned the ongoing repression of journalists in Myanmar as well as the military regime’s brutal crackdown on protests. After two weeks under arrest, Polish photojournalist Robert Bociaga was deported this week from Myanmar. From abroad, […] Read more »
Vietnam: Journalists and media watchdogs fear increased persecution March 26, 2021 IPI Contributor Loren Sandoval Arteaga The re-election of the leaders of Vietnam’s Communist Party during the party’s official congress last month heralds a continuation of oppressive policies toward press freedom, experts say. The congress, which ended on February 1, saw the re-election of key party members, including party’s general secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong, who is also Vietnam’s president. Nguyen Phu […] Read more »
Cuba: Independent journalism officially outlawed by the regime March 26, 2021 IPI Contributor Loren Sandoval Arteaga The International Press Institute (IPI) today criticized the exclusion of independent journalism from allowable self-employment and private enterprise activities by the Cuban government. On February 9, the Cuban government published a list of prohibited self-employment activities. The list excludes the “production and distribution of information” and “activities of news agencies”. The document is a reform to […] Read more »
Serbia: Groups condemn deafening silence of government over KRIK smear campaign March 24, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined nine other media freedom groups in writing to the Serbian president and prime minister to express serious concerns over the lack of a resolute government response to the dangerous smear campaign against independent news outlet KRIK. The muted response from government leaders was the main catalyst for four […] Read more »
