SLAPPs: EU law needed to protect journalists against gag lawsuits November 18, 2020 More and more journalists and civil society organisations are being sued by powerful businessmen and politicians. The International Press Institute (IPI) has joined a group of 87 organisations and media freedom groups calling on the EU to ensure those with a watchdog role are protected from gag lawsuits. —————— One hot spring afternoon in Malta, a journalist drove up […] Read more »
States placing disproprotionate restrictions on independent media, groups warn November 18, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and journalists, joined 16 other press freedom organizations in expressing concern over restrictions imposed on independent media by governments. The statement was issued as part of the global Media Freedom Coalition Advisory Network on the sidelines of the 2nd Global Media Freedom conference. […] Read more »
EU must end gag lawsuits to protect press freedom and fundamental rights November 18, 2020 The EU must end gag lawsuits used to silence individuals and organisations that hold those in positions of power to account. Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) are lawsuits brought forward by powerful actors (e.g. companies, public officials in their private capacity, high profile persons) to harass and silence those speaking out in the public […] Read more » TaggedEU Europe lawsuits SLAPP
Global Conference for Media Freedom 2020 The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, co-hosted today the second Global Conference for Media Freedom with Kabo Neale Sechele Morwaeng, Botswana’s Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration. “We live in a time of unprecedented challenges. Journalists play a critical role to protect and promote human rights, democracy and the freedom of […] Read more »
Poland: IPI condemns police violence against journalists amidst Warsaw clashes November 13, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI) today strongly condemned police violence against photojournalists reporting on clashes in the Polish capital Warsaw. The violence led to numerous injuries and the hospitalization of a 74-year-old photographer who was shot in the face with a rubber bullet. IPI, a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for […] Read more »
Vexatious lawsuits a SLAPP in the face for journalists in Croatia November 11, 2020 By IPI Contributor Jelena Prtoric On October 28, the Croatian Journalists’ Association (HND) issued a stark warning about a new wave of lawsuits against journalists and media in the country. It reported that a dozen lawsuits had been filed by high-ranking politicians and public personalities, such as former Member of Parliament Branimir Glavaš, Rector of the University of Zagreb, Damir […] Read more » Taggedcourt Croatia defamation HND law lawsuit media SLAPP
Italian journalists covering anti-lockdown protests face increasing violence November 10, 2020 Read this statement in Italian here The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today expresses our serious concern over the string of physical attacks, death threats and acts of intimidation against journalists and media workers covering issues related to COVID-19 and recent anti-lockdown protests across Italy. Over the last three weeks, MFRR partners have documented at […] Read more » Taggedattacks COVID19 intimidation Italy MFRR police protest theats
Mexico must investigate latest journalist murder November 10, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and journalists for press freedom, today condemned the brutal killing of El Salamantino journalist Israel Vázquez Rangel in Mexico and urged the government to increase protection for journalists. According to media reports, Vázquez Rangel was shot dead on November 9 by unidentified gunmen […] Read more »
Nicaragua’s proposed ‘cyber security’ laws threaten press freedom November 9, 2020 IPI Contributor Nathalia González On September 28, representatives of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s authoritarian regime unveiled a draft cybercrime law that would introduce an array of new crimes that would seriously undermine press freedom. Nicaraguan journalists view the proposals as a response to critical reporting on the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic as well as its abuse of […] Read more »
IPI condemns re-arrest of Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono November 4, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today condemned the re-arrest of Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono. The investigative journalist and documentary-maker was arrested at his Harare home on November 3, after being accused of breaching bail conditions. Chin’ono had previously been arrested in July […] Read more »
In Hungary, GDPR is the new weapon against independent media November 3, 2020 By IPI Contributor Márton Bede Zur deutschen Version 2020 was the most difficult year for Hungarian media since the fall of the Berlin Wall over 30 years ago. The slow suffocation of independent outlets by the government was sped up, and the coronavirus pandemic’s economic impact forced all media companies to tighten their belts. But the scariest development, at least […] Read more » TaggedBarabás Forbes GDPR General Data Protection Regulation HCLU Hungary Magyar Narancs Orban
Egypt photojournalist disappears in custody October 30, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today demanded that Egypt reveal the whereabouts of photojournalist Mohamed al-Raai, who disappeared after interrogation by the National Security Agency. According to media reports, Mohamed al-Raai, who works for the newspaper Darb, has been missing since the […] Read more »
IPI joins statement urging protection of journalists covering Nagorno Karabakh conflict October 29, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, joined 10 partner organisations of the Council of Europe (COE) Platform in raising serious concerns about the risks to physical safety and undue restrictions faced by journalists covering the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh. Earlier this month, IPI condemned […] Read more »
Mahmoud Hussein completes 1400 days in Egypt prison October 23, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today reiterated its demand for the release of IPI member and Al Jazeera journalist Mahmoud Hussein from Egyptian prison. Hussein has spent 1,400 days in the notorious Tora prison as the Egyptian government has repeatedly and illegally […] Read more »
Cambodia cyber-crime law will stifle press freedom October 20, 2020 Cambodia’s current draft cyber-crime law would severely undermine press freedom, the International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, said today, urging the government to hold consultations with media organizations and journalists groups before moving ahead. According to information received by IPI, the draft provides for […] Read more »
Safety and Independence of Journalism: Media freedom webinar (Oct. 20, 2020) In advance of the Second Global Conference on Media Freedom ORGANIZED BY → Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria → Embassy of Canada in Austria → British Embassy in Austria → International Press Institute (IPI) → Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)/Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media The […] Read more »
Compromised independence of Turkey’s institutions chokes press freedom October 15, 2020 Turkey’s press freedom crisis is worsening amid growing state capture of media, the lack of independence of regulatory institutions, and a new social media law designed to clamp down on the remaining spaces for free comment, a coalition of 11 international press freedom, journalism and human rights groups warned following a four-day mission to the […] Read more »
Conviction of Montenegro journalist Jovo Martinovic widely condemned October 8, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined several other press freedom and journalists’ organizations in expressing dismay at the decision of a court in Montenegro to find journalist Jovo Martinović guilty of participating in drug trafficking, despite clear evidence he was working undercover as part of an investigation at the time. In a highly damaging […] Read more »
Groups urge acquittal of Montenegrin journalist Martinović October 7, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined several other press freedom and journalists’ organizations in calling for the acquittal of Montenegrin investigative journalist Jovo Martinović, who faces a verdict on Thursday in a years-long case against him. Read the full statement below. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ On 8 October 2020, the verdict in the retrial of the Montenegrin […] Read more »
International coalition starts Turkey press freedom mission October 6, 2020 A coalition of 11 international press freedom, freedom of expression and journalists‘ organisations are leading a joint press freedom mission to Turkey this week from 6 to 9 October amid the country’s continued press freedom crisis, which has further worsened under the coronavirus pandemic. Representatives of the 11 organisations, led by the Vienna-based International Press […] Read more »
Egypt arrests journalist Basama Mostafa October 5, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today vehemently condemned the arrest and imprisonment of Basama Mostafa, a Egyptian journalist for Al Manassa website on Sunday. According to media reports, Mostafa, was arrested when she had travelled to Luxor district on October 3 to […] Read more »
Rush to pass ‘fake news’ laws during Covid-19 intensifying global media freedom challenges October 3, 2020 By IPI Advocacy Officer Jamie Wiseman Few terms have become so engrained in global political discourse in the last half decade than that of so-called “fake news.” The widely used yet ill-defined phrase has become a messy shorthand enveloping everything from social media rumours, to online political disinformation, to state-sponsored internet propaganda. With vastly different […] Read more »
IPI condemns Mexico’s decision to abolish journalist protection fund October 2, 2020 IPI Contributor Nathalia González Versión en español The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today condemned the decision by Mexico’s Budget and Public Account Commission to abolish a fund that supports a protection mechanisms for threatened journalists and human rights defenders. n September 29, Mexico’s Budget and Public […] Read more » TaggedIPI Contributor Nathalia González
Jamal Khashoggi murder: Justice still denied October 1, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today decried the continued denial of justice in the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. “Two years have passed since Jamal Khashoggi was murdered, yet Saudi Arabia has failed to name or […] Read more »
IPI mourns the passing of legendary editor Harold Evans September 24, 2020 Harold Evans, former editor of The Sunday Times and Editor-at-Large of the Reuters, passed away on September 23, in New York. He was 92. “Harold Evans was a path-breaking journalist, who added a new dimension to investigative journalism. His demise leaves a huge void in the world of journalism”, IPI Executive Director Barbara Trionfi said. […] Read more »
Hong Kong Police should scrap decision to redefine journalists September 24, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, along with 17 other organizations, today urged the Hong Kong Police to scrap the proposed decision to redefine journalists and to recognize all journalists accredited with the Hong Kong Journalists Association and Hong Kong Press Photographers Association. IPI […] Read more » TaggedHong Kong journalists national security law press freedom registration
Restricting media in Covid-19 is life threatening for communities As journalists around the world work to report the crucial information their communities need to navigate the Covid-19 crisis, they face many hurdles. These include restrictive laws and having to combat disinformation. The coronavirus outbreak spread a human rights crisis across borders; the Jordanian government activated the draconian Defense Law, the Philippines’ Duterte administration […] Read more »
MFRR: Turkey must stop judicial harassment of journalist Can Dündar September 21, 2020 The Media Freedom Rapid Response condemns the decision of the Istanbul 14th Heavy Penal Court on 17 September ruling that journalist Can Dündar, who lives in exile in Germany, will be considered a fugitive and have his entire property confiscated if he does not appear in Turkish court within 15 days. We believe that the […] Read more »
Journalists restricted from reporting aftermath of Moria refugee camp fire September 16, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI) and its partners in the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today voiced concerns over attempts by Greek authorities to restrict access for reporters and photojournalists to the area where refugees and asylum seekers have been living in squalid conditions following the fire that destroyed the Moria camp. In a letter […] Read more »
Concern as Albania looks to push ahead with controversial ‘anti-defamation law’ September 16, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined partners in the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in sending a letter to political leaders in Albania raising concerns over the ruling Socialist Party’s apparent plans to push ahead with a controversial package of online media laws without implementing changes suggested by the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission. The letter, […] Read more »
KRONID LYUBARSKY September 11, 2020 Kronid Arkadyevich Lyubarsky was a prominent human rights activist whose work led to his incarceration, jailing and emigration in the 1970s. During his years in exile, he published a human rights bulletin, News from the USSR, and an annual list of political prisoners in the labour camps, prisons and mental hospitals of the Soviet Union. […] Read more » TaggedWorld Press Freedom Heroes
HAROLD EVANS September 11, 2020 One of Britain’s most respected journalists and the crusading editor of The Sunday Times for 14 years, Harold Evans brought a new style of investigative reporting to his country and focused the attention of his readers on the plight of Thalidomide victims. The drug brought birth defects to thousands of newly born babies around the […] Read more » TaggedWorld Press Freedom Heroes
HUBERT BEUVE-MÉRY September 11, 2020 Hubert Beuve-Méry, the “grand old man of French journalism,” was the founder of Le Monde, France’s leading daily and a household name throughout the world. Asked by General Charles de Gaulle to set up a newspaper of reference after the country’s liberation from German occupation in 1944, Beuve-Méry’s commitment to independence led him into frequent […] Read more » TaggedWorld Press Freedom Heroes
