Belgium: Serious concerns over cases of preventive censorship involving four media outlets October 22, 2024 | Leave a Comment 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 | Leave a Comment 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 | Leave a Comment 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 »
Media freedom and pluralism in the Republic of Cyprus: An overview October 10, 2024 By IPI Contributor Natalie Alkiviadou | Leave a Comment Introduction The piece gives an overview of the situation of media freedom and pluralism in the Republic of Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus has de jure sovereignty over the entirety of the island. In practice, however, its governance is confined to the southern region while the northern part of the island is administered by the […] Read more »
Spain’s Democratic Regeneration plan: implications for press freedom October 7, 2024 | Leave a Comment Virginia Pérez Alonso, director of digital news outlet Público and former president of Plataforma por la Libertad de Información, explores Spain’s announced Democratic Regeneration plan in an interview with the International Press Institute (IPI). Prompted by a row over false information about the Prime Minister’s wife, the plan aims to improve media transparency and legal […] Read more » Taggeddefamation democratic regeneration fake news gag law pedro sanchez smear campaign
Georgia: Press Freedom and the Safety of Journalists in Peril, Rising Polarization and a Climate of Fear – Findings of the Press Freedom Mission to Georgia October 3, 2024 | Leave a Comment [The following is the statement for a press conference held at the conclusion of the mission to Georgia organized by of the Partner Organizations of the Council of Europe’s Safety of Journalists Platform and members of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR). You can find the statement in Georgian here]. The Mission of the Partner […] Read more »
Six years on: Still no justice for Jamal Khashoggi October 2, 2024 | Leave a Comment Six years have passed since the brutal murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi national and vocal critic of the Saudi regime. The IPI global network strongly condemns the continued lack of accountability for his heinous murder, and reiterates its call for an independent, impartial criminal investigation into the role that high-level Saudi […] Read more »
Georgia: Family Values Bill imposes censorship on media September 30, 2024 | Leave a Comment International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors and journalists, today joins international press freedom, journalists and human rights organizations in strongly condemning Georgia’s recently adopted Family Values Bill. This legislation imposes censorship on media by banning broadcasters from freely reporting on LGBT+ issues. The Georgian government must stop its legal attacks on press […] Read more »
Maria Menshikova sentenced to 7 years of prison in absentia On 30 September 2024, a court in Moscow sentenced journalist Maria Menshikova to seven years of prison in absentia on charges of “justifying terrorism”. Menshikova is the head of the news section of Doxa, an independent Russian anti-war and human rights-oriented online news outlet. The journalist currently lives outside of Russia. Russian authorities first opened […] Read more »
Mass spoofing of European media outlets highlights risks of pro-Russian disinformation September 30, 2024 | Leave a Comment The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium expresses serious concern over the persistent spoofing of legitimate European media outlets, most recently as part of a Russian disinformation campaign called “Doppelgänger”. Over the past two years, this disinformation campaign, initially discovered in 2022, continued to weigh in the political debate with so-called cybersquatting practices, through which […] Read more »
Spain: barrage of online intimidation against journalists threatens safety September 26, 2024 | Leave a Comment The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium condemns the online intimidation of investigative journalists working for La Sexta TV by Daniel Esteve, CEO of the eviction company Desokupa. Esteve’s harassment and threats to reveal personal information put the journalists’ safety at great risk. We call on the Spanish authorities to take immediate action to protect […] Read more » Taggedatresmedia doxxing eu recommendation investigative journalism la sexta online online harassment safety safety of journalists Spain
Israeli authorities revoke Al Jazeera journalists’ press passes September 17, 2024 | Leave a Comment The IPI global network condemns the Israeli government’s decision to revoke Al Jazeera journalists’ press passes. The move follows Israel’s decision in May to shut down the media outlet’s operations in Israel. On top of Israel’s existing information blockade prohibiting international journalists from entering and reporting from Gaza, this latest decision further undermines press freedom […] Read more »
Meet 10 news organizations joining Local News Accelerator 2024 September 12, 2024 IPI's Innovation team | Leave a Comment IPI Media Innovation and Sustainability team just kicked off the 2024 Local News Accelerator, a five-month programme designed to provide 10 selected media organizations with skills and strategies to grow their audiences and empower their teams. This year we received 80 applications from over 25 countries, from startups to established media. We are excited to see […] Read more »
60 organizations urge EU action against Israel’s attacks on press freedom August 26, 2024 | Leave a Comment In an urgent appeal, 60 global press freedom and human rights organizations, including the International Press Institute (IPI), are calling on the European Union to take decisive action against Israel for its escalating violations of media freedom and killing of journalists. In a letter addressed to EU leaders, the signatories urge the suspension of the […] Read more »
Pro-Putin writer calls for strikes on journalists who visited Sudzha On 25 August 2024, Russian writer Marina Akhmedova, who is a member of Russia’s Human Rights Council, a body which advises the President of Russia, called for strikes on journalists who visited the Russian town of Sudzha following its occupation by Ukrainian forces. Akhmedova made the statements on her Telegram channel. In her publication, she […] Read more »
Burundi: IPI welcomes the release of journalist Floriane Irangabiye August 23, 2024 | Leave a Comment The IPI global network welcomes the release of Burundi journalist Floriane Irangabiye after more than two years behind bars and reiterates its call on authorities in Burundi to uphold media freedom. The authorities should allow independent journalism and ensure journalists are free to do their work without fear of harassment, arrest, or detention. ‘’The release […] Read more » Taggedarrest detention media freedom sentenced
Russian Foreign Ministry speaker discredits foreign journalists working in Sudzha On 21 August 2024, Russian Foreign Ministry speaker Maria Zakharova issued veiled threats at foreign correspondents working near Sudzha, in territory of Russia that Ukraine occupied as part of a recent counter-offensive. In an interview for Sputnik, a Russian state-controlled radio station, Zakharova said: “And with each journalist, or so-called journalist, or those who work […] Read more »
Media freedom groups call for an end to Spain’s repressive “Gag Law” August 20, 2024 | Leave a Comment The undersigned Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) organizations call on the Spanish government to fully repeal the so-called “Gag Law” as part of its announced “democratic regeneration” efforts. While we welcome the initial proposed changes to the law, these fall short of the full repeal necessary to protect free expression in Spain. In Spain, despite […] Read more » Taggeddemocratic regeneration gag law ley mordaza mordaza psoe sánchez Spain sumar
Proekt Media undergoes hacking attempt On 14 August 2024, a common investigation by international NGOs Citizen Lab, Access Now and Russian NGO Perviy Otdel found that hackers likely linked to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) had targeted an array of journalists, human rights organizations, Russian opposition members and American politicians, in a campaign which was said to have started approximately […] Read more »
Africa Media Monitoring July 2024: Threats to press freedom in Kenya, DRC, and Somalia August 12, 2024 | Leave a Comment In July 2024, physical assaults, arrests of journalists covering anti-government protests, and incidents of censorship topped the list of threats to press freedom in Sub-Saharan African countries. IPI monitoring documented 33 violations or threats to media freedom in 17 countries. The highest number of violations were recorded in Kenya, DRC, and Somalia. State actors were […] Read more »
IPI calls on US, EU to reject dangerous global surveillance treaty August 6, 2024 | Leave a Comment As final negotiations draw to a close this week in New York, the IPI global network urgently calls on the United States and the European Union to stand firm and reject a global treaty that will give authorities sweeping surveillance powers and hand authoritarians even more tools to target and punish journalists and other public […] Read more »
Myanmar: Two years without justice for photojournalist Aye Kyaw July 31, 2024 Tea Rissanen, Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Journalism Fellow at IPI | Leave a Comment Two years after the death of photojournalist Aye Kyaw while in the custody of Myanmar’s military junta, the IPI global network commemorates the journalist and demands accountability for his apparent murder at the hands of the junta. In addition, IPI renews its calls for international support for journalists in Myanmar. Since the democracy-crushing military coup […] Read more »
2024 rule of law report: media freedom organizations urge the EU to enforce stronger safeguards July 30, 2024 Beatrice Chioccioli | Leave a Comment The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) coalition welcomes the publication of the 2024 European Commission’s rule of law report. Despite progress made in some areas, the report shows that press freedom remains under threat in Europe. We urge Member States and the European Union to intensify their efforts to uphold media freedom, and reinforce their […] Read more » Taggedanti-slapp EU Europe European Commission european media freedom act European Union report rule of law
Behind bars for fake news: imminent threat to media freedom in Cyprus July 29, 2024 | Leave a Comment The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) strongly condemns a legislative proposal in Cyprus that threatens press freedom under the guise of combating disinformation. This amendment, which criminalizes “fake news” and imposes harsh penalties, risks stifling independent journalism and encouraging self-censorship. Our international consortium calls on authorities to align with international human rights standards, promote media […] Read more » Taggedchilling effect cyprus digital services act disinformation european media freedom act fake news freedom of expression media control media freedom self-censorship
Kosovo’s media law enables political capture of regulatory body July 23, 2024 | Leave a Comment The undersigned Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium partners express deep alarm over the passage of a new media law by the Kosovo Parliament this month. We share local and international concerns that this law does not meet international standards on free expression and threatens media freedom, including by granting the authorities greater control over […] Read more » TaggedCouncil of Europe European Union Kosovo Lëvizja Vetëvendosje media law OSCE
IPI joins 20 rights groups calling on EU to address critical flaws in draft treaty on cybercrime July 17, 2024 | Leave a Comment IPI today joined 20 digital rights and press freedom groups to urge the European Union to address critical flaws in the latest draft of the UN cybercrime convention, ahead of the final negotiations of the treaty that begin at the end of this month in New York. IPI has consistently called for sweeping revisions to […] Read more » Taggedcybercrime law
The Gambia: Parliament must amend draft cybercrime bill July 9, 2024 IPI Contributor, Samuel Kennedy | Leave a Comment Despite concerns and criticism from journalists and local press unions, the Gambian parliament is considering a cybercrime bill that grants authorities the power to impose harsh penalties on journalists and critics. The IPI global network today calls upon members of the Gambian parliament to either amend the draft cybercrime bill so that it aligns with […] Read more » Taggedcybercrime law cybercrimes
Ukraine: IPI condemns new arrest of journalist by Russian occupying forces July 5, 2024 | Leave a Comment The IPI global network today condemns the detention of journalist Zhanna Kyselova, the former editor of local newspaper Kakhovska Zorya, by Russian occupying authorities in Ukraine’s Kherson region. Kyselova’s detention is a renewed reminder of the dire situation faced by dozens of Ukrainian journalists held in Russian captivity. According to Ukrainian authorities, Kyselova was detained […] Read more »
IPI Africa 2023 Press Freedom Monitoring Report June 28, 2024 | Leave a Comment At least 12 journalists were killed in sub-Saharan Africa in 2023, according to monitoring by the International Press Institute (IPI)’s Africa programs. These incidents are among the nearly 600 cases of attacks on journalists and other threats to press freedom that IPI documented in the region last year. Altogether, IPI documented 591 cases affecting journalists […] Read more » TaggedAfrica attacks on journalists safety of journalists
Media Freedom Mission to Romania questions fairness of electoral coverage June 26, 2024 | Leave a Comment Members of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), after completing a mission to Bucharest, concluded that much of the media coverage of Romania’s electoral campaigns is seriously compromised by political capture and that media are failing to provide the fair and balanced political reporting necessary for the public to make informed electoral choices. Romania also […] Read more »
Solidarity with the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation in their quest for justice June 25, 2024 | Leave a Comment The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) coalition partners stand firm in solidarity with the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation, which has unwaveringly campaigned against the continued impunity for the 1999 murder of Serbian journalist Slavko Ćuruvija. New legal action brought by two of the individuals acquitted of Ćuruvija’s murder now threatens to undermine the foundation’s campaign for […] Read more »
Serbia: KRIK journalists facing SLAPPs after publishing the profile of Judge Dušanka Đorđević in database June 19, 2024 | Leave a Comment The undersigned journalists and media freedom organizations condemn the legal actions filed by Judge Dušanka Đorđević and her husband against Crime and Corruption Reporting Network (KRIK), its editor-in-chief Stevan Dojčinović, and journalist Bojana Pavlović. The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) coalition considers those legal actions as Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), aiming at silencing […] Read more » Taggedkrik Serbia SLAPP vexatious lawsuit
Pakistan: IPI alarmed by deterioration of press freedom, journalists’ safety June 18, 2024 | Leave a Comment The IPI global network is deeply alarmed by the deterioration of press freedom in Pakistan, marked by a recent wave of violence against the press along with the introduction of legislative and other measures that impose harsh restrictions on press freedom and online expression. We call on the government to take swift and concrete action […] Read more »
