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More ambitious reform needed to secure media freedom in…

More ambitious reform needed to secure media freedom in Poland

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium completed a two-day mission to Poland, 16-17 September, where it held meetings with the Minister of Justice, Adam Bodnar, the Ministry of Culture as well as journalists, publishers, regulators, media law experts. 

The mission focused on measures to reform public service media, to protect journalists from Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) and proposals to reform the media landscape in line with the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). 

 

The meetings discussed the changes within the public service media since the Civic Coalition led government of Donald Tusk used contested legal mechanisms to remove senior figures at the public broadcaster, Telewizja Polska S.A. (TVP), and end the control exercised over it by the former government of the Law and Justice party, PiS.  

 

The mission welcomed assurances from the Minister of Justice that the government would decriminalize defamation and ensure that the reforms to address SLAPPs will go beyond the minimum scope set by the EU Directive and apply to domestic SLAPP cases as well as cross-border ones. This is particularly significant as nearly all of the SLAPP cases in Poland recorded by the CASE Coalition involve domestic actors only. The Ministry also says it has moved swiftly to withdraw the 37 SLAPP cases that had been launched by the previous cabinet.

 

The Ministry of Culture has set out a timetable to bring Polish legislation in line with the EMFA. Public consultation on the media law reforms closes on 23 September and the ministry plans to issue a draft law before the end of the year before becoming law by the summer of 2025.The ministry proposes to reform the governance and operations of the national broadcast regulator KRRiT that oversees all broadcast media, and to provide direct state funding based on 0.09% of the annual GDP. 

 

The government has been criticized in several quarters for appearing to drag its feet in enacting reforms and providing legal and financial certainty to the public broadcaster which has been operating in a state of ‘liquidation’ since the beginning of the year. The delay may, in part, be explained by the need to wait for the presidential elections due in 2025, before which any new reform would likely be vetoed by the current President, Andrzej Duda. 

 

Other proposals include, improving media ownership transparency, introducing a mechanism for assessing and safe-guarding media pluralism, and ending the abuse of state advertising to reward government allies in the media.  There is also a discussion around ending the direct funding and ownership of media by local governments and to instead establish a public fund to support independent regional media.  

 

Many commentators called for more ambitious reforms of public media to ensure it is fit for the digital age and can provide impactful public service journalism for all communities and demographics across the country. 

 

The state of TVP meanwhile is mixed. While it is no longer the propaganda tool of one political party and is providing a much more balanced brand of political coverage, the main news channel, TVP INFO, has lost over 70% of its audience, mostly to the  TV Republika that is supportive of the Law and Justice party. TVP still has much work to do to rebuild its audience and credibility.  

 

While enormous challenges remain, the overall outlook for Polish media is incomparably better than it was one year ago when MFRR issued its pre-election report, Media Freedom at a Crossroads. 

 

The Media Freedom Rapid Response will publish a full report on its findings in October. In the meantime we wish to thank all of the interlocutors who took the time to meet with us. The mission partners included the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the International Press Institute (IPI), ARTICLE 19 Europe, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and Free Press Unlimited (FPU).

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States, Candidate Countries.

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Event

Media Freedom in the Western Balkans: Challenges and Opportunities…

Media Freedom in the Western Balkans:

Challenges and Opportunities in the Framework of EU Enlargement 

07 October, 11:00 CET.

Free and independent media play a key role in ensuring citizens’ right to information on issues of public interest and in holding power into account. A sound media system is thus a pillar of democracy and the rule of law. 

 

Over the past years, the Media Freedom Rapid Response has noted a gradual deterioration of media freedom standards across EU member states and candidate countries. Common issues of concern include the increased interference of political powers in the governance of public service media, the lack of transparency in media ownership, precarious working conditions, and growing intimidation and threats against journalists and media professionals. 

 

These concerns have prompted EU institutions to take action and introduce new legislative tools to address such trends, such as the anti-SLAPP directive and the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). While aiming to harmonize media freedom standards across member states, these newly adopted norms will have an impact on candidate countries, as they move forward in the alignment with the EU acquis as part of the accession process. 

 

This webinar will present the updated results of two Shadow Reports on Media Freedom in Albania and Serbia prepared in collaboration with the Centre Science and Innovation for Development (SCiDEV) and the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia. It will explore media freedom-related challenges and developments in the two candidate countries taking into consideration the ongoing negotiations to join the EU and the annual progress reports that the European Commission is expected to publish later in the autumn. 

Register here

Moderator

Serena Epis

OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)

Opening Remarks

Cristina Caputo

Adriatic and Balkan Unit, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Maja Smrkolj

Political Desk Serbia DG NEAR, European Commission 

Speakers

Tamara Filipović

Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS)

Blerjana Bino

Centre Science and Innovation for Development (SCiDEV)

Final Remarks

Massimo Moratti

OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)

Greek journalist Stavroula Poulimeni, of the cooperative and independent media outlet Alterthess. Photo credit: Konstantinos Tsakalidis Library

Press freedom on trial in Greece: support Alterthess’ appeal

Press freedom on trial in Greece: support Alterthess’ appeal

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium expresses its full support for Greek journalist Stavroula Poulimeni and media outlet Alterthess ahead of their appeal on 19 September 2024.

Today’s hearing follows a court ruling that partially upheld a civil lawsuit demanding damages over Poulimeni’s report on the conviction of two Hellas Gold executives for water pollution – which were overturned in 2022, as the journalist also reported at the time. 

In 2023, Alterthess was ordered to pay €3,000 to one of the company’s executives for reporting his court conviction in October 2020. The judge ruled that, despite the conviction being public information, the publishing of his name was a breach of his privacy protected under the GDPR rules and caused moral damages.

Should this ruling stand the future of court reporting and the public’s right of access to court rulings will be in jeopardy. 

Moreover, the lower court’s decision risks encouraging more Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) aimed at silencing media in Greece, where journalists already face a growing number of legal pressures.

At 11:00AM, supporters will gather outside the Athens Court of Appeal for a press conference to raise awareness about the case. The MFRR calls for the court to overturn this decision, ensuring that journalists in Greece can continue their work without fear of legal retaliation. 

Signed by:

  • International Press Institute
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT) 
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
  • The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States, Candidate Countries and Ukraine.

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MFRR Summit 2025

The MFRR Summit 2025 brings together journalists, policymakers, and civil society to address the urgent challenges facing press freedom in Europe. From disinformation and digital threats to shrinking media markets and political pressure, journalism is under strain, and journalists need stronger protection and support.

This year’s Summit feeds into EU Democracy Shield policy discussions and highlights journalism as vital democratic infrastructure. Drawing on MFRR’s monitoring, missions, and policy work, the event will explore five key pillars of media resilience: economic viability, safety, legal protection, AI governance, and implementation of safeguards.

More programme details are coming soon. Registration opens on 11 August. Stay tuned!

Welcoming Message

09:00 – 09:10 CET

Opening Keynote

09:10 – 09:30 CET

Panel 1: Media Economy Under Pressure: How to Ensure Economic Viability

09:30 – 10:30 CET

From platform  ad monopolies and collapsing business models to biased state funding and increased far-right influence,  today’s public interest media sector is economically destabilised. This panel will address urgent issues and  spotlight policy solutions: market reform, including reformed copyright, tax incentives, direct support with  safeguards, and breaking VLOP dependency. 

Alina Păduraru ↦

Executive Manager at Recorder

 

Anna Herold ↦

Head of the Audiovisual and Media Services Policy Unit at the European Commission

 

Sarah Murphy Madia ↦

Journalist and Policy Lead at What to Fix

 

Salla Nazarenko ↦

International Affairs Specialist at Suomen Journalistiliitto

 

Moderated by Renate Schroeder ↦

Director at the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

Panel 2: Unsafe to Report. Why Journalists Keep Looking Over Their Shoulders

10:45 – 11:45 CET

Mapping  1,500+ press freedom violations in 2024 (MFRR Monitoring Report), this panel focuses on states where  enforcement is failing, and threats are escalating – from police violence at protests to online smear  campaigns and digital intimidation, often initiated or supported by power holders themselves. Discussion  will zoom into the MFRR findings from its recent on-the-ground missions, highlighting the most urgent  safety issues and discussing possible solutions.  

Irma Dimitradze ↦

Communications Manager and Journalist at Batumelebi and Netgazeti

 

Hamdi Firat Buyuk ↦

Journalist and Political Analyst, Balkan Insight

 

Valentina Grippo ↦

General Rapporteur on Media Freedom and Safety of Journalists, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

 

Wael Eskandar ↦

Freelance tech specialist, writer and photographer 

 

Yanis Mhamdi ↦

Investigative reporter at Blast

 

Moderated by Ena Bavčić ↦

EU Advocacy Officer  at the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

Panel 3: Spoofing, Surveillance, Spyware. Journalists against Digital Threats

13:00 – 14:00 CET

AI is reshaping  journalism in multiple ways; while some are helpful, others are an imminent threat. AI and other advanced  digital tools are used to erode trust, funding, and safety of journalists. Experts and journalists will address  digital threats and discuss how to mitigate them via policies and structural support to journalists. 

Ana Lalić Hegediš ↦

Executive Director at the Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina (NDNV)

 

Francesco Cancellato ↦

Editor-in-chief at FanPage

 

Molly Cyr ↦

Digital Forensics Lead at Amnesty International

 

Joanna Tricoli ↦

Policy and Research Officer at the Centre for Democracy and Technology Europe

 

Sarah Thust ↦

Journalist at the Fact-checking Team at CORRECTIV

 

Moderated by Dimitri Bettoni ↦

Researcher at Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)

Panel 4: Legal Protections. EMFA, Anti-SLAPP Directive: Implementation Highlights and Challenges

14:15 – 15:15 CET

With the Anti-SLAPP Directive and EMFA passed, the real battle is in national transposition.  MFRR will ground this discussion into its close observations of challenges that implementation of the  protective laws faces and the developments on the ground in regards to the new legislation and  regulations. How do we ensure that the “good” laws make real change in safeguarding free and  independent journalists? 

Marius Dragomir ↦

Director at Media and Journalism Research Center

 

Danai Maragoudaki ↦

Journalist at Solomon

 

Flutura Kusari ↦

Senior Legal Advisor at the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

 

Dora Kršul ↦

Investigative Journalist, Telegram, Croatia

 

Moderated by Oliver Money-Kyrle ↦

Head of Europe Advocacy and Programmes at International Press Institute (IPI)

Ukraine Spotlight Interview

15:30 – 16:00 CET

Moderated by Antanina Maslyka ↦

Regional Director for Europe at ARTICLE 19

Panel 5: The Authoritarian Playbook. Foreign Agent Laws in the EU’s Shadow

16:15 – 17:15 CET

While protective regulations face implementation challenges, other laws, with potential to seriously  damage media freedom and modeled after Russian “foreign agents law”, are mushrooming across Europe.  From Hungary to Georgia, “foreign interest” rhetoric is creeping into policy. This panel tackles how the  spread of “foreign agent laws” and hostile „foreign influence” rhetoric are being weaponised to stigmatise  and pressure critical journalists, ultimately threatening media freedom and democratic participation. 

Tamás Bodoky ↦

Journalist, Editor and Publisher at Atlatszo.hu

 

Lia Chakhunashvili ↦

Executive Director of the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics

 

Ivana Korajlić ↦

Executive Director at Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina

 

Ana Lalić Hegediš ↦

Executive Director at the Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina (NDNV)

 

Moderated by Flutura Kusari ↦

Senior Legal Advisor at the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

Closing remarks

17:15 – 18:30 CET

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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Freedom of the press and expression groups alarmed by…

Freedom of the press and expression groups alarmed by escalating death threats against journalist Murat Ağırel

The International Press Institute (IPI) and undersigned press freedom and freedom of expression groups strongly condemn the ongoing and intensifying threats against prominent Turkish journalist Murat Ağırel.

 

Turkish translation available below.

We are deeply alarmed by the persistent pattern of intimidation, surveillance, and death threats targeting Ağırel, which represent a severe assault on press freedom and the safety of journalists in Turkey.

These threats and acts of intimidation are not isolated incidents but part of a broader, systemic issue affecting press freedom in Turkey, where independent journalists frequently face significant risks in their pursuit of truth. We urgently call on the authorities to thoroughly investigate these threats and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. 

Escalating assault on press freedom: Murat Ağırel’s harrowing year-long ordeal

The pattern of threats and intimidation against Ağırel has escalated significantly over the past year, with increasing intensity and frequency:

  • November 21, 2023: Ağırel shared on X, formerly Twitter, that he received death threats related to his investigative work on money laundering and tax evasion allegations against Dilan Polat and Engin Polat, who were recently arrested for alleged money laundering.
  • November 24, 2023: On the YouTube channel “Tactical Mania Plus”, hosts Nevzat Dindar and Alper Mert criticized Ağırel for mentioning the name of a Galatasaray (one of Turkey’s leading football clubs) executive in his reports on match-fixing allegations, insinuating a death threat against him. 
  • November 29, 2023: Ağırel revealed on a live broadcast on Halk TV that the threats extended to his family, including death and rape threats against his wife, 12-year-old daughter, and sisters, due to his reports on match-fixing allegations.
  • May 10, 2024: Ağırel faced renewed threats due to his book “Havala,” which exposes drug trafficking and money laundering in Turkey. He reported instances of intimidation, including surveillance of his home and personal movements.
  • June 12, 2024: Ağırel shared on X that he was under ongoing surveillance, with people filming his house, rummaging through his trash, damaging his car, and following his family members. Ağırel told the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) that police identified and questioned some individuals but took no further action after they denied spying on the journalist.
  • June 21, 2024: In an article in the pro-government newspaper Türkgün, Ağırel and three other journalists were openly targeted for their coverage of the Sinan Ateş murder case. The journalists were openly singled out because of their reporting.
  • July 22, 2024: During a recent hearing in the Sinan Ateş murder case, legal experts from the Turkish government ally, far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) filed a petition claiming the MHP was a “victim” and sought to participate in the case as an “aggrieved party.” The court denied the request. The petition accused various groups, including investigative journalists, with Ağırel and 62 other journalists being openly labeled as “agents of influence” by MHP spokespersons due to their journalism.
  • Most alarmingly, on September 3, 2024, Ağırel received a new death threat via a video, where a masked individual claimed that a contract had been placed on his life and that an execution order had been issued. The individual also mentioned a parliamentarian allegedly involved in the threat.
  • September 4, 2024: The General Directorate of Police issued a statement on their X account announcing the detention of two individuals responsible for threatening Ağırel in the video and recording the footage.

 

We are profoundly alarmed by the relentless death threats and the escalating harassment aimed not only at Murat Ağırel but also at his family. These brazen acts of intimidation are a stark reminder of the perilous environment in which independent journalists in Turkey must operate. We urge Turkish authorities to take immediate action to protect Ağırel and his family, thoroughly investigate these threats, and bring those responsible to justice, while upholding the principles of press freedom.

Signed by:

  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe
  • Articolo 21
  • Association of Journalists, Ankara
  • Association of European Journalists (AEJ)
  • Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ)
  • Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
  • Danish PEN
  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • Index on Censorship
  • International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
  • Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS)
  • Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
  • PEN America
  • PEN Canada
  • PEN International
  • PEN Norway
  • Platform for Independent Journalism (P24)
  • Progressive Journalists Association (ÇGD)
  • South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
  • Swedish PEN
  • The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

Basın ve ifade özgürlüğü kuruluşları gazeteci Murat Ağırel’e yönelik ölüm tehditlerini kınıyor

Uluslararası Basın Enstitüsü (IPI), aşağıda imzası bulunan basın ve ifade özgürlüğü kuruluşlarıyla birlikte gazeteci Murat Ağırel’e yönelik devam eden tehditleri kınıyor. Ağırel’i hedef alan ısrarlı gözdağı, takip ve ölüm tehditleri, Türkiye’de basın özgürlüğü ve gazetecilerin güvenliğine yönelik ciddi bir saldırıyı temsil ediyor.

Bu tehditler ve yıldırma eylemleri, bağımsız gazetecilerin Türkiye’de gerçeğin peşinde koşarken almak zorunda kaldıkları büyük risklerin son örneklerinden birini oluşturuyor. Yetkililere bu tehditleri kapsamlı bir şekilde soruşturmaları ve sorumluların hesap vermesini sağlamaları için acil çağrıda bulunuyoruz.

Basın özgürlüğü tehlikede: Murat Ağırel’e yönelik uzun süredir devam eden tehditler

Ağırel’e ve ailesine yönelik tehditler ve yıldırma politikası son bir yılda önemli ölçüde artış gösterdi:

  • 21 Kasım 2023: Ağırel, X’te (eski adıyla Twitter), kara para aklama ve vergi kaçakçılığı suçlarından tutuklanan Dilan Polat ve Engin Polat hakkındaki araştırmaları ve haberleri sebebiyle ölüm tehditleri aldığını açıkladı.
  • 24 Kasım 2023: “Tactical Mania Plus” adlı YouTube kanalının sunucuları Nevzat Dindar ve Alper Mert, Ağırel’i şike iddialarıyla ilgili haberlerinde Galatasaray’ı karalamakla suçladı ve gazeteciyi canlı yayında tehdit etti.
  • 29 Kasım 2023: Ağırel, Halk TV’de katıldığı canlı yayında, şike iddialarıyla ilgili haberleri nedeniyle tehditlerin ailesine kadar uzandığını; eşine, 12 yaşındaki kızına ve kız kardeşlerine yönelik ölüm ve tecavüz tehditleri aldığını açıkladı.
  • 10 Mayıs 2024: Ağırel, Türkiye’deki uyuşturucu kaçakçılığı ve kara para aklama süreçlerini ortaya çıkaran “Havala” adlı kitabı nedeniyle yeniden tehdit edildi. Evinin gözetlendiğini ve kendisinin takip edildiğini belirtti.
  • 12 Haziran 2024: Ağırel, X’te (eski adıyla Twitter) sürekli gözetlendiğini, evinin videosunun çekildiğini, birilerinin çöplerini karıştırdığını, arabasına zarar verdiğini ve ailesini takip ettiğini paylaştı. Ağırel, Gazetecileri Koruma Komitesi’ne (CPJ) polisin bazı kişileri tespit edip sorguladığını ancak bu kişilerin Ağırel’i izlediklerini inkar etmesi üzerine haklarında herhangi bir işlem yapılmadığını belirtti.
  • 21 Haziran 2024: Hükümete yakınlığıyla bilinen Türkgün gazetesindeki bir yazıda, Ağırel ve üç diğer gazeteci, Sinan Ateş cinayeti davasıyla ilgili haberleri nedeniyle açıkça hedef gösterildi.
  • 22 Temmuz 2024: Sinan Ateş cinayeti davasının son duruşmasında Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi’nin (MHP) avukatları, mahkemeye MHP’nin “mağdur” olduğunu iddia eden ve davaya “mağdur taraf” olarak katılmayı talep eden bir dilekçe sundu. Mahkeme bu talebi reddetti. Dilekçede siyasetçiler, akademisyenler, hukukçular ve araştırmacılar hedef gösterildi. Ağırel ve 62 gazeteci, gazetecilik faaliyetleri nedeniyle MHP sözcüleri tarafından etki ajanlığı yapmakla suçlandı.
  • 3 Eylül 2024: Maskeli bir kişi Ağırel’e, kendisinin öldürülmesi için ihale açıldığını ve infaz emrinin verildiğini söyleyen bir video gönderdi. Maskeli şahıs ayrıca ihaleyi bir milletvekilinin açtığını öne sürdü.
  • 4 Eylül 2024: Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü, X hesabında Ağırel’i videoda tehdit eden ve görüntüleri kaydeden iki kişinin gözaltına alındığını duyuran bir açıklama yayınladı.

Murat Ağırel ve ailesine yönelik ölüm tehditleri ve taciz eylemlerinden derin endişe duyuyoruz. Gazetecinin güvenliğini tehlikeye atan bu yıldırma eylemleri, Türkiye’de bağımsız gazetecilerin mesleklerini sürdürdükleri tehlikeli ortamın çarpıcı bir göstergesidir. Türkiye’deki yetkilileri, Ağırel ve ailesinin güvenliğini sağlamak için derhal harekete geçmeye, bu tehditleri kapsamlı bir şekilde soruşturmaya ve sorumluları adalet önüne çıkarmaya çağırıyoruz.

 

İmzalayanlar

  • Uluslararası Basın Enstitüsü (IPI)
  • ARTICLE 19 Avrupa
  • Articolo 21
  • Avrupa Basın ve Medya Özgürlüğü Merkezi (ECPMF)
  • Avrupa Gazeteciler Birliği (AEJ)
  • Avrupa Gazeteciler Federasyonu (EFJ)
  • Çağdaş Gazeteciler Derneği (ÇGD)
  • Danimarka PEN
  • Gazeteciler Cemiyeti, Ankara
  • Gazetecilikte Kadın Koalisyonu (CFWIJ)
  • Gazetecileri Koruma Komitesi (CPJ)
  • Güney Doğu Avrupa Medya Örgütü (SEEMO)
  • Index on Censorship (Sansür Endeksi)
  • İsveç PEN
  • Medya ve Hukuk Çalışmaları Derneği (MLSA)
  • OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)
  • PEN Amerika
  • PEN Kanada
  • PEN Norveç
  • Punto24 Bağımsız Gazetecilik Derneği (P24)
  • Türkiye Gazeteciler Sendikası (TGS)
  • Uluslararası Gazeteciler Federasyonu (IFJ)
  • Uluslararası PEN

 

Bu açıklama, Avrupa Komisyonu tarafından finanse edilen ve AB Üye Devletleri ile aday ülkelerdeki basın ve medya özgürlüğü ihlâllerini belgeleyen Avrupa çapında bir mekanizma olan Medya Özgürlüğü Acil Müdahale (MFRR) kapsamında Uluslararası Basın Enstitüsü (IPI) tarafından hazırlanmıştır.

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States, Candidate Countries and Ukraine.

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756 media freedom alerts in first six months of…

MFRR Monitoring Report – 756 media freedom alerts in first six months of 2024

The partners from the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium today publish the latest edition of its Monitoring Report which documents and analyses all press freedom violations recorded on its platform Mapping Media Freedom from January to June 2024.

 The report was produced by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), and the International Press Institute (IPI).

 

The latest Monitoring Report explores in detail the 756 media freedom violations recorded by the MFRR partners in the first half of 2024. These violations affected 1,212 media-related persons or entities. 474 of these alerts were recorded in EU Member States while 282 took place in candidate countries.

 

As well as providing a general overview of media freedom violations across EU Member States and candidate countries, the report includes three thematic chapters delving into anti-media laws, spoofing, and elections. The report also includes a deep dive into the state of media freedom – as told through Mapping Media Freedom data – in the following countries: Albania, Croatia, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Serbia, Slovakia, and Ukraine.

Key findings:

  • 756 media freedom violations were recorded, involving 1,212 media-related persons or entities.
  • 474 alerts took place in Member States with the remaining 282 occurring in candidate countries.
  • Intimidation and threatening were the most common forms of violations, totalling 136 of all violations.
  • The MFRR recorded 100 physical attacks, 47 of which resulted in injury.
  • The second most common form of violation involved blocking journalistic activity, making up 117 alerts.
  • 143 violations were perpetrated by government and public officials, marking a worrying trend.
  • 24.6% of alerts took place online, making it the most common context in which media freedom violations took place
Download the report here

This Monitoring Report is part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), an Europe-wide mechanism, which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.  The project is co-funded by the European Commission.

Emilia Șercan Library

Romanian Court reopens investigation into smear campaign against journalist…

Romanian Court reopens investigation into smear campaign against journalist Emilia Șercan

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) welcomes the September 5 ruling reopening the investigation into the crimes against journalist Emilia Șercan. This is a positive step towards addressing the harassment and intimidation she has faced for the last two years.

This ruling comes after a long legal battle by Șercan to hold accountable those responsible for smear campaigns against her and leaking her private photos, following her reports on high-profile cases of plagiarism, including the President of the Romanian Senate, and former Prime Minister, Nicolae Ciucă. 

 

The initial investigation produced a litany of errors, unnecessary delays, and breaches of procedure before it was closed without a prosecution in November 2023. These failures led to numerous protests from journalists and media freedom groups concerned that the case may have succumbed to a cover-up. Last Thursday, Șercan won her appeal, which will lead to the relaunch of the investigation in the next few weeks. 

 

In April, the Romanian Supreme Court reopened another file related to this case, in which former Interior Minister Lucian Bode was under investigation, confirming also in that file the faulty prosecution and a failure of prosecution.  

 

This decision to acknowledge the failure of the earlier investigation represents a crucial victory for independent journalism in Romania. We commend the Court for taking this action and urge authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation. The MFRR continues to call for more robust protections for investigative journalists like Șercan, who are likely to face retaliation for their work.

Signed by:

  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
  • OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)
READ MORE

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States, Candidate Countries and Ukraine.

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Hungary: Smear campaign against media intensifies threats to press…

Hungary: Smear campaign against media intensifies threats to press freedom

A new smear campaign targeting Hungarian media outlet 444.hu and its international journalism project partners renews concerns about the erosion of press freedom in Hungary. The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) condemns the attacks and warns they may be used to justify official harassment of independent media.

On 16 August 2024, Hungary’s pro-government media launched a coordinated smear campaign against the independent media outlet 444.hu and its partners in The Eastern Frontier Initiative (TEFI), a cross-border journalism consortium that includes Bellingcat (the Netherlands), PressOne (Romania), Gazeta Wyborcza (Poland), and SME (Slovakia). The network, supported by the European Commission, brings together independent publishers from Central and Eastern Europe to cover security-related issues impacting the region.

 

The smear campaign accused the network of ‘information warfare’ designed to undermine the Hungarian government and claimed Bellingcat, known for its extensive open source investigations, was funded, trained and instructed by foreign intelligence services. 

 

The campaign originated from Bennfentes.net, a platform known for disseminating unfounded and politically motivated attacks against the Hungarian government’s critics. The first defamatory article was then circulated across more than 15 pro-government media outlets.

 

This is a familiar tactic of the ruling party Fidesz’s media apparatus, designed to discredit critical voices. However, the incident is particularly concerning, given Hungary’s recent adoption of the Protection of National Sovereignty Act, which empowers the newly established Sovereignty Protection Office to investigate civil society organizations, including media, that receive foreign funding. 

 

The office has already launched investigations into media outlet Atlatszo.hu and anti-corruption NGO Transparency International Hungary. The MFRR fears that the office will use the new campaign to open an investigation into 444.hu, initiating a new level of state-sponsored pressure on critical Hungarian voices.

 

In February 2024, the European Commission initiated infringement proceedings against Hungary to examine if the Sovereignty Act breaches EU law. Meanwhile, the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and its Venice Commission have all called for its abandonment or amendment. 

 

This latest smear campaign against 444.hu, coupled with fears about the Sovereignty Protection Act’s potential misuse, exemplify Hungary’s troubling drift from European democratic standards.

 

The MFRR stands firmly with 444.hu, its international partners, and all Hungarian journalists committed to upholding the principles of media freedom. As we condemn this latest effort to vilify critical journalism, we also call for urgent action to reverse the alarming decline in press freedom in Hungary. Journalists must be free to operate without fear of retribution or undue interference.

Signed by:

  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe
  • The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
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This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States, Candidate Countries and Ukraine.

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Croatia: International mission to assess media freedom challenges

Croatia: International mission to assess media freedom challenges

On 9 September, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) will begin a press freedom mission to Croatia. The delegation will meet online with government representatives, journalists and journalistic associations, civil society, and renowned media experts to discuss the most pressing challenges to media freedom and pluralism in the country.

Between 9 and 20 September 2024, the MFRR partners will conduct an online fact-finding mission  to Croatia with a special focus on the safety of journalists, the long-overdue and much-needed media law reforms, transparency in media ownership and state advertising, the use of SLAPPs and other legal threats (including criminal defamation provisions) against journalists, as well as the implementation of the European Media Freedom Act and anti-SLAPP safeguards.  

 

The list of key stakeholders includes the Ministry of Culture and Media, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of the Interior, the Agency for Electronic Media, the EU Representation in Croatia, several associations of publishers, journalistic associations and trade unions, editors-in-chief and journalists from major media outlets including Faktograf, N1, Novosti, and Telegram, as well as academics, lawyers, and civil society actors. 

 

The MFRR mission will be led by ARTICLE 19 Europe and co-led by the European Federation of Journalists, in partnership with the Croatian Association of Journalists (HND). The mission will also see the participation of MFRR representatives: the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, the International Press Institute, Free Press Unlimited and Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa. 

 

For inquiries, please contact Roberta Taveri, Senior Programme Officer for Media Freedom and Europe at ARTICLE 19 Europe: roberta.taveri@article19.org  

This mission is part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism, which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and candidate countries.  The project is co-funded by the European Commission.

Leader of Civic Platform (PO) and Poland Prime Minister Donald Tusk speaks during a rally on the 'Nowy Targ' square in Wroclaw, Poland, 24 June 2023. EPA-EFE/Tomasz Golla Library

Poland: International advocacy mission to assess media freedom reforms

Poland: International advocacy mission to assess media freedom reforms

On 16 and 17 September, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners will conduct an international mission to assess the on-going reforms in the media and press freedom in Poland. 

The current mission builds on the 2023 mission by the MFRR ahead of the parliamentary elections, which produced a sobering report highlighting  the media’s economic struggle amid a polarised media landscape, loss of editorial independence by public service media, and frequent use of vexatious lawsuits by the public figures against critical journalists. 

 

The 2024 mission will be led by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom and co-led by the International Press Institute. The mission will also see the participation of other MFRR representatives: the European Federation of Journalists, Free Press Unlimited, and ARTICLE 19 Europe. 

 

The 2024 mission will focus on reforms of the public service broadcasters, draft media legislation, editorial independence, economic sustainability, and media pluralism . It will also examine the government’s preparations to implement the EU’s European Media Freedom Act and Anti-SLAPP Directive.

 

The MFRR’s interlocutors will include a broad group of media experts and journalists, relevant authorities, and legislators. 

 

The findings and conclusions will be spelt out in a report, assessing the pace of media reform in Poland and implementation of the EMFA, as well as measures countering SLAPPs. It will include a set of recommendations for decision-makers on upholding media freedom in line with European and international freedom of expression standards. The MFRR team will meet the media to discuss the findings on 17 September at 12 pm at the Pracownia Duży Pokój, 4/6 Warecka Street, 00-040 Warsaw.

 

For inquiries, please contact Olena Cherniavska, Advocacy Officer/ECPMF: at olena.cherniavska@ecpmf.eu  or +4915164840621 & Katia Mierzejewska, Comms and Media Officer/ARTICLE 19 Europe, at Katia.Mierzejewska@article19.org or on +31620466634

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