ECPMF launches Journalists-in-Exile Programme

The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) is proud to announce the establishment of its Journalists-in-Exile Programme (JiE Programme). This significant step underscores our long-term commitment to providing structured, sustained support for journalists and media professionals forced to flee their home countries.

By establishing the JiE Programme, ECPMF solidifies its recognition of exile as a pressing press freedom issue and reaffirms its dedication to ensuring journalists in exile can rebuild their lives and careers. The programme comprises all ECPMF exile-related projects and activities, including the flagship “Perspektiven im Exil/Opportunities in Exile” project (PiE), funded by BKM since 2023.

Under this programme, journalists in exile will be designated as JiE Fellows, receiving targeted support for professional development and participation. The programme represents a move towards deeper engagement, ensuring a long-term, comprehensive framework to meet the unique challenges of journalists in exile.

For more information, visit our updated version of the JiE page: ECPMF Journalists-in-Exile Programme.

Serbia: One year of unpunished attacks on journalist Dinko Gruhonjić, the culture of impunity must end

The members of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium and partner organisations of the Council of Europe’s Safety of Journalists Platform are deeply concerned about the ongoing year-long persecution campaign against journalist Dinko Gruhonjić, programme Director of the Independent Association of Journalists of Vojvodina (NDNV) and Associate Professor at the Department of Media Studies at the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad.

Statement

SafeJournalists Network and Media Freedom Rapid Response: TikTok ban in Albania threatens freedom of expression ahead of general elections

SafeJournalists Network (SJN), the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners, and civil society organisations express serious concern regarding the Albanian Council of Ministers' decision on March 6, 2025, to suspend nationwide access to the TikTok platform for 12 months. While we acknowledge the government’s stated intention to protect children from harmful content and safeguard personal data, we strongly underline that such protective measures must fully respect fundamental human rights, particularly freedom of expression, access to information, and due process.

General

Georgia: Independent Journalism and Media Pluralism on the Brink

MFRR Partners warn that a new wave of repressive legislation threatens Georgian independent journalism with imminent extinction.

Statement

MFRR and SJN condemn adoption of foreign agent legislation in Bosnia’s entity Republika Srpska

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners and SafeJournalists Network (SJN) strongly condemn the adoption of legislation in the Republika Srpska entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina which will establish a "special registry” of NGOs, many of which are independent media.

Feature

ECPMF secures €350,000 BKM funding to support exiled journalists

The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom secures €350,000 from BKM to support exiled journalists in Europe.

Feature