Thu, 15 July 2021
18:00 – 19:00 CEST

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Explore the main legal risks that journalists should be aware of while reporting on the ground.

Join The Rory Peck Trust (RPT) and the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) as we explore the main legal risks that journalists should be aware of while reporting on the ground, either at home or overseas, and how to avoid the pitfalls of dealing with different legal systems.

RPT Director Clothilde Redfern will discuss the growing legal risks to journalists with Flutura Kusari, Legal Advisor at the ECPMF and Jovo Martinović, a freelance investigative journalist in Montenegro, known for his reporting on organised crime in Europe and war criminals in the Balkans, who has also been the target of abusive criminal proceedings as a result of his work.

They will also discuss what help is available when things go wrong and where to turn if you need assistance with legal issues and advice. They will also give an overview of SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) and how these damaging lawsuits suppress free speech by targeting those who speak out on corruption and illegal activity, as well as what needs to be done in the future so that defamation and other legislation cannot be used against journalists.

About the speakers:

Flutura Kusari is the legal advisor for the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom. She leads the legal support programme and advocates with international organisations to improve legislation to defend freedom of expression. Previously, Kusari worked for various civil society organisations, including the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network. She holds a Ph.D. in Media Law from Ghent University, Belgium.

Jovo Martinović is an award-winning freelance investigative journalist based in Montenegro. He has worked for such international outlets as NPR, BBC, VICE, CBS, Canal Plus, The Economist, TIME, The Financial Times, Global Post and Centre for Investigative Reporting of Montenegro (CIN-CG). In 2015, he was arrested while working on a story about arms trafficking in the Balkans, and later charged with illicit production, possession and trafficking of narcotics and establishing a criminal organisation. These proceedings are currently still ongoing.

Clothilde Redfern is the Director of The Rory Peck Trust, an organisation dedicated to the support, safety and welfare of freelance journalists around the world. She started her career at the International Herald Tribune then worked in broadcasting, notably in Channel 4’s Documentaries department, before taking leadership roles in non-profit organisations supporting journalists and filmmakers. She currently sits on the Board of the ACOS Alliance.