Tag MFRR
26 Jun

Bulgarian media owner is threatened with prison term for expressing opinion

Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partner, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), is concerned about the on-going legal harassment of Bulgarian media owner and businessman, Ivo Prokopiev and his media group Economedia, ahead of an expected court verdict on Sunday 28 June 2020.

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26 Jun

Protecting Journalists and Media Workers: Good Practice

ECPMF as part of MFRR outlines good practice from EU Member States and Candidate Countries to protect journalists and media workers that can inform the UK Government’s work to establish the National Committee for the Safety of Journalists.

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25 Jun

Stop use of SLAPPs: International organisations and journalist bodies express concern about legal threats against EUobserver

Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners, journalist bodies, free expression and journalist support organisations are concerned about the legal threats made against EUobserver in Luxembourg and Belgium and call to stop the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) actions across Europe. Left unreformed, such legal threats will be sufficient to silence media workers and outlets. We stand in solidarity with EUobserver and will continue to monitor developments around the case.

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17 Jun

Hungary’s two pandemics: COVID-19 and attacks on media freedom

A legal opinion commissioned by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) finds that the Hungarian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic fails to live up to domestic or European legal standards and entrenches the country’s attacks on independent media outlets, journalists and media workers.

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11 Jun

Press Cartoonists in Europe must be protected

Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners call for press cartoonists to be protected to ensure they can realise their right to free expression across Europe.

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10 Jun

MFRR partners welcome the step forward by Italian Constitutional Court to abolish prison sentences for criminal defamation

The organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) welcome the decision by the Italian Constitutional Court to refer a decision on whether to abolish prison sentences for criminal defamation in relation to journalists and media workers to the Italian Parliament.

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5 Jun

MFRR call on Italian Constitutional Court to abolish prison sentences for criminal defamation as part of wider legislative reform

On 9 June, the Constitutional Court will hold a public hearing into the legitimacy of laws that allow for jail sentences for journalists convicted of defamation. Ahead of the hearing, MediaFreedomRR partners urge for reform.

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4 Jun

Joint call on EU Member States to adopt an ambitious Multiannual Financial Framework

Press freedom, media development, and journalists’ organisations call on Member States to adopt ambitious EU budget for independent journalism and recovery of the media sector

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2 Jun

Czech Republic: Follow Up to Request to Preserve Freedom and Independence of Public Service TV

Ahead of the planned election in March we urged you to choose from candidates for the Council of Czech TV (Česká televize) independently from any political interference or alleged attempts of influence. We are concerned that the composition of the Council cannot be considered impartial or balanced between political groups no longer.

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29 May

MFRR call on the UK Government to act in a transparent manner that respects press and media freedom in the UK

MFRR partners sent this letter to UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson raising their concerns regarding the decline in press freedom in the UK and attempts of the UK Government to restrict media scrutiny of its policies and discredit critical reporting.

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