The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) strongly calls for release of imprisoned journalists in Europe. Following the reports from the national affiliates of the EFJ, 39 journalists will spend New Year’s Eve in prison in Europe: 30 in Turkey, 8 in Azerbaijan and one in Russia. With their affiliates in Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Russia, the EFJ and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) are following closely the cases of imprisoned journalists in Europe. All of them are in prison just for having done their job. Together with the Helsinki Commission, the EFJ calls on again the authorities of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Russia to…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) strongly calls for release of imprisoned journalists in Europe. Following the reports from the national affiliates of the EFJ, 44 journalists will spend New Year’s Eve in prison in Europe: 30 in Turkey, 10 in Azerbaijan and one in Russia. With their affiliates in Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Russia, the EFJ and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) are following closely the cases of imprisoned journalists in Europe. All of them are in prison just for having done their job. Together with the Helsinki Commission, the EFJ calls on again the authorities of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Russia to…

The undersigned press freedom and media organisations – European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Association of European Journalists (AEJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Index on Censorship – are outraged by the proposed bill, hastily introduced by the majority party in Poland yesterday (29 December) for immediate adoption, without any consultation, abolishing the existing safeguards for pluralism and independence of public service media governance in Poland. The introduction of a system whereby a government minister can appoint and dismiss at its own discretion the supervisory and management boards goes against basic principles and established…

The General secretary of the European Federation of Journalists, Ricardo Gutiérrez, has been quoted today in Politico as stating: “It’s been an awful year. I must say, five years ago I was not suspecting such a bad evolution.” The title of the article is very clear: “2015, an awful year for Europe’s free media – A year of arrests, assaults, legal restrictions and murder”. “It was a terrible year for journalists in Europe,” writes Alex Spence, the author of the article. “Attacks by Islamic militants, unjustified arrests, assaults, harassment, threats and tougher legal restrictions made it harder for editors, reporters and photographers…

The prominent Syrian journalist Naji Jerf was gunned down by unknown assailants on Sunday 27 December in Gaziantep (Turkey) near the Syrian border. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) calls on the Turkish authorities to investigate the crime and bring to justice the murderers. Naji Jerf was editor-in-chief of the independent monthly Hentah and the author of documentary films on the terrorist group Daesh. He was shot dead with a silenced pistol on Sunday, in broad daylight, in front of a building that houses Syrian opposition news outlets in downtown Gaziantep. “Once again, said Ricardo Gutiérrez, General secretary of the EFJ, Turkish authorities said they…

2015 has been a year for the EFJ to focus on core union work. We have achieved positive steps in promoting professional rights of journalists and jobs in journalism, developing union recruitment strategies and enforcing the safety of journalists. READ MORE   Having trouble viewing this email? View this email in your browser   18 December 2015       EDITORIAL    2015 has been a year for the EFJ to focus on core union work. We have achieved positive steps in promoting professional rights of journalists and jobs in journalism, developing union recruitment strategies and enforcing the safety of journalists. On…

Serbian journalists gathered on Monday evening (21/12/2015) in front of the Serbian government’s building to remind the Serbian prime minister Aleksandar Vucic about a promise he made 15 days ago. The prime minister made a public commitment to replace Bratislav Gasic, his minister of defense, due to the offensive statement made towards a female journalist. Mr Gasic sparked outrage after a journalist from B92 Television knelt down in front of him to avoid being in the way of cameras as he spoke to a group of reporters during a visit to a factory. The minister made the following offending comment: “I…

Unione Sammarinese Giornalisti e Fotoreporters – USGI Address Via Ca’ Dei Lunghi 132, 47893 Borgo Maggiore Republic of San Marino Staff Matteo Sèlleri (President) Antonio Fabbri (Secretary) Piero Arcide (Treasurer) Phone +378 0549 90 87 56 Email giornalisti.usgi@gmail.com    

Association of Professional Journalists of Albania – APJA Address Rr. Aleksandër Moisiu 97, (Prane Ish Kinostudio) Tirana, Albania Phone +355 4 2 347 821 Staff Armand Shullaku (President) – ashkullaku@hotmail.com Fatos Hakorja (General Secretary) – hakorja@gmail.com Contact Person Rigels Lenja – lenjarigels@gmail.com Email apj.albania@gmail.com Website Facebook   Asociacioni i Gazetarëve të Shqipërisë (AGSH) Association of Journalists of Albania (AJA) Address Rruga Muhamet Deliu, Pallati Rear, Shk.3; Kati 5, ap 29, Tirana, Albania Phone 00355692303939 Staff Isa Myzyraj (chairperson) – Isamyzyraj@gmail.com, Isa.myzyraj@agsh.al Contact Person Isa Myzyraj – Isamyzyraj@gmail.com, Isa.myzyraj@agsh.al Email Info@agsh.al Social media Website Facebook Instagram X   Shoqata e Gazetarëve…

An agreement was reached on Tuesday 15 December between the European Parliament and the Council on the controversial draft Trade Secrets Directive. After intense debates, the final text improve the legal certainty as regards the exception for exercising the right to freedom of expression and information but journalists and media associations will remain vigilant. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Reporters Without Borders (RWB), the European Magazine Media Association (EMMA), the European Newspaper Publishers’ Association (ENPA) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU – UER) take note of the generally positive amendments made to the initial draft Directive on Trade Secrets.…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) together with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters sans frontières (RSF) held this Tuesday (15/12/2015) a lunch time debate at the Brussels Press Club to discuss recent developments on press freedom in Turkey and reactions from EU institutions. Before analyzing the EU recent strategic posture as regards to Turkey, Jean-Paul Marthoz (CPJ EU Correspondent), opened the debate reminding an important press freedom degradation symptom:  while the number of journalists in jail globally has declined modestly from the record highs of the past three years, in Turkey the number has…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has today expressed growing concerns over recent announcements by the newly elected government to introduce a new law on public media in the coming months with the aim to exert more control on public service broadcasting media and to “repolonise” print media. Following the newly elected conservative government (“Right and Justice” (PiS) in Poland in October, Prime Minister Beata Szydlo has given Culture Minister, Mr Piotr Glinski, the responsibility on media policy. In a recent interview given by Mr Glinski, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, he announced that a new media law…

UPDATE Following the protest of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the Association of Slovenian Journalists, Transparency International Slovenia and Access Info Europe, the Slovenian coalition parties decided today to remove the problematic amendment to Article 24 of the new Freedom of Information Act from the legislative procedure. The group has welcomed the decision. “We are pleased that the coalition parties have taken the views of journalists, editors and non-governmental organisations and agreed that the amendment would directly infringe media freedom, freedom of information and possibilities of effective monitoring of the public and private sectors,” welcomed the group.     The European…

The video broadcasted on 8 September around the world has surprised many people especially journalists. The Hungarian journalist, Petra László, was videotaped for tripping a migrant, who tried to escape the police in the Serbian-Hungarian border. A few months earlier, Der Spiegel’s journalists have adopted a totally opposite approach, publishing a welcoming message to refugees on their front page. The migration-refugee crisis raises the question of journalist’s commitment and responsibility. How to cover this touchy subject? How to interview migrants? How to be objective while showing empathy and respect? How to counter stereotypes? The answers to these questions are not easy. While there are bad practices which may show…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) together with the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) will organise a four-day workshop on “Project Management for Trade Union Representatives” from 23 to 26 February 2016 in Zagreb, Croatia. The workshop is hosted by the EFJ member, the Croatia Journalists’ Association. The workshop targets at project officers or managers at your union and association who implement projects funded by the EU with the overall aim to improve their skills and capacities in project managements and developing projects for the future to carry out their programmes. Aims : – To provide an introduction to projects…

Professor Katrin Nyman-Metcalf, and journalists Rita Chinyoka and Nadezhda Azhgikhina discuss feeding terror, hate speech, and the responsibilities of mainstream media, at the World Forum for Democracy. After the panel discussion, openDemocracy’s editor-in-chief Mary Fitzgerald sat down with veteran Russian journalist Nadezhda Azhgikhina to talk propaganda, activism and the prospects for Russia’s beleaguered regional media.  Nadezhda Azhgikhina is the Vice-President of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ).  Mary Fitzgerald: Nadezhda, thank you so much for joining us. In your speech to the assembly you emphasised the difference between media and journalism, and talked about the traditional principles of journalism. Is…