The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) strongly calls for release of imprisoned journalists in Europe. Following the reports from the EFJ national affiliates, 149 journalists will spend New Year’s Eve in prison in Europe: 56 in Russia and occupied Ukraine; 37 in Azerbaijan; 28 in Belarus; 25 in Turkey; 2 in Armenia; 1 in Georgia. Read the full list, here. 2025 was a disastrous year for journalists in Europe. Ten of them were killed in the exercise of their profession on the European continent, mainly in Ukraine. That’s more than in Africa (9 killed). More than on the American continent…

A leading Bulgarian private TV channel, bTV, on Monday said it was firing a prominent political talk show host, Maria Tsantsarova, sparking protests. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its Bulgarian affiliate AEJ-Bulgaria in denouncing this act of censorship, and demands the immediate reinstatement of the journalist and the opening of an investigation into the alleged political pressure exerted on bTV. Tsantsarova, known for her tough questioning and high-profile investigations, confirmed on Monday in a Facebook post that she had been removed from the programme, contradicting a statement issued by bTV on Friday. The broadcaster denied any allegations regarding…

In September 2025, the European Union (EU) presented the second edition of the Media Industry Outlook report, which overviews the state of the media market since 2019 for the news media sector, as well as the audiovisual, video games and extended reality sectors. Based on independent research and consumer surveys, the report highlights key trends for the media industry from news consumption, to levels of trust or business models viability. The report shows that the news media sector is now embedded in the attention economy and faces growing pressures, including massive loss of revenues, the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI)…

The EU’s new return policy risks jeopardising the lives of vulnerable journalists and human rights defenders living in exile. As such, it undermines the very principles of press freedom and human rights it aims to uphold and the safe haven the EU seeks to provide for journalists from all over the world threatened for reporting on the truth. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined the ECPMF and undersigning organisations to urge the EU to immediately reconsider these adverse effects and prioritise the protection of those who have already fled persecution. On 8 December 2025, the Council of the European…

The EFJ is looking for a subcontractor to provide expertise as part of the implementation of the Resilient Media in the Digital Age project. This programme is funded by the European Commission (Horizon Europe). The deadline for submission of bids is 16 January 2026. Find more information here

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) welcomes the infringement procedure initiated by the European Commission on Thursday against Hungary for violation of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). The EFJ calls on the EU executive to do the same with regard to Lithuania, following Thursday’s vote on provisions that repoliticise the Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT, in clear breach of the EMFA. The European Commission must take action against countries that no longer respect the basic principles of press freedom. The EFJ therefore welcomes the EC decision to open an infringement procedure against Hungary…

On Monday, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) participated in the European Commission’s high-level round table on the working conditions of artists and cultural workers. This was an opportunity for the EFJ to present a copy of the recent report by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on Labour rights for journalists to European Commissioners Roxana Minzatu and Glenn Micallef. The EFJ welcomes the start of consultations initiated by the European Commission with a view to adopting a European Charter for Artists and Cultural Workers. The initiative concerns nearly 8 million professionals in Europe who are increasingly vulnerable in…

One hundred and eleven journalists, including seven women, have been killed in 2025, according to the International Federation of Journalists’ (IFJ) annual report on journalists and media professionals killed in 2025. Launched ahead of Human Rights Day (10 December), the report’s findings highlight another highly lethal year for journalists and media workers – with 46% of the deaths occurring in Gaza, Palestine. Since 1990 and the launch of its annual Killed list, the IFJ has recorded 3,156 deaths worldwide, an average of 91 deaths per year, and 859 in the last ten years The IFJ has also released the list of…

Ekipa (“crew” in English) is a new digital magazine created by the youth section of the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (TUMM). After a year of activity and three published issues, the magazine – produced by 12 young journalists and journalism students – aims to give young people a voice. We spoke with Ivana Vlaović, coordinator of TUMM’s Youth Journalists and Freelancers Section, and a news reporter at TV Vijesti, one of the country’s most-watched television stations. Can you tell us about the magazine and the mission behind it? The Ekipa magazine, published by the Trade Union of Media…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined its partners from the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in addressing the Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, regarding the unlawful political pressure being exerted on the weekly Novosti, the only print media outlet for the Serb minority in Croatia. Recent alarming developments include a statement by MP Mlinarić from the ruling Homeland Movement coalition expressing the intention to abolish all budgetary funding for Novosti starting in 2026. This statement followed reports by Novi List that the president of the Homeland Movement, Ivan Penava, had allegedly pressured minority members of the Council for National…

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has just sent a strong signal to European policy makers. Yesterday, in their first ever ruling on the working conditions of journalists in Europe, the three components of the EESC – trade unions, employers and civil society – have joined forces to demand concrete measures against the worrying precariousness of journalists, which poses a serious threat to democracy. The report, adopted on Wednesday by a very large majority in plenary, calls on the European Commission and Member State governments to take concrete measures to support the profession. Although initiated by the trade union…

Proposed legal amendments to the law governing Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT risk weakening its editorial independence and disrupting its sustainable financing, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and the undersigned partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) warn today. Earlier this week, LRT journalists announced a protest scheduled for 9 December in front of the Parliament to oppose proposed changes to the Law on the Lithuanian National Radio and Television, which they say would “dismantle the safeguards that protect LRT’s independence.” The protest is organised in reaction to two amendments initiated by the governing Nemunas Dawn party, which…

As negotiations continue over a peace plan to end the Russian war on Ukraine, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) join the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and partner organisations in strongly opposing any proposals on granting amnesty for potential war crimes committed in the course of Russia’s full-scale invasion, especially for those against journalists. Our organisations renew our demand that those responsible for the killing of at least 16 journalists, the serious injury of dozens more, as well as for other attacks on media infrastructure, are identified and held accountable…

The President of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Maja Sever, on behalf of the 300,000 journalists represented by the EFJ in 44 European countries, expressed her full solidarity with the Italian journalists on strike on Thursday 28 November to demand the renewal of their national collective agreement. “Everywhere in Europe, journalists are faced with increasingly precarious working conditions, which prevent them from fully fulfilling their mission of providing information to the public,” insists Maja Sever. “There can be no real public interest journalism without decent working conditions for journalists. This is why the general strike is a powerful act,…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners in expressing, in an open letter to the European Commission, serious concerns regarding the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s state-level broadcaster, Radio-Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT). Our letter comes as BHRT staff today protest in front of Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina to raise alarm about the dire financial situation and call for institutional support and immediate action that will end years of disrespecting the Law. For years, BHRT has been facing serious financial challenges due to a deep institutional crisis and debts primarily incurred by…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its Swiss affiliates impressum and syndicom in denouncing the dramatic consequences of the restructuring plan announced on Monday by the Swiss public broadcaster SBC, which foresees the loss of 900 jobs. The EFJ calls on the public authorities and all Swiss civil society organisations to counter the “Halbierungsinitiative” initiative, launched by the Swiss People’s Party (SVP-UDC), which risks worsening the state of media pluralism in Switzerland by imposing a new wave of drastic restructuring on SBC. On 24 November, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) announced it will cut 900 of its 5,700 full-time…