The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), together with its French affiliate CFDT-Journalistes, strongly condemn the numerous attacks against journalists during the high-profile Mazan rape trial. These attacks include the eviction of Frédéric Munsch, who was assaulted by one of the defendants, and gender-based intimidation, such as that suffered by the journalist Anna Margueritat. The Mazan rapes trial began on 2 September 2024 before the Criminal Court of Vaucluse. Fifty-one defendants, including Dominique Pélicot, Gisèle Pélicot’s husband, will be on trial until next December in this legal case which has already attracted unprecedented attention. This trial, widely covered by French and…

We, the undersigned civil society and journalists’ organisations (CSOs) that advocate for the safeguarding and promotion of the rule of law, democracy, freedom of expression, media freedom and the protection of journalists are appalled by the decisions of the Atlantic Council to award Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis Atlantic Council Global Citizen Awards.  We find that these decisions risk normalising their repressive policies and actions against media freedom and can further erode democratic principles and embolden authoritarian tendencies in both countries and beyond. According to the European Commission’s annual Rule of Law report and…

To mark the publication of the book entitled “Media pluralism in the digital era: Legal, Economic, Social, and Political Lessons Learnt from Europe”, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) interviewed Iva Nenadic, Research Fellow at the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom (CMPF) at the European University Institute. Co-edited with Elda Brogi and Pier Luigi Parcu, this book draws from over a decade of research through the Media Pluralism Monitor (MPM) and provides essential insights into the evolving media landscape across Europe. Could you tell us about your role at the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom (CMPF)…

On 25 September 2024, the judicial authorities in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced the opening of investigations against French journalist Wassim Nasr, over alleged accusations of “complicity and apology for terrorism”. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) condemn these baseless accusations and denounce attempts to muzzle the journalist investigating sensitive topics.  Wassim Nasr reports on jihadist/extremists movements and security issues for the Paris-based TV channel France 24. On 25 September, the Burkinabe, Malian, and Nigerien prosecutor’s offices issued a statement on their respective national televisions stating that “the combined analysis of Wassim Nasr’s various interventions in the…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and its Montenegrin affiliate, the Trade Union of Media in Montenegro (SMCG), express concerns about the way the Director-General of the Public Service RTCG has been elected on 31 August 2024. The organisations call on all relevant institutions, primarily the Labor Inspectorate, to take action as soon as possible to clarify the situation in which Boris Raonić has become the Director-General of the Public Service for the third time. The Montenegrin parliamentarians ignored the appeals sent to them before the adoption of the amendments to the Law on RTCG, which were related to the…

From 23 to 24 September 2024, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) will be hosting a workshop entitled “Collective bargaining in though times” at the TGS Academy in Istanbul, as part of the Stand up for Journalism (SUJ) project. The workshop will address the different challenges related to collective bargaining, including the topics surrounding the digital age, with insightful speakers from all around Europe. This workshop is the first in a series of five 5 thematic, capacity-building workshops. The others will focus on online harassement and better protection of journalists, equal rights for freelancers, well-being and burnout in journalism and…

At a time when workers are facing many challenges regarding their working conditions, they are increasingly developing solutions to join forces and fight for labor rights. One of the most effective solutions is the creation of works councils.  Despite a recurring opposition from tech employers, workers councils are multiplying all around Europe. They are essential tools implemented to strengthen a safer work culture in organisations as they allow workers to defend their rights within a specific company. Employees from works councils must be informed about the economic situation of the company and employers need to consult them for major layoffs…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins 30 civil society and journalists’ organisations to demand that the necessary regulatory measures against spyware threats are implemented by the EU institutions. A comprehensive approach and effective solutions are key to address this crucial issue for EU democratic values, public debate and healthy civic spaces. The coalition calls for the ban on the production, sale, and use of spyware during the new legislative term.  Read the full letter below:

On 14 October 2024, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) will organise a conference at ULB Solbosch in Bruxelles, Belgium, as part of its Media Councils in the Digital Age (MCDA) project. This conference will also feature a discussion on intergenerational media literacy within the E-engaged project. Recent EU legislation on media freedom but also illegal content online, transparent advertisement in the media and disinformation give regulatory bodies increasingly more responsibilities. But what are the demarcations between regulation and self-regulation, a long-standing tradition in Europe’s press sector? What will be the new roles of regulators under the European Media Freedom…

After decades of impunity, there has been a move towards justice finally being served in the case of the four Dutch journalists murdered by military forces in El Salvador in 1982. The investigation, which was reopened in 2020, has identified those allegedly responsible for the crime and has been elevated to trial status. This could set a precedent for other crimes which were committed during El Salvador’s internal conflict in the 1980s and which are still to be judged. The International and European Federations of Journalists, together with the Dutch Association of Journalists (Nederlandse Vereniging van Journalisten) and the Journalists’ Association…

The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) are deeply shocked by the deadly Russian missile attack in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk on 24 August 2024. The attack claimed the life of Reuters media worker Ryan Evans and left another six people injured. The federations join their affiliate in Ukraine, the National Union of Journalists (NUJU) and the Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine (IMTUU), in expressing their sincere condolences to the family of Ryan Evans and their full solidarity with the injured journalists and all media workers who work under daily threats to report on the Russo-Ukrainian…

On 22 August 2024, Italian state police arrested four suspects from the neofascist group CasaPound for the violent physical attack on the Italian journalist Andrea Joly in Turin in July. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) join their Italian affiliate, the National Federation of the Italian Press (FNSI), in condemning this brutal assault and calling on the Italian authorities to take immediate and decisive action against extremist groups like CasaPound, which must be deterred from committing such attacks. On the night of 20 July 2024, CasaPound’s militants were holding a party in a club called ‘Asso di Bastoni’, in…

Early August 2024, the Lithuanian Parliament proposed amendments to introduce fines for people who insult or humiliate journalists. This legislative project aims to protect journalists from abusive behaviours and ensure their ability to freely exercise their professional duty of delivering information to the public. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) welcomes this initiative and calls for all European countries to implement similar measures in line with the Council of Europe Recommendation 2016/4 on the protection of journalism and safety of journalists.  The Lithuanian proposal, prepared by Speaker of the Seimas Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, suggests amendments to the Code of Administrative Misdemeanors.…

Russian internet monitoring services reported widespread slowdowns of online platform YouTube on 8 August, making it nearly inaccessible without using virtual private networks (VPNs). YouTube has remained one of the few platforms of free expression in the country, amid the government’s crackdown on independent media. The International and European Federations Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) strongly condemn Russia’s slow down of YouTube as a severe act of censorship and urge authorities to revoke the restrictions. On 31 July, Russian authorities announced plans to slow down YouTube’s performance with speeds expected to drop by up to 70%, as part of a strategy to persuade…

Today, 9 August 2024, marks four years since the fraudulent presidential election took place in Belarus, which intensified the crackdown on journalists, independent media and trade unions to crush free speech and political opposition by Aleksandr Lukashenko’s regime. The International and the European Federation of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) join their affiliate, the Belarusian Journalists’ Association (BAJ), in calling on the regime to release all journalists and media workers behind bars. The Federations also urge the authorities to stop their harassment of exiled journalists, including raiding their residences and causing distress to their families to exert leverage on them. Four years after…

On 31 July 2024, French journalist Thomas Dietrich was ordered by the Swiss justice to withdraw his publications exposing alleged corruption in Guinea and was banned from speaking on the subject. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) condemns the order issued by the Geneva Court of First Instance against the investigative journalist and considers it a serious attack on press freedom. The so-called “provisional and super-provisional” measures were taken without informing the journalist, who was silenced until the next hearing. On 4 May, Thomas Dietrich revealed in a video that the Swiss company ADDAX ENERGY, owned by the  billionaire Jean-Claude…