The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its German affiliates, dju in ver.di and DJV, in condemning the drastic reduction in programmes and staff at the international public broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW). These cost-cutting measures jeopardise access to free and pluralistic information for millions of citizens around the world. The reduction in DW’s broadcasting comes at a time when the United States has itself withdrawn its international broadcasting. Following the German federal government’s decision to cut DW’s funding by 10 million euros in 2026, the management of the international public broadcaster adopted on Wednesday a drastic cost-cutting plan of 21…

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners, including the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), will conduct an advocacy mission to Rome, Italy, on 9–10 March 2026 to assess key developments affecting press and media freedom in the country and push for implementation of crucial reforms.  The mission will focus on four main themes: the reform of the public broadcaster RAI and its compliance with the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA); the transposition of the EU Anti-SLAPP Directive and broader defamation reform; digital threats and the use of surveillance against journalists; and media market concentration and its compatibility with the EMFA. …

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today joins international media freedom organisations in expressing strong concerns about the underfunding of Kosovo’s public broadcaster, Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK), and calling for legal budget requirements to be met. The Assembly of Kosovo is currently discussing the RTK budget, which is anticipated to be passed in two readings on 19 and 20 February 2026. According to the draft Law on the Budget for 2026, the parliament, based on the government’s proposal, will allocate only 8.9 million euros, which is sufficient only to cover basic operational needs such as staff salaries. The Law…

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners today publish the Annual Monitoring Report for 2025, which documents 1,481 press freedom violations affecting 2,377 journalists or media-related entities in 36 European countries between January and December 2025. The report was compiled by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), and the International Press Institute (IPI). Journalists and media outlets across Europe faced sustained threats throughout 2025, according to the latest Monitoring Report. Based on verified cases recorded in the Mapping Media Freedom database, the report provides a comprehensive overview of the main threats facing journalists across the 27 EU Member States and nine candidate countries.…

The American company Palantir Technologies has filed a lawsuit against Republik, an independent Swiss media outlet that published an in-depth investigation into its activities. The case is currently being heard by the Zurich Commercial Court. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) considers this legal action to be a potential case of a SLAPP suit (strategic lawsuit against public participation). Palantir develops intelligence and law enforcement software. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) uses Palantir products to track migrants in the United States. The Israeli army also uses Palantir software in its war in Gaza. In collaboration with the investigative…

Journalists in Belgium can no longer be prosecuted for possessing a state secret. On 29 January 2026, the Belgian Constitutional Court annulled a provision allowing prison sentences for journalists receiving confidential information such as state secrets. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined its Belgian affiliates, the Association des Journalistes Professionnels (AJP) and the Vlaamse Vereeniging van Journalisten (VVJ) in welcoming the ruling. The provisions were part of the Penal Code reform adopted in February 2023, which expanded the definition of “state secret” and criminalised their unauthorised receipt, including by journalists who might obtain – or merely become aware of…

Today, journalists at Italian public broadcaster RAI have called a one-day byline strike. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins them in denouncing the disastrous image given by Paolo Petrecca, the RAI sports director, throughout his commentary on the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The Winter Olympic Games started with a slick ceremony last Friday at Milan’s San Siro stadium, but the event was marred for Italian TV viewers by a stream of on-air mistakes from the head of RAI’s sports division, Paolo Petrecca, who was appointed to the role in 2025. Today, RAI journalists omitted their…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners today in raising alarm over a recent wave of bot-driven cyber attacks targeting the social media accounts of Serbian media outlets. Our organisations warn that the dozen recorded incidents are not isolated cases but part of a broader pattern of coordinated attacks on the free flow of news and independent information in Serbia, which remains in a period of media freedom crisis. Between 8 and 30 January, the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) recorded at least 12 coordinated bot attacks against Instagram accounts of independent…

A new survey by the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) reveals a mixed approach among its members toward so-called ‘news creators’, with journalists’ organisations split on whether to recognise these emerging actors as part of the information landscape. The findings show that concerns over journalistic ethics and conflicts with organisational statutes remain the main barriers to their inclusion.  In its latest Digital News Report, the Reuters Institute highlights how news creators (see definition below) are successfully reaching large audiences, often at the expense of traditional media, including within the news sector. As the boundaries of the information landscape shift rapidly,…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the SafeJournalists Network (SJN) in strongly condemning the recent physical attacks against journalists and media professionals in the Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, which represent a severe threat to media freedom and the safety of those working in the public interest. On 7 February, journalist Sanja Vasković, editor-in-chief of the Spin portal, was verbally abused and physically hindered while reporting on a story in East Sarajevo. Her phone was forcibly seized, and her safety was jeopardised as she sought to investigate environmental and transparency concerns. The law enforcement classified the incident as a…

The International and European Federation of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ), and their Montenegrin affiliate, the Trade Union of Media in Montenegro (TUMM), have expressed serious and growing concern about the situation of labour and trade union rights at the public service broadcaster Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG). They wish to draw particular attention to persistent reports of anti-union discrimination and pressure on employees to withdraw from union membership, as well as the systematic weakening of the Trade Union of RTCG Employees. On 6 February 2026, the IFJ, the EFJ and the TUMM sent the following letter to the country’s authorities.

EU leaders must considerably strengthen the European media ecosystem. This is the conclusion drawn by the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) after reading the results of the latest Eurobarometer survey on citizens’ concern about communication-related risks, such as disinformation, fake content generated by artificial intelligence, independence of the media, Big Tech’s dominance, and threats to freedom of expression. The Eurobarometer, which surveyed 26,453 people across all EU members states found that tackling inflation, rising prices and the cost of living is people’s top priority for EU action, followed by the economy and job creation (35%). Defence and security, public services and…

On 4 February, The Washington Post announced the firing of more than 300 employees, approximately one third of its staff. This followed weeks of uncertainty and rumours about widespread layoffs, during which time management remained silent. The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) join the NewsGuild-CWA in condemning the mass cuts. Post employees who have been laid off will continue to be on staff through 10 April, though they will not be required to work. They will receive six months of continued health insurance coverage. The affected employees include Caroline O’Donovan, who primarily covers Amazon, the company founded by…

By Valeriia Muskharina (Information Service of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine) This winter in Ukraine has become another severe test. Large-scale Russian attacks targeting energy infrastructure have caused constant power outages and heating disruptions, while temperatures have dropped to −25 °C. These conditions have made everyday life extremely difficult and forced people to find ways to stay warm and meet basic needs. For journalists in Kyiv, such realities create additional obstacles while working outdoors, preparing materials, and maintaining communication. Routine tasks such as charging equipment or filming a story have turned into tests of endurance. To help journalists…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners in strongly condemning the proposals of the Georgian Dream (GD) ruling party to implement a series of legislative amendments that would impose additional restrictions and penalties on recipients of grants and foreign funding. If implemented, our organisations warn the amendments would strengthen an already restrictive web of legislation targeting financial support to media and civil society and could eliminate the ability of Georgian journalists and media outlets to receive any form of independent funding. The proposed changes were announced on January 28 by Georgian Dream’s parliamentary…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) attended the kick-off meeting organised by Civitates on the Multiannual-Financial Framework (MFF), along with the Centre for Sustainable Media (CSM), Civil Society Europe (CSE), Culture Action Europe (CAE), Europe Civic Forum (ECF), and Irish Council of Civil Liberties. The meeting marked the starting point of a year-long project called “Future of Europe” to support the journalism, culture, and civic space strands within the upcoming negotiations on the EU’s long-term budget. The proposed EU budget for 2028 – 2034 introduces a new programme “AgoraEU” which will include a Culture, Media (divided into Audiovisual and News),…