CoE Secretary General calls on governments to protect the essential role of journalists in times of crisis

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) welcomes today’s statements by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, and by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, ahead of World Press Freedom Day on 3 May. In a statement issued today, Marija Pejčinović Burić calls on governments to protect the essential role of journalists in democracy, especially in times of crisis, and to avoid unduly restricting media freedom during the pandemic: “Governments are facing unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 crisis, but the situation must not be used to silence or hinder journalists,” said the Secretary…

Hearing of the CoE Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media

Hearing of PACE (Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly) Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media. Threats to media freedom and journalists’ security in Europe (open to the public) Rapporteur: Lord George Foulkes, United Kingdom, SOC Consideration of an expert report and hearing with the participation of: Mr Marc Gruber, Expert on media and communication, Strasbourg Mr Giacomo Mazzone, Head of Institutional and Member Relations, European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Geneva Mr Ricardo Gutiérrez, Secretary General, European Federation of journalists, Brussels Mr Thomas Friang, Advocacy Officer, Reporters Without Borders, Paris

Side event to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Impunity in Malta: the Assassination of Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated in Malta in October 2017. Nearly 18 months on, there has still been no justice for this heinous attack. Although three murder suspects were arranged in December 2017, they have not yet been brought to trial, and there has been no tangible effort towards identifying the masterminds behind her assassination. In light of the clear deficiencies in the criminal investigation, we call for a public inquiry to be immediately established. Speakers Andrew Caruana Galizia Tom Gibson (Committee to Protect Journalists) Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC (Doughty…

Council of Europe: exchange of views with the Ministers’ Deputies

Scott Griffen, Deputy Director at the International Press Institute (IPI), and Ricardo Gutiérrez, GS of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) will participate in the exchange of views with the Ministers’ Deputies on behalf of the partners of the Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism.

EFJ welcomes Council of Europe’s recognition of bargaining rights of self-employed

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and it’s Freelance Experts Group (FREG) today joined the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) to welcome yesterday’s (13.12.2018) decision by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe that put an end to restrictions on collective bargaining for self-employed persons. The Ministers’ Committee’s decision endorses an earlier ruling by the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) following pressure by the Irish Trade Union Confederation (ICTU) and its affiliates, SIPTU, Equity, the Musicians Union of Ireland and EFJ’s affiliate, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), and supported by the ETUC. The decision of the ECSR,…

Meeting of the CoE Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI)

The EFJ GS Ricardo Gutiérrez will attend next meeting of the CDMSI (the EFJ is an observer member of the CDMSI). The CDMSI will consider the Draft Strategy for the Implementation of the CM Recommendation on protection of journalism and safety of journalists and other media actors, prepared by the secretariat. Discuss and approve it. Consider and comment on the Draft Implementation Guide to Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4, prepared by the Secretariat Valuable practices in the area of safety of journalists will be presented, including: the Action plan on Defending Free Speech, by the CDMSI representative of Sweden, and the Audit of Freedom…

Meeting of the CoE Steering Committee on Media and Information Society

The EFJ GS Ricardo Gutiérrez will attend the next meeting of the Council of Europe Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI). CDMSI will consider the Draft Strategy for the Implementation of the CM Recommendation on protection of journalism and safety of journalists and other media actors, prepared by the secretariat. Discuss and approve it. Consider and comment on the Draft Implementation Guide to Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4, prepared by the Secretariat Valuable practices in the area of safety of journalists will be presented, including: the Action plan on Defending Free Speech, by the CDMSI representative of Sweden, and the Audit…

IFJ and EFJ join media coalition urging EU to protect journalists

The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ and EFJ) today joined a global call for the EU to take action to protect journalists and end impunity within Europe. The IFJ and EFJ cosigned a letter with 15 media freedom organisations addressed to the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, calling for EU action to protect journalists in Europe following the recent killings of Slovak and Maltese reporters Jan Kuciak and Daphne Caruana Galizia. The killings of the journalists, who had reported on corruption, organised crime and the abuse of power in their respective countries, are “unacceptable”, says the…