Threats to journalists and violations of media freedom in Europe are on the increase. They include the wholesale prosecution of journalists in Turkey, frequent attacks on media workers in Hungary, Poland and Ukraine, accreditations withdrawn at the G20 summit in Germany and daily harassment through verbal abuse and hate speech. ECPMF’s one-day conference “Defending journalists under threat” is looking at practical solutions to tackle the many threats journalists are facing today. Participants will discuss legal support to whistle-blowers and their journalistic contacts, safe houses away from home for media workers under threat and the political measures needed to change the current…

How to fight fake news? Do facts still matter? The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) took part in this burning issue with the conference “Defending the truth in a post-truth era” taking place on June 13 and 14 in Leipzig, Germany. Many case studies were showcased by different NGOs and stakeholders highlighting the need to invest in media literacy, fact-checking trainings and collaborative journalism. LieDetectors is one of the project presented by Juliane von Reppert-Bismarck, aiming to bring journalists into classrooms in order to give them an overview of what a fake news is and to help children…

During a press conference today in Skopje (Macedonia), the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) and Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT) called on the Macedonian authorities to investigate the attacks against 10 journalists and media workers, during last night’s storming of the Macedonian parliament building by nationalist demonstrators. At least two journalists were injured in the attack, according to reports from the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (ZNM). Dimitar Tanurov, a reporter for the independent online news agency Meta, was taking pictures inside the parliament. He…

Following ECPMF-EFJ-SEEMO-OBCT fact-finding mission to Macedonia, on 25th-28th April 2017, the four organisations issued this statement today, regarding rising violence against journalists in Macedonia: We hereby express our deep concerns about the yesterday‘s violent attacks against journalists in the parliament of the Republic of Macedonia. From the beginning of 2016 until yesterday at least 21 attacks against journalists in Macedonia have been registered by the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (ZNM), out of a total of several dozens within the last years. All this clearly demonstrates a rising trend in violence against journalists. The state of media freedom in the…

ECPMF, OBCT, SEEMO and EFJ are organising an important fact-finding mission to Skopje, Macedonia. The EFJ will be represented by its General Secretary Ricardo Gutiérrez. The mission will focus on the recent attacks/violence against journalists, which are, to our knowledge, often not investigated. There will be a press meeting to release a first statement on Friday, 28th, at 10am. Background information: IREX Media Sustainability Report (2017) on Macedonia: https://www.irex.org/sites/default/files/pdf/media-sustainability-index-europe-eurasia-2017-full.pdf (p. 63-76) FreedomHouse Report (2016) (https://freedomhouse.org/country/macedonia). CPJ article: https://cpj.org/blog/2017/04/in-macedonia-anti-press-rhetoric-leaves-journalist.php#more The 9 alerts on Macedonia submitted to the CoE Platform for the Protection of Journalism and the Safety of Journalists; The news on Macedonia…

Petra Reski, female journalist and author of several books, recently published as freelancer for Freitag magazine some articles on the relations of an Italian businessman operating in Germany. The businessman accused of being member of the Italian maffia launched lawsuits against the journalist who did not received support from Freitag magazine based on the argument that “redaction are not legal protection insurance against inadequate research work”. The freelancer felt let down by “Freitag” magazine. The German union Verdi couldn’t support her financially for technical reasons as to receive legal support from the union, a journalist is asked to contact the…

Promoting dialogue between the ECtHR and the media freedom community Freedom of expression and the role and case law of the European Court of Human Rights: developments and challenges The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), supported by the Council of Europe and in cooperation with its partners, invites you to attend the conference “Promoting dialogue between the ECtHR and the media freedom community”. The event takes place on 24 of March 2017 at the Council of Europe’s Agora Building in Strasbourg, France. The one-day conference aims to bring together judges and lawyers of the European Court of…

New laws to secure media freedom? Can whistleblowing protection and AVMS directive contribute to media freedom in the EU? Expert exchange with the European Centre for Press & Media Freedom, ECPMF. Meeting is hosted and chaired by Martina Michels, MEP and Cornelia Ernst, MEP Venue: Committee of the Regions (CoR), Rue Belliard 99-101 B – 1040 Brussels, meeting room: JDE 70 Languages: EN, DE, IT, HU 8:30 – 9:30 admission, main building of Committee of the Regions (CoR) Coffee at 9:00 (On the left hand side in the entrance hall you will find us at the large lit reception of the…

The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) organised on 9 June a debate about The truth about refugees – crisis, cover-up and the impact on media freedom at the Press Club in Brussels. The refugee issue is currently putting media under pressure. On the one hand, biased reporting – both for and against refugees – has led to increase distrust in the media. Jane Whyatt, Project Manager of the ECPMF, introduced the debate with examples from Eastern Germany, where right-wing populist movements and left-wing extremists movements accuse the mainstream media of lying and biased reporting. “We are trying…