The Trump administration announced on 16 July it will drastically shorten visas for foreign journalists in the United States to 240 days, down from years, and cut those for Chinese journalists to only 90 days, raising concerns over press freedom. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) strongly condemns this drastic restriction, which is clearly intended to instil a reflex of self-censorship in the journalists targeted. The Trump administration has moved to tighten visa rules for foreign students, journalists and cultural exchange visitors. Student and cultural exchange visas would be limited to four years. Visas for journalists, which previously lasted for…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the International Press Institute (IPI) in welcoming the infringement proceedings initiated by the European Commission against 14 EU Member States over their inaction or delays in transposing the Anti-SLAPP Directive. The countries included are Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Spain. The EU infringement proceedings were initiated on 15 July, with letters of formal notice sent to these Member States for failing to notify about progress made in implementing the Directive. States now have two months to respond and update about measures taken or could…

Record levels of physical violence against journalists, death threats and online smear campaigns, entrenched impunity, and tight political control over the media landscape – media freedom in Serbia is in a deepening crisis with a rapidly closing window for independent journalism to operate. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), together with its partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and the Council of Europe’s Safety of Journalists Platform, today presents a report which outlines the deteriorating situation for media freedom and safety of journalists in Serbia. The report is a result of an international mission to Belgrade that took…

By Renate Schroeder, EFJ Director (originally published on July 6 on CMPF blog section) With Big Tech being the gatekeepers of information and with AI, GenAI, chatbots accelerating, visibility, authority and viability of journalism is ever more at stake. With algorithms prioritising disinformation, toxic news, emotions and lies, with politicians lying bluntly and using smear campaigns against journalists in autocratic manners to silence their watchdog function, the space for honest journalism is shrinking. We watch the rise of the creator economy and the shift of audience trust away from institutions (and traditional media) toward individuals. At the same time, there…

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has just handed down two judgments upholding journalists’ rights. The first upholds the conviction of a blogger who had insulted and threatened journalists in Slovenia. The second condemns Switzerland for having unjustly prosecuted journalists from the daily newspaper “Le Courrier” following their investigation into the Geneva-based billionaire Jean-Claude Gandur. Between 2010 and 2012, Slovenian blogger Mitja Kunstelj continuously targeted two journalists, publishing posts containing vulgar language, slurs, and false allegations regarding their private and sexual conduct. The journalists repeatedly sought civil remedies and restraining orders, which the blogger ignored. Mitja Kunstelj continued to republish…

On 7 July, Luxembourg’s Chamber of Deputies approved a new media law, granting journalists the right to access information held by public institutions. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) joins their affiliate, the Association Luxembourgeoise des Journalistes Professionnels (ALJP), in welcoming the new legislation as a step forward in strengthening the media’s role in holding power to account. However, we regret that the law does not stipulate a maximum processing time for journalists’ requests and the fact that the country’s government agencies may decide to redact or withhold documents if they believe the omitted content lacks public value.…