European Federation of Journalists

openMedia, investigating press freedom

Title of the project : openMedia, investigating press freedom
Lead Applicant
: openDemocracy

Partner organisations : EFJ, Index on censorship, King’s College London

The recently launched openMedia project aims to investigate and expose commercial interference in editorial decisions. The project is run by openDemocracy with the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) as a partner alongside the Index on Censorship and King’s College London.

The project believes that there has not been enough of a concerted, ongoing spotlight on the extent and effects of commercial influence over the media, despite the dangerous consequences it poses for press freedom. For now, the project focuses on 47 countries across Europe but also has ambitions to expand.

Despite the recent launch, the project is adamant that it is not a response to the “fake news” hype of the past year or so. Rather, the project responds to scandals of commercial sponsors influencing media content; for example the Daily Telegraph’s suppression of investigations into its advertiser HSBC; and allegations that Buzzfeed deleted articles which advertisers found unfavourable.

According to the project, this power dynamic can suppress investigations of banks, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, fossil fuel giants, energy companies and other big businesses.

In addition, the project recognizes how for many readers, “sponsored content” is difficult to distinguish from genuine news content. The project therefore aims to clarify the commercial interests apparent in media to readers, and as part of the project, King’s College London will develop digital tools to help readers be better informed about news sources.

The findings of the project will be used to campaign for greater transparency and press freedom in news organisations and to empower journalists to advocate for transparency.

In order to do this, openMedia is currently conducting a confidential and anonymous survey of journalists across Europe, asking about their own working practices and experiences of commercial pressure inside newsrooms. The survey is available in English here and in many other languages here.

Actions

Attacks and pressures on journalists in Slavonski Brod (Croatia), Skopje (Macedonia) and Partes (Kosovo)

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) is joining the call of the Western Balkan’s Regional Platform for Advocating Media Freedom and Journalists’ Safety in condemning the attacks and pressures on journalists, which happened in the last few days in Slavonski Brod (Croatia), Skopje (Macedonia) and Partes (Kosovo) : On Wednesday, August 23, journalists Visnja Ruzojcic from HRT and Aleksandra Primorac from the portal SBplus were physically attacked in Slavonski Brod. According to the reports of the SBplus portal, the journalists Primorac and Ruzojcic reported on the shooting, which happened during the previous night and in which one citizen was seriously injured.…

Call for applications: Exchange opportunity for young journalists in Cyprus

The Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFOM) invites young Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot journalists, interested in experiencing and sharing stories of bi-communal life, to a week-long exchange project. The exchange project takes place within the framework of the on-going Cyprus Dialogue, launched by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media in March 2017, and in close co-operation with the Cyprus Journalists’ Union, Basin-Sen/Press Workers’ Union, and the Turkish Cypriot Journalists’ Union. Journalists are encouraged to apply and selected participants will travel to the neighboring community and work at a host media outlet for…

FNF-EFJ event: The Future of Financing Journalism, 7 September

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation and the European Federation of Journalist invite you to attend the event “Ever-changing & ever so urgent: The Future of Financing Journalism” to take place on 7 September in Brussels, from 12 to 14h. The media environment is becoming increasingly digital and mobile and more and more people consume news directly on social media. While the potential to reach a wide audience has never been higher, this fast-paced, algorithm-driven news reality can pose a challenge to financing quality and investigative journalism. When sensationalist – sometimes fake – news gain most ad revenue and shares, the incentive…

EFJ-IFJ deeply saddened by death of Swedish Journalist Kim Wall

Update 25.04.2018: The Danish inventor Peter Madsen was given life sentence without parole for premeditated murder and sexual assault of Swedish journalist Kim Wall on 25 April 2018 in Copenhagen. Judge Anette Burkø said:“The court has been unanimous in coming to this result. This is a cynical and pre-planned sexual assault of a particularly brutal nature on a random women who, in connection with her journalistic work, accepted an invitation for a sailing trip on the accused’s submarine.” The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) today joined their Swedish affiliate, Swedish Journalists’ Union (SUJ), in expressing their sadness following the confirmation…

Investigative journalist physically attacked in Kosovo

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its affiliate the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK) in condemning the physical attack against investigative journalist Parim Olluri in Pristina on 16 August 2017. Parim Olluri, who is also the executive director of Insajderi.com portal, was attacked by three unknown men while he was going home with his partner around 10 at night. The attack happened in front of his apartment in Bajram Kelmendi street in Pristina. Olluri was beaten up causing light injuries. His partner was not harmed but lost consciousness as a result of the attack. Both were taken to the hospital for…

Ukraine: Journalists’ union attacked by pro-government MP

The EFJ/IFJ has strongly condemned accusations by a Ukrainian MP that the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) was guilty of implementing “Russian media projects” and supporting anti-Ukrainian media. The astonishing claims came after the union opposed government raids on a prominent Ukrainian news website. The EFJ/ IFJ vowed to stand shoulder to shoulder with its affiliate in Ukraine in defending its actions in representing the country’s journalists and defending press freedom. The politician, Dymtro Tymchuk, a member of the People’s Front faction has claimed the NUJU leadership was “working against information security of the country”. He also accused…