Maltese tycoon Yorgen Fenech was granted bail by a court on Friday, more than five years after he was first arrested and charged with complicity in the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) questions the failure of the Maltese public authorities to complete the judicial proceedings aimed at identifying and convicting those behind her murder. Yorgen Fenech is a Maltese businessman whose main interests are casinos and hotels in Malta. He is a suspect facing criminal charges in multiple proceedings for murder, corruption, money laundering, and the illicit purchase of firearms and poison. In…

Recognising the indispensable role freelance journalists play in informing the public, upholding democracy and maintaining editorial independence, we, the representatives of freelance journalists in Europe, unite in calling for action to address the precariousness of our profession. This Declaration outlines the fundamental measures necessary to ensure fair working conditions, equal treatment and suitable livelihoods for freelance journalists across Europe. Through their independence, freelance journalists are vital to democracy and the free flow of information.  Dignified Working Conditions Freelance journalists are integral members of the journalistic profession, entitled to safe and equitable working conditions. Employers must eliminate practices of “fake freelance”…

UPDATE (28/01/2025): Over 300 journalists, editors, and media managers in Georgia have issued a joint statement demanding the immediate release of Mzia Amaglobeli. —————————— The undersigned press freedom, journalists and human rights organisations call for the immediate release of veteran Georgian journalist and founder and director of the online newspapers Batumelebi and Netgazeti, Mzia Amaglobeli. Amaglobeli, who announced on 20 January to have been on hunger strike since January 12 after being abused while held in detention, said “The charges against me today are the product of repressive, treacherous, and violent processes targeting humanity, freedom of speech, and expression.” She…

From 23 to 24 January 2025, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) will be hosting a workshop entitled “Collective bargaining for freelancers” at the Centre Culturel de Vichy, France, as part of the Stand up for Journalism(SUJ) project in partnership with the French union SNJ-CGT. The workshop will address the different challenges related to collective bargaining regarding the special condition of freelancers, with insightful speakers from all around Europe. This workshop is the second in a series of five thematic capacity-building workshops. The first workshop was organised in Istanbul in September 2024, where speakers and participants from Turkey and all…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) welcomes the decision of the French judiciary not to prosecute journalist Ariane Lavrilleux, following the complaint by the French Ministry of Defence for disclosure of a defence secret. The EFJ calls on the French authorities to strengthen legislation on the protection of journalistic sources. “Thank you all for once again putting the need to protect journalistic sources on the agenda. Your mobilisation has enabled me to avoid prosecution. Now we need to reform the law,” wrote journalist Ariane Lavrilleux on Bluesky after three hours of questioning by an anti-terrorist investigating judge at the Paris…

On 7 January, Meta announced the closure of its fact-checking program in the United States, paving the way for a similar decision in Europe. At the same time, Google is considering withdrawing from its commitment to supporting the fact-checking community under the European Union’s Code of Practice on Disinformation. These decisions would have a disastrous effect on Europe’s information space. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) have sent an open letter to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, asking her to act decisively on the basis of the Digital Services Act…