The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined the undersigned organisations in welcoming the decision of the Constitutional Court of Albania, which overturned the lower-court orders allowing the search and seizure of journalist Elton Qyno’s equipment, reinforcing the importance of protecting journalistic sources and freedom of expression in line with international standards. On 22 April 2025, the Constitutional Court of Albania delivered a unanimous 8–0 judgement setting aside lower-court orders authorising the search of journalist Elton Qyno and the seizure of his electronic equipment and directed that all data extracted from those devices be destroyed. The Court held that these measures amounted to a…

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners strongly condemned the decision to charge Joakim Medin with terrorism related actions in addition to the insult charges that were used to justify his initial arrest. Medin, whose first court hearing has been scheduled for 30 April, now faces up to twelve years imprisonment if convicted of both indictments. Since 19 March, over 13 journalists have been arrested and charged with different offences, with at least 12 journalists subjected to police violence. The situation has taken an unprecedented turn with Medin’s detention—marking a rare case where a foreign journalist has faced such charges. His treatment, mirroring…

Swedish journalist Joakim Medin, a regular contributor to the Swedish daily newspaper Dagens ETC and member of the Swedish Union of Journalists (SJF), is facing up to 12 years in prison in Turkey for allegedly ‘insulting the President’ and belonging to “a terrorist organisation’. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) condemned these unfounded accusations, which are used as a recurring tactic to criminalise journalistic activities. The first hearing will take place on 30 April in Ankara. Joakim was detained on 27 March 2025, shortly after landing in Istanbul to cover the widespread protests against the recent arrest of Istanbul Mayor…

“Democracy is not possible unless members of the electorate have access to reliable news on which to base their voting decisions. That cannot happen without ethical, independent journalism”, said the International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ/EFJ) ahead of World Intellectual Property Day on 26 April. The federations point at a new troubling force in the information ecosystem: artificial intelligence. Developed using the works of human authors, often without consent or compensation, these systems generate content rife with inaccuracies and fabrications. The IFJ/EFJ warn that their unchecked use threatens the integrity of public discourse and poses a serious risk to…

The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) will be able to maintain the network of Journalists’ Solidarity Centers thanks to the solidarity appeal launched in February 2025 on the eve of the 3rd anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. During this period, NUJU received donations totalling 36,000€, which will enable the network to operate fully until July 2025. The NUJU expressed its deep gratitude to all affiliates of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) who demonstrated remarkable solidarity and support with donations, in particular the Norwegian Union of Journalists (Norway), the Danish Union of Journalists (Denmark), the Federazione Nazionale Della Stampa Italiana…

A new study by the Freelance Group of the Danish Union of Journalists (DJ) has revealed the extent to which freelance journalists and photographers are at the backbone of the country’s leading media outlets, while at the same time facing a stark imbalance in pay, protections, and working conditions compared to their permanently employed counterparts. The survey, based on responses from 310 freelancers in seven leading media outlets, conducted by media researchers Lise Møller Schilder, Nina Trige Andersen, and Freja Dam, presents compelling evidence: Denmark’s media sector is structurally reliant on freelance labour. In several major news organisations, freelancers contribute…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined the undersigned civil society, human rights, journalist and media support organisations in calling on the European Commission to strengthen the rule of law dialogue, improve the impact of the Rule of Law Report’s recommendations and take decisive action against systematic human rights violations in EU Member States. In 2025, the European Commission will publish its sixth annual Rule of Law Report – the first after the new Commission took office. The European Commission President, Ursula Von der Leyen – in her political guidelines and in the mission letter to the Commissioner for Democracy,…

The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) join their Russian affiliate, the Journalists’ and Media Workers’ Union (JMWU), in condemning the five-and-a-half year prison sentences handed down yesterday against the Russian journalists Antonina Kravtsova (also known as Antonina Favorskaya), Artyom Kriger, Konstantin Gabov and Sergei Karelin for their “participation in an extremist organization,” following a trial behind closed doors. The EFJ and IFJ urge the Russian authorities to immediately release these four journalists. On 15 April, Moscow’s Nagatinsky district court sentenced four journalists, Antonina Kravtsova (Favorskaya), Konstantin Gabov, Sergei Karelin and Artem Kriger, to five and a half years in…

The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) has released a report uncovering the growing threat of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) targeting Ukrainian journalists and media outlets. The study, based on 36 documented cases, reveals a disturbing pattern of judicial harassment aimed at silencing investigative journalism and critical reporting. According to NUJU’s research, the average SLAPP case in Ukraine drags on for 813 days – more than two years of legal uncertainty, psychological stress, and financial burden for the journalists involved. These lawsuits, often filed by politicians and businesspeople, do not aim to win in court but to…

Who I am For the past 26 years, I have been working as a freelance journalist in the areas of science/education and foreign affairs for the public service television station ARD / Bayerisches Fernsehen (Bavarian Television).This includes a variety of EU-related topics as well as European projects such as with TV channel ARTE in collaboration with French and Polish colleagues. Many years I worked on documentaries and news related on topics in Eastern Europe, and I travelled and filmed in nearly each Eastern Europe Country, so I am familiar with the political and social situation there.  My educational background is…

Who I am I am the President of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, an independent organization supporting journalists and media workers. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, I have worked with colleagues to transform NUJU’s operations to meet wartime challenges. Our key initiatives include establishing a network of Journalist Solidarity Centers and creating a support program for frontline newspapers, ensuring continued access to reliable information in the most vulnerable regions. I have previous experience serving on the EFJ Steering Committee for two terms and am a Permanent Representative of NUJU at the Commission on Journalistic Ethics. I’ve led projects with…

Who I am I am a 52-year-old journalist from Barcelona, mother of two, with extensive experience in journalism, mainly as a freelancer in corporate communication, as well as in local politics management. A committed feminist and gender expert, I have led and participated in women journalists’ networks at all levels. As current Vice-General Secretary of the Federación de Sindicatos de Periodistas (FeSP), representing it at the European and International forums, EFJ GENDEG chair, and former board member and Equality responsible by the Catalan Journalists Union, I have worked for equality and journalists’ rights across Spain and Europe. Why I am…

Who I am I am a journalist based in Prishtina, Kosovo, and have been working as a political reporter for 20 years. I spent 15 years at the national private television station Kohavision, where I created and hosted the nightly current affairs show Interaktiv, and served as Deputy Editor-in-Chief, and later for two years as Editor-in-Chief of the station. From mid-2020 to the end of 2022, I worked at the private TV station Kanal10 in similar roles. I was first elected Chairperson of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo in July 2021 and re-elected for a second term in July…

Who I am I am a freelance journalist based in Thessaloniki, Greece. I mainly work with foreign Media, and I also run the website humanstories.gr. I am also a member of the board of the Journalists Union of Macedonia and Thrace (ESIEMTH). I started as a sports journalist working for TV and the daily newspaper of a powerful Greek Media outlet that collapsed in 2015, and I found myself unemployed. Instead of just waiting for a job offer, I decided to start producing stories about migration, a topic that at the time took a very sensitive and difficult turn in…

Who I am My name is Renske Heddema. I’ve been a journalist reporting from Switzerland for Dutch and Belgian media since 1996. Working as a freelance correspondent far from the newsroom, always available to a wide range of publishers and broadcasters, I felt isolated. Joining NVJ was like finding an anchor. I served on the NVJ board from 2016 and was its president from 2020 to 2023. Before moving abroad, I worked as a journalist in the Netherlands, producing weekly radio programs on arts and literature and writing for various newspapers and magazines. I also served as a media policy…

My priorities for the EFJ One of the most important issues in Europe is the funding of public service broadcasting. This problem is particularly acute in Eastern Europe. In Estonia, public service broadcasting works well, but very painful cuts have had to be made in the last year. Even the relatively wealthy Finnish public service broadcaster YLE has had to make serious cuts. It is very important that the EFJ Steering Committee seeks solutions for developing a sustainable funding model for public service broadcasting. It is equally important that public service and private media find ways to cooperate so that…