The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, presented today in Strasbourg his annual activity report 2014. The Commissioner is concerned by the “increased pressure against NGOs and the media in many Council of Europe member states”. Nils Muižnieks quoted the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) in his report. Here are some excerpts. “NGOs and the media play an extremely important role in safeguarding human rights more broadly. Where large parliamentary majorities govern and other checks and balances are weakened, NGOs and the media are often the sole remaining watchdogs able and willing to keep the authorities accountable before the law.…

To mark this year’s World Book and Copyright Day on 23 April, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) call on public authorities across the globe to put legislation in place that secure fair, minimum contractual conditions for journalists and ensure they are equitably remunerated for the use of their works. Journalists are the authors of the works they produce. They own economic rights and in most countries have moral rights. This means that they must be remunerated for the use of their works and can protect the integrity of their journalism against any form…

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of journalists (EFJ) have strongly condemn the death threat against a Macedonian TV presenter, Borjan Jovanovski, and call on the Macedonian authorities to prosecute the perpetrators. Borjan Jovanovski, a prominent journalist, editor and founder of Novatv.mk, received on 21 April at his home in Skopje, Macedonia (FYROM), a death threat in the form of a funeral wreath with the words ”last goodbye” written on it. The wreath was brought by an unknown man in the name of Todor Aleksandrov, a controversial figure celebrated by the ruling party, VMRO DPMNE. Jovanovski…

Turkey, Russia and Azerbaijan, member states of the Council of Europe (CoE) are among the countries with most cases of media violation as recorded by the new platform launched by the CoE to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists. Since the launch of the platform early this month, a total of 42 alerts were recorded by partners of the platform including the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ). Among the 42 cases, Turkey came at the top of the list with the highest number of media violation, Azerbaijan and Russia came second (7 cases of media violation) and…

Save the date: the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) will participate in the World Press Freedom Day, in Riga and Brussels, on 3rd May 2015. Riga event UNESCO leads the worldwide celebration co-hosted by UNESCO and the Government of Latvia, in Riga, from 2-4 May 2015. As official partners of the event, the IFJ and the EFJ will organise on 3 May (14:00-15:30) a panel discussion at the National Library, on “Regulation, Sustainable Self-regulation and Professional Standards” (speakers: Mr Jim Boumelha, President of the IFJ, Mr Mogens Blicher Bjerregård, President of the EFJ, Mr…

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its regional organisation, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), have together backed a journalists’ strike in Kiev in early April after the TVi broadcaster ceased paying salaries to 300 employees. The Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine (IMTUU), an affiliate of the IFJ and the EFJ, held the demonstration on 2 April in support of the journalists where it demanded the management to pay the media staff. According to TVi staff, the channel, which stopped broadcasting on 23rd March, recently changed ownership to David Zhvania’s and the new management ceased the salary payments.…

What does it mean in practice to carry out investigative journalism today? What conditions are necessary to offer journalists an optimal environment to undertake their work? How are global networks changing the game? In view of recent relevation about bank secrecy covered by the media and investigative journalists, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) in collaboration with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) will organise a media lunchtime talk on investigative journalism at 12:30 (CEST) Thursday 23 April 2015. The debate focuses on the importance of  investigative Journalism, the difficult conditions and environments where journalists work as well as the challenges…

Join us for a webinar on April 21, 2015 at 12:00 AM CEST. Register now:! https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1619804193653421057 The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and its Freelance Expert Group (FREG) in cooperation with the Deutscher Journalisten-Verband (DJV) are organising another webinar, this time on social security for freelance journalists in Europe, a theme ever more important in times of increasing flexibility and decreasing social security. Ivan Declercq, freelance advisor of the Flemish journalist association (VVJ) will give some examples from European countries including Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Norway. The special system in Germany of the so-called Künstlersozialkasse (KSK) (artists’ social insurance)…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) together with a group of European creators’ organisations (ESCA, EVA, EWC, FERA, FSE, GESAC, UNI-MEI and SAA) has called on members of the European Parliament in the Legal Affair Committees to examine carefully the amendments to an own initiative report on reforming EU copyright. The group expressed their concern in a letter (see below) about the draft report by MEP Julia Reda on the implementation of the 2001/29 Copyright Directive. They said, “If [the report is] not completely amended, [it] would severely weaken the position of European authors who need to be placed at…

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The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), are appalled by the murder of journalist Oles Buzyna, gunned down yesterday afternoon near his house in Kiev. Both Federations have demanded an immediate and independent investigation into his death. Sergiy Tomilenko, First Secretary of NUJU, considered that “ there have to be quick and prompt investigation of the murder of Oles Buzyna to end speculation around this case”. According to media, the Department of Public Relations Research Affairs of Ukraine in Kiev reported that Buzyna was shot at around 12:20 (CEST) in Shevchenko district, near his…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has welcomed today the acquittal of Anuška Delić, a Slovenian investigative journalist who was accused of having published classified information to expose the link between the neo-Nazi group and the main position party in Slovenia in a series of articles she published in 2011. In the hearing on 15 April, the state prosecutor, Andreja Žvanut, dropped all charges against Delić. However, Žvanut maintained that Delić is “guilty” in a statement she made before the judge and to the media. Delić told the EFJ that this is “a bitter victory” for her. “After more than…

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) are shocked today by the decision of the chief prosecutor to appeal a court decision made on Monday 13 April to acquit the Dutch journalist Frederike Geerdink for terror charges. Mogens Blicher Bjerregård, EFJ President said, “This is seriously alarming. The judicial system and the level of judicial harassment facing journalists in Turkey show more than ever that more actions must be taken. “We stand together with all human rights organisations and urge both national governments and international institutions to put human right issues in Turkey as…

How to improve the situation of freelance journalists? “To build a permanent structure”, was the answer of the Association of Professional Journalists of French-speaking Belgium (AJP/AGJPB) On 20 March, the Belgian Association of Journalistes (Francophone group AJP) launched a new platform offering a series of services to freelances, in order to better commercialize their products. It includes a calculator to define how much should be paid by line (page), news on the profession, training, conferences, events etc., a freelances’ repertoire listing freelance journalists with their expertise,  an agenda and a platform of exchange. For further information about the new platform,…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), together with organisations representing media workers and employers in the creative and cultural industry have called on European policy makers to ensure job growth, media diversity and quality content in the response to the European Commission’s consultation on spectrum policy. In a joint response to the consultation, the Wider Spectrum Group (WSG) in which the EFJ is a member of, told policy makers to develop a strong industry strategy that can sustain job growth, media pluralism and quality content. The group has called on the EU to follow the recommendations made by the Lamy…

Update Frederike Geerdink was acquitted by the court in Diyarbakir, Turkey on 13 April. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and the International Federation of Journalist (IFJ) have welcomed the acquittal of Geerdink. #beraat! #acquittal! — Frederike Geerdink (@fgeerdink) April 13, 2015   Dutch journalist to be acquitted of terrorist charges in Turkey (8 April 2015 ) Frederike Geerdink, a Dutch freelance journalist and correspondent based in Turkey could finally clear the terrorism charges  following today’s trial in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Arriving at the High Criminal Court in Diyarbakir this morning with a positive outlook, Geerdink said that she is confident…