The American company Palantir Technologies has filed a lawsuit against Republik, an independent Swiss media outlet that published an in-depth investigation into its activities. The case is currently being heard by the Zurich Commercial Court. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) considers this legal action to be a potential case of a SLAPP suit (strategic lawsuit against public participation). Palantir develops intelligence and law enforcement software. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) uses Palantir products to track migrants in the United States. The Israeli army also uses Palantir software in its war in Gaza. In collaboration with the investigative…

Journalists in Belgium can no longer be prosecuted for possessing a state secret. On 29 January 2026, the Belgian Constitutional Court annulled a provision allowing prison sentences for journalists receiving confidential information such as state secrets. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined its Belgian affiliates, the Association des Journalistes Professionnels (AJP) and the Vlaamse Vereeniging van Journalisten (VVJ) in welcoming the ruling. The provisions were part of the Penal Code reform adopted in February 2023, which expanded the definition of “state secret” and criminalised their unauthorised receipt, including by journalists who might obtain – or merely become aware of…

Today, journalists at Italian public broadcaster RAI have called a one-day byline strike. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins them in denouncing the disastrous image given by Paolo Petrecca, the RAI sports director, throughout his commentary on the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The Winter Olympic Games started with a slick ceremony last Friday at Milan’s San Siro stadium, but the event was marred for Italian TV viewers by a stream of on-air mistakes from the head of RAI’s sports division, Paolo Petrecca, who was appointed to the role in 2025. Today, RAI journalists omitted their…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners today in raising alarm over a recent wave of bot-driven cyber attacks targeting the social media accounts of Serbian media outlets. Our organisations warn that the dozen recorded incidents are not isolated cases but part of a broader pattern of coordinated attacks on the free flow of news and independent information in Serbia, which remains in a period of media freedom crisis. Between 8 and 30 January, the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) recorded at least 12 coordinated bot attacks against Instagram accounts of independent…

A new survey by the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) reveals a mixed approach among its members toward so-called ‘news creators’, with journalists’ organisations split on whether to recognise these emerging actors as part of the information landscape. The findings show that concerns over journalistic ethics and conflicts with organisational statutes remain the main barriers to their inclusion.  In its latest Digital News Report, the Reuters Institute highlights how news creators (see definition below) are successfully reaching large audiences, often at the expense of traditional media, including within the news sector. As the boundaries of the information landscape shift rapidly,…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the SafeJournalists Network (SJN) in strongly condemning the recent physical attacks against journalists and media professionals in the Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, which represent a severe threat to media freedom and the safety of those working in the public interest. On 7 February, journalist Sanja Vasković, editor-in-chief of the Spin portal, was verbally abused and physically hindered while reporting on a story in East Sarajevo. Her phone was forcibly seized, and her safety was jeopardised as she sought to investigate environmental and transparency concerns. The law enforcement classified the incident as a…

The International and European Federation of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ), and their Montenegrin affiliate, the Trade Union of Media in Montenegro (TUMM), have expressed serious and growing concern about the situation of labour and trade union rights at the public service broadcaster Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG). They wish to draw particular attention to persistent reports of anti-union discrimination and pressure on employees to withdraw from union membership, as well as the systematic weakening of the Trade Union of RTCG Employees. On 6 February 2026, the IFJ, the EFJ and the TUMM sent the following letter to the country’s authorities.

EU leaders must considerably strengthen the European media ecosystem. This is the conclusion drawn by the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) after reading the results of the latest Eurobarometer survey on citizens’ concern about communication-related risks, such as disinformation, fake content generated by artificial intelligence, independence of the media, Big Tech’s dominance, and threats to freedom of expression. The Eurobarometer, which surveyed 26,453 people across all EU members states found that tackling inflation, rising prices and the cost of living is people’s top priority for EU action, followed by the economy and job creation (35%). Defence and security, public services and…

On 4 February, The Washington Post announced the firing of more than 300 employees, approximately one third of its staff. This followed weeks of uncertainty and rumours about widespread layoffs, during which time management remained silent. The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) join the NewsGuild-CWA in condemning the mass cuts. Post employees who have been laid off will continue to be on staff through 10 April, though they will not be required to work. They will receive six months of continued health insurance coverage. The affected employees include Caroline O’Donovan, who primarily covers Amazon, the company founded by…

By Valeriia Muskharina (Information Service of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine) This winter in Ukraine has become another severe test. Large-scale Russian attacks targeting energy infrastructure have caused constant power outages and heating disruptions, while temperatures have dropped to −25 °C. These conditions have made everyday life extremely difficult and forced people to find ways to stay warm and meet basic needs. For journalists in Kyiv, such realities create additional obstacles while working outdoors, preparing materials, and maintaining communication. Routine tasks such as charging equipment or filming a story have turned into tests of endurance. To help journalists…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners in strongly condemning the proposals of the Georgian Dream (GD) ruling party to implement a series of legislative amendments that would impose additional restrictions and penalties on recipients of grants and foreign funding. If implemented, our organisations warn the amendments would strengthen an already restrictive web of legislation targeting financial support to media and civil society and could eliminate the ability of Georgian journalists and media outlets to receive any form of independent funding. The proposed changes were announced on January 28 by Georgian Dream’s parliamentary…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) attended the kick-off meeting organised by Civitates on the Multiannual-Financial Framework (MFF), along with the Centre for Sustainable Media (CSM), Civil Society Europe (CSE), Culture Action Europe (CAE), Europe Civic Forum (ECF), and Irish Council of Civil Liberties. The meeting marked the starting point of a year-long project called “Future of Europe” to support the journalism, culture, and civic space strands within the upcoming negotiations on the EU’s long-term budget. The proposed EU budget for 2028 – 2034 introduces a new programme “AgoraEU” which will include a Culture, Media (divided into Audiovisual and News),…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined the International Press Institute (IPI) and media freedom partners in providing a formal contribution to the public consultation into the draft act to amend the Polish Broadcasting and Television Act – a major and much needed overhaul of the country’s media legislation. The draft reform, published by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, also represents a core element of the implementation of the EU’s European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) in Poland. The public consultation closed on January 23. The submission was made by IPI along with the European Centre for Press and…

Turkey’s press freedom is facing worsening crackdowns as 2026 is setting in motion. Journalists and media workers are subjected to arbitrary arrests, forced detentions, criminal prosecutions, prolonged pre-trial detentions, judicial harassment and other forms of repression that seriously undermine press freedom and the public’s right to information. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) strongly condemn these ongoing attacks on press freedom and call for the immediate release of all journalists who are detained or jailed. Turkish authorities have detained several journalists across the country while they were covering pro-Kurdish protests, which erupted after fighting resumed between Kurdish forces…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today joined media freedom and journalist groups in stressing that recent amendments to Albania’s Criminal Code, though positive, must be strengthened to ensure full decriminalisation of defamation. The amendments to Albania’s Criminal Code approved on 21 January 2026 by the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs and Public Administration, which if passed into law, would represent important steps forward in improving the climate for media freedom, journalists’ safety and freedom of expression. These amendments reflect a clear political intent to move away from the criminalisation of defamation as part of the European accession process, acknowledging…

Last week, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), together with Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partner organisations, submitted contributions to the EU’s annual Rule of Law report for 2026, identifying key developments for media freedom and pluralism and outlining recommendations for reform. MFRR organisations provided submissions on 15 EU Member States and candidate countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia and Spain. Submissions on media freedom and pluralism provided updates about implementation and lack thereof of recommendations from the 2025 Rule of Law report, new legislative or regulatory developments, as well as…