The International Federation of Journalists and the European Federation of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) deplore the spiral of censorship in the European media landscape. In response to the EU censorship of the Kremlin-backed channels RT and Sputnik, the Russian authorities are closing down independent media outlets in Russia. The IFJ and EFJ call on the EU to support independent Russian journalists and media outlets that continue to operate in an increasingly repressive environment. On Thursday, two of the most influential independent Russian media outlets, symbols of Perestroika, Ekho Moskvy and TV Dozhd, were dismantled. Others have been blocked or are threatened with…

After more than a week of bombings, airstrikes, and gun battles, Russia’s war in Ukraine is intensifying. Journalists’ lives are at risk. Those who cover the frontlines need first aid kits, flak jackets and helmets, and medical supplies. Those trapped in towns and cities under fire need safe passage, relocation, and humanitarian assistance. Incredible support and assistance are being delivered every hour of every day by Ukraine’s journalists’ unions – the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) and the Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine (IMTUU). Their work is saving lives and keeping the media alive. But they need your help.…

The first confirmed media worker who lost his life due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine is Yevheniy Sakun, a cameraman for LIVE TV. Together with four other people, he was killed on the afternoon of 1 March 2022 during a two-target rockets attack on the TV tower that took place in Kyiv, Dorogozhychi area. On the same day, the Babin Yar Memorial Complex, a Holocaust memorial site, was also shelled. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) expressed its condolences to the family and colleagues. During the identification of the bodies, the National Police identified Sakunlost because of his…

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine entered its seventh day, yesterday, with heavy attacks on the city of Kharkiv. This morning the EFJ received the following message from a group of four journalists from Kharkiv, members of the National Union of Ukrainian Journalists (NUJU): “We, the people of Kharkiv, are united: we help each other to find food and medicine, we help the weakest to find bomb shelters, and the children lost in the bombing to find their mothers. We know no manifestations of national, racial or gender discrimination. Together we fight for peace and victory over the invaders! We are not…

As the war in Ukraine is escalating, we interviewed Nadezhda Azhgikhina, Russian journalist, director of PEN-Moscow, and former Vice-President of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) from 2013 to 2019. Azhgikhina is an experienced journalist, a true fighter for media freedom, a writer on human rights, gender equality, contemporary journalism and culture. She has delivered lectures at Moscow State University, Columbia University (USA), Tampere University (Finland), Sodertorn University (Sweden), London School of Economics (Great Britain), and Harvard (USA). From 2014 to 2016, she was the Russian coordinator of Dialogue of professional organisations of Ukraine and Russia under the umbrella of…

Russian authorities blocked access, on Tuesday, to two of the country’s most important independent media: Dozhd TV and Ekho Moskvy radio. In addition, the State Duma is considering a bill on criminal penalty for alleged fake news about Russian army operations. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) strongly condemned these attempts to silence media coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia has blocked Dozhd TV and Ekho Moskvy for allegedly spreading “deliberately false information” about Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Both websites were unavailable in Russia shortly after the announcement. The move comes six days after Russian troops attacked Ukraine. Russia’s…

Today, 01 March 2022, the Government of the Republic of Kosovo signed a decree to shelter 20 journalists from Ukraine, in coordination with the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ). The decision is in line with Kosovo’s position of solidarity with the right of Ukraine to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty, and in the spirit of protecting universal human rights. The EFJ and ECPMF hope that other states will follow Kosovo’s example. The decree, which will see the allocation of €150,000 from State reserves, was initiated by Member of Parliament…

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced, on Sunday, that Kremlin-backed RT, formerly known as Russia Today, and Sputnik, would be banned in the EU. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) fears the effects of this spiral of censorship on freedom of expression in Europe. “We will ban the Kremlin’s media machine in the EU. The state-owned Russia Today and Sputnik, and their subsidiaries, will no longer be able to spread their lies to justify Putin’s war,” said Ursula von der Leyen. “We are developing tools to ban their toxic and harmful disinformation in Europe,” she added, without providing more…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and other members of the Council of Europe’s Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists today published a joint statement calling for the protection of journalists covering Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and for the provision of urgent and practical assistance to reporters on the ground. Read the full statement below. The undersigned journalists’ and civil society organisations, which are partner organisations of the Council of Europe’s Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists, utterly condemn the threats to the lives and safety…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today joined a new call by the European trade union movement to the European Union and its Member States following the armed aggression by Russia against Ukraine. The EFJ joins the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) in reiterating its condemnation of the attack, demanding the immediate stop of military operations, Russian troops to leave the country, and dialogue and talks for peace to be started. Here is the press release published on 27 February by the ETUC, which is the voice of workers and represents 45 million members from 92 trade union organisations in…

On 26 February, the Russian media regulator Roskomnadzor (RKN) announced the opening of an administrative investigation against a number of Russian media outlets for allegedly “spreading false information of public interest”. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the Russian Journalists’ and Media Workers’ Union (JMWU) in denouncing a new step in state censorship: RKN not only dictates to journalists what sources they can quote (only official Russian sources), but also what words they can use. RKN criticises the targeted media for publishing “information about the shelling of Ukrainian cities and the death of civilians in Ukraine as a result…

On 23 February 2022, the European Audiovisual Observatory hosted an online conference to discuss public service media in light of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) launched by the Commission on 10 January 2022.  The new legislation is supposed to pave the way for greater support to recover the media sector from the pandemic, to offer larger support and regulations in favor of freedom of speech among journalists working within the European Union, and to empower pluralism of ideas across the Union. In her opening speech Executive Director of the European Audiovisual Observatory Susanne Nikoltchev stressed the importance to adapt…

Human rights, media freedom and journalists’ organisations issued a statement in condemnation of invasion and attacks on the press in Ukraine and Russia. We, the undersigned organisations, stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, but particularly Ukrainian journalists who now find themselves at the frontlines of a large-scale European war. We unilaterally condemn the violence and aggression that puts thousands of our colleagues all over Ukraine in grave danger. We call on the international community to provide any possible assistance to those who are taking on the brave role of reporting from the war zone that is now Ukraine.…

The European Federation of Journalists and its Freelance Expert Group has welcomed the European Commission’s initiative to address obstacles to collective bargaining on behalf of self-employed workers arising from competition law. The draft Guidelines aim to ensure that competition law does not stand in the way of collective agreements to improve the working conditions of certain self-employed persons, who may have little influence over their working conditions. The EFJ and many journalists’ organisations in Europe have responded to the first consultation on the draft guidelines released on 9 December 2021, based on the situation and experience freelancers and their representative bodies face throughout…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined today the European Federation and the World Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU and PSI) in condemning Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine. We support the call of Ukrainian trade unions, including the EFJ Ukrainian affiliates NUJU and IMTUU, to ask Russia to immediately stop the attack and to bring the Russian army back to Russia. Here is the statement issued today by EPSU and PSI. The EFJ fully associates itself with this call. This morning the Russian army attacked the Ukraine. We condemn this violation of the integrity of Ukraine. War and occupation…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) denounces the censorship imposed on Russian journalists covering Russia’s armed aggression in Ukraine. On Thursday, Russian journalists criticised Russia’s military aggression and called for an ethical treatment of the events. The Russian media regulator, Roskomnadzor, has informed Russian media outlets that they are required to use only information they obtain from “official Russian sources” to cover “the special operation related to the situation in the Luhansk People’s Republic and the Donetsk People’s Republic”. Roskomnadzor announced on Thursday that publications that violate these requirements will be immediately blocked. In addition, these media will be fined…