The host of the “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” podcast, Nenad Kulacin is once again the target of threats. The last threat to the presenter was sent via social networks from an anonymous account. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its partner the SafeJournalists Network (SJN) and the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), organisations dedicated to protecting media freedom and the rights of journalists, to share their concerns about the rising  threats targeting the presenter. We note that the competent institutions in Serbia have not yet determined the identity of any perpetrator in the cases that have…

Dublin county is one of the smallest in Ireland but by far the most populated, given the capital city sits there. While the centre is bustling with activity and news, just 20km north risks getting left behind. Local newspaper Dublin Inquirer is hoping to fill this gap by expanding its innovative business model to the region of Fingal county.  Towards the end of last year, one of the largest media companies in Ireland shut its edition covering Fingal in the north of Dublin. The Dublin Inquirer, a local and independent newspaper, is hoping to fill this gap by expanding their…

Following a press freedom mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina from 22-25 October 2023, the partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) warn that media freedom in the country is in decline against a backdrop of new restrictive laws, hostile rhetoric and denigration of journalists by public officials, and ongoing systemic challenges to the independence of public service media. While the country had long experienced a stagnation in its progress for freedom of the media and freedom of expression, the situation has seen an overall decline, even as the country was granted candidate status for accession to the European…

UPDATE (28/10/23): According to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate and the Union of Journalists in Israel, as of 3 November, at least 36 journalists were among more than 10,000 dead on both sides since the war began on 7 October: 31 Palestinian, 4 Israeli, and 1 Lebanese. —————————- The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has co-signed an appeal by journalists for a ceasefire and to protect the right of access to information in Israel and Palestine. The EFJ supports calls by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) for full and transparent investigation of any and all…

As the European Parliament, Council and Commission enter the final negotiations on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), media freedom and human rights groups today call for the adoption of the Parliament’s text, which, while also in need of further strengthening, is currently the version best equipped to roll back the creeping spread of media capture. The recent elections in Poland underscore the need for a strong EMFA. The opposition won a majority, despite the fact the governing PiS party “enjoyed clear advantage through its undue influence over the use of state resources and the public media”, according to an…

Update (01/12/2023): A Russian court on 1st December extended the pre-trial detention of US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva until 5 February. —————————– On 18 October, Prague-based journalist Alsu Kurmasheva working for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was detained by Kazan Authorities on charges of ‘failing to register herself as a foreign agent’. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) strongly condemn the detention of an innocent journalist and demand Russian authorities release her immediately. The Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who lives in Prague, Czech Republic’s capital, arrived in Russia on 20 May for a family emergency. On her way back to…