The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), one of the largest official aid agencies in the world, has been instructed to stop projects following a 90-day foreign aid freeze imposed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The measure affects dozens of independent media outlets in more than 30 countries, deprived of U.S. support programs to strengthen journalistic professionalism, establish media management skills, and promote free and independent media. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) is calling on all potential European donors to take action to compensate for the US withdrawal, in particular to ensure the survival of Ukrainian media, the…

Several journalists working for Hír TV were dismissed on 23 December 2024, just days after forming a union to enhance their working conditions. The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) join their affiliate in Hungary, the Hungarian Press Union (HPU), in expressing its solidarity with the dismissed journalists and denouncing a violation of labour law. The redundancies took place against a backdrop of trade union development within Hír TV, a pro-government news channel, as a group of employees joined the Hungarian Press Union (HPU) and formed, on 10 December 2024, the Hír TV Basic Union of the Press Union,…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today gave its full support to the Serbian journalists’ organisations which have called for a general strike to take part in the action of “general civil disobedience” organised by Serbian students following the tragic accident at the Novi Sad train station, killing 15 people. The EFJ denounces in particular the threats made by the Serbian Minister of Information and Telecommunications Dejan Ristić against the Serbian Coalition for Media Freedom. More than 80 newsrooms in Serbia are on strike today, in response to a call from the Coalition for Media Freedom. Denying the newsrooms’ ability…

Maltese tycoon Yorgen Fenech was granted bail by a court on Friday, more than five years after he was first arrested and charged with complicity in the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) questions the failure of the Maltese public authorities to complete the judicial proceedings aimed at identifying and convicting those behind her murder. Yorgen Fenech is a Maltese businessman whose main interests are casinos and hotels in Malta. He is a suspect facing criminal charges in multiple proceedings for murder, corruption, money laundering, and the illicit purchase of firearms and poison. In…

Recognising the indispensable role freelance journalists play in informing the public, upholding democracy and maintaining editorial independence, we, the representatives of freelance journalists in Europe, unite in calling for action to address the precariousness of our profession. This Declaration outlines the fundamental measures necessary to ensure fair working conditions, equal treatment and suitable livelihoods for freelance journalists across Europe. Through their independence, freelance journalists are vital to democracy and the free flow of information.  Dignified Working Conditions Freelance journalists are integral members of the journalistic profession, entitled to safe and equitable working conditions. Employers must eliminate practices of “fake freelance”…

UPDATE (28/01/2025): Over 300 journalists, editors, and media managers in Georgia have issued a joint statement demanding the immediate release of Mzia Amaglobeli. —————————— The undersigned press freedom, journalists and human rights organisations call for the immediate release of veteran Georgian journalist and founder and director of the online newspapers Batumelebi and Netgazeti, Mzia Amaglobeli. Amaglobeli, who announced on 20 January to have been on hunger strike since January 12 after being abused while held in detention, said “The charges against me today are the product of repressive, treacherous, and violent processes targeting humanity, freedom of speech, and expression.” She…