The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined the undersigned press freedom, freedom of expression and journalists organisations in strongly condemning what appears to be a targeted, deliberate attack on journalists by state security forces during pro-EU protests triggered by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s announcement that Georgia would halt its EU membership negotiations until the end of 2028. Violence against journalists is unacceptable. Georgian authorities have an obligation to ensure a safe and enabling environment for members of the press. We call on Georgian authorities to immediately cease the ongoing assault on independent and critical media. We stand in full support…

The proposed “agent of influence” bill under consideration by the Turkish Parliament poses a serious threat to fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, press freedom, and the public’s right to information. With vague language and harsh penalties, the bill risks being weaponized to silence dissent, treating government critics as spies and further undermining judicial independence. As Turkey moves away from democratic standards, the EU must act decisively by urging the withdrawal of this legislation, prioritising freedom of expression, and supporting civil society. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) is a signatory of the following letter. December 10, 2024 Dear President…

The Flemish Journalists’ Association (VVJ) board of directors is concerned about the new framework agreements at the European media group Mediahuis, which has included a provision to enable the use of journalistic work for AI purposes. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its affiliates in Belgium in denouncing a decision taken without consultation with the journalists and their representatives. In a letter to the publishers dated 28 November 2024, the VVJ denounced the following provisions of the agreement, which are detrimental to the rights of freelancers: Unclear provisions: The agreements do not specify which AI applications are concerned and…

As new players gain ground alongside professional journalists in the news industry, UNESCO published a global study entitled ‘Behind The Screens: Insights from Digital Content Creators’. The report provides interesting insights on the way digital content creators consider their work, and highlights their vulnerability to mis- and disinformation. Who are these “influencers”? In her report, the Author Dr. Louisa Ha defines digital content creators as “individuals who regularly post content online for public consumption and have more than 1,000 followers.” The people who participated in the survey across the five continents are under 35 and “have between 1,000 to 10,000…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) strongly condemns the internal pressure on journalists at Belsat, the Belarusian-language television channel that operates from Poland, following the channel’s restructuring. The channel is a subsidiary of TVP, the Polish public service broadcaster. The transformation of Belsat into the Belarusian editorial office of the “TVP Center for foreign language programs” must be carried out in such a way as to preserve the full independence of the newsroom and its operational capabilities, which have been largely compromised. After the announcement of drastic budget cuts and restructuring that will severely reduce the production capacity and autonomy of the…

A coalition of international press freedom, freedom of expression, and journalists organizations conducted a solidarity and fact-finding mission to Slovakia, on 25-26 November to assess the state of press freedom in the country amid a scaling back of democratic freedoms. The mission was led by the International Press Institute (IPI) and joined by ARTICLE 19 Europe, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), and the European Center for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF). Media freedom in Slovakia faces a growing threat, and urgent action is needed to protect it. The Slovak government – a member of the Media Freedom Coalition – has an…