European Federation of Journalists

Media Freedom Rapid Response

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) is a partner of Media Freedom Rapid Response project (MFRR) aiming to promote an independent, pluralistic media landscape, to safeguard media workers, especially harassed female media workers and to protect the rights of journalists. The RRM helps to mitigate the consequences of the recently observed deterioration of media freedom in several European Union, Member States and Candidate Countries.

Overall Objective

The overall objective of this project is to provide practical support for journalists to improve media freedom in Europe.

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) is designed to detect, answer and prevent violations of press and media freedom. It consists of three layers: monitoring, categorisation, responses.

Specific objectives

1. Mapping Media Freedom (MMF) in Europe (EU & Candidate Countries): Media violations are on the rise especially under the current coronavirus crisis. One of the key components of the project is to monitor and document a wide range of media violations conducted by any actors, whether individuals, state actors or business, so that actions can be taken rapidly to address the violations.

2. Practical supports: Based on the media violations reported, the project offers a wide range of immediate to long-term, practical support ranging from legal help, safety advice and training, safe house for journalists, advocacy and mission, and online resources. You could find more information about the legal support here and more details about safe house for journalists here.

3. Advocacy & Trial Monitoring: Joint media advocacy will also be carried out by the project including joint statements, national missions (in Czech Republic, Hungry, Spain, Serbia), roundtable advocacy meetings with EU policy-makers. The EFJ will involve the relevant national members when carrying out such national missions. Trial Monitoring especially for Turkey, Malta (for the case of Daphne Caruana Galizia) and Slovakia (for the case of Ján Kuciak) will be carried out and participated by the project partners to help find justice for journalists who are put in jails or murdered.

Anyone can submit and report a media violation to the MMF platform online.

Actions

EFJ and media freedom groups welcome Google fine, call on EU to break up the tech giant’s digital advertising monopoly

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today in calling on the European Union to step up its action against Google following the European Commission’s decision to impose a 2.95 billion euro fine on the company for anti-competitive practices through its dominance of the online advertising and advertising technology (adtech) services. The Commission found that Google breached EU antitrust rules by distorting competition in the adtech industry to favour its own digital advertising services, which disadvantaged other adtech services, advertisers, and online publishers – which includes news media outlets. In addition to the fine, the…

Serbia: MFRR partners warn against attempt to seize political control of last remaining independent TV stations N1 and Nova

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined its partners from the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in expressing serious concern over the threat of political interference in the operations of the United Group’s media outlets in Serbia, which owns the major independent television news channels that are active in Serbia, N1 and Nova TV. On 27 August 2025, new information revealed by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and published in collaboration with the investigative outlet KRIK suggested that Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić intends to undermine the independence of N1 and Nova TV. A leaked recording emerged of…

Turkey: EFJ and MFRR partners condemn Turkey’s broadcast regulator’s decision to silence TELE1

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in condemning the five-day broadcast blackout imposed on TELE1 since September 1, and the escalating use of censorship sanctions by RTÜK, Turkey’s broadcast regulator, against independent critical media outlets. We urge authorities to stop targeting critical and opposing views and uphold media pluralism in line with democratic standards. On July 24, 2025, Turkey’s broadcast regulator RTÜK imposed severe penalties against critical broadcasters, including a temporary broadcast blackout and hefty administrative fines targeting TELE1. The punishment was based on remarks by the channel’s editor-in-chief Merdan…

Albania: We raise alarm over non compliance with a recent decision by Court in Tirana affecting media freedom

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), joined by its partners from the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), the SafeJournalists Network (SJN), and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), is urging ministers to enforce the Tirana First Instance Court’s decision from 12 August 2025. This ruling partially upheld the request of Focus Media Group and Panorama Group for urgent interim measures to restore access to journalistic equipment and work materials.   25.08.2025 Në gjuhën shqipe më poshtë To: Ministry of Interior Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation (MEKI) Ministry of Justice State Police Bailiff Service (Zyra e Përmbarimit Shtetëror) Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA) People’s…

Albania: Urgent answers needed on Focus Media Group blockade and journalists’ right to work

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined its partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), the SafeJournalists Network, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and Albanian media freedom organisations, in expressing serious concern over the police blockade and subsequent events affecting Focus Media Group, News24, BalkanWeb, Panorama, Gazeta Shqiptare, and other affiliated outlets. In the early hours of 9 August, State Police surrounded the building in Tirana where these outlets operate, cut the electricity supply, and blocked access for journalists and staff. This halted News24’s on-air broadcasting. According to Focus Media Group, no prior warning of effectively cutting off the broadcasting…

Albania: the draft penal code represents a step backwards for freedom of the media and expression

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined the SafeJournalists Network (SJN), and its partners from the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), and civil society organizations in Albania, in expressing utmost concern regarding the proposed amendments to the Penal Code. Several provisions within the draft published by the Ministry of Justice, specifically Articles 865 (Defamation), 863 (Insult), and 536 (Influencing Judicial Independence), pose direct threats to media freedom, the safety of journalists, and the fundamental right to freedom of expression. As we continue to closely monitor developments and prepare a detailed legal assessment, based on our initial analysis of the published…