by ECPMF

The ECPMF joined a group of press freedom and media development organisations who signed up to a media statement and list of eleven commitments that we're seeking from States attending the Global Media Freedom Conference.

The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemn the behaviour of Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama, who has threatened the Chief Political Reporter of the BILD newspaper, Peter Tiede, with legal action.

Das Europäische Zentrum für Presse- und Medienfreiheit (ECPMF) und Reporter ohne Grenzen (ROG) verurteilen das Verhalten des albanischen Premierministers Edi Rama, der dem Chefreporter Politik der Bild Zeitung, Peter Tiede, mit juristischen Konsequenzen gedroht hat. Die Zeitung hatte am 5. Juni einen Artikel online gestellt, der dem Regierungschef vorwirft, bei der Wahl 2017 Stimmen mit Mafia-Geld gekauft zu haben.

by ECPMF/Media Foundation of Sparkasse Leipzig

Austrian TV presenter Armin Wolf and the German journalists Arndt Ginzel and Gerald Gerber receive the 'Prize for the Freedom and Future of the Media' 2019 of the Media Foundation of Sparkasse Leipzig.

From 18 to 21 June 2019 a coalition of seven international press freedom organisations will carry out a joint advocacy mission to Albania, focusing on improving the situation of press freedom and the safety of journalists.

Funding for the Caruana Galizia family’s court battles

A grieving family should not have to pay to defend in court the reputation of their mother, who was assassinated in order to silence her investigative reporting. Therefore, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom is delighted to announce that, thanks to Free Press Unlimited, 50,000 euros made available to support litigation in the case of Daphne Caruana Galizia. The fund will be used towards legal cost … read more

By ECPMF staff

The campaign of the German political right against the 'lying press' ('Lügenpresse') has alarming consequences: The more frequent and the bigger the right-wing protests become, the greater the number of physical attacks against journalists. Here are some highlights from the ECPMF's latest report.

The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) hereby criticises draft Federal Law 19/4724, which is currently being debated in the German Parliament. If passed without amendment, it endangers the ability of investigative journalists to uncover illegal or unethical corporate practices.

The word 'Gleichschaltung' comes to mind given the recent developments in Hungary’s media landscape.

The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom and Reporters Without Borders urge the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic, the National Criminal Agency and the Police Force not to proceed further with the interrogation of ‘For a Decent Slovakia’ organisers and protesters.

For the one-year-anniversary of the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder an international freedom of expression delegation travelled to Malta to confront the authorities with the fact that the investigation is stalled. This is their findings and recommendations.

(Prime Minister Muscat answered on 9 October, please scroll down)

24 international press freedom and freedom of expression organisations have signed ECPMF's letter to Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat demanding a public inquiry into the assassination of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

On 16 October 2018 it's been one year since Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated with a car bomb. Five international press freedom and freedom of expression organisations are travelling to Malta to support the cause of a thorough investigation that still hasn't happened.

(deutsche Version weiter unten)

(Leipzig) The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom urges the European Parliament to vote for initiating the section 7 mechanism against Hungary. The reasons are many – one of them is the hostile environment for journalists created by the Fidesz government.

(Die deutsche Version finden Sie weiter unten)

At the Chemnitz demonstrations aggression against journalists has reached a new intensity. The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) condemns most strongly every single one of the attacks.

(LEIPZIG) The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) offers practical solidarity to journalists resident in Turkey. It extends its Journalists-in-Residence programme to up to three more journalists from Turkey and is now accepting applications. (Deadline: 23 September 2018)

The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) and the Regional Press Development Institute (RPDI) in Kyiv are launching the project 're:start democratic discourse' in the Southeast of Ukraine. Its main purpose is to improve the professional skills of media workers and the media literacy of the population.

The ECPMF is delighted to announce the expansion of its Journalists-in-Residence programme to include up to three more journalists from Turkey.

On Wednesday night, 18 July 2018, Turkey's two-year-long state of emergency comes to an end. But there is no relief. There is just ongoing oppression, says ECPMF's Managing Director Lutz Kinkel.

In between all the international applause for the outgoing Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the European Union, we urge the EU institutions to press Bulgaria to uphold the rule of law. Bulgarian authorities must restore freedom of expression and a free press.

Please scroll down for the Turkish version

Nineteen international freedom of expression organisations have sent a joint letter with their demands for how to protect and strengthen media freedom and independent journalism in Turkey to all candidates in the upcoming presidential elections.

An independent jury has selected twelve investigative journalism projects for funding under the inaugural round of the IJ4EU fund. More than sixty teams of EU-based journalists had presented projects worth more than three million euros as part of the call.

Global campaign launches with call to subscribe to secular daily Cumhuriyet

In January 2018 an international delegation of press freedom organisation representatives visited Zagreb for the second time in two years to observe the state of media freedom in Croatia. Now, the report is out, and these are the recommendations.

Don't miss our conference and workshop on the dangers and opportunities of digital technology. How to work under political pressure? What can social bots do against hate speech? How to use blockchain? And what are the liabilities of intermediaries? Join us in Leipzig for GAME CHANGER.

Declaration of the participants in the conference “Media Freedom and Pluralism: How to reboot an essential EU pillar”

ECPMF and SEEMO strongly condemn the attack on Vjiesti investigative journalist Olivera Lakić in Montenegro. This is the second attack in just over a month.

More than sixty cross-border journalism teams applied for funding to support investigative projects throughout Europe.

The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom is warning against the dismantlement of freedom rights and the increasing threat against journalists in the EU. 

After at least two years of negotiations the EU Commission finally decided to strengthen legal protection for whistleblowers.

(bitte scrollen für die deutsche Version)

The 16 April 2018 marks six months since the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Vigils held worldwide call on justice for Daphne. Four freedom of expression organisations gathered in Berlin. 

Süddeutsche Zeitung's Wolfgang Krach will oversee selection of cross-border investigative projects.

End of January 2018, EFJ and ECPMF went on a joint fact-finding mission to the Baltics. In Lithuania and Estonia, representatives of the media freedom organisations met with journalists, business people and the authorities. The mission was triggered by the question if disinformation and fake news could destabilise the region.

Eight international freedom of expression organisations have signed an open letter urging diplomats in Malta to make their presence felt concerning the investigation of the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder. "Your engagement in this case is setting a standard and precedent for what is permissible in the European Union".

(Vienna, March 19, 2018) A fund of up to €450,000 to support cross-border investigative journalism in the European Union is being launched today by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) and the International Press Institute (IPI).

ECPMF strongly condemns the draconian and unfounded verdicts against Ahmet Altan, Mehmet Altan and Nazli Ilicak. This is the joint statement by nine media freedom organisations on the cases.

Hier geht es zur deutschen Version

German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yücel will be released after being held in Turkish prison for one year without being indicted. Scores of other journalists in Turkish jails still wait for proper proceedings.