By Pavel Antonov/Silvia Velikova

There is a great pressure against public media in Bulgaria at the moment, with the Bulgarian National Radio holding on as a stronghold for free speech and independent journalism. Just a few weeks ago, a major attack was mounted on the independence of the BNR. An attempt was made by the management to remove a journalist from her post in order to make it easier for Ivan Geshev to be elected as Bulgaria's next Prosecutor-General.  … read more

We, the undersigned organisations, call on the Albanian parliament not to approve the draft media laws known as the “defamation package.” Should the draft laws enter into force, they would introduce mandatory registration requirements for online media and create an administrative body with the power to fine, shut down online media and block foreign online media - all without a court order. They would also introduce state regulation of online media, whic … read more

By Gamze Kafar

Ahmet Altan 15 Temmuz’dan önce Türkiye’de katıldığı bir televizyon programında yaptığı konuşma gerekçe gösterilerek 10 yıl 6 ay hapis cezasına çarptırılmış ve cezaevinde geçirdiği 1138 günden sonra 4 Kasım’da tahliye edilmişti.

By Jane Whyatt

Former intelligence officer Katharine Gun has no regrets about leaking a CIA memo to the press in an attempt to stop the US and its allies invading Iraq in 2003. She risked a thirty-year jail term, was called a ‘traitor’, lost her job and felt obliged to leave the country.

By Jane Whyatt

Another Awareness Day reminds the world that reporters and media workers sometimes pay for the truth with their lives. 

By Jane Whyatt

More than six months after investigative reporter Lyra McKee was murdered, police hunting the killer are offering a range of measures to protect witnesses. In addition a reward of £10,000 (11,500 euros) is on offer for information that leads to a conviction in the case.

By Jane Whyatt

Across the world, and increasingly in Europe, journalists are under threat and those who murder or threaten them are getting away with it. On this 2019 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, ECPMF seeks to understand what is being done to better protect them.

by Jane Whyatt

Political interference, hate speech aimed at journalists, low pay and lack of resources are causing serious problems in the Czech Republic’s media system. Fact-finders from four international organisations including the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom have produced a report highlighting their concerns. 

By Renata Rat

86 days. It took the Maltese government 86 days to set up a public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia. The news came in on Friday, 20. September, late in the evening. Although this is a step in the right direction to finally bringing justice to the murdered journalist, the impartiality of the inquiry’s board is concerning.

by Jane Whyatt and Frederic Krull

Hooded demonstrators have attacked TV journalists covering the Catalonia national day demonstrations which attracted more than 500,000 people in support of independence for the autonomous region.

by ECPMF

The Slovak police are currently investigating the role of former Police President of Slovakia Tibor Gašpar on suspicion of unlawfully gathering information on journalists, including Ján Kuciak, who was murdered with his fiancée in February 2018. The police extracted information, including addresses and family connections.

By Annissa Warsame

Cell Number 37, ‘Britain’s Guantanamo Bay’ – a single occupancy cell, furnished sparsely with a plastic chair, metal bed and steel toilet. For over 150 days this has been Julian Assange’s residence, whether he likes it or not. And a judge has ruled today, he is to remain there even after his jail sentence is over. 

By Jane Whyatt and Simon Akam

Journalist Simon Akam, who spent a year in the British Army before attending university, was commissioned to research and write a critical book about the evolution of the Army post 9/11. When the publisher refused to release the book, Akam suspected censorship by the British defence establishment.

Book review by Jane Whyatt

Lyra McKee was an investigative reporter who specialised in the untold stories of people caught up in Northern Ireland’s long civil war known as The Troubles. She was shot dead in Derry (also known as Londonderry) during rioting in April 2019.