MFRR Summit

(Conferenza finale del primo anno di Media Freedom Rapid Response, con giornalisti, esperti, rappresentanti della Commissione Europea. Quattro giorni di eventi e dibattiti)

Media freedom is in jeopardy but there is no democracy in Europe without a free press in Europe

Between 17th and 20th March, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), which monitors and tracks media freedom violations, will bring together leading journalists from over 13 countries and representatives of press freedom organisations, unions and journalist bodies to discuss key threats and trends that underpin threats to media freedom across Europe

The keynote session on 17th March will be introduced by Věra Jourová, Vice-President for Values and Transparency in the EU Commission. The MFRR is also honoured to welcome Irene Khan, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Freedom of Opinion and Expression to deliver the online keynote, offering a global picture of media freedom and what needs to change to protect journalists. This session will also premiere a short documentary featuring at-risk journalists, whistleblowers and media workers from across Europe, filmed during lockdown.

Spread across eight panel discussions held online over four days, the summit will explore a wide range of important topics, including:

  • The impact of COVID-19 on media freedom and the public’s right to know; 
  • The dangers of covering demonstrations and protests across Europe; 
  • The impact of police actions on media freedom; 
  • How states silence independent scrutiny through the capture of outlets and regulators; 
  • The wielding of SLAPPs to silence critical reporting by the wealthy, powerful and thin-skinned; 
  • Modifying the legal landscape to criminalise critical reporting, isolate journalists and target media freedom, and; 
  • Fighting the normalisation of online harassment and smear campaigns across Europe.

Here the starting page with all links to register to all events.