In 2016, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) enters its second year of activity thanks to the renewed support of the European Commission. Through the cooperation among its 6 consortium partners - the Media Foundation of the Sparkasse Leipzig , initiator of the ECPMF based in Leipzig; OBC Transeuropa (Trentino); Oxygen for Information (Rome); South East Europe Media Organisation (Vienna); Journalismfund.eu (Brussels); and the Institute of European Media Law (Saarbrücken) - the ECPMF project aims to protect and promote press freedom and promote transnational public debate on violations registered in Europe .
Liaising with several other European entities active in defending media freedom across the continent, OBC Transeuropa will raise awareness of the situation of freedom of information in six member states of the European Union, in the Enlargement and Eastern Partnership countries through:
1) a transnational journalistic campaign along with 14 media partners by publishing and disseminating news and analyses aimed at increasing information and debate on relevant topics;
2) the further development of the Resource Centre on Media Freedom in Europe ;
3) the initiative #Wiki4MediaFreedom which builds on the work initiated by the Wikipedian in Residence hosted at OBC in 2015.
Parim Olluri, the executive director of the online newspaper "Insajderi", was beaten by three people in front of his apartment
Media not aligned with the regime are still under pressure in Serbia. Recently, President Vučić has targeted TV channel N1 for broadcasting exclusive videos that he would rather have hidden
The deposition of Cumhuriyet's cartoonist in the trial accusing him and other journalists of "terrorism" becomes a "manifesto" on the role of journalism and satire in nowadays Turkey
The trial has started in Istanbul for Cumhuriyet journalists and administrators, accused of terrorism. The voices from the courtroom in the debate symbol of the concerning state of relationships between journalism and power in Turkey
On Monday the trial against 17 journalists and executives of Turkish newspaper Cumhriyet starts in Istanbul, involving charges of supporting terrorist organization. EFJ will be monitoring the proceedings
OBCT attended the Civil Society Forum of the Western Balkans Series in Trieste from July 10 to 12, 2017, joining the panel: "Media Freedom: a very European issue". Why do we consider it a strategic topic? Answer by Dragana Obradović - BIRN (Balkan Investigative Reporting Network) Serbia
Kosovo: "Insajderi" director under attack
"I think the attack is related to the articles I wrote as a journalist", said Parim Olluri after the aggression. In recent days "Insider" - the online magazine of which he is director - had published an investigation on the former Commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army who became enriched after the Nineties war. "If Adem Jashari was alive, he would be a millionaire and corrupt": that was the title, probably seen as a provocation, because Jashari, killed by Serbs, in Kosovo is considered to be a "hero". A violent reaction that after dozens of threats on social networks may be culminated in a physical assault.
Bulgaria: eavesdropping for the purpose of intimidation
In Bulgaria data shows signs of unauthorized eavesdropping of politicians, magistrates and journalists. It was announced by the director of the National Office for the Control of Special Intelligence Means (NOCSIM), Boyko Rashkov. According to him, this has been done for the purpose of intimidation, pressure or blackmail.
"Until 2014 the State Agency for National Security (DANS) was one of the state authorities which wanted NOCSIM to act in absolute conflict with the law. Annually there has been unauthorized eavesdropping aimed at pressure and intimidation of politicians, magistrates and journalists”, said Rashkov.
Lily Lynch talks: about “Balkanist” and Balkan media
The co-founder and editor in chief of “Balkanist ” Lily Lynch claimed to Radio Student that the establishment of its magazine was a consequence of the tightening of media space in Serbia after the election of Aleksandar Vučić in 2014. In the same interview Lynch spoke about the role of “Balkanist” within the Balkan media environment as she sees it. She highlighed the obsession with Russia versus the “west narrative” as the main deficiency in international media's coverage of the region. The conversation concludes with her view of the multifaceted role of US in the Balkans.
Sensationalism dominates the Bulgarian news stream
Crimes, disasters and incidents are the top news in the most popular television and online media in Bulgaria. According to a survey conducted by the Association of European Journalists (AEJ) the Bulgarian media create a "catastrophic agenda" and the really important news cannot reach the people.
Journalist Ivo Nikodimov was attacked by unknown men in Sofia city centre
The Bulgarian journalist Ivo Nikodimov was attacked by three unknown men in the center of the Bulgarian capital Sofia. Nikodimov is a head of the morning show of the Bulgarian national television.
The internal divisions of Slovenian Radio Television
The Slovenian Radio Television (RTV) Programme Council voted against the removal of TV director Ljerka Bizilj. The dismissal proposal came from the RTV General Director immediately after the broadcast of a TV show dedicated to the controversial Croatian nationalist singer Marko Perković-Thompson. According to the revision of the internal ombudsman, the program was biased and violated the "journalistic standards" of the country; nevertheless, Ljerka Bizilj decided not to take any measures. By his vote, the RTV Council defended Ljerka Bizilj’s position.
Press freedom in Ukraine
Curated by the "Foreign affairs" desk of Radio Popolare, the ninth episode of the second year of the ECPMF project of which Radio Popolare is media partner. A broadcast by Emanuele Valenti, Radio Popolare journalist, dedicated to the difficulties of carrying out the journalistic profession in the country.
Media property in the Balkans
Curated by the "Foreign affairs" desk of Radio Popolare, the eight episode of the second year of the ECPMF project of which Radio Popolare is media partner. A broadcast deepening the issue of the state of media property in the Western Balkans.
The Media Freedom Resource Centre is an open online platform that facilitates quick and systematic access to an ever-growing collection of resources on media freedom and pluralism, such as region-wide and country-specific publication and practical tools for journalists, practitioners, policy makers. Whether you are journalist, a media expert or an organisation, use this crowd-sourcing platform to share and disseminate your materials!
Building on a previous Wiki GLAM initiative, Wiki4MediaFreedom aims at boosting the availability of accurate knowledge on media freedom and pluralism in Europe on Wikipedia. People who are willing to contribute, learn and help disseminate in languages other than English relevant information on these topics are very welcome to join!
Through a partnership between Index on Censorship, European Federation of Journalists and Reporters Without Borders Mapping Media Freedom monitors and visualises the state of media freedom in Europe by crowdsourcing reports of violations and limitations from journalists and press freedom watchdogs. Get involved!
The project European Centre for Press and Media Freedom is co-funded by the European Commission
