Media

Serbia, little security for online journalists

23/08/2023 -  Ettore Morello

A recent report by the Association of Independent Journalists of Serbia together with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network analyses the problems concerning the safety of journalists on the web, looking at the specific case of Serbia, and suggests how to make the editorial environment less dangerous

Kosovo: Media freedom groups welcome Klan Kosova court injunction decision

04/08/2023

OBCT joins international media freedom organisations in welcoming the decision of the Kosovar Commercial Court blocking the suspension of Klan Kosova business licence

Croatia, the new media bill is dangerous

27/07/2023 -  Giovanni Vale Zagreb

“I don't know who wrote this bill, but I suspect that the main intention was to divide the Croatian media, creating havoc in the sector”, said Hrvoje Zovko, the president of the Association of Croatian Journalists (HND). We met him in Zagreb

BiH: Republika Srpska reintroduces the crime of defamation

24/07/2023 -  Arman Fazlić Sarajevo

On Thursday 20 July, the People's Assembly of the Republika Srpska adopted the Law on Amendments to the Criminal Code envisaging criminalization of defamation. Calls from international and local actors to protect freedom of speech and withdraw the controversial provision that qualifies defamation as a criminal offence have gone unheeded

Albania: urgent measures needed to safeguard journalists

20/07/2023

OBCT condemns recent attacks against journalists in Albania and calls on authorities to ensure press freedom in the country

CASE Day of Action - an initiative against SLAPPs

On July 10 the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE), of which OBCT is a member, promoted a Day of Action dedicated to the campaign against SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) targeting activists, human rights defenders, and journalists.

Letter to the Italian Justice Minister

10/07/2023

The Italian anti-SLAPP WG joins CASE in a transnational Day of Action against SLAPPs, calling on the Italian Minister of Justice for concrete commitment during the EU trialogue negotiations, scheduled to start on July, 12

Media freedom groups call on the EU to prioritise media freedom reforms in relations with Turkey

28/06/2023

OBCT joins media freedom and journalists groups in calling on the incoming Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union to place media freedom and fundamental rights at the heart of future relations with Turkey

Italy: call in support of Roberto Saviano, defendant in a SLAPP case initiated by PM Giorgia Meloni

28/06/2023

Following the fourth hearing in the SLAPP case initiated by PM Giorgia Meloni against Roberto Saviano, OBCT joins media and journalists' freedom organisations in expressing solidarity with the Italian writer

Aleksandra Godfroid: Serbian media and the war in Ukraine

27/06/2023 -  Francesco Martino Belgrade

In Serbia, local media play a central role in shaping the narrative of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We talked about it with Aleksandra Godfroid, journalist of the N1 TV network

Kosovo: Media freedom groups raise alarm over Klan Kosova business certificate suspension

20/06/2023

OBCT joins international media freedom and journalist organisations in expressing alarm over the suspension of Klan Kosova's business certificate

Italy: International Media freedom groups raise alarm about RAI's independence

15/06/2023

OBCT joins media freedom and journalist organisations in expressing their alarm over the recent politically-influenced internal management changes at the Italian public service broadcaster

Law enforcement must protect journalists amidst escalating tensions in northern Kosovo

06/06/2023

OBCT and the undersigned international press freedom organisations express their concern about the recent violent attacks on journalists in Kosovo and call on the authorities to implement the necessary measures to ensure media workers' safety

Politics and hate speech in the Turkish media

13/06/2023 -  Francesco Brusa Istanbul

During the elections that have just ended in Türkiye, the candidates used a discriminating and aggressive discourse. We talked about it with Yasemin Korkmaz, coordinator of the hate speech monitoring campaign in Türkiye at the Hrant Dink Foundation

Rossella Puccio: the truth is revolutionary

09/06/2023 -  Serena Epis

Since the beginning of the year, the European consortium Media Freedom Rapid Response has recorded 34 cases of violation of press freedom in Italy, including assaults, verbal attacks, and strategic lawsuits. We talked about it with Rossella Puccio, an independent journalist who was the victim of attacks and intimidation

North Macedonia: International press freedom mission finds fragile progress in need of further support

08/06/2023

This week OBCT joined MFRR partners in a fact-finding mission to North Macedonia organised by the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (ZNM). While the coalition recognises an improvement in media workers' working conditions, it also warns that the landscape of journalism in the country remains fragile

“The Killing of a Journalist”, interview with director Matt Sarnecki

08/06/2023 -  Aleksej Tilman

The documentary “The Killing of a Journalist” (2022), by the American director Matt Sarnecki, covers the murder of Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his girlfriend Martina Kušnírová and its aftermath, unveiling the political corruption in Slovakia

Slovenia, the fight for RTV

09/06/2023 -  Stefano Lusa Koper

The struggle for control of information in Slovenia is a constant in the permanent "civil war" between the country's political forces. After long political clashes, the Board of Directors met for the first time last Monday

Serbia: Legal harassment of investigative media outlet KRIK must stop

30/05/2023

OBCT joins international press freedom and journalists’ organisations in expressing solidarity with Serbian media outlet KRIK, whose newsroom is continuously subjected to legal harassment

Sara Manisera: the challenges of investigative journalism

05/06/2023 -  Sielke Kelner

Investigative journalists, in addition to the risks of the trade, often incur libel lawsuits, SLAPPs, etc.. Especially if, like Sara Manisera, they deal with sensitive issues such as organised crime. We interviewed her

Turkey: how the secret services can destroy a journalist's life

31/05/2023 -  Dimitri Bettoni

The difficulties of working in the media, the fragility of refugee status: the story of a journalist that the Turkish state wanted for itself

Protests in Belgrade and violence in reality shows

30/05/2023 -  Massimo Moratti Belgrade

After the massacres of the recent weeks, street demonstrations continue against the government and above all the media, which according to critics have created a climate of intolerance and violence over the years

Croatia: at least 945 ongoing lawsuits against journalists and media outlets

25/05/2023 -  Monika Kutri*

At least 945 lawsuits against the media and journalists are currently active in Croatia, according to the results of a survey conducted by the Croatian Journalists' Association for the fifth year in a row. This outcome confirms the high-level pressure that journalists are subjected to from politicians, various actors in the economic sector, and public institutions

South Tyrol, journalism of "curiosity, enthusiasm, and tough skin"

22/05/2023 -  Paola Rosà

The acquittal of the authors of an investigative book on discontent within the majority party comes in a local context where the rule of law is severely tested by the interweaving of media concentration, economic interests, politics and business, family ties, and various anomalies

Media Freedom on the Line as Turkey Approaches Elections

03/05/2023

OBCT joins media organizations and journalists in demanding politicians commit to end media oppression

Bulgaria: Investigative journalists hit by smears and lawsuits after corruption revelations

03/05/2023

OBCT joins MFRR partners in expressing concern about legal pressure exerted against two of Bulgaria’s leading investigative media platforms

Media pluralism in a legal limbo in Serbia

02/05/2023 -  Massimo Moratti Belgrade

The allocation of national broadcasting frequencies in Serbia highlights the lack of transparency and pluralism in the sector. Frequencies are only awarded to government-friendly media. Concerns have been expressed by both the European Commission and the European Parliament

Turkey: International groups demand release of Kurdish journalists, lawyers, political party officials detained in pre-election crackdown

28/04/2023

OBCT joins media freedom and human rights organisations calling for Turkish authorities to stop systematic harassment and intimidation of Kurdish journalists, media workers, media outlets, the lawyers that defend them, and Kurdish political party officials

SLAPPs against the media in Europe: is the EU response sufficient and what remains to be done?

24/04/2023

Video recording of the panel co-organized by ARTICLE 19 and OBC Transeuropa, as partner of Media Freedom Rapid Response Mechanism, within the International Journalism Festival of Perugia. Speeches by Sarah Clarke (director ARTICLE 19 Europe), Bojana Jovanovic (Deputy editor crime and corruption reporting network), Sielke Kelner (Media Freedom Rapid Response), Roberto Saviano (journalist and author)

Greece: MFRR to fund legal appeal for lawsuit against Alterthess

19/04/2023

OBCT joins MFRR partners in expressing dismay over the recent court ruling involving a SLAPP lawsuit against Greek media outlet Alterthess and one of its journalists, Stavroula Poulimeni. Given the dangerous consequences that such a legal precedent could have, MFRR organisations have decided to provide funding to cover legal fees for their appeal