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813 media freedom violations in 12 months – MFRR Monitoring Report 2022

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photo: MFRR

The partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) publish the latest edition of their Monitoring Report, analysing the state of press and media freedom throughout EU Member States and candidate countries in 2022.

The Monitoring Report – produced by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the International Press Institute (IPI), and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) as part of the MFRR – gathers and analyses all media freedom violations recorded on Mapping Media Freedom throughout the year 2022. 

 

War in Ukraine

The current monitoring report starts with a thematic chapter on the war in Ukraine and its repercussions on media freedom. The MFRR started monitoring the country immediately after the full-scale Russian invasion started in late February, and it recorded 140 media freedom violations in that period.

 

Online Attacks

The report also includes a thematic section on online attacks. While in 2021, protests were the most frequent place in which journalists were attacked (39.8%), 2022 data shows that protests only accounted for 21% of the alerts in the EU, while attacks taking place online rose from 14.1% in 2021 to 20.7% in 2022.

 

Environmental Journalism

A final thematic chapter focuses on the threats faced by journalists covering climate and environmental topics (12 alerts in the EU in 2022). In the past year, as these protests became more disruptive, journalists covering these actions were subjected to obstruction of their work.

 

Legal attacks

The MFRR partners documented 237 legal incidents against 388 different media actors, including arrests and detentions of journalists and civil and criminal lawsuits. 113 of these press freedom violations were registered in the European Union and 124 in candidate countries.

The report also includes country reports offering a summary of the most relevant threats in the following countries: Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Sweden; and in the following candidate countries: Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkey.

 

Key Figures

  • 813 media freedom violations were recorded in EU Member States and candidate countries, involving 1,339 individuals or media outlets.
  • 415 alerts were recorded in the EU, while 398 were registered in candidate countries.
  • In the EU, the main type of incidents were verbal attacks (42.4% of all alerts), followed by legal attacks (27.2%)
  • 10 journalists were murdered – nine in Ukraine and one in Turkey.
  • 140 media freedom violations were recorded in Ukraine, which amount to 17.2% of the total registered in all analysed countries in 2022. The MFRR started monitoring Ukraine immediately after the full-scale invasion.
  • 86 alerts involving online attacks were recorded in EU member states, ranging from harassment to disinformation campaigns. 
  • Environmental reporting: 17 incidents (12 in the EU, 5 in Candidate Countries) during 2022 that took place while journalists were covering environmental issues, such as reporting on climate protests or investigating pollution in cities.

EFJ and 43 NGOs call on the European Parliament to ensure a strong European Media Freedom Act

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photo: EFJ

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), alongside 43 journalists, press freedom, civil society and digital rights groups, is calling on the Members of the European Parliament to start their crucial work as co-legislators for a strengthened European Media Freedom Act. Captured media markets increasingly hinder media freedom and pluralism, the precondition of a stable democracy and the rule of law. We are calling on Members of the European Parliament to engage constructively in this vital debate to ensure that the EMFA becomes a strong, coherent regulation establishing harmonised legal safeguards across Europe.

 

We sent them the following letter:

 

Dear Members of the European Parliament,

We, the undersigned journalists, press freedom, civil society and digital rights groups, are writing to you to reiterate our full support for a strengthened and timely European Media Freedom Act (EMFA).

Many journalists around the EU find themselves in increasingly captured media markets, where independent voices are sidelined by economic pressure. Journalists and media outlets struggle for financial viability and critical media are often discriminated against by (illiberal) politicians blocking access to sustainable financial resources. Others are coerced to report a certain official narrative because of political pressure.  Politically-influenced media takeovers create an environment where critical reporters are in the minority.  

Media freedom and pluralism is the precondition of stable democracy and the rule of law. Independent media helps to form public opinion and has a direct influence on the outcome of elections. 

The EMFA seeks to protect media independence by drawing up common European standards on freedom from editorial interference and illegal surveillance, guaranteeing media pluralism, providing greater transparency on ownership and financial relations with the state, ending the abuse of state funds to create clientalist media, protecting the independence of public service media and the independence of national regulatory authorities and ensuring there is an economic environment in which independent journalism can flourish.

These are crucial issues and we call on Members of the European Parliament to engage constructively in this vital debate to ensure that the EMFA becomes a strong, coherent regulation establishing harmonised legal safeguards across Europe.

 

Signed:

Access Now, aditus foundation, ARTICLE 19, Association of European Journalists (AEJ Belgium), Association of European Journalists (International federation), Association of online publishers, CZ (AOV), Centre for Democracy & Technology, Europe Office, Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties), Civil Rights Defenders, Citizens Network Watchdog Poland, Coalition for Creativity (C4C), Committee to Protect Journalists, Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation, DEMAS – Association for Democracy Assistance and Human Rights, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), European Partnership for Democracy, Free Press Unlimited (Netherlands), Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD), Global Media Registry (GMR), Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR, Warsaw), Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF), Human Rights Monitoring Institute, Human Rights Watch, Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU), Institute of Public Affairs, Warsaw, International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR), International Press Institute, Internet Society – Bulgaria (ISOC-Bulgaria), Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), Media Diversity Institute (MDI), Novinářský klub Jindřicha Oppera, z.s. (Henry Opper´s club of journalists), Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT), Ossigeno.info, Poland’s Association of Journalists and Authors of the Public Radio, Warsaw , Peace Institute, Ljubljana, Public Media Alliance (PMA), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Repubblika, Society of Journalists, Warsaw, South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), Sindikat novinarjev Slovenije,Transparency International EU, Wikimedia Europe, Wikimédia France.

North Macedonia: EFJ condemns inappropriate behaviour of state officials towards journalists

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photo: pixabay

In recent days, state officials in North Macedonia have verbally abused journalists and media outlets on several occasions. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined its affiliate in North Macedonia, the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM), in condemning the inappropriate behaviour of public figures and reminding them of the moral obligations that go with public office.

Since 16 January, the Prime Minister, several ministers and the president of a political party have used degrading language against several journalists who were doing their job by asking questions, sometimes embarrassing, to prominent public figures in North Macedonia.

Specifically on 16 January, Prime Minister Kovacevski said: “I believe that Mr. Ahmeti made that statement based on facts: “I can say that there are media in the country whose editorial policy resembles a company that trades in energy, and there is also a media whose editorial policy resembles a party’s communication department.” The Prime Minister referred to the statement of the president of the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), Ali Ahmeti, who, publicly qualified TV Telma and TV Alfa as “hostile”.

On 6 February, Health Minister Bekim Sali gave “a lesson on journalism” at a press conference, which journalists present at the Tetovo Clinical Hospital should have been taken as a “positive criticism”.

On 2 February, Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi commented at a press conference that a journalist had asked a question on behalf of other journalists, instead of answering this specific question related to the increase in natural gas prices.

Earlier, an education policy advisor at the Ministry of Education and Science had humiliated a journalist during a press conference who was asking “tendentious questions to take the minister out of context”.

According to the AJM, these examples are no longer isolated incidents: “In recent days, the AJM has warned about this negative trend of increasing unprofessional attitudes of public officials towards journalists. We recall that state officials are at the service of the public, and that they should not have an inappropriate and offensive attitude towards journalists and, consequently, towards the public at large to whom information should be conveyed. These are no longer isolated incidents,” said Dragan Sekulovski, AJM executive director.

EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Gutiérrez added: “Public name-calling and inappropriate behaviour by public officials towards journalists have become more frequent. We are monitoring the state of this negative trend with our local partners. Journalists and media workers need to work in an environment where they do not feel threatened and where officials will treat them with respect and understanding, as the job requires. Officials must live up to their role and set an example when interacting with journalists, instead of creating doubt or discrediting them.”

This statement by EFJ is part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

 

Intimidation of the T7 TV crew in Leposaviq

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The Association of Journalists of Kosovo is deeply concerned by the reporting of the serious incident in the north of Kosovo against the T7 TV crew.

“Journalist Unitet Berisha and the camera operator Përparim Gashi went to Leposaviq today to report on smuggling that was stopped by the Kosovo Police in the village of Jashanicë, but on the way to this village, a car with 3 armed men chased the television crew. The people inside the car with license plates GM-074-NO, have been pointing the gun toward the T7 team and asked them to stop the car. Their pursuit ended only when the T7 crew approached the place where the Kosovo Special Unit is located. The T7 team gave their statement to the police in Zveçan”, has reported T7.

AJK strongly condemns the attack and warns about the insecurity faced by journalists who go from Pristina to report in the north of Kosovo.

AJK calls upon the local and international security authorities to increase their efforts for journalists to carry out their work safely.

Declaration against the criminalization of defamation in Republika Srpska signed

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BANJA LUKA, 07.02.2023. – Representatives of civil society organizations and independent media signed a declaration in which they strongly oppose and condemn the announcements of representatives of the institutions of Republika Srpska that within the framework of the Criminal Code of RS, acts will be prescribed that will criminalize defamation and insult.

The declaration was signed by the Association for the Promotion of European Standards and the Improvement of the Business Environment, the Helsinki Parliament of Banjaluka citizens, Transparency International BiH, Center for Human Rights Banja Luka, Center for the Environment, Banjaluka Journalists’ Club/BH Journalists, the Association of Citizens “Zdravo da ste”, the Association  “eTrafika” and the Center for Informational Decontamination of Youth.

After the conference “How much freedom will we have left?”, which was organized by the Banjaluka Journalists’ Club, Capital.ba portal and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation Banjaluka, they pointed out that they are very concerned that the announced passing of the law on fake news will be used against independent media, journalists and activists, in order to silence dissent within the society of Republika Srpska and prevent the free work of journalists, associations and individuals in RS.

“Convinced that RS must in the future be characterized by the rule of law, democratic institutions, a pluralistic society and more freedoms for its citizens, we also express our disagreement with the expansion of criminal offenses against the constitutional order and announcements of the adoption of new laws in that direction, as it is very possible that such a legal initiative is used to intimidate representatives of the media and NGO sector, as well as individuals who express views contrary to those held by the authorities in Republika Srpska”, the Declaration pointed out.

The initiators of the Declaration are warning the public that changes to current laws and adoption of new announced laws would lead to the creation of a repressive environment and revanchism towards dissenters, which would represent a departure from democratic ideals, which we hope Republika Srpska strives for.

“In democratic societies, institutions should strive to strengthen the critical awareness of citizens, increasing their rights and freedoms, and not go in the opposite direction by trying to practically ban a different thought from the one that is desirable through the law. We believe that the Criminal Code and other laws must not be changed in any way to the detriment of the rights and freedoms of citizens. It would be particularly dangerous if the adoption of new and amendments to existing laws were to be carried out in an urgent legislative procedure,” they stated.

Behavior that rewrites laws to benefit individuals, one party or certain interest groups is a characteristic of one-party systems or those that tend to do so, in which there is no democratic consciousness, nor a true rule of law, and it is the duty of the media to point out these things.

Read the full text of the Declaration HERE.

IFJ publishes 32nd annual report on journalists and media staff killed in 2022

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The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today published its full annual report on journalists and media staff killed in 2022. The 32nd report details 68 killings of media professionals, including targeted and bomb attacks and crossfire deadly incidents. There were also 11 deaths due to accidents and illness.

The roll call of loss and tragedy in journalism during 2022 is dominated by the death tally in Ukraine, where 12 journalists and other media workers were killed, followed by Mexico (11), Haiti (7), Pakistan (5) and Colombia and the Philippines at 4 killings each.

The IFJ says that the lack of action and political will to tackle impunity for crimes committed against journalists is contributing to the current safety crisis in media and calls for an International Convention at the United Nations dedicated to the protection of journalists and media professionals.

“This publication is not only about the levels of violence targeting journalists and other media workers, indicated by the sheer number of attacks against them, but also the underlying causes,” said the IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger. ” The details contained in this report serve as evidence of the range of threats, actual acts of violence and the culture of impunity, which account for the enduring safety crisis in journalism.”

The Federation’s final report also lists the names of 375 journalists and media workers currently behind bars, a new high since two years ago when the IFJ began publishing lists of jailed journalists to mark the International Day for Human Rights. China and its allied administration in Honk Kong top the list with 84 journalists in jail, before Myanmar (64), Turkey (51) and Iran (34) and Belarus (33) .

Download the full report here.

BH Journalists: CRA Council must reconsider the decision on the draconian fine for Face TV

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SARAJEVO, 06.02.2023. – The Steering Committee of the BH Journalists Association believes that the draconian fine of 15,000 BAM that the Communications Regulatory Agency (CRA – RAK) of BiH imposed against Face Television from Sarajevo represents a classic attempt to censor and silence media that critically review the decisions of the CRA and the director of this Agency, Draško Milinović.

The CRA website published the Decision on the fine for Face TV due to, as stated in the explanation, non-compliance with “generally accepted standards of decency in program content”. Face Television was sanctioned with a disproportionately high fine because the editor Senad Hadžifejzović used an expletive in one of his shows, commenting on the procedure previously initiated by CRA about the video in which Hadžifejzović allegedly asked whether Milorad Dodik should be “killed” (“That’s my, our job. All my life I’ve been speaking publicly, live, to pacify them. I don’t apologize. F..k you Draško, Dodik, Bakir, Dragan, the others.”) and concluded sarcastically: “…He should be killed. .. Hadžifejzović.”

We remind that the audio recording experts hired by CRA at the end of November last year submitted a report to the CRA in which they stated that it was impossible to determine what exactly Hadžifejzović said, but that he most likely said “to dismiss, to calm, to pa…” – which corresponds to Hadžifejzović’s claim that he said “pacify”, not “kill”. After this expert report, the CRA was forced to suspend the proceedings against Face TV, and thus failed Draško Milinović’s earlier announcement about “rigorous measures” that will be used against Hadžifejzović because of his statements about Dodik.

The Steering Committee of the BH Journalists Association emphasizes that the use of swear words and inappropriate vocabulary in media content cannot and should not be justified, especially in cases where TV programs are broadcast before 10 p.m. At the same time, BH Journalists remind that, in order to protect freedom of expression and political debate on issues of public importance, the European Court of Human Rights from Strasbourg took the position that the task of the media is not only to write about positive decisions and events, but can also “shock, offend and upset” with their content if there are no other ways to draw attention to issues of public importance.

Now, after the imposition of a disproportionately high fine of 15,000 BAM, it is quite clear that director Milinović was looking for reasons for personal revenge against Face TV and its owner and editor Senad Hadžifejzović. This is also evident from the CRA’s decisions against other media outlets that have committed much more serious violations of the Code on Audiovisual Media Services, and which have been given much milder sanctions compared to Face TV.

For the Steering Committee of BH Journalists, the fact that the entire Regulatory Agency stand behind this decision and that professional and responsible people agreed to act as a “moral police” and censor over the media that criticizes and questions the regulator’s decisions, is devastating. Equally unacceptable is the expedient behavior of the members of CRA Council, which silently followed the baseless public statements of CRA director regarding Face TV.

Therefore, the Steering Committee of BH Journalists publicly calls on the CRA Council and demands that they urgently and thoroughly analyze the decision of the CRA’s internal commission, but also the previous actions and statements of director Draško Milinović regarding Face television and Senad Hadžifejzović. It is inadmissible for the regulatory body, and especially the general director of CRA, to use their powers to “discipline” those media whose reporting they don’t like or is not in accordance with their personal views and beliefs. We demand from the CRA Council to start the procedure without delay and inform the public about the results of their analysis as soon as possible.

IFJ/EFJ launch new fundraising campaign to support Ukrainian journalists on the ground

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photo: EFJ

On 24 February 2023, it will be one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ/EFJ) are launching a new fundraising campaign to support Ukrainian journalists on the ground.

Ukraine became the deadliest country for journalists in 2022 with 12 colleagues killed in the course of their work, according to the IFJ’s Killed List, and the needs are immense.

The war still rages, and affects all dimensions of journalists’ lives from increasing insecurity, to the need for protection equipment and safety training and humanitarian aid for those forced to flee.

As a response to the emergency situation, the IFJ and EFJ launched a special Safety Fund in March 2022 to provide crucial support to our two affiliates in Ukraine, the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) and the Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine (IMTUU). The emergency appeal was a clear illustration of international solidarity. It secured massive support, not only in terms of money raised – the most we have ever raised in any appeal – but also the practical assistance delivered by our affiliates and the journalism community all over the world.

Thanks to our partnership with UNESCO, we have established six Journalists’ Solidarity Centers across Ukraine, managed by NUJU, which serve as temporary work spaces for journalists, provide them with access to psychological and legal support, protective and medical equipment, as well as hosting training sessions on safety and first aid, among other services.

However, the war drags on and money is running low. Ukrainian journalists need our support more than ever, and this is only possible with your support and solidarity.

Please donate to the IFJ/EFJ Safety Fund for Journalists in Ukraine to support Ukrainian journalists in need.

Download and share the visuals of the campaign in English and French.

Add our campaign logo on your website’s main page to support the IFJ-EFJ fundraising campaign.

Tag #SupportUkrainianJournalists as well as @IFJGlobal and @EFJEurope on TwitterFacebookInstagram.

Kosovo: our letter to the Prime Minister on the capture of public television

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On 3 February, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and its partners co-signed the following letter to the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti (VV), following the appointment of a ruling party activist as director of the public television RTK.

Dear Albin Kurti, President of Vetevendosje Movement (VV) and Prime Minister of Kosovo,

Our international press freedom and journalists’ organisations are writing to you to share our shared concerns about the recent appointment process for the new director of television at Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) Mr. Rilind Gërvalla.

Ahead of the voting by the Board of RTK on Tuesday 31 January 2023, many of our organisations made public calls expressing our hope that the selection would be made based on merit, professionalism and independence rather than political affiliations.

Council of Europe and international standards on this process are clear: appointments cannot be used to exert political or other influence over the operation of the public service media. Individuals appointed to positions of management within public service broadcasters should also be fully independent from all political parties and vested interests.

We note, however, that multiple news reports published by media in Kosovo have shown clear connections between Mr. Gërvalla and your political party Vetëvendosje. Our organisations believe these links call into question the integrity of the process and risk further undermining public trust in the political autonomy of the broadcaster.

We have actively monitored the developments concerning the public broadcaster since Vetevendosje came to power, we have commended your party at the Council of Europe level for the election of the new independent board in a professional and transparent manner with full inclusion of civil society.

We also noted during our recent press freedom mission to Kosovo as part of the Council of Europe’s Platform for the Safety of Journalists the commendable progress made during your administration in overseeing the depoliticization of RTK and its management structures after decades of state control, including the recent managerial decisions taken by the Board. This progress has also been acknowledged internationally in reports by the EU and international human rights bodies.

It is vital that this hard-won progress led by your party is not undermined. We believe that as long as Mr. Gervalla serves as director of the television, it will not allow you and your party to continue the depoliticization and reform of the public broadcaster.

A new recruitment and appointment process should be organised, with ample time given for applications, to ensure that the position is filled by a professional and respected candidate with no links to the government or any political party.

We believe doing so would strengthen the ongoing reform process of RTK, help regain much needed public trust of the country’s citizens in the functional independence public broadcaster, further safeguard RTK from political pressures, and represent a boost for press freedom and democracy in Kosovo.

More widely, we restate our shared concern about the annual funding cut imposed on RTK by your government – now at its lowest in a decade – which we believe is undermining the ability of the public broadcaster to meet programming requirements and fulfil its public service mission. Moving forward, we urge your administration to ensure a stable and sustainable funding model for RTK. Our organisations will continue to monitor the situation regarding RTK closely in the coming weeks and months and report all issues of concern to relevant European institutions.

Regards,

  • Article 19 Europe
  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • Reporters Without Borders (RSF)