The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined the partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today in denouncing the arson attack on the family car of Italian freelance journalist Rossella Puccio in the city of Palermo and expressing solidarity with the reporter. The targeted attack happened during the night of April 3, while the journalist’s family car was parked in a public area in the Sferracavallo district of the city. Footage captured by a nearby CCTV camera showed a man approach the vehicle, pour liquid from a bottle over the car and light it on fire. The car was…

“I noticed unusual noises when I used my car on Friday morning. After a check at the garage, I found out that my wheels had been sabotaged again, almost two years after the first time”. Morgan Large is a journalist for the Breton radio station Radio Kreiz Breizh (RKB). During the night of 23 and 24 March, her car was damaged in what is likely to be an act of intimidation.  Last week, the journalist was running personal errands when noises from her vehicles alerted her. After a few hundred metres, she decided to call her garage. A few checks…

Today, 27 March 2023, security guard Pal Kola, 60, was shot dead by unknown assailants on the premises of the leading national TV station Top Channel, where he was stationed in a booth outside the building​​. The heinous attack took place around one o’clock in the morning. State police have since established a dedicated investigative team and are working closely with the Prosecutor’s Office to actively pursue the perpetrators. A car suspected to have been used in the crime was found burned out a few kilometres away from the crime, together with two Kalashnikov rifles. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined its Media Freedom Rapid Response partners in expressing concern over the recent developments in Republika Srpska, one of the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the government has introduced amendments to the Criminal Code that would re-criminalise defamation. In the discussions around the proposal, entity President Milorad Dodik accused journalists of lying, using strong derogatory language. Ahead of the session on 21 March, the undersigned partners urge members of the Republika Srpska National Assembly to reject the amendments. On 31 October 2022, President Dodik published a thread on Twitter calling for the Minister of Justice…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today 16 March 2023 joined media freedom organisations in writing to the Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela urging his government to implement recommendations from the recent public consultation into draft media laws and to strengthen the planned legislation in line with international standards. Read the full letter below Dear Prime Minister Robert Abela, The undersigned international press freedom and journalists organisations are today writing to urge your government to follow up on the recent public consultation into media law reforms by implementing changes which will significantly strengthen the draft legislation. As the monthly memorial…

Today, 16 March 2023, marks 18 months since the adoption by the European Commission of its Recommendation to the Member States on ensuring the protection, safety and empowerment of journalists and other media professionals in the European Union. The European Commission is due to perform an evaluation based on key performance indicators, to take stock of the progress achieved by the Member States. In this context, the partners in the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) call on the European Commission and the Member States to develop comprehensive and regular reporting mechanisms that involve all key stakeholders to effectively measure and…