To highlight the most pressing concerns for press freedom in Europe, Index’s Mapping Media Freedom correspondents discuss the violations the stood out most
Mapping Media Freedom: 2015 was “tumultuous” for media workers
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CATEGORY: Mapping Media Freedom
After Charlie Hebdo: The free speech fight begins at home
Threats against freedom of expression come in all shapes and sizes. We need to stand up to the bullies together.
Serbia: Independent media increasingly targeted as spies
In November, a Belgrade tabloid began targeting independent media outlets by labelling them as “foreign spies”.
Lithuania: Russian television channel in conflict with regulator
RTR Planeta, a Russian language channel broadcasting in Lithuania, has repeatedly run into conflict with the country’s television regulator.
Poland: Abolition of safeguards for pluralism and independence in public service media
Coalition urges Polish authorities to resist any temptation to strengthen political control over the media.
Estonia’s third channel struggles to connect with Russian speakers
In late November 2014, Estonia's parliament made a historic decision to launch a Russian-language TV-channel as part of ERR, Estonia's public...
The Russia-Turkey crisis is feeding a new propaganda war between the countries
Before 24 November, Turkey was described in Russian news reports as a reliable partner in ambitious projects, a source of fruits and
Germany’s far right waged a violent campaign against journalists in 2015
Over a year on from its launch, the anti-immigrant PEGIDA movement isn’t just attacking refugees, but also assaulting and intimidating the German press
Italy: Lawyers accuse journalists of reporting secrets
For weeks, Rome has been transfixed by the spectacle of the “Capital Mafia” trial, which began on 5 November
Belarus’ counter-extremism laws used to restrict free expression
Volha Siakhovich outlines how Belarusian authorities are using anti-extremism legislation to silence journalists and human rights workers
Mapping Media Freedom – a major Index on Censorship project and a joint undertaking with the European Federation of Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, partially funded by the European Commission – covers 42 countries, including all EU member states, plus Bosnia, Iceland, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, Turkey, Albania along with Ukraine, Belarus and Russia in (added in April 2015), and Azerbaijan (added in February 2016). The platform was launched in May 2014 and has recorded over 3,000 incidents threatening media freedom.
Violations, censorship and needs of threatened journalists in Europe
Journalists and media workers are confronting relentless pressure simply for doing their job. Mapping Media Freedom identifies threats, violations and limitations faced by members of the press throughout European Union member states, candidates for entry and neighbouring countries. Learn more.