In 2019, the UK Government announced plans to form the National Committee and Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists to “ensure that those who threaten journalists are held to account.” This committee will be the responsibility of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Home Office.

To support and help shape the direction of this much needed initiative, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) here outlines examples of good practice from The Netherlands, Sweden, South East Europe (Including Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and North Macedonia), Serbia and Italy that can be incorporated into the committee’s approach to this complex topic to encourage greater collaboration and coordination to protect journalists and media workers across the UK. 

This briefing note, prepared by the International Press Institute (IPI) provides an update of press freedom violations documented in Europe since mid-May. It follows previous briefings published in April and May, which focused solely on the emerging COVID-19 crisis. With documented cases linked to the pandemic dropping in Europe in the last few weeks, this latest briefing expands to focus on all forms of violations.

It also highlights key trends observed by members of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and presents key documents and reports from consortium members. It covers EU Members States, Candidate Countries and other European states

COVID-19 has exposed the weaknesses of Albania’s public information laws. The monopolisation of communication on coronavirus has raised concerns over the government’s accountability on pandemic management, as well as media freedom for journalists and media workers across the country

Key trends

Arrests and attacks on journalists covering anti-government protests during Covid-19

Across Europe, several journalists have been arrested, detained or charged by police in recent weeks as they were reporting on anti-government/anti-lockdown protests in their countries. On each occasion, the media workers were detained for breaching lockdown and social distancing measures. All were simply there to do their job and report events of public interest for their respective media outlets.

Defying the restrictions to press freedom imposed by the corona virus pandemic, an online webinar succeeded in amplifying the voices calling for protection for media in the crisis. On the occasion of 2020 World Press Freedom Day, the partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) hold a virtual discussion on how to counter the abusive strategies used by governments to limit press freedom in the current Coronavirus pandemic, organised by ECPMF. Like an isolation orchestra with each musician playing alone in a bedroom or balcony, the event achieved a harmonious consensus: something must be done.