Croatia: Tackling political pressure, legal challenges and precarity to…

Croatia: Tackling political pressure, legal challenges and precarity to revive media freedom

Outdated media laws, compromised public media independence, SLAPPs, as well as mounting economic, political, and physical pressures are undermining journalism and media freedom in Croatia, as outlined in the latest Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) report.

Media freedom in Croatia is marred by institutional and legal challenges that successive governments have failed to address, exacerbating the erosion of media pluralism, hostility against journalists, and precarious working conditions. This environment fosters censorship and restricts access to vital public information. The outdated Media Act is ill-suited to tackle the challenges of today’s digitalised media landscape, while overly broad criminal provisions on defamation and insult are weaponised in SLAPP cases, undermining media resilience. Additionally, rising incidents of verbal and physical abuse, smear campaigns, and economic hardship further hinder journalists’ ability to work effectively and take a significant toll on their wellbeing.

Amidst a prolonged stagnation in media freedom in Croatia, the partner organisations of the MFRR conducted an online fact-finding mission in September 2024. The mission delegates met with a broad range of stakeholders, including Croatian Government ministries, media outlets, journalists’ associations, academics, and civil society organisations.

This report offers a detailed overview of the key obstacles to strengthening the resilience of Croatia’s media landscape and presents concrete recommendations to help decision-makers address these challenges in a swift and efficient way.

Key recommendations:

Decriminalise defamation and insult
Repeal criminal prohibition on judicial information disclosure
Reform media law in line with the EMFA
Strengthen labour protections for journalists
Increase transparency and fair distribution of state advertising
Improve access to information
Strengthen regulatory bodies
Ensure the independence of the public broadcaster
Introduce anti-SLAPP protections

The mission partners hope these insights will contribute constructively to the debate on urgently needed reforms. We remain ready to participate in public consultations and support efforts to strengthen media freedom in Croatia.

Download the report

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Slovakia: New report highlights growing media freedom crisis

Media freedom in Slovakia is facing a deep crisis, serving as a critical test case for the European Union’s commitment to safeguarding media freedom and democratic values, Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partner organisations warn today in a new report.

The MFRR report – which can be downloaded here – concludes that since the re-election of populist leader Robert Fico and the formation of a new government in October 2023, the environment for freedom of expression, media pluralism and independent journalism has become increasingly hostile.

Journalists have been subjected to legal harassment, intimidation, smear campaigns and verbal abuse. Meanwhile, the SMER-led coalition government disbanded the public broadcaster (RTVS) replacing it with a new legal entity (STVR) thereby enabling it to replace the leadership and to exercise disproportionate influence over its editorial content.

The actions of the current Slovak government not only jeopardise the country’s media landscape but also pose a significant challenge to EU-wide efforts to protect media freedom and democracy, particularly in light of the newly adopted European Media Freedom Act (EMFA).

Under international and European human rights standards and as a member of the Media Freedom Coalition, the Slovak government must foster a safe and enabling environment for media and journalists. Instead, it became clear to the mission that the current government is chipping away at legal protections for the freedom of the media and fuelling an increasingly hostile environment for journalists.

The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the current threats to media freedom in Slovakia, their implications for EU media policy, and recommendations for urgent action to reverse this troubling trend. It is intended to inform the international community and EU policymakers and serve as a basis for developing targeted interventions to protect and strengthen media independence in Slovakia.

It is based on findings from a fact-finding mission conducted on 25-26 November 2024 by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners. The mission was led by the International Press Institute (IPI) and joined by ARTICLE 19 Europe, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and the European Center for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF). Key findings of the report:

Erosion of legal protection and hostile environment: The Slovak government is chipping away at legal protections for media freedom, such as the draft right to reply law, and fuelling an increasingly hostile environment for journalists. The government’s open disdain for independent media, coupled with its promotion of ‘alternative’ outlets known for spreading disinformation, further exacerbates this hostile climate.
Continuous impunity for violence against journalists: The continued failure to fully resolve the murders of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová, remains a stark reminder of the dangers faced by journalists in Slovakia. The government’s decision to disband the Special Prosecutor’s Office significantly reduces the likelihood of achieving full justice in this case, intensifying concerns over the safety of journalists.
Public service media independence under threat: The government’s move to dissolve the public broadcaster RTVS and replace it with a new entity, STVR, is a clear attempt to exert control over public service media and its programming. The new structure allows for greater government influence in appointing the broadcaster’s leadership, potentially compromising its editorial independence.
Undermining independence of media regulator: The proposal to restructure the media regulator, the Council for Media Services, to concentrate power into the hands of the chair, would undermine its impartiality and strengthen government influence over its decisions.
Media capture: The combination of increased control over the public media and initiatives to undermine regulatory independence, along with threats to weaponize state advertising to punish critical journalism, advances media capture and directly conflicts with key principles of the EMFA.
EU responsibility and action: The situation in Slovakia underscores the urgent need for the European Union to take decisive action in enforcing media freedom standards within its member states. The EU’s response to these challenges in Slovakia will be of pivotal importance, potentially setting a precedent for how media freedom violations are addressed across the bloc. Immediate and coordinated efforts are required to support independent journalism, strengthen legal protections, and ensure compliance with the European Media Freedom Act in Slovakia and beyond.

The report was launched by MFRR partners ahead of the seventh anniversary of the murder of Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová on 21 February 2018, which underscores the continued lack of full justice and the wider threats facing media freedom in Slovakia.

Download the report

Signed by:

International Press Institute (IPI)
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
ARTICLE 19 Europe

This statement was coordinated by 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, Candidate Countries and Ukraine.

Event

Tackling political pressure and legal challenges to revive media…

Croatia: Tackling political pressure, legal challenges and precarity to revive media freedom

24 February, 12:00 CET.

Media freedom in Croatia is under growing pressure due to outdated laws, political influence, SLAPP lawsuits, and worsening working conditions for journalists. The latest Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) report highlights these challenges and outlines key reforms needed to strengthen independent journalism and protect press freedom.

This webinar will explore the legal, political, and economic barriers undermining media resilience in Croatia, including the urgent need to decriminalise defamation, reform media laws in line with the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), and improve access to public information. It will also address the increasing threats faced by journalists, from physical attacks to smear campaigns, and discuss solutions to ensure a safer and more sustainable media landscape.

With contributions from leading experts, this discussion will provide insights into the steps needed to restore media independence and promote lasting reform.

Speakers

Melissa Skender

General Secretary of Croatian Journalists’ Association (HND)

Oliver Money-Kryle

Head of Europe Advocacy, International Press Institute

Maksym Popovych

Legal Expert, ARTICLE 19

Andrej Dimitrijevic

Journalist at Faktograf

Allgemein

Monitoring Report 2024: 1,548 media freedom alerts in the…

Monitoring Report 2024: 1,548 media freedom alerts in the past year

The latest annual Monitoring Report analyses the press freedom situation in 35 European countries, including the 27 EU Member States and nine countries with EU candidate status. Between January and December 2024, Mapping Media Freedom documented 1,548 press freedom violations targeting 2,567 media-related persons or entities – an alarming increase compared to the 1,153 violations recorded in 2023.

Smear campaigns, websites disguised as legitimate news outlets, and obstruction and attacks during reporting are just a few of the major issues media workers faced in 2024. Journalists also faced verbal attacks, physical assault, attacks against property, censorship, and legal threats. Especially worrying is the continuous rise of online attacks, including online harassment, death threats, hacking, DDoS attacks, and spoofing. Mapping Media Freedom recorded 359 online attacks in 2024, a sharp rise from 266 cases in 2023, with verbal abuse making up 60% of digital threats.

Private individuals were the main perpetrators of press freedom violations in 2024, accounting for 467 documented cases. Public authorities and government entities were responsible for 256 violations, reflecting increasing hostility toward journalists from both state and non-state actors. Blocked journalistic activity was the most frequent press freedom violation in the EU, with one in four cases involving journalists being denied access to events, refused information, or facing editorial interference.

Legal attacks against journalists also surged in 2024, with 319 cases affecting 556 media professionals or entities. In addition, censorship and interference rose significantly, from 23.7% in 2023 to 35.6% in 2024. This was particularly evident in environmental and election reporting, with 69 violations linked to environmental journalism, often occurring at climate protests, and 206 violations related to election coverage, with censorship and verbal attacks being the most common issues.

Physical violence remained a serious concern, with 266 documented attacks on media workers. In 117 cases, journalists suffered injuries, and tragically, Reuters security officer Ryan Evans lost his life in a Russian missile attack while on duty in Ukraine. The country recorded 141 press freedom violations in 2024, with media infrastructure frequently targeted by cyberattacks, hacking, and DDoS attacks.

Spoofing and disinformation tactics, including AI-generated deep fakes and cybersquatting, posed growing threats, with 37 documented incidents in 2024. In most cases (83.8%), the perpetrators remained unidentified.

Most frequently, journalists were attacked online, with 359 cases recorded, including online harassment and death threats, but also hacking or DDoS attacks.

Demonstrations and protests were also among the most dangerous environments for journalists in 2024, with 271 incidents recorded. In 51% of these cases, journalists were physically attacked, often by police or state security forces.

The 2024 Monitoring Report is structured in four parts:

A general overview highlighting major issues and trends of the press freedom situation in EU Member States and candidate countries, including quantitative analysis and charts with statistics.
Three thematic chapters on prominent topics within press freedom in Europe: Spoofing, Elections, and Environmental Reporting.
An analysis of the press freedom situation in six EU Member States: Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, and the Netherlands.
An analysis of the press freedom situation in six EU candidate countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

This report has been compiled by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), and the International Press Institute (IPI) as part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) project. The project is co-financed by the European Commission.

Download the report

Event

Depoliticising the Media landscape: discussing findings of MFRR report…

Depoliticising the Media landscape:

Discussing findings of MFRR report on Poland

28 January, 14:00 CET.

On 16-17 September 2024, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium conducted a mission to Poland exploring the changes in the media environment since parliamentary elections in 2023 which brought an end to eight years of government by the Law and Justice (PiS) party.

Following the mission, MFRR partners issued a report summarising conclusions made as a result of the mission.

While the report underlined overall substantial progress in ensuring media freedom in Poland, pressing challenges persisted. These included:

Guaranteeing sustainable independence of the public broadcaster
Continued political capture of Poland’s media regulators
Media pluralism especially at the local level

To discuss the findings of the report, representatives of the MFRR will be joined by leading Polish journalists and media experts who were interviewed as part of the recent MFRR mission to Poland.

Moderator

Oliver Money-Kyrle

Head of Europe Advocacy and Programmes, International Press Institute (IPI)

Speakers

Tadeusz Kowalski

Member of Poland’s National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT)

Aleksandra Sobczak

Deputy editor-in-chief of Gazeta Wyborcza

Joanna Szymańska

Article 19 Europe and Central Asia Senior Programme Officer

Allgemein

Depoliticizing Poland’s Media landscape: Assessing the progress of media…

Mission Report

Depoliticizing Poland’s Media landscape: Assessing the progress of media reform in 2024

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today calls for more ambitious media reforms as it published its report ‘Depoliticizing Poland’s Media Landscape: Assessing the Progress of Media Reform in 2024’.

The report is based on the media freedom mission to Poland, 16-17 September, where MFRR members met with a range of government and media stakeholders to discuss the challenges facing media and the challenge of media reform since the 2023 elections.

Key mission findings include:

The media freedom situation in Poland has improved substantially with much greater independence of public media, a drop in vexatious lawsuits, better levels of media pluralism and an end to abuse of state funds to influence media.
While public media has shed its propaganda role, it remains neither fully objective nor reliably depoliticised. The government has much to do to guarantee the future political and financial independence of public media.
The broadcast regulator, KRRiT, remains highly politicized and continues to abuse its powers to issue fines against media.
Media pluralism concerns, which were acute in 2023, have eased with the improved independence of the public broadcaster and PKN Orlen’s decision to sell Polska Press.
The distribution of state advertising, weaponized by previous governments to deny funds to critical media, is to be reformed to improve the fairness and transparency of the process.
The threat from SLAPP cases has significantly diminished and we welcome the Ministry of Justice’s plans to transpose the EU’s anti-SLAPP Directive and to decriminalize defamation.

Download the full report

Despite progress, MFRR calls on the government to implement urgent and ambitious reforms to ensure the future of the public broadcaster in a non-linear market, strengthen safeguards for its future independence, reform media regulators, and to protect media pluralism, media sustainability and editorial independence.

MFRR urges the government, as it brings legislation into line with the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and the Anti-SLAPP Directive, to go further than the minimum standards in order to be able to fully tackle the risks of media capture and protect media from vexatious lawsuits.

Poland has the opportunity to become a model of media reform and media freedoms. If successful, it would set an example for other countries seeking to wind back the impact of politically driven media capture, as well as to build strong safeguards against its return.

The Media Freedom Rapid Response mission partners included the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the International Press Institute (IPI), ARTICLE 19 Europe, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and Free Press Unlimited (FPU).

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Press freedom in peril ahead of elections in Georgia:…

Press freedom in peril ahead of elections in Georgia: MFRR report on safety of journalists

A new report by MFRR and partners highlights rising threats to press freedom and journalist safety amid increasing polarisation and fear before the 2024 election.

On 1-2 October the Partner Organisations of the Council of Europe’s Platform for the Safety of Partner organisations of the Council of Europe’s Platform for the Safety of Journalists and of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), including ARTICLE 19 Europe, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), Index on Censorship, the International Press Institute (IPI), the Justice for Journalists Foundation, and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), conducted a fact-finding mission to Georgia. The aim of the mission was to gather information on Georgia’s implementation of its freedom of expression and media freedom commitments, including in relation to the ongoing election campaign.

This report presents the findings of the mission.

Download the report

During the mission, we have witnessed the deterioration of press freedom amid rising authoritarianism. It has been made clear to us that a wide range of tools and mechanisms are used to discredit and curtail dissenting voices, including those of independent journalists.

We want to declare our full support and solidarity with the journalists, press freedom and civil society organisations. We came with concerns about media freedom, but we were appalled by what we heard.

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Mettere a tacere il quarto potere: la deriva democratica…

Report di missione: Mettere a tacere il quarto potere: la deriva democratica dell’Italia

La libertà dei media in Italia è sotto attacco, una deriva caratterizzata da una crescente interferenza politica e molestie legali nei confronti dei giornalisti. In vista delle elezioni europee del 2024, il Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) ha condotto una missione di carattere urgente a Roma per approfondire queste problematiche. Lo scorso luglio, in occasione del lancio del report in inglese, abbiamo presentato le conclusioni nel corso di un webinar dedicato, avanzando una serie di proposte per rafforzare la tutela della libertà dei media in Italia.

La libertà dei media in Italia ha subito un deterioramento continuo negli ultimi anni, sottoposta ad attacchi e violazioni senza precedenti della libertà di stampa e dei media, violazioni spesso avviate da funzionari pubblici nel tentativo di emarginare e mettere a tacere le voci critiche. L’interferenza politica nei media pubblici e l’uso sistematico di intimidazioni legali contro i giornalisti, da parte degli attori politici, hanno tradizionalmente caratterizzato la relazione tra media e politica in Italia. Tuttavia, negli ultimi due anni queste dinamiche hanno raggiunto livelli allarmanti.

In vista delle elezioni europee del 2024, in un contesto in rapido deterioramento, le organizzazioni partner del Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) hanno condotto una missione urgente a Roma, il 16-17 maggio 2024. La missione di advocacy aveva l’obiettivo di avviare un confronto con i rappresentanti istituzionali e politici su tre questioni: l’interferenza politica nel servizio pubblico, le intimidazioni legali di cui sono bersaglio i giornalisti e la potenziale acquisizione dell’AGI, una delle principali agenzie di stampa del Paese.

Questo rapporto riflette i risultati degli incontri tenutisi durante la missione e del continuo monitoraggio del consorzio, offrendo un’analisi esaustiva delle tre criticità identificate dalla delegazione. Valuta l’impatto di diverse misure e proposte di legge introdotte dai decisori italiani, alla luce delle più recenti disposizioni dell’UE volte a garantire l’indipendenza dei media pubblici, a contrastare la concentrazione del mercato, ad affrontare i conflitti di interesse e dotare la magistratura degli strumenti per contrastare le azioni vessatorie. Il rapporto include inoltre raccomandazioni dettagliate per gli attori istituzionali e governativi italiani, delineando i passi necessari per contrastare il declino della libertà dei media e attuare le riforme necessarie.

Il report è disponibile in inglese e italiano.

Scarica il rapporto qui

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756 media freedom alerts in first six months of…

MFRR Monitoring Report – 756 media freedom alerts in first six months of 2024

The partners from the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium today publish the latest edition of its Monitoring Report which documents and analyses all press freedom violations recorded on its platform Mapping Media Freedom from January to June 2024.

The report was produced by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), and the International Press Institute (IPI).

The latest Monitoring Report explores in detail the 756 media freedom violations recorded by the MFRR partners in the first half of 2024. These violations affected 1,212 media-related persons or entities. 474 of these alerts were recorded in EU Member States while 282 took place in candidate countries.

As well as providing a general overview of media freedom violations across EU Member States and candidate countries, the report includes three thematic chapters delving into anti-media laws, spoofing, and elections. The report also includes a deep dive into the state of media freedom – as told through Mapping Media Freedom data – in the following countries: Albania, Croatia, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Serbia, Slovakia, and Ukraine.

Key findings:

756 media freedom violations were recorded, involving 1,212 media-related persons or entities.
474 alerts took place in Member States with the remaining 282 occurring in candidate countries.
Intimidation and threatening were the most common forms of violations, totalling 136 of all violations.
The MFRR recorded 100 physical attacks, 47 of which resulted in injury.
The second most common form of violation involved blocking journalistic activity, making up 117 alerts.
143 violations were perpetrated by government and public officials, marking a worrying trend.
24.6% of alerts took place online, making it the most common context in which media freedom violations took place

Download the report here

This Monitoring Report is part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), an Europe-wide mechanism, which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries. The project is co-funded by the European Commission.

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Mission Report – Silencing the Fourth Estate: Italy’s Democratic…

Mission Report: Silencing the Fourth Estate: Italy’s democratic drift

Media freedom in Italy is under threat, with rising political interference and legal harassment of journalists. Ahead of the 2024 EU elections, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) conducted an urgent mission to Rome to dive deeper into these issues. Join us on July 29, 2024, for a webinar where we will share our findings and discuss solutions to safeguard Italy’s media freedom.

Available in Italian here.

Media freedom in Italy has been steadily declining in recent years, marked by unprecedented attacks and violations often initiated by public officials in the attempt to silence critical voices. Political interference in public media and the systematic use of legal intimidation against journalists by political actors have long defined the media-politics relationship in Italy. However, these dynamics have reached alarming levels over the past two years.

In the lead-up to the 2024 EU elections, amidst a rapidly deteriorating context, the partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) conducted an urgent mission to Rome, Italy, on May 16-17, 2024. The mission aimed to engage with state representatives, institutions, and political parties on three critical issues: political interference in public media, legal harassment of dissenting journalists, and the potential acquisition of AGI, one of the country’s main news agencies.

This report presents the findings from the mission and MFRR’s ongoing monitoring, offering a comprehensive analysis of the three most urgent issues identified. It evaluates the impact of various measures and bills introduced by Italian decision makers, in light of the latest EU provisions aimed at ensuring the independence of public media, countering market concentration, addressing conflicts of interest, and equipping the judiciary to handle vexatious lawsuits. The report also provides detailed recommendations for Italian institutional and governmental actors, outlining necessary steps to counter the decline in media freedom and much needed reforms.

Download the full report

Silenziare il Quarto Potere: La deriva democratica dell’Italia

Negli ultimi anni, in Italia si è assistito ad un costante declino dell libertà dei media, segnato da attacchi e violazioni senza precedenti, spesso iniziati da rappresentanti pubblici nel tentativo di mettere a tacere voci critiche. L’interferenza politica nei media pubblici e l’uso sistematico di intimidazioni legali contro i giornalisti da parte degli attori politici da tempo degfinisco il rapporto tra media e politica in Italia. Tuttavia, negli ultimi due anni queste dinamiche hanno raggiunto livelli allarmanti.

In vista delle elezioni europee del 2024, in un contesto in rapido deterioramento, le organizzazioni partner del Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) hanno condotto una missione urgente a Roma, il 16-17 maggio 2024. La missione di advocacy aveva l’obiettivo di confrontarsi con rappresentanti istituzionali e politici su tre questioni critiche: l’interferenza politica nei media pubblici, le intimidazioni legali nei confronti dei giornalisti critici e la potenziale acquisizione dell’AGI, una delle principali agenzie di stampa del Paese.

Questo rapporto presenta i risultati della missione e del monitoraggio continuo del consorzip MFRR, offrendo un’analisi completa delle tre questioni più urgenti individuate. Valuta l’impatto di diverse misure e proposte di legge introdotte dai decisori italiani, alla luce delle più recenti disposizioni dell’UE volte a garantire l’indipendenza dei media pubblici, a contrastare la concentrazione del mercato, ad affrontare i conflitti di interesse e ad attrezzare la magistratura per gestire le cause vessatorie. Il rapporto fornisce inoltre raccomandazioni dettagliate per gli attori istituzionali e governativi italiani, delineando i passi necessari per contrastare il declino della libertà dei media e le riforme necessarie.

Il report è al momento disponibile in lingua inglese. La versione in italiano sarà disponibile a partire dall’inizio di settembre.

This mission report was coordinated as 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. The MFRR is co-funded by the European Commission.