News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Following the temporary interruption of the RTV Federation of BiH programs on May 8, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners condemned the political management causing the crisis and violating citizens’ right to freedom of information. The dispute between BHRT and FTV led to a media blackout ordered by the BHRT management board, resolved a
Read more →The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined four international media freedom organisations and its six affiliates in the SafeJournalist network, condemning the harassment of journalist Furkan Saliu in North Macedonia. Saliu was detained and allegedly assaulted by police while covering a football match. Despite his subsequent release, concerns remain over police conduct and the deletion
Read more →The BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Elmedin Konaković faces criticism for misusing his political power, where during a press conference in Sarajevo on 25 April unjustly targeted journalists and media outlets, labeling them as part of a criminal network without evidence. This unwarranted attack reflects a concerning trend of the minister targeting journalists critical
Read more →International media freedom and human rights organizations condemn Türkiye’s arrest of nine Kurdish journalists from the Mezopotamya Agency in recent raids across Istanbul, Ankara, and Şanlıurfa. Three journalists were accused of “membership in a terrorist organization” and arrested without evidence. This ongoing harassment of Kurdish journalists is alarming, with similar incidents occurring before national elections
Read more →In the Western Balkans, media often serves political interests instead of truth, jeopardizing democracy and perpetuating disinformation. #CheckitFirst, launched by ARTICLE19, addresses this challenge by advocating for ethical journalism in BiH, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia. By collaborating with journalists and media professionals, the campaign aims to enhance the accuracy of news reporting and promote media
Read more →Reporters Without Borders reports declining press freedom in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Serbia. Factors contributing to this regression include political pressure, direct attacks on journalists, and restrictions on media outlets. Kosovo and BiH experienced significant drops, with concerns over political influence on public broadcasters and harassment of journalists. Albania faced challenges such as
Read more →The recent Serbian elections underscored severe threats to democracy, characterized by violations of basic human rights and a lack of accountability among public authorities, reflecting a broader erosion of democratic values. In response to these issues, together with Civic Initiatives, on 17 April we hosted an online discussion on electoral integrity in Serbia amidst civic
Read more →The Liberties’ Media Freedom Report 2024 unveils a dire situation for media freedom and pluralism across Europe, with some countries facing the imminent collapse of their media landscapes. While the European Media Freedom Act offers some hope, it falls short of addressing the systemic issues. The erosion of media freedom is evident through widespread journalist
Read more →The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is conducting a consultation with its civil society network to gather insights on the added value of EU funding for fundamental rights and areas needing further development. The results will contribute to the European Commission’s 2024 Annual Report on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights with a focus
Read more →ICNL’s report develops a typology of salient features of foreign influence registration laws to assess their potential impact on civil society and to help compare and contrast these laws across countries. It then shares key recommendations for substantive arguments against overbroad foreign influence registration laws and potential response strategies. Governments worldwide have implemented foreign influence
Read more →The upcoming European Parliament elections and the selection of a new European Commission in June 2024 present an opportunity for the EU to reaffirm its commitment to freedom of expression and access to information. ARTICLE 19 highlights key priorities for the incoming Commission, advocating for an open, fair, and inclusive information environment. These priorities include
Read more →SCiDEV raises concerns about Albania’s proposed parliamentary committee to address disinformation, questioning its necessity and scope. While acknowledging the importance of the issue, SCiDEV argues that existing mechanisms, like the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Means of Public Information and the Parliamentary Committee on Security, can handle the matter adequately. Reports on media freedom (Reporters
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