Saturday read ☕ Journalists are souring on social media platforms, but not on the public. An 11-year review of Nieman Lab predictions shows growing scepticism toward X/Facebook/TikTok, yet consistent belief that audiences still matter. https://ow.ly/PYhe50Xofb5

Independent journalists in #Hungary face state-backed media capture, legal harassment, surveillance and smear campaigns ahead of the 2026 elections. ECPMF and Council of Europe Media Freedom stand with them and demand full compliance with EU media freedom standards. https://ow.ly/K2Nh50Xoljz

The war in Ukraine continues, and the need for reliable insurance for journalists remains as urgent as ever. Reporters, photographers, videographers, and fixers working in high-risk zones face danger daily. Apply for insurance ⬇️ https://ow.ly/9xjw50Xol3s

🚨 Our weekly roundup of press freedom violations is out. This week we marked the International Day to #EndImpunity for Crimes Against Journalists, a stark reminder that attacks on the press continue without accountability: mapmf.org/explorer?sor... Here are some of the cases reported this week 🧵

#Kosovo: IPI joined @efjeurope.bsky.social & @ecpmf.bsky.social in sending a letter to Acting PM Kurti, urging him to ensure Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) staff receive their salaries. Authorities must address the RTK budget issue which was also raised in the EU enlargement country report.

Today ECPMF joined the Syndicate of the Public Broadcaster and the Association of Journalists of #Kosovo in solidarity with RTK employees who haven’t been paid due to the political crisis. We call on Acting PM Albin Kurti to act now and ensure salaries are released.

The EU released its 2025 Enlargement Package assessing candidate countries. 📝 Curious how they’re doing on freedom of expression and media freedom? ECPMF experts @fluturakusari.bsky.social and Ena Bavčić break down the key findings and the challenges still holding every country back.

ECPMF’s Journalists-in-Exile programme team joined the Exile Media Forum in Hamburg, hosting a deep-dive on Collaborating in Exile. Moderated by Nazeeha Saeed, with freelance journalists Masha Borzunova and Tobore Ovuorie sharing their work, challenges, and paths in exile journalism.

Join us for the webinar on Serbia now: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VT1dccQEQTqT-UjmjPrHLQ

Since Nov 2023, ECPMF backed 61 legal cases in 24 countries, defending 42 journalists and 19 media outlets from defamation, intimidation, SLAPPs and more. Press freedom in Europe needs legal protection: www.ecpmf.eu/support/lega... We are here to make sure the truth is heard.

Do not forget to support independent journalism this week.

🛤️ Starting over in exile is tough, especially for journalists. Paving the Way is our guide to help exiled media professionals in Germany rebuild and reconnect: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/paving-the-way If you know a journalist who has just arrived in Germany, please share this guide with them.

Azerbaijan’s crackdown on the press has reached new extremes. Journalist Parvana Gurbanli speaks to ECPMF about police raid on Toplum TV, ongoing harassment of exiled reporters, and why Europe’s dependence on Azerbaijani gas limits its response to the regime’s repression. https://ow.ly/RLIo50Xjyur

To mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on November 2, we honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the pursuit of truth and demands justice for the crimes committed against them. https://ow.ly/BeRQ50XlBrI

Today, on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, we honour reporters in Europe who were murdered for their work. Each unsolved case deepens the silence. Each delay in justice endangers every journalist still reporting. #EndImpunity

On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, we demand that governments act decisively to end the cycle of violence and silence. Every attack on a journalist is an attack on the public’s right to know. Every unpunished crime invites the next one. Fight to #EndImpunity.

Despite intimidation, many Serbian journalists continue to report the truth. On 4 November, Media Freedom Rapid Response brings together reporters to reflect on one year since the Novi Sad protests and to assess what is needed to reverse the decline in journalist safety: https://ow.ly/cJ1u50XjEcf

🛡️Гранти на навчання до €5,000 для українських журналістів та медіа вже відкриті! Пріоритет: регіональні та місцеві медіа поблизу фронту, релоковані редакції, а також воєнні журналісти. Дізнайтеся більше та подайте заявку до 9 листопада 2025 року: https://ow.ly/Xu4F50Xkria #HannahArendtInitiative

Saturday read ☕ New @reutersinstitute.bsky.social report maps how news creators and influencers shape information flows across 24 countries. From commentary and explainers to satire and lifestyle, they’re now key players in global news ecosystems. https://ow.ly/kiSU50XkqR9

💻 Strengthen your journalism! Under the new SAFE programme, supported by the German Federal Foreign Office, we continue our Voices of Ukraine project, offering training grants up to €5,000 for Ukraine’s media. Apply by 9 Nov: https://ow.ly/pWzP50XkqlC #HannahArendtInitiative

Leaving home doesn’t end the threat. Journalists in exile still face digital surveillance, legal harassment, and pressure on their families. ECPMF contributes legal expertise to the new OSCE outcome report. https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/597612

Media freedom in Bulgaria stands at a crossroads. The latest report from the Media Freedom Rapid Response and Council of Europe Media Freedom urges the government to act on reform before recent gains are lost. Download the report ⬇️ https://ow.ly/cOvK50XkLgS

🛡️ Training grants up to €5,000 for Ukrainian journalists are open for applications. Priority will be given to regional and local media near Ukraine’s frontlines, relocated newsrooms, and frontline reporters. Apply by 9 Nov: https://ow.ly/v2ph50XkpT8 #HannahArendtInitiative

We stand in solidarity w/ our friends from the Independent Journalists' Association of #Serbia 🇷🇸 (NUNS) who are targeted by smears (e.g. 'supporters of the riot organisers') & attempts to undermine their credibility by the pro-government Association of Journalists of Serbia (AJS). 🧵

🛡️ Facing legal threats in your journalistic pursuits? We got your back! We offer legal support on issues like defamation, protection of sources, and more. Apply and empower yourself with the expertise needed to navigate the complexities of press freedom. https://www.ecpmf.eu/support/legal-support/

📣 Attention journalists: ECPMF's Journalists-in-Residence Programme provides a lifeline for those facing intimidation. Enjoy rent-free stays, monthly stipends, and comprehensive support. Apply now and continue your investigative work with confidence! https://ow.ly/pIcW50XjEq4

Marking the UN Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, Media Freedom Rapid Response hosts a 4 Nov webinar on the deepening crisis for press freedom and safety in Serbia: https://www.mfrr.eu/one-year-on-media-freedom-and-journalist-safety-in-serbia/

“If I were in Azerbaijan right now, I'd probably be in prison.” Like so many Azerbaijani journalists, lawyers, human rights defenders, Parvana Gurbanli now lives in exile 🇦🇿💔 Time for the EU @martakos.ec.europa.eu to support their work from abroad. @ecpmf.bsky.social www.ecpmf.eu/if-i-were-in...

“If I were in Azerbaijan right now, I would probably be in prison.” Azerbaijan ranks 167th out of 180 in press freedom. Journalist Parvana Gurbanli tells ECPMF how repression, censorship, and exile define the country’s media landscape today. https://ow.ly/8uTA50XjysE

Even in exile, many journalists remain under attack. The OSCE’s new report on protecting journalists under severe political pressure features ECPMF’s legal insights on relocation and safety. https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/597612

Saturday read ☕ Experts from Indonesia, Venezuela, the UK and the US discuss how journalists can improve news coverage and foster their relationship with underserved audiences - via @reutersinstitute.bsky.social. https://ow.ly/sPhv50XgJ2g

Kaum Konsequenzen? Der gezielte Angriff auf Medienschaffende im Winter 21/22 markierte den traurigen Höhepunkt einer Gewaltwelle gegen die Presse in #Sachsen und führte dazu, dass Berichterstattung aus dem öffentlichen Raum massiv zurückging. #Pressefreiheit #Laubegast #dd1302 #Sachsen #Journalismus

We’re in Vienna for @globalfreemedia.bsky.social's World Congress 2025 #IPIWoCo25 🌟 Tomorrow ( 25 Oct | 12:05 | Sophie Room), our EU Advocacy Officer Ena Bavčić joins a panel of eight speakers sharing stories of courage and resistance in press freedom battles: ipiwoco25.sched.com/event/2A6Gl/...

Journalists reporting on LGBTI+ in Turkey may soon face criminal prosecution if the 11th Judicial Package passes. This proposed law would restrict, intimidate, and silence vital media coverage. We demand the removal of the anti-LGBTI+ provision now. www.ecpmf.eu/turkey-journ...

ECPMF welcomes the Sakharov Prize for Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli — journalists jailed for telling the truth. Their courage deserves celebration. Their imprisonment demands outrage. https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/andrzej-poczobut-and-mzia-amaglobeli-will-receive-sakharov-prize

The screening of Vika’s Last Assignment takes place today at 19:30 at Cinémathèque: https://cinematheque-leipzig.de/programm/filme/vikas-last-assignment/ The film follows Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna’s journey marked by courage and danger. Join us.

Press freedom advocate @fluturakusari.bsky.social says the growing use of aggressive lawsuits to intimidate and silence journalists demands a tougher response from the European Union. balkaninsight.com/2025/10/21/e...

⚡ ECPMF joins the Voices Festival project, a growing European consortium that brings journalists, students, and citizens together! The 2026 edition returns to Florence in March with new formats, partnerships, and renewed commitment to protecting independent journalism. www.ecpmf.eu/voices-the-e...

Happening tomorrow 🚨 FOI laws are designed to make govts transparent & accountable. Yet across Europe, journalists face delays, denials, and silence when seeking public information. Join this webinar on 22 Oct, to explore how #FOI works in practice. https://ow.ly/pgim50Xe3hu

Transparency is not optional in a democracy. Join our webinar on #FOI in Europe on 22 Oct to examine how journalists navigate restrictive systems and push for openness. Speakers from Germany, Hungary, Ukraine, and Malta will discuss the realities behind FOI frameworks. www.mfrr.eu/webinar-free...

At the webinar “Media Freedom Through Transnational Lenses: Insights from Montenegro and North Macedonia”, we discuss the state of media in the region, how it ties into the #EU accession process, and what to expect from the upcoming EU progress reports. @ecpmf.bsky.social @efjeurope.bsky.social

This week at Cinémathèque Leipzig, ECPMF presents Vika’s Last Assignment. The film traces the story of journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who set out to report from Russian-occupied territories and never came home: https://cinematheque-leipzig.de/programm/filme/vikas-last-assignment/

Freedom of Information laws look strong on paper, but journalists know that accessing public data often turns into a struggle. On 22 October, our expert panel will explore how FOI affects journalism in Europe, with perspectives from Germany, Hungary, Ukraine, and Malta: https://ow.ly/3Zw450Xe30Y

EUROPEAN CENTRE FOR PRESS AND MEDIA FREEDOM: Car bomb attack on investigative journalist Sigfrido Ranucci rings alarm for media freedom in Italy www.ecpmf.eu/car-bomb-att... @ecpmf.bsky.social #photojournalism #journalism #journalismisnotacrime #pressfreedom

From improved legislation to persistent disinformation, our next webinar will explore media freedom in Montenegro and North Macedonia through a transnational lens. Reserve your spot: https://www.mfrr.eu/media-freedom-through-transnational-lenses-insights-from-montenegro-and-north-macedonia/

Saturday read ☕ New research says right-wing authoritarians share “news” based on what feels important, not what’s true. Meanwhile, smiles build trust, jokes help us remember facts, and audiences still prefer journalists over AI - via Nieman Lab. https://ow.ly/Bkr450XcYwW

She believed in the power of truth. "Vika’s Last Assignment" follows journalist Viktoria Roshchyna’s last reporting trip, ending in her detention and death in Russia. Join us on 22 Oct at Cinémathèque Leipzig to honour her story: https://cinematheque-leipzig.de/programm/filme/vikas-last-assignment/

We condemn the car bomb attack on one of Italy’s leading investigative journalist Sigfrido Ranucci and his family. We welcome the opening of an investigation and call for an urgent assessment of the effectiveness of the protective measures applied to the journalist. https://ow.ly/Muxo50Xe2Gy

We are deeply shocked by the news that a bomb, reportedly containing a kilo of explosives, destroyed the car of journalist Sigfrido Ranucci. When journalists become targets of such violence, democracy is not merely under threat, it begins to falter. www.unionesarda.it/en/italy/a-b...