Media freedom and pluralism are among the rights enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (Article 11) and the European Convention on Human Rights (Article 10), together with freedom of expression and information. The EU is actively engaged in protecting the independence and safety of journalists, as a crucial component in the proper democratic functioning of its institutions and Member States. Nevertheless, in recent years an increasing number of attacks and threats against journalists have been documented and reported in Europe. Physical attacks against journalists as well as online threats and harassment in reprisal for journalists' work are on the rise in several EU Member States. Around the world, the number of dead and wounded journalists is still too high, as is the number of journalists who are detained, imprisoned and mistreated. The most recent Council of Europe assessment of press freedom in Europe reports that war remains a threat to press freedom and the safety of media workers. In total 18 journalists have been killed in Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Reporters without Borders confirms that the situation is particularly dangerous for journalists, who are sometimes deliberately targeted by military fire despite displaying 'Press' identification. Correspondents for foreign outlets are also targeted and some of them become victims of 'hostage diplomacy', as was the case of the Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich. Over the years, the European Parliament has called consistently for action to ensure the safety of journalists, both inside and outside armed conflict zones; it has stressed the crucial mission of journalists in gathering and disseminating reliable information about armed conflicts; and it has underlined the importance of ensuring journalists' safe access to areas in which conflicts or human rights abuses are taking place. This briefing updates and builds on an 'At a glance' note published in October 2022.
Authors
- Pages
- 10
- Published in
- Belgium
Table of Contents
- Summary 1
- Media freedom and pluralism are among the rights enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (Article 11) and the European Convention on Human Rights (Article 10), together with freedom of expression and information. The EU is actively engaged i... 1
- Nevertheless, in recent years an increasing number of attacks and threats against journalists have been documented and reported in Europe. Physical attacks against journalists as well as online threats and harassment in reprisal for journalists' work ... 1
- The most recent Council of Europe assessment of press freedom in Europe reports that war remains a threat to press freedom and the safety of media workers. In total 18 journalists have been killed in Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale inva... 1
- Over the years, the European Parliament has called consistently for action to ensure the safety of journalists, both inside and outside armed conflict zones; it has stressed the crucial mission of journalists in gathering and disseminating reliable in... 1
- This briefing updates and builds on an 'At a glance' note published in October 2022. Introduction 1
- Monitoring the situation of journalists 4
- The Commission's annual rule of law reports 4
- Media Pluralism Monitor 4
- Safety of journalists platform 5
- Mapping Media Freedom 5
- Media Freedom Rapid Response 5
- Violence against female journalists 5
- Developments during the ninth legislative term (2019-2024) 6
- SLAPPs Directive 7
- Media Freedom Act 8
- Spyware 8
- European Parliament position 9
