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MAPPING MEDIA FREEDOM A FOUR�MONTH SNAPSHOT � II Monitoring Report EFJ � IPI � ECPMF | July 2020 � October 2020
Content
Introduction................................................................. 4
Country-by-Country reports (EFJ� ........................... 16
Country-by-Country reports (IPI� ............................. 21
Intimidating or threatening journalists (EFJ� ............ 28
SLAPPs: Gag lawsuits pose continued threat
to press freedom – (IPI�........................................ 31
COVID�19..................................................................... 34
Conclusions................................................................. 38
Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media
freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries. This project provides legal and practical sup‐
port, public advocacy and information to protect journalists and media workers. The MFRR is organised
by an consortium led by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF� with ARTICLE 19,
the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ�, Free Press Unlimited (FPU�, the Institute for Applied In‐
formatics at the University of Leipzig (InfAI�, International Press Institute (IPI� and CCI/Osservatorio Bal‐
cani e Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT�. The project is co-funded by the European Commission.
www.mfrr.eu
2 Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report 3MFRR region, a growing trend of anti-media lyses and presents a micro- and macro-
INTRODUCTION rhetoric has increased, both online and off, level diagnosis of the health of the
resulting in targeted harassment, threats European media landscape over a four-
The second monitoring report for the Media reporting. This complex interplay of actors, and smear campaigns directed at journalists month period from July until the end of Oc‐
Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR�, covering motivations and legal jurisdictions paints a and media workers. Reinforced by national tober 2020, exploring country-specific
the reporting period between July and Octo‐ fragmented and worrying picture of the or regional issues such as territorial or geo- threats to media freedom, as well as a re‐
ber 2020, remains under the cloud of the overall region that requires concerted atten‐ political conflicts, anti-refugee, migrant or gion-wide comparative analysis of key
COVID�19 pandemic. While the direct public tion, pressure and action from media actors, xenophobic sentiment and increased polar‐ trends and themes that require robust and
health implications continue to affect journ‐ national governments and European institu‐ isation that demonises media workers as concerted action to stem.
alists, media workers and outlets, the im‐ tions. This report expands on and dissects agents of the state, peddlers of disinforma‐
pact of the crisis has manifested in a num‐ the reports uploaded and verified on the tion or perceived enemies, harassment is an This report is structured in five sections.
ber of unpredicted ways that continue to af‐ Mapping Media Freedom (MMF� platform, as increasingly common type of threat facing First we will present a visual representation
fect and damage media freedom across EU well as supplementary monitoring pro‐ journalists and media workers. This includes of different datasets from Mapping Media
Member States and Candidate Countries cesses undertaken by the MFRR and other a worrying trend of gendered harassment Freedom to present an overall picture of the
(MFRR region). It has also further en‐ relevant partners. and abuse including threats of sexual viol‐ platform and the broad health of the media
trenched a number of worrying trends that ence directed at women. The pervasiveness environment in EU Member States and Can‐
could outlast the pandemic itself. With the While COVID�19 dominates the media land‐ of this type of threat, the low number of re‐ didate Countries. Following this is a coun‐
pandemic as a background, and a context scape, a number of trends are contained in ports made to police, inadequate legal pro‐ try-by-country analysis divided between IPI
for increased state intervention, journalists this report that exert a discernible influence tections and the potential absence of phys‐ and EFJ, which includes specific analysis of
and media workers across the region have on the ability of journalists and media work‐ ical violence that follows, has often resulted a selection of countries within the MFRR re‐
faced near-unprecedented roadblocks and ers to continue their work. When Daphne in this sort of threat being accepted by gion. Following this is a Cross Regional
restrictions on their ability to work fully and Caruana Galizia was assassinated in 2017, journalists as ‘something that comes with Thematic Comparative Analysis, which in‐
free from unnecessary administrative she was facing 47 active civil and criminal the territory’. terrogates trends that affect media and
hurdles, threats of harassment, legal action, libel suits filed in various jurisdictions, in‐ press freedom across the entire MFRR re‐
detention or violence. cluding Malta and the United States. Three This monitoring report follows on from the gion, including the use of legal threats and
years after her assassination, 25 remain act‐ previous report published in July that Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participa‐
Beyond the pandemic, media freedom in ive. The use of legal threats, vexatious legal covered the period between March and tion (SLAPPs) to target journalists, media
Europe continues to be placed on a precari‐ actions and Strategic Lawsuits Against Pub‐ June 2020. This report uses the same ap‐ workers and outlets, alongside an analysis
ous footing. Throughout the reporting lic Participation (SLAPPs), to target journal‐ proach and format to analyse the trends, of harassment, threats and smear cam‐
period, 114 alerts were verified and pub‐ ists and encourage them to avoid certain themes and topics that shaped media paigns directed at journalists and media
lished on Mapping Media Freedom. How‐ topics of public interest is a Europe-wide freedom in the MFRR region as a whole, workers, both online and off, as a result of
ever, there is no one single mechanism or phenomenon that skews the media land‐ alongside specific contexts for a range of their work. Due to the continued impact of
motivation for attacks on journalists and me‐ scape in favour of powerful and wealthy in‐ countries that require specific attention. the COVID�19 pandemic, alongside govern‐
dia workers, and no singular source. The dividuals. For more information about the MFRR’s ment responses to it, an additional chapter
nature, frequency and type of media free‐ monitoring of media freedom violations, follows, building on IPI’s analysis in the pre‐
dom violations reconfigure to fit every polit‐ While legal threats are complex and time in‐ please read the first monitoring report vious monitoring report. This is then fol‐
ical or national context, ideology and per‐ tensive processes, requiring access to legal published in July 2020. lowed by a conclusion that brings all ana‐
suasion and utilises a range of techniques to expertise and representation, threats to lysis together.
silence journalists, stifle their work and en‐ journalists are not always presented in such This report compiled by MFRR partners, EFJ
courage them to step away from important formalised processes. Across the entire and IPI, with support from the ECPMF, ana‐
4 Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report 5MAPPING MEDIA FREEDOM
A Four-Month Snapshot
1
1
1
81 33 21 3
2
2
12
6
FREEDOM
FREEDOM 1
5
7 1
6 2
PHYSICAL & LEGAL CENSORSHIP
PSYCHOLOGICAL
THREAT
THREAT 14
6
12 2
5
2 9
3
6
5
*As one alert can contain a number of incidents or threats of further action,
6 Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report the figures above adds up to more thanMapping Media
the total Freedom
number of| alerts
Monitoring Report 71
tion
f o rm a
nt in ip 1
p or ta nso
rsh
g i m - c e
ittin 1
Self lets
c ut om i a out
ily e d 1
eav fm ta
as h re o c da
r k w C l o s u
n a listi 1
cle /
wo jour e nt
Ar ti t i on of p loym
p m
rce of e gs 1
d inte L oss l ong in
an b e
nce nal DoS
1
r ve illa Pe rso g/D
Su k i n
Hac th 1
Dea
n 2
atio
i n f orm
Dis t all
2
p e ar a
p
n't a me n
t 2
r k did ass
w o h a r
cle / ual tion
3
Ar ti Sex ama
TYPE OF INCIDENT
D e f
g 3
ollin
y i n g/tr
Bull e nc
e 4
t e r fer
n
ial i atio
n 5
July - October 2020
m erc istr
C o m r e g 6
n or rge
s
d i tatio a l cha
e in
ccr C rim its 6
i al of a l a wsu
en i l
ry d C iv 7
itra tion
A r b
f o rm a
in 7
s to ure
a c ce s l m eas
d a
cke Leg atio
n 7
Blo
te rrog
In ty 7
per
Pro
t 8
me n
a r ass
H dit 10
cre
Dis
nt 11
nm e
p riso 16
im ry)
ion/ inju
e t e nt i n
st/d lting t 17
Arre l t resu u i p me n
sa u Eq
l as ury
17
h ysica u t inj
( p it h o
ry se 20
Inju lt w abu
a s sau ult/
a l I n s
sic ning
52
Phy ate
t h r e
ion/
i m idat
8 Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report In t Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report 9CONTEXT OF INCIDENT
July - October 2020
In prison 1
At police station (or other police environment like in police car) 2
At parliament 2
During an event (like an exhibition or religious events) 2
During travel 2
via public announcement/TV/news 3
At public authorities 3
During a press conference 4
In private environment 6
Via letter 9
At court 11
In the office/at work 11
Online/digital 24
During a demonstration 31
Public place/street 33
10 Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report 1112
Ph
ot Jo
og
ra ur
ph na
er lis
/c t/
ed
O M am i to
th ed
er ia
er
a r
89
ty ow op
pe ne er
of r/ at
jo b ro
or
35
ur a
na dc
lis as
Bl t/ te
og m r
Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report
ed
23
ge
r/ ia
c iti ac
ze to
n r
8
jo
ur
Tr na
a lis
ns t
4
la
to
r/
W f ix
hi er
1
st
le
bl
ow
er
1
TYPE OF MEDIA ACTOR
Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report
July - October 2020
13SOURCE OF INCIDENT
July - October 2020
§
POLICE / LEGISLATION JUDICIARY POLITICAL CORPORATION / PUBLIC
STATE SECURITY PARTY COMPANY AUTHORITIES
23 20 8 4 3 4
?
PRIVATE PRIVATE CRIMINAL ANOTHER UNKNOWN EMPLOYER/
INDIVIDUAL�S� SECURITY ORGANISATION MEDIA SOURCE PUBLISHER/
COLLEAGUE�S�
53 1 5 1 15 4
14 Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report 15COUNTRY�BY�COUNTRY REPORTS �EFJ� known individuals. The doll had a sign logne to allegedly get better footage.
saying “Covid-Presse” around its neck Threats by far-right extremists were re‐
and was wearing a mask over its eyes ported in at least four cases, for instance
Germany reading “blind”. This came at a time where in July, a series of letters signed by
local media outlets, including Mindener someone identifying themselves as NSU
Number of Mapping Media Freedom alerts within reporting period: 12 Tageblatt had been targeted by anti-me‐ 2.0, (in reference to the National Socialist
dia abuse. Moreover, two journalists from Underground), were sent to Maybrit Illner,
In the reporting period, Germany – together private individuals were behind the in‐ TV channel WDR were accused on Twitter journalist and TV host at German's public
with Italy – led the EU Member States in sults, threats and even physical violence of bringing their own neo-Nazi flags service TV broadcaster, ZDF, which con‐
terms of number of media freedom viola‐ that occurred during anti-COVID�19 re‐ (Reichflagge) to a demonstration in Co‐ tained death threats and insults.
tions published on MMF. While this can be sponse demonstrations.
partly explained by the strength of the
MFRR’s networks in this country, it clearly German journalists' unions have re‐ Serbia
confirms a trend in the deterioration of peatedly deplored the lack of police sup‐
press and media freedom, especially when port for journalists during demonstra‐ Number of Mapping Media Freedom alerts within reporting period: 14
it comes to covering demonstrations. It tions. Some alerts even documented ob‐
shows the increasing risks facing journal‐ struction of work by police or security The situation of press and media freedom As we have seen across Europe, journal‐
ists during demonstrations as they become personnel. During the eviction of an occu‐ in Serbia remains of great concern to ists became victims and targets of viol‐
victims and targets due to their work. The pied house in Berlin in October, police im‐ MFRR partners. Between July and the end ence during demonstrations. In the case
12 alerts from July to October relate to 31 peded the work of journalists on several of October 2020, 14 alerts with 7 of them of Serbia, MFRR recorded physical or
attacked persons or entities. The most occasions by assaulting them or not let‐ documenting violations against journalists verbal attacks against at least 28 profes‐
common type of incident refers to threats ting them approach the scene. Earlier, on and media workers during protests were sionals in Belgrade, Novi Sad and Nis, in
and intimidation (10� and physical assaults 17 July, a freelance journalist was cover‐ uploaded to Mapping Media Freedom. the first half of July. A number of alerts re‐
(6�, three of which resulted in injuries. ing a demonstration in Weiden and in ad‐ This refers to a large public movement ported physical assaults resulting in injur‐
dition to being pushed by a demonstrator, that started on 7 July 2020 in several cit‐ ies, and damage to professional equip‐
Since the beginning of 2020, numerous she was also accused of "provocation" by ies in Serbia in opposition to the Govern‐ ment. At least seven Beta News Agency
protests have taken place in Germany on a police officer who then asked to see her ment’s response to the COVID�19 pan‐ reporters were targeted by the crowd
various political ideologies and topics as video equipment. As a result of this epis‐ demic. After relaxing measures and al‐ with three of them, Milos Miskov, Svetlana
already highlighted in the previous report. ode and her coverage, she received a legedly lying about the number of infec‐ Dojcinovic and Zikica Stevanovic requir‐
Recently, demonstrations against the threat of legal action in connection with ted and deceased for the purpose of ing hospitalisation for a fractured skull, a
government’s COVID�19 responses have the German privacy law (Datenschutz‐ holding the parliamentary elections, the minor hand injury, as well as wounds in
been attended by a wide range of actors, grundverordnung), as well as abuse on government announced a weekend the head and eyes. The day before, No‐
but also include conspiracy theorists, as social media platforms. curfew following a rise in COVID�19 va.rs journalist Vojislav Milovancevic was
well as far-right and extremist groups who cases. As a result, thousands of people admitted to the emergency department
have been particularly hostile towards the Protests were a prominent venue of hos‐ took to the streets to protest against the after he was beaten up by a group of indi‐
press. This reveals a low regard for the tility and threats, but stirring up hatred measures for five consecutive days, start‐ viduals. An incident involving public
profession and a lack of trust in traditional and attempts to discredit the press also ing peacefully before turning violent with broadcaster RTS crew in Nis is another
journalism and individual journalists which occurred in other contexts. In late Octo‐ clashes between the police and demon‐ disturbing example indicative of the diffi‐
is exacerbated by the COVID�19 pan‐ ber, a human-sized doll was hung from a strators. culty for journalists to work freely and
demic. In a majority of the reported cases, bridge over the Weser in Minden by un‐
16 Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report 17safely in public places. As the crew was It is uncertain whether all the cases listed targeting those who remain in a crowd the cartoon depicting the prophet Mo‐
preparing to join a live news programme, above were reported to law enforcement after having been warned by authorities, hammed to mark the start of the trial. She
a group of demonstrators surrounded the authorities. Even for those reported, there which will apply indiscriminately to both required temporary relocation to a safe
two journalists, insulted them, sprayed is no evidence that they will be thoroughly protesters and journalists covering the location and enhanced police protection.
water at their camera, ripped out the mi‐ investigated despite calls by MFRR and protest. Journalists and other media act‐ The same cartoon provoked another knife
crophone and camera cables and threw a local partners. It is important to note that ors saw it as a green light for law enforce‐ attack against two media workers from an
can at the journalist’s head. However, viol‐ MFRR local partners are also under great ment authorities to prevent media profes‐ audiovisual production, nearby Charlie
ent acts were equally attributed to police political pressure and scrutiny as docu‐ sionals from fully reporting on protests. A Hebdo’s former newsroom. The attacker
officers. N1 reporter Jelena Zorić was mented in one alert about a financial month later, the bill on ‘global security’ intended to target journalists from the
tear-gassed, Nova.rs portal Marko probe requesting 37 NGOs, media free‐ further confirmed the government’s inten‐ weekly, whose office was relocated for
Radonjić and Milica Božinović were dom, journalists’ organisations and 20 in‐ tion to restrict the work of journalists by security reasons shortly after the 2015 at‐
beaten with batons when they were re‐ dividuals to give access to their bank re‐ proposing a bill – under a fast track pro‐ tack. The National Anti-Terrorist Prosec‐
porting live from the protest, despite be‐ cords in order to verify whether they are cedure – which would establish a sanction utor’s Office opened an investigation into
ing clearly identified as ‘press’. Cases of connected to money laundering or terror‐ of up to €45,000 and one year’s imprison‐ attempted murder in relation to a terrorist
serious threats and intimidation were doc‐ ist financing. A number of organisations ment, to anyone who disseminates im‐ enterprise. The two persons were taken
umented in five MMF alerts. They include targeted by this probe include prominent ages of police and gendarmerie officers to hospital with severe injuries. Charlie
numerous online death threats, but also unions and journalist associations, includ‐ “with the aim of causing harm to his or her Hebdo also faced hostility from outside
attacks such as breaking into FOLonline ing the Independent Journalists Associ‐ physical or psychological integrity”. This France. Another caricature was published
editor’s house and threatening his family ation of Serbia (IJAS� and the Journalists would target journalists covering the work at the end of October amid a diplomatic
with death, Sandzak Television editor-in- Association of Serbia (JAS�. of police officers. Due to the well-docu‐ conflict between France and Turkey. The
chief being threatened at gunpoint and mented history of French police actions cartoon, depicting Turkish President Re‐
N1's editor Branislav Sovljanski having his that require press coverage, such as viol‐ cep Tayyip Erdogan in underwear, has
car tyre punctured five times. ence and disproportionate responses to resulted in legal threats against Charlie
protests, this has laid the groundwork for Hebdo as the Ankara public prosecutor’s
a larger debate on police violence in office announced an inquiry into the me‐
France France and the willingness of the state to dia outlets’ directors.
tackle it.
Number of Mapping Media Freedom alerts within reporting period: 7
Further to this, continued pressure on the
The debate over the dissemination of im‐ The National Policing Plan was published satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo showed
ages of law enforcement authorities at in September 2020. It raised serious con‐ that freedom of expression is still very fra‐
work reached a new level after French In‐ cerns among journalists for two main gile in France as new threats arose during
terior Minister Gérald Darmanin proposed, reasons: discrimination in favour of journ‐ the trial of those allegedly responsible for
with two texts, to better regulate the exer‐ alists “holding a press card and accred‐ the 2015 massacres, which started in
cise of law and order. While there is a le‐ ited to authorities” (the distinction Paris on 2 September. A specific alert
gitimate need to review existing prac‐ between journalists who do and do not concerned a media worker who has been
tices, the French government was ac‐ hold a press card was also denounced in living under police protection since the
cused of restricting freedom in the name an alert referring to detention and cus‐ terror attack. New threats to her life were
of security. tody of 10 journalists at Roissy airport). established following the republication of
Concerns also related to a new offence
18 Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report 19North Macedonia COUNTRY�BY�COUNTRY REPORTS �IPI�
Number of Mapping Media Freedom alerts within reporting period: 5
Poland
Online harassment remains a major con‐ den due to the COVID�19 pandemic. As a
cern in North Macedonia as four alerts up‐ result, she received threats on Facebook Number of Mapping Media Freedom alerts within reporting period: 6
loaded over the reporting period refer to and was given 24-hour police protection
intimidation and threats made via social after the police considered these to be of a Press freedom in Poland continued to suf‐ television networks TVN, which is owned
media platforms, most notably Twitter serious enough nature to warrant such a fer during the reporting period as the by an American company and whose cov‐
and Facebook. Threats took place in the response. threat of so-called “repolanisation” and erage is critical of the government. After
context of the COVID�19 media coverage “deconcentration” loomed over the coun‐ Duda claimed victory, on 23 September it
and the July parliamentary elections. It is The early parliamentary elections took try’s foreign-owned media companies and was reported that two journalists with the
important to note that most cases have place on 15 July in a relatively peaceful publications critical of the government tabloid Fakt, the most read newspaper in
been reported to the relevant authorities, environment. Still MFRR recorded two faced continued legal harassment amidst Poland, were refused accreditation to
with inconsistent results as documented cases of online harassment against Brus‐ a polarised presidential election. travel on the presidential plane during a
in a MFRR letter to Prime Minister, Zoran sels-based correspondent for MIA news state visit to Italy, in apparent retaliation
Zaev. agency Tanja Milevska and human rights On 3 July, the incumbent and ultimate for Fakt’s critical coverage of Duda during
NGO CIVIL for reports in relation to the election winner, Andrzej Duda, publicly the campaign.
As we have seen in many countries since elections. Milevska received threats of singled out and accused journalist Philipp
the beginning of the pandemic, journalists physical and sexual violence via Twitter Fritz, a Warsaw correspondent of WELT, of In October, incidents of aggression to‐
who covered COVID�19 related topics from various pseudonymous accounts in being part of a “German attack” to influ‐ wards journalists were documented by
faced restriction and intimidation by private relation to her coverage of the election ence the outcome of the election. Similar MFRR partners. On 16 October, a camera
individuals and law enforcement. In the campaign. Threatening and insulting mes‐ unfounded comments were made against operator for TVP3 Gdańsk was attacked
case of Biljana Sekulovska, police officers sages also targeted activist and journalist other German-owned media outlets, cre‐ and beaten as he was covering the arrest
prevented her from carrying out her work Xhabir Deralla from CIVIL on Facebook, ating a narrative to justify rewriting the law of a high-profile Polish businessman by
and threatened legal actions as she tried to whose office was vandalised the previous on foreign media ownership. Formal plans anti-corruption police. Further attacks
film a police patrol performing checks dur‐ month. were announced by the governing Law took place amidst nationwide protests in
ing the COVID�19 curfew in Skopje. The of‐ and Justice (PiS� party on 19 July, with response to the controversial Constitu‐
ficers ordered her to stop filming despite Hostile sentiments towards the press by party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski saying tional Tribunal ruling restricting access to
her presenting her permission to move right-wing partisans were also recorded that the government planned to pass the abortion. On 23 October, two journalists
around during curfew. Two weeks later, the once during a protest organised by the laws before the end of its term in 2023. for Gazeta Wyborcza, Magda Kozioł and
Ministry of Interior announced that an in‐ political party VMRO�DPMNE. Journalist Joanna Urbańska-Jaworska, were assaul‐
vestigation had concluded that the actions Milka Smilevska and camera operator PiS criticism of critical media reached ted by a masked man as they filmed a
of the police officers involved were illegal Jorde Angelovic were covering the boiling point during the campaign, when, group of 30 black-clad men intimidating
and that they will face disciplinary proced‐ protest in Skopje for Al Jazeera when they on 7 July, unknown persons broke into the protesters during a women’s march in
ures. In the case of Miroslava Byrns, the vi‐ were assaulted and prevented from carry‐ headquarters of Maxmedia Publishing Wrocław. During the four-month period,
olation took place online, after she pub‐ ing out interviews by a protester. The per‐ House in Warsaw, stole equipment and MFRR partners also documented and
lished an article about a wedding in Tetovo son who hit Smilevska’s arm causing her vandalised the walls with a swastika sym‐ monitored a barrage of lawsuits launched
that gathered about 200 people in July, at to drop the microphone was eventually bol. It is believed the perpetrators mis‐ against investigative news outlet
a moment where gatherings were forbid‐ taken for questioning by the police. took it for the offices of the major Polish OKO.press.
20 Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report 21daylight in Cosenza. It followed a series of vestigative journalist and filmmaker was
Italy articles reporting on alleged judicial cor‐ criminally charged with “offending the
ruption involving a local mayor, judge, and honor or prestige of a magistrate,” in what
Number of Mapping Media Freedom alerts within reporting period: 12 an alleged boss in the ‘Ndrangheta. On 12 press freedom groups said was an at‐
October, two cars belonging to journalist tempt to silence his reporting of an Italian
In October 2020, MFRR partners recorded chased as he covered similar events in couple Claudio Brambilla and Luisa Biella pharmaceutical group.
a sharp increase in the number of physical Bologna. The same day, several media were destroyed in a suspected arson at‐
attacks and acts of intimidation against workers covering anti-curfew protests in tack. In July, Kelly Duda, an American in‐
journalists and media workers in Italy, Florence were subjected to insults and in‐
where the overarching theme was attacks timidation.
on media crews reporting live from the Slovenia
scene of protests against the govern‐ In separate incidents linked to the far-
ment’s COVID�19 lockdown measures. Ac‐ right, on 14 October, journalist Paolo Ber‐ Number of Mapping Media Freedom alerts within reporting period: 6
cording to MFRR monitoring, most of izzi was again targeted in a graffiti smear
these nine attacks were carried out by campaign by a suspected neo-fascist In Slovenia, media freedom continued to pital. This targeting and demonising of the
members of far-right, conspiracy theory group. In August, the president of the deteriorate between July and October as media continued in October when over
and anti-mask groups. Four physical at‐ Italian Federation of Journalists (FNSI�, the new administration of Prime Minister two days the PM used the COVID�19 crisis
tacks resulted in injury and one included a Giuseppe Giulietti, was also targeted by Janez Janša and his Slovenian Demo‐ to attack the Slovenia Press Agency (STA�
journalist being hospitalised with a head online harassment and intimidation from cratic Party (SDS� pushed ahead with its and Slovenian media more broadly on
trauma. far-right groups. politically-motivated attempts to defund Twitter, and then again during his attend‐
the country’s public broadcaster, while ance at the European Council in Brussels.
On 10 October, Saverio Tommasi, a journ‐ Others faced physical attacks for their re‐ major SLAPP cases were launched
alist at Fanpage.it, was insulted and re‐ porting on COVID�19. In the most serious against an investigative news outlet crit‐ Concerns over the increasing influence of
ceived death threats from anti-face mask incident, on 31 October, photojournalist ical of the government. The harassment Hungarian business leaders linked to the
protesters at a demonstration in Rome. Tommaso Germogli was diagnosed with a of journalists by the PM, other leading ruling FIDESZ party over the Slovenian
On 19 October, journalist Mimmo Rubio head trauma after being attacked by a politicians and their supporters on social media landscape continued, when, on 1
was threatened by individuals protesting street vendor while documenting adher‐ media, identified in the previous reporting October, the third largest media company
against the regional lockdown. On 23 Oc‐ ence to COVID�19 regulations in Florence. period, continues. in Slovenia, Planet TV, was sold to Hun‐
tober, Paolo Fratter, a reporter for Sky TG On 23 July, journalist Roberta Di Matteo garian pro-government media company
24, and two camera operators, were at‐ and camera operator Ottavio Chiaradia On 2 August, Uroš Urbanija, the Acting TV2 Media, intensifying speculation over
tacked with glass bottles and stones from Rai were attacked as they were pre‐ Director of the Government Communica‐ its future independence. As elsewhere in
thrown at them as they reported live from paring a report on the quarantining of mi‐ tion Office (UKOM� in Slovenia tweeted to Europe, in October MFRR partners also
anti-lockdown protests in Naples. On 28 grants. urge citizens to report and denounce any monitored incidents linked to anti-govern‐
October, a journalist and camera operator media or journalists in Slovenia who “obvi‐ ment protests, where, on 6 October, a
from Rai 2 programme TG2 were intimid‐ During this period, the continued threat to ously and shamelessly use manipulations” camera operator for Slovenian news out‐
ated and robbed of their equipment as media from organised crime groups oper‐ in their work to purposefully mislead let Nova24TV was surrounded by protest‐
they were covering protests in Palermo. ating in Italy remained clear. On 8 people. Later that month, on 27 Septem‐ ers during a weekly demonstration in the
Days later, on 30 October, Valerio Lo September, Michele Santagata, a journal‐ ber, Janša publicly mocked a journalist on capital Ljubljana, leading to one man try‐
Muzio, a video journalist working for la Re‐ ist and manager at online outlet Iacchitè, Twitter by suggesting he had recently ing to force him to stop filming and rip the
pubblica, was threatened, pushed and was ambushed and assaulted in broad been released from a mental health hos‐ camera out of his hands.
22 Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report 23In one of the most brazen SLAPP cases Thirteen lawsuits were launched against as protests raged outside the new Na‐ Later that month, on 14 September, police
monitored by the MFRR partners any‐ each journalist, Primož Cirman, Vesna tional Assembly, inside the building a re‐ in Sofia summoned crime reporter Martin
where in Europe in recent years, through‐ Vukovic and Thomas Modica over their re‐ strictive new set of rules governing the Georgiev of the daily newspaper Sega for
out August and September, Rok Snežić, porting on Snežić’s business dealings access of journalists inside the Parlia‐ unjustified questioning over inquiries and
tax expert and self-claimed advisor to over the last three years in portals siol.net ment, was implemented by the Speaker. images he’d sent to the Interior Ministry
Prime Minister Janša, filed a barrage of 39 and then necenzurirano.si, the outlet they In response, more than 60 journalists, me‐ about the behaviour of police officers dur‐
vexatious defamation lawsuits against founded in 2016. If found guilty, the journ‐ dia workers and camera operators signed ing the recent anti-government protests.
three journalists at the investigative news alists face fines or up to a year in prison. a petition condemning the development, The journalist was interrogated for half an
website Necenzurirano (Uncensored). arguing it reversed long established hour without a lawyer present, in what his
norms and seriously hindered their ability editor called a clear act of intimidation.
to carry out their professional duties. Des‐ These accusations were renewed over a
Bulgaria pite pressure from international press month later when on 22 October, police
freedom groups including the MFRR, the again summoned Georgiev for unjustified
Number of Mapping Media Freedom alerts within reporting period: 6 changes were not reversed. questioning over his posts on his personal
Facebook page.
Between July and October 2020, MFRR party held in Sofia. On other occasions,
partners monitored several physical at‐ violence against the media came from po‐ Greece
tacks and other media freedom violations lice and security forces. On 2 September,
in Bulgaria. Most incidents took place dur‐ international freelance journalist Dimitar Number of Mapping Media Freedom alerts within reporting period: 5
ing three months of continuous public Kenarov was assaulted by officers as he
protests against government corruption reported from the scene of large-scale, Media freedom in Greece came under in‐ hours, strip searched and held in jail
that saw widespread police violence also anti-government protests which were met creased MFRR scrutiny following the without charges by police at the Samos
directed at reporters and photojournal‐ by a heavy-handed response by law en‐ high-profile detention of a German docu‐ Police Department. Among them were
ists. The failure of the authorities to hold forcement. Kenarov was handcuffed and mentary crew by police on the island of photojournalist Manuel Tysarzik and Ber‐
individual officers to account, despite nu‐ kicked in the head by officers who also Samos and a number of other incidents lin-based video editor Larissa Rausch, who
merous MFRR advocacy appeals, is a damaged his camera, despite repeatedly linked to media’s reporting on refugee and say they were also surveilled by plain
cause of serious concern. Meanwhile, a identifying himself as a journalist and pro‐ migrant issues were uploaded to the MMF clothes police officers after their release.
new system restricting press access to ducing press ID. MFRR advocacy led to platform. Police and law enforcement re‐ No further communication was received
politicians inside the new Parliament the Bulgarian Ombudsman raising the is‐ main the primary source of media free‐ by the crew from Greek authorities, leaving
building raised fresh concerns over ac‐ sue of police brutality with the Govern‐ dom violations documented in Greece in‐ uncertainty over the status of any investig‐
cess to information and government ment, however, no action was taken to volving incidents of violence and obstruc‐ ation or charges of “espionage” the police
transparency in one of the EU’s most cor‐ identify the officer responsible. tion. Unlawful and prolonged detention had previously threatened them with.
rupt states. has emerged as a common tactic to de‐
Also on 2 September, journalists and pho‐ tain, discourage and harass journalists Other media outlets and actors have also
On 5 August, Paulina Paunova of Radio tojournalists from various mass media in‐ and media workers. faced similar acts of obstruction from
Free Europe and Genka Shikerova of TV1 cluding bTV were caught in the indiscrim‐ Greek police. For five days starting on 9
Bulgaria were attacked by several men inate use of tear gas by riot police. One On 19 October 2020, a German media crew September, journalists and photograph‐
when they were trying to cover the con‐ team member collapsed and others re‐ making a documentary about climate-in‐ ers on the Greek island of Lesbos were in‐
ference of the Prime Minister's GERB quired medical treatment. That same day, duced migration were detained for seven termittently restricted without reason
24 Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report 25from reporting from where thousands of report on the arrest of a man. The medical noted how the situation at Index followed more subtle forms of state capture of the
refugees and asylum seekers had been report shows traces of violence used an all-too-familiar pattern, in which inde‐ media and the regulators. There are no
living without accommodation or sanita‐ against them. In another incident on 15 pendent outlets are first starved of re‐ jailed journalists, no dramatic newsroom
tion. They had been trying to document July, police in riot gear harassed and in‐ sources through the government’s manip‐ raids, no trumped-up criminal prosecu‐
the aftermath of the fires which des‐ timidated photojournalists covering an ulation of the media market and then, tions; physical violence against the media
troyed large areas of the Moria Registra‐ anti-fascist demonstration in the Greek once weakened, are conveniently placed is rare. This changed on 22 and 26 Octo‐
tion and Identification Center. capital Athens. On 26 July, Greek photo‐ in the hands of government-friendly own‐ ber, when two journalists from independ‐
journalist Michalis Archontidis was de‐ ers who deliver the final death-blow, oust‐ ent Hungarian media outlets Átlátszó and
On other occasions, journalists faced tained by the security team of the Greek ing editors and flipping the editorial line. Magyar Hang were summoned by police
physical violence from police. On 9 Au‐ Prime Minister as he tried to take photos While it is still unclear how Index’s col‐ over the publication of video footage cap‐
gust, Turkish/Kurdish journalists Çağdaş from a public beach of the PM’s visit by lapse will transform the Hungarian media tured by a drone of armoured military
Kaplan and Bercem Mordeniz were for‐ helicopter to the island of Antiparos. landscape, observers believe it spells bad vehicles at the estate belonging to a Hun‐
cibly detained and racially abused by po‐ Archontidis was held at a local police sta‐ news for the long-term survival of inde‐ garian billionaire and ally of the PM, Lőrinc
lice while being held without charge for tion for four and a half hours without justi‐ pendent media. Mészáros. Balázs Gulyás, a reporter for
around eight hours, after they had tried to fication during the PM's visit. independent news outlet Magyar Hang,
Another major blow came two months was summoned by police on 22 October,
later when on 11 September, the National followed by Gabriella Horn, a reporter for
Hungary Media and Infocommunication Authority investigative news outlet Átlátszo, on 26
(NMHH� announced it would not extend October. The pair were questioned separ‐
Number of Mapping Media Freedom alerts within reporting period: 5 the license for Klubrádió, the last remain‐ ately over the publication in their media
ing independent radio station in Hungary. outlets of video and images taken from a
Hungarian independent media, already in try’s media landscape already strained by The NMHH, which is controlled by drone of the military-grade vehicles
turmoil due to the global COVID�19 pan‐ the pandemic. FIDESZ, rejected the renewal application parked on the private property of Lőrinc
demic, suffered further setbacks of Klubrádió, meaning that the Budapest- Mészáros.
between July and October 2020 as the The most damaging example came in July based commercial talk and news radio
government led by Prime Minister Viktor when the editorial board and the majority station’s license will expire on 14 Febru‐ In September, MFRR partners also issued
Orbán and the FIDESZ party continued its of the journalists working at Index.hu, one ary, 2021, potentially forcing it off the air‐ an alert over instructions to monitor Hun‐
decade-long assault on media freedom. of the country’s most influential remaining waves for good. Justifying its ruling, the gary’s journalists abroad. In a letter dated
During this time, the government independent outlets, resigned after their NMHH said that during the last seven 2 June, József Magyar, Deputy Secretary
furthered its gradual dismantling of media editor-in-chief, Szabolcs Dull, was fired years Klubradio had repeatedly violated of State for Development of European Af‐
freedom and pluralism largely by manipu‐ by the company’s CEO. It followed a warn‐ Hungary’s Media Law. András Arató, fairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
lating the media market and state re‐ ing from the newspaper’s staff that the chairman of the Board of Directors of Trade called on Hungarian embassies in
sources to punish critical media and re‐ site was under “external pressure that Klubrádió, previously denied the station the European Union to monitor and report
ward pro-government outlets. While com‐ could spell the end of our editorial staff as had committed violations that could result on the professional visits of Hungarian
paratively few individual alerts were mon‐ we know it”. The statement made refer‐ in its license extension being rejected. journalists to the respective EU countries.
itored, their severity and significance ence to a “proposed organisational over‐ The station had long been a target of Or‐
were such that they were among the haul” that journalists said threatened the bán due to its critical reporting.
biggest blows to independent media in outlet’s values. The firing of Dull and the
the country in years, cementing further mass exodus that followed seriously The Hungarian government tries to avoid
control of the government over the coun‐ weakened the newspaper. MFRR partners direct repression of the media preferring
26 Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report 27Intimidation by the police conspiracy theories or religious or political
INTIMIDATING OR THREATENING matters. In the Netherlands, an alert in‐
Law enforcement authorities have a duty volved a string of online insults and threats
JOURNALISTS �EFJ� to protect journalists in the performance via Twitter over weeks. A data and invest‐
of their work but as documented on Map‐ igative journalist covering conspiracy the‐
Intimidations and threats remain the most viduals, either at protests or in general ping Media Freedom, too often they fail to ories was mentioned approximately 605
common type of attacks facing journalists daily reporting. The prevalence of attacks do so and are even a source of intimida‐ times by conspiracy thinkers, where nu‐
in the MFRR region. Sadly, journalists may of this nature has at times required tion. Disproportionate use of the force in merous messages including explicit
prefer to ignore them or think that drastic responses from actors including Spain, illegitimate interrogation over pub‐ threats were directed to him, as well as his
nowadays, these are ‘part of the job’. How‐ media companies. After equipment was lications in Bulgaria, the acquisition of wife when unknown individuals attempted
ever, we know from experience that any damaged and persistent threats were data in Hungary, and undue pressure to to unlawfully access her social media plat‐
kind of threats – whether online or offline made against the employees of the Dutch delete footage in Slovenia, are as many forms. Similarly, after her publication of an
– can lead to actual violence. We know it public broadcaster NOS, the management examples of intimidation that contribute opinion piece on wearing the Islamic head‐
too well since both the Charlie Hebdo at‐ decided for security reasons to ensure to sustaining a chilling effect on media scarf, Belgian journalist Florence Hainaut
tack in Paris and the murder of the that all journalists in the field were accom‐ freedom in Europe. Several times in Ger‐ was the target of an online harassment
Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia panied by security personnel and to re‐ many, North Macedonia and Greece, po‐ campaign via Facebook and Twitter, in‐
were preceded by years of verbal threats. move their logos from their vehicles so lice officers obstructed journalists from cluding dozens of insulting and defamat‐
that they would not be identified by the filming or accessing places of reporting, ory comments. Next to conspiracy theor‐
During the reporting period, MFRR recor‐ population. TV journalists and photo‐ sometimes through the deployment of vi‐ ists, far-right groups were the source of
ded 52 alerts related to acts that intimid‐ graphers – easily recognisable with the olence. When police officers ennoble online attacks as well. The president of the
ate or threaten approximately 101 journal‐ media companies’ logos on their equip‐ threats, or are themselves the source of Italian Federation of Journalists (FNSI� ex‐
ists and media workers due to their work. ment – who cover popular movements are the threat, not only are they restricting perienced such threats for having suppor‐
These alerts include a wide range of at‐ also on the front line in countries such as media freedom themselves, they are sig‐ ted journalists questioning unverified re‐
tacks, such as death threats, verbal in‐ Italy, Germany and Serbia. Dozens of me‐ nalling that police officers may not be an porting about immigrants.
sults, police questioning, pressure to de‐ dia professionals faced one or several of adequate protection for journalists from
lete footage and legal threats. Such viola‐ the following threats: insults, pressure, other threats. In many countries, the po‐ Online harassment may spill over into the
tions occurred in 17 of 33 countries in the stigmatisation and attempts to destroy or lice are the expected branch of govern‐ streets and result in self-censorship. In
MFRR region (EU Member States and steal journalistic equipment. In Germany, ment for journalists to report threats and France, a leading private TV channel TF1
Candidate Countries). Those experien‐ journalists were even threatened “to be if they are discouraged from doing so, removed a report on the Nagorno-Kara‐
cing a high number of protests such as hanged” by a protester. In Italy, where media freedom will only decline. bakh conflict from its website, after being
Germany, Italy and Serbia lead the rank‐ threats from organised crime groups are accused of publishing a “biased report”.
ing since two-thirds of the attacks oc‐ unfortunately commonplace, four alerts Online harassment As a result, the channel received pressure
curred during demonstrations and in pub‐ document well-known methods of intim‐ both online and in front of the TV
lic places. idation such as visiting journalist’s homes, With 14 alerts, online harassment is wide‐ headquarter in Paris by hundreds of
tagging graffiti on walls and beatings car‐ spread throughout the MFRR region with protestors. Subsequently, the author of
Hostility from citizens ried out in daylight. This alone suggests a social media being used to amplify and ac‐ the report, Liseron Boudoul, received
specific climate where perpetrators are celerate the distribution of targeted mes‐ dozens of insulting messages including a
Among the reported cases, intimidation largely unafraid of the consequences of sages. It is often triggered by publications death threat on social media, as well as
and threats mainly come from private indi‐ their violent actions. on polarising topics such as extremism, emails and phone calls.
28 Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report 29Gender-based violations
SLAPPS� GAG LAWSUITS POSE CONTIN‐
While this section is probably underrepor‐
ted, MFRR recorded five cases of women UED THREAT TO PRESS FREEDOM � �IPI�
journalists being threatened or intimid‐
ated because of their gender. It includes
threats of rape and of physical and sexual
violence taking place primarily online. In
Germany, TV presenter Maybrit Illner re‐
ceived death threats in a letter sent via
email and signed by the NSU 2.0 (in refer‐
ence to the National Socialist Under‐
ground) as part of a string of emails par‐
ticularly sent to female politicians and wo‐
men in public life. Further, again related to
coverage of disinformation and conspir‐
acy theories, a female journalist in the UK
faced misogynistic online harassment and
a number of online threats on different so‐
cial media platforms.
30 Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report 31alert on Mapping Media Freedom after Dorota Goluch, and individual journalists, Chéritel group, agro-industrial group in in Europe. MFRR partners have coordin‐
three journalists working for the Slovenian and are part of a long-standing attempt the Brittany region. The defamation suit ated with activists, NGOs and human
investigative news website Necenzurir‐ by PiS to weaken the influence of the crit‐ followed the publication of her investiga‐ rights defenders and numerous journalist
ano (Uncensored) were hit by a barrage ical newspaper. tion into alleged illegal practices, workers' associations in individual countries to
of 39 lawsuits by Rok Snežič, a Slovenian working conditions, and the CEO’s at‐ provide a Europe-wide perspective. In ad‐
tax expert. Snežič, who claims to be an In Croatia, meanwhile, MFRR partners are tempts at silencing critical voices. The dition, they have also guided advocacy
unofficial financial advisor to the Slove‐ working with local journalists and their trial is due to take place on the 20th and work at the EU level and provided addi‐
nian Prime Minister, issued 13 suits each unions to document new cases which 21st of January 2021. Chéritel previously tional examples in the push by rights
against Primož Cirman, Vesna Vukovic bear the hallmarks of SLAPPs against sued a regional newspaper, the daily Le groups for an EU anti-SLAPP directive as
and Thomas Modica, for their reporting Telegram news portal, Virovitica.net, In‐ Télégramme, in 2015, over its reporting on part of the European Democracy Action
on his business dealings including his al‐ dex and the journalist Dora Kršul. As in the illegal employment of Bulgarian work‐ Plan. These include action to prevent the
leged role in an illegal loan worth Poland, these lawsuits were initiated by ers by the group. In January 2021 it was filing of SLAPPs by allowing for the early
€450,000 provided to the governing senior politicians – former Agriculture Min‐ announced that Jean Chéritel was drop‐ dismissal of meritless cases, measures to
party, SDS, in 2017. Snežič, who was pre‐ ister Tomislav Tolušić and former Member ping the action days before it was due to penalize abuse by reversing the costs of
viously convicted of fraud, money laun‐ of Parliament Branimir Glavaš – as well as start. proceedings, and practical support to tar‐
dering and tax evasion, claimed the art‐ University of Zagreb Rector, Damir Boras. geted journalists. The cases documented
icles damage his reputation. The cases Among the articles the journalists were In September, the MFRR also issued an by MFRR have shown the dangers of al‐
are ongoing but the journalists face fines sued for were reports about proceedings alert over the 25 defamation cases which lowing the legal loopholes which permit
and up to a year in prison if found guilty. initiated against Tolušić for allegedly mis‐ were still active against the Maltese journ‐ the abuse of SLAPPs to remain open. Un‐
reporting the size of his property, and a alist Daphne Caruana Galizia who was as‐ til action is taken to close them, they will
During the reporting period, media outlets report about the former conviction of sassinated in 2017. Caruana Galizia, a continue to create a chilling effect on
across Europe continued to fight drawn Nikolić. Monitoring here was followed by well-known investigative journalist, was freedom of expression and legitimate
out SLAPP cases. In October, alerts were fact-finding calls with stakeholders and facing 47 active civil and criminal libel journalistic work for years to come.
published regarding spurious gagging affected journalists on the ground, includ‐ suits filed in various jurisdictions, includ‐
cases against the Polish investigative ing the Croatian Journalist Association ing Malta and the United States, on the
newspaper OKO.press by plaintiffs includ‐ (CJA� which recently surveyed its mem‐ day she was murdered. She was sued for
ing judges and powerful business offi‐ bers and collected information related to the first time in 1994 and during her pro‐
cials. Meanwhile, Poland’s second- 905 active lawsuits against journalists fessional life 67 defamation lawsuits were
biggest daily newspaper, Gazeta Wybor‐ and the media, with prosecutors claiming filed against her. Bearing the classic hall‐
cza, received over 55 legal threats and almost HRK 68 million (€9 million) in dam‐ marks of SLAPP cases, among the
lawsuits by a number of actors since ages. It said many of these were SLAPPs plaintiffs were the then Prime Minister
2015. Many of these have been launched and were commonly launched by politi‐ Josef Muscat, his chief of staff, govern‐
by figures within the ruling Law and cians, business leaders, public figures, ment ministers, state officials and promin‐
Justice party, including the party head local government units, companies and ent business leaders.
Jarosław Kaczyński, the state television even judges themselves.
broadcaster, Telewizja Polska SA, and While each documented case is different,
state-owned company KGHM Polska Elsewhere, independent French journalist taken together the monitoring of these
Miedź SA. These actions target the news‐ Inès Léraud is also preparing for her trial cases by the MFRR has helped form a
paper itself, the paper’s publisher, Agora in a SLAPP case brought against her by clearer picture of the nature and serious‐
SA, its editor-in-chief of wyborcza.pl, business tycoon Jean Chéritel, CEO of the ness that SLAPPs pose to media freedom
32 Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report 337
6 6
police officers during protests aimed at the
COVID�19 government’s response to the COVID�19
pandemic. As outlined in a previous
As highlighted in the first monitoring re‐ chapter, during these protests, there was a
port Mapping Media Freedom: A Four- disturbing trend of journalists being at‐
Month Snapshot, between March and tacked even after presenting themselves
June 2020, 42 alerts were published and 1 1 1 1 1 as journalists to police officers. Žikica
verified on Mapping Media Freedom that Stevanović of the Beta news agency,
related to the COVID�19 pandemic. Here Milica Božinović, a journalist for the No‐
is a section of the analysis compiled by y ly a tia ta ia ia va.rs news portal, and Igor Stanojevic were
an bi ce al n
Ita r a e do ve
n
the International Press Institute: rm Se ro re M e lo
all attacked by police officers, with Stano‐
e C G ac S
G M jevic also being arrested for his reporting.
h
‘MFRR partners documented press free‐
o rt Violence was not only deployed by police
dom violations linked to the coronavirus in N officers. A number of incidents, including
13 of the EU’s 34 different Member States the punching of a cameraman from the
and Candidate Countries. These included Tanjug news agency by a young male pro‐
new laws on “fake news”, restrictions on demic broken down via country for the re‐ cing journalists and media workers were tester and the hospitalisation of Beta
access to information and physical at‐ porting period of (July until the end of Oc‐ threats of or actual physical violence News Agency reporters Milos Miskov and
tacks on journalists seeking to cover vari‐ tober 2020�� against the media actor (or their equip‐ Svetlana Dojcinovic after they were pelted
ous aspects of the pandemic, including ment) or verbal threats, including abusing by bricks and stones, demonstrated the
demonstrations.’ In the previous report, EFJ and IPI ana‐ and harassing language, threats of poten‐ role of protesters in attacking journalists.
lysed the impact of the pandemic on me‐ tial violence, as well as sexual harassment
This highlights the central pressure facing dia freedom and the increasing dangers directed at journalists. This latter group of Similar attacks on Paolo Fratter, a re‐
journalists and media workers; not only is of journalists covering protests. In this re‐ threats were enforced by a significant porter for Sky TG 24, and camera operat‐
the pandemic a public health threat in of porting period, protests connected to anti-media sentiment that led to threats ors, Vincenzo Triente and Fabio Giulianelli
itself, as well as a threat to the income COVID�19, more specifically organised to being made in a protest in Berlin to hang who were attacked and had glass bottles
and economic viability of media outlets, it oppose government responses to the journalists and a journalist in Rome being and stones thrown in Naples and the
is a situation that necessitates state inter‐ pandemic, continue to be a significant threatened by a protester shouting ‘You physical assault of a Spiegel TV camera
vention, stokes public anger and rein‐ threat to journalists and media workers. piece of shit, you'll die shot’ before having crew made up of Adrian Altmaier, Adrian-
forces existing divisions that can hinder to be escorted away by a police officer. Basil Mueller and Henrik Neumann in Ger‐
and damage media freedom. This situ‐ Out of the 24 alerts, 15 took place during many demonstrates how the same anti-
ation has not subsided. In fact, in the re‐ protests in Germany, Italy and Serbia. The alerts from Serbia, Italy and Germany media sentiment that encourages the
porting period between July and the end These alerts emanate broadly from two also highlighted an escalation of risk, from verbal harassment of journalists can
of October, 24 alerts have been published sources: private individuals taking part in threats and harassment to physical viol‐ morph unchecked into physical acts of vi‐
on MMF from eight EU Member States or observing the protest or from police of‐ ence that left a number of journalists and olence. All these incidents increase the
and Candidate Countries, which relate to ficers or representatives of security ser‐ media workers across the MFRR region in expected risk for covering protests, fur‐
the COVID�19 pandemic. vices deployed to maintain order during need of medical attention. Over the days ther dissuading journalists from carrying
the protest. Due to the direct on-the- between 7th and 11th July in Serbia, 28 out their work, while also chilling future
Here is a breakdown of all MMF alerts re‐ ground nature of the majority of reporting journalists and media workers were at‐ coverage. If these threats are perceived
lated to the impact of the COVID�19 pan‐ on protests, the majority of the threats fa‐ tacked or threatened by protesters and as being part of the price journalists are to
34 Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report Mapping Media Freedom | Monitoring Report 35You can also read
