Media Freedom Conditions Worsen in Europe

According to a Safety of Journalists’ Platform report, the conditions in which European journalists work is more and more dangerous. 140 serious media freedom violations were reported to the platform in 2018. There is especially a growth in the number of attacks on journalists, as well as in the number of threats reported.

Journalists continue to be detained arbitrarily, the report states, and there are still many cases of impunity for the murder of journalists.

This report is alarming, and was presented in Strasbourg to Thorbjørn Jagland, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, who affirmed that it would serve as a basis for taking new measures to protect media freedom. He stated: “Freedom of expression is crucial for the realisation of all other human rights and it deserves the highest attention of our member states. The report can serve as a basis for dialogue with the member states on the ways to improve the media freedom environment”. It will be important to follow the progress of such situation.

By Gabrielle Colchen

Image Source: sandiegofreepress.org