Media

Jourova promises action plan to protect independent journalism

The European Commission (EC) will present by the end of the year an action plan to protect independent journalism, Commission Vice President Věra Jourová announced on Monday (12 October) during the conference "Media Freedom in Bulgaria", organised by EURACTIV Bulgaria.

France to decide whether Google can be forced to negotiate ‘neighbouring rights’ with the press

The Paris Court of Appeal will rule Thursday (8 October) on whether the country's competition authority had the power to require Google to negotiate with the French press on so-called "neighbouring rights" which allow online newspaper publishers to be remunerated for publishing extracts of their articles on Google News.

New rules in Bulgaria’s parliament building: Journalists cry foul

Protests in Bulgaria asking for the resignation of Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev have entered their third month. Against this background the Bulgarian parliament has become a fortress in which journalists are treated as the enemy. EURACTIV Bulgaria reports.

Bulgaria ruling party defiant as protests turn violent

Bulgaria's ruling conservative party on Thursday (3 September) resisted calls for Prime Minister Boyko Borissov's government to resign, after two months of protests against his perceived tolerance of corruption erupted into the most violent day yet.

Shock as Slovak court acquits businessman of journalist murder

The case of a murdered investigative journalist delivered a new shock in Slovakia Thursday, as a high-profile businessman was acquitted of ordering the killing that ultimately exposed high-level political corruption and toppled the governing party.

EU says Belarus restrictions on foreign media ‘not acceptable’

The EU criticised “arbitrary restrictions” on foreign media after Belarusian authorities on Saturday (29 August) withdrew the accreditation of journalists working for several foreign news organisations, ahead of the latest demonstration challenging the results of the presidential election.

EU and US politicians: Facebook must do more to stop online sexism

Facebook Inc must step up and protect women in politics from threats of violence and sexism and hate on its platform, said a letter to the company from female members of the US Congress such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and top female politicians from the EU.

Mass resignations at Hungary’s biggest news site as fallout from editor’s sacking continues

Nearly 60 journalists have resigned from the 90-member editorial team of Index, Hungary's leading independent media outlet, in what is being described as a devastating blow to the country's free press and media plurality. 

Poland to propose limits on foreign media soon, Kaczynski says

Poland will seek to craft rules limiting the concentration of foreign-owned media outlets well before the ruling nationalists finish their term in power, Poland's de facto leader said on Sunday (19 July), with parliamentary elections expected in 2023.

Top Hungary news site says independence in ‘grave danger’

The editor of Hungary's most popular news website warned Sunday (21 June) that a planned overhaul would jeopardise its freedom to publish stories critical of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government.

Filmmakers urge EU to stand up to streaming giants

More than a dozen top European film directors have called on the EU to regulate streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon.

The future of media: more digital and more economic pain

The coronavirus outbreak has prompted a significant increase in news consumption but the economic turmoil is forcing news businesses to accelerate their move to digital, The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism said.

Media calls on EU to crack down on online disinformation

Broadcasters, publishers and journalists called on the European Commission on Monday (15 June) to implement "much stronger measures" to combat disinformation on internet platforms such as Google and Facebook.

Commission mulls ‘innovative financial solutions’ to back EU media sector

The European Commission is mulling over plans to introduce 'new and innovative financial solutions' to support the sustainability of the EU's media sector amid the current health crisis.

UK media watchdog director joins Facebook

A top official has been poached by Facebook from the UK's media watchdog, the Office of Communications (Ofcom). The move comes at a time in which the UK is readying broad legislation to crack down on offensive content online.

Bulgaria ‘black sheep of the EU’: World Press Freedom Index

Bulgaria has the lowest standards of press freedom in Europe and is ranked 111th globally in terms of press freedom for a third consecutive year in the Reporters Without Borders annual edition of the World Press Freedom index, which called the country "the black sheep of the EU".

Slovenian media fear fallout from government virus campaign

The new government of Slovenia's conservative Prime Minister Janez Janša has so far kept the coronavirus under control -- but critics fear he will exploit the crisis to bring to heel the media he brands "presstitution".

Regulation against fake news ‘very important,’ Reynders says

The European Parliament and Council should work with the Commission to consider how best to implement a potential legal clampdown on fake news online, the EU's Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders has said.

Serbian journalist detained for coronavirus reporting

A Serbian journalist was detained by police on Wednesday (1 April) on charges of causing public unrest and damaging a hospital's reputation after she reported about a shortage of protective medical equipment available for staff at a medical centre in the northern Vojvodina province.

More than 50% of consumers ready to pay for media, WEF report says

Some 53% of consumers are willing to pay for news in the future and as many as 70% for entertainment, according to a report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), published on Thursday (2 April).

Coronavirus used to promote anti-EU narrative in Balkans, report finds

The ongoing coronavirus crisis is feeding into the narrative that the EU is “turning its back” on the Western Balkans, the European External Action Service (EEAS) said in an updated report on ongoing disinformation campaigns surrounding the pandemic, published on Wednesday (1 April).

Eurovision becomes latest victim of coronavirus

Eurovision song contest organisers announced on Wednesday (18 March) that this year's edition - scheduled for May in the Dutch city of Rotterdam - is cancelled because of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The annual contest has run interrupted since its debut in 1956.

Bulgarian investigative journalist assaulted in Sofia

A well-known Bulgarian investigative journalist was assaulted by masked men late Tuesday outside his home on a central Sofia boulevard, sparking angry reactions from journalist organisations.

Power and journalism in Bulgaria: Deflecting embarrassing issues

The Supreme Judicial Council of Bulgaria has blamed an investigative journalist for being “aggressive” in asking questions, disregarding her discovery that the head of the country’s largest court may be holding this post in breach of the law.