Articles by International Press Institute (IPI)
Hungary: Orbán exploits COVID-19 to extend powers and threaten press freedom
“The Hungarian government is taking advantage of a health emergency to accelerate its already extensive control over news and information in the country. Regardless of whether the law is applied in practice, the potential for self-censorship is enormous and damaging at a time when independent journalism is more essential than ever.”
Hungary seeks power to jail journalists for ‘false’ COVID-19 coverage
“This law would allow the Hungarian government to back up its usual ‘fake news’ accusations against journalists with the threat of criminal prosecution and even imprisonments; attacks on independent journalists simply for doing their job leave little doubt that this proposal is an effort to cement control over public information”.
Emergency COVID-19 measures must not be used to roll back media freedom
“The free flow of independent news is more essential than ever in this situation, both in informing the public on vital measures to contain the virus as well as in maintaining an open dialogue and debate on the adequacy of those measures, which is essential for winning the necessary public trust for them.”
Cyprus: Pipe-bomb attack on news agency
The bomb exploded at the entrance to the agency in the early hours of 4 March. No injuries were reported and police are currently investigating to establish whether the motive for the attack was related to news coverage.
IFEX members call for end to ban on public advertising in two critical Turkish newspapers
In September, the state regulator of government ads in print media imposed a ban on advertising in the independent ‘Evrensel’ and ‘BirGün’ newspapers. If not lifted, the ban could be catastrophic for the publications’ economic viability.
International Press Institute launches new video tutorials on online harassment
The videos focus on legal remedies to fight online harassment and how journalists can protect themselves from emotional trauma.
Slovakia: Alleged hitman pleads guilty to murdering Ján Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kušnírová
At his trial, Miroslav Marček testified that he shot Kuciak at the home he and Kušnírová shared. He said that he then killed Kušnírová – apparently unplanned – after she saw his face, chasing her into the kitchen and shooting her in the head.
Four accused in Ján Kuciak murder case will go on trial in January
Businessman Marian Kočner is accused of contracting the assassination, Miroslav Marcek and Tomas Szabo are accused of carrying out the killing, and Alena Zsuzsova is accused of acting as an intermediary.