South East European Network for Professionalization of Media (SEENPM)

The campaign features approximately 100 compelling video messages delivered by prominent media workers on the key aspects of a professional journalist’s work, the threats that journalists face, and the main factors that generate mistrust in the media.

Political influence and direct or indirect control over the media, as well as smear campaigns, threats and violence against journalists, have caused the media environment to deteriorate in most countries in the Balkans.

Unidentified individuals threw a molotov cocktail through the journalist’s window in the early hours of 12 December, then fired shots to prevent his family fleeing the burning house.

Pro-Orbán media owners ‘donated’ their news outlets to the Central European Press and Media Foundation, a newly formed conglomerate headed by a prominent Orbán supporter.

Kovačević was attacked by two unidentified men in front of his home; before the assault he had been covering a protest calling on the authorities to resolve the unexplained death of a 21-year-old student.

Lakić is Motenegro’s most targeted journalist; she has been beaten and threatened numerous times in connection with her articles.

Journalist Zeenat Shahzadi was recently recovered from a kidnapping. Rather than releasing her to her family, the Pakistani government is arbitrarily holding her in custody.

A joint statement by the Association of Progressive Communications, IFEX and 64 co-signatories at the UN-HRC 36 warns of the threat to human rights posed by recent attacks on the right to use encryption technology, in Turkey and across the globe.