Press statements of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media

WARSAW/VIENNA, 28 September 2020 – The increasing challenges to the rights and freedoms at the heart of the OSCE commitments to human rights and democracy made 30 years ago, as well as the need for a greater understanding that only a dialogue based on mutual respect will enable us to overcome our common challenges, form the backdrop for a month-long series of webinars beginning today...

VIENNA, 28 September 2020 – A healthy relationship between the police and the media can increase public confidence in law enforcement, help solve crimes and ultimately keep communities safe, said opening speakers of the 2020 OSCE Annual Police Experts Meeting (APEM), held in Vienna and online today...

The Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) is calling for proposals for innovative ideas and initiatives to tackle the challenges brought by Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the freedom of expression. This call is being made as part of the RFoM’s project, Spotlight on the Impact of AI on Freedom of Expression (#SAIFE). Initiatives selected by the RFoM will receive funding for their implementation...

VIENNA, 9 October 2020 – The 22nd Central Asia Media Conference, organized online by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), concluded today. Over the course of the three-day conference, around 150 journalists, representatives of NGOs, academia, international experts, and government agencies from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan as well as Mongolia, discussed a broad range of issues related to freedom of the media and freedom of information in the region, with a special focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic...

VIENNA, 15 October 2020 – The Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) published today a legal review of the draft Federal Act on Measures to Protect Users on Communications Platforms (Kommunikationsplattformen-Gesetz – KoPI-G) by the Republic of Austria. The review was officially submitted to the President of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka, and to the Federal Chancellery of the Republic of Austria on 15 October 2020.

VIENNA, 22 October 2020 – The Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) launched today a report on the handling of the media during public assemblies. The report elaborates on the role of both law enforcement agencies and journalists during such public events, and offers observations and recommendations in order for the media to be able to provide coverage without undue hindrance...

VIENNA, 2 November 2020 – The Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) launched today a new Resource Guide, which contains action proposals on how to ensure the safety of female journalists online. It identifies a way forward and provides a list of useful resources and examples of existing measures and good practices...

The Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media published the third edition of its Safety of Journalists Guidebook on 10 November 2020...

VIENNA, 19 November 2020 – The promotion of freedom of information during health crises and the state of media freedom in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia were the focus of the two-day 17th OSCE South Caucasus Media Conference, which concluded today...

VIENNA/NICOSIA, 26 November 2020 — Under the auspices of the Cyprus Media Dialogue project, the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) organized an online event today to conclude the second exchange opportunity for journalists from the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities...