IPI Press Freedom Podcasts

As our planet grapples with the devastating effects of climate change, the indispensable role of environmental journalism becomes increasingly apparent. Yet, the right to cover environmental issues remains under siege, not least in Italy: articlesadvertisementsevening TV newsGreenpeace Italy How can journalists inform the public effectively when the fossil fuel industry has a growing influence on the media platforms? On Earth Day, we confront this question head-on. Guests: Climate and Environmental journalism under fireRADAR MagazineFree Press for Climate Producer and Host: Beatrice Chioccioli, Europe Advocacy Officer at the International Press Institute (IPI) Editor: Javier Luque, Head of Digital Communications at IPI Other episodes in this series: Media Freedom in Focus: Untangling media capture in GreeceNavigating Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Act – Media Freedom In Focus Related links: New IPI report reveals safety crisis faced by climate and environmental journalistsVoices for Climate - The first network of voices against greenwashingEnvironmental journalism: pursuing quality coverage of a global crisis This podcast series is part of the Media Freedom in Focus project, sponsored by Media Freedom Rapid Response(MFRR), which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries. The MFRR is organized by a consortium led by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) including ARTICLE 19 Europe, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Free Press Unlimited (FPU), the International Press Institute (IPI) and Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT).

Moscow’s Lefortovo Prison. For almost one year now, this has been the home of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is being held on charges of espionage. Lefortovo is known as one of the most secret prisons in Russia. It is notorious as a place of arrest for high-level personalities detained by Russian authorities on politically motivated charges. Prisoners sent there are typically investigated by the FSB, one of Russia’s most powerful secret services. In just one moment in March 2023, Evan’s life changed from that of an active reporter to that of a simple prisoner at Lefortovo. One year later, Russian investigators have still produced no proof justifying the charges against him. Instead, they have regularly extended Evan’s pre-trial detention. If convicted, he faces between 10 and 20 years in prison. While a prisoner exchange with the United States was on the table since Evan was first arrested, the prospect of his release still seems further away than ever. The IPI global network continues to advocate for his release. Together with other press freedom groups and international media, we demanded that Russian authorities set Evan free, sent him a letter to Lefortovo, spoke to his friends and continuously kept his case at the forefront of our activities by highlighting any updates in the criminal case opened against him. In this new episode of The Press Freedom Files, published to mark the one-year anniversary of Evan’s arrest, we speak to Polina Ivanova, a correspondent for FT who covers Russia, Ukraine, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Together with Gershkovich, she covered the region for several years from Moscow, prior to his arrest. In a moving testimony, Polina recounts Evan’s work, his life, and what it was like to see him behind bars over the past year. Guests: Polina Ivanova, Russia, Ukraine, Caucasus and Central Asia correspondent at FT. Producer and Host: Karol Łuczka, Eastern Europe Advocacy and Monitoring Officer at IPI. Editor: Javier Luque, Head of Digital Communications at IPI.

Latest episode of Media Freedom In Focus podcast examines findings of new report on threats to independent media in Greece Independent journalism and watchdog reporting in Greece faces challenges from many sides. In the last few years, the country has experienced the broad-daylight murder of a crime reporter, multiple threats to the safety of journalists, a sprawling surveillance and spyware scandal and numerous vexatious lawsuits and legal threats against media and journalists, with detrimental consequences for Greek democracy. However, these immediate challenges sit atop deeper historical and systemic issues including a problematic landscape for independent journalism, weak media pluralism, prolonged economic threats to media viability, entrenched capture of private media by powerful families and owners, and low levels of trust in media. Greece suffers, in short, from media capture. A new report, published on 30 January, looks in detail at this situation in Greece for the first time, with damning conclusions about the scale of media capture in Greece, and its impact on the country’s democracy. Guests: Danai Maragoudaki, a journalist at Greek investigative media outlet Solomon, who also works for The Manifold Producer and Host: Jamie Wiseman, Europe Advocacy Officer at International Press Institute (IPI) Editor: Javier Luque, Head of Digital Communications at IPI Other episodes in this series: Navigating Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Act - Media Freedom In Focus Under illegal surveillance – the Greek ‘Predatorgate’ – Media Freedom In Focus Related links: New report examines media capture in Greece Report: Stemming the tide of Greek media freedom decline

Sunucu: Cansu Çamlıbel | Konuk: Handan Uslu IPI Özgür Sohbetler: Türkiye podcast serisinin 44. bölümü yayında! IPI Özgür Sohbetler’in yeni bölümünde gazeteci Cansu Çamlıbel’in konuğu siyasi mikro hedefleme, algoritmik manipülasyon ve dijital dirençlilik gibi alanlarda faaliyet gösteren Gözlemevi İnternet ve Toplum Araştırmaları Merkezi’nin kurucusu Handan Uslu’ydu. Uslu; teknoloji şirketlerinin kullandığı algoritmaların dünyanın bilgi ekosistemini oluşturduğunu, Gözlemevi’nin bu firmaların özellikle içerik moderasyonu konusunda hesap verebilirlikten uzak olmasının doğurduğu ihtiyaç üzerine kurulduğunu ve merkez olarak kamuoyunun maruz kaldığı manipülasyon ve zararı ortaya koyan araştırmalar yürüttüklerini aktarıyor. “Uyku düzeninizden ruh halinize, alışveriş alışkanlıklarınızdan siyasi eğiliminize kadar sizi sizden çok daha iyi tanıyorlar” şeklinde tanımladığı teknoloji şirketlerine hesap sorma yönünde net kriterler belirlemek gerektiğine dikkat çeken Uslu, bunu şöyle örnekliyor ve açıklıyor: “Veriyi işlerken, bu veriyi birine gönderirken ya da bu veri için bir hedefleme yaparken bunun için kullanıcının rızasını almak; kullanıcıyı (özellikle çocukları) +18 şiddet içeren içeriklerden korumak; ifade özgürlüğünü korumak ve nefret söylemini engellemek arasında iyi bir denge kurmak ve de bunun için gerekli operasyonları hayata geçirmek. Bu açıdan baktığımızda, yani beklentilerimizi çok daha net ve basit tutup bu yönde veri oluşturduğumuzda aslında bu firmaların politika ve uygulamalarını etkilemek mümkün.” Sohbette değinilen konu başlıklarından bazılarını şöyle özetleyebiliriz: Bu kayıt, Avrupa Birliğinin (AB) maddi desteği ile hazırlanmıştır. İçerik tamamıyla Uluslararası Basın Enstitüsü (IPI) sorumluluğu altındadır ve Avrupa Birliğinin görüşlerini yansıtmak zorunda değildir.

A battle is currently underway for the future of Poland’s politicized public media. Since the election of the new coalition government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk in October 2023, the public television TVP has faced drastic reforms. The new Minister of Culture moved quickly to enact changes at TVP, Polish Radio and the state news agency, which had to different levels been converted into media arms of the former ruling party, Law and Justice. After promising swift action during the campaign, the new pro-EU government temporarily took a news channel off the air, abruptly dismissed the supervisory bodies of TVP and the news agency, and more recently put the public media into liquidation. While the Tusk administration has defended these moves as necessary to restore impartiality and dismantle the unethical and biased output of TVP, the former ruling party has criticized the changes as undemocratic and aimed at cementing a new form of political control. While it’s clear that major reforms were urgently needed to Poland’s public media, there are questions about whether the means used to do so are democratic, legal and truly aimed at increasing pluralistic coverage, rather than simply perpetuating the cycle of politicization after elections that has characterized public media for decades. Guests: Daniel Tilles, Editor-in-Chief at Notes From Poland Producer and Host: Jamie Wiseman, Europe Advocacy Officer at International Press Institute (IPI) Editor: Javier Luque, Head of Digital Communications at IPI Other episodes in this series: Navigating Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Act - Media Freedom In Focus Related links: Poland: MFRR reasserts recommendations for democratic reform for press freedom and public media Upheaval at Polish public broadcaster must lead to comprehensive reform to restore and safeguard independence

Latest episode of MFRR In Focus interviews Hungarian journalist Szabolcs Panyi about the potential impact of new law The situation for Hungary’s embattled independent media is about to become even more challenging. On 12 December, the Hungarian parliament voted to pass the Protection of Sovereignty Act. It was debated for less than two weeks and passed without any serious public consultation.7 Its stated motivation is the protection of Hungarian sovereignty from malign external threats, and the criminalisation of foreign funding to political parties during election campaigns. A new body will now be established to map and report on perceived threats to national sovereignty and identify bodies or individuals suspected of serving foreign interests or receiving foreign funds. In a country where government politicians have previously smeared some media as serving foreign interests, media have criticized the vague language of the law, and decried the bill as being part of the government’s decade-long attempt to dial up the pressure on critical voices. Ahead of elections in 2024, and amidst ongoing negotiations with the European Commission over the release of frozen EU funds, the new law looks set to be another divisive issue pitting Budapest against Brussels – and create further uncertainty for media and NGOs. In this episode of the MFRR In Focus, we spoke to renowned Hungarian journalist Szabolcs Panyi about the details of the law, what its real motivations are, and what impact it will have on the already destabilised independent media community. Guests: Szabolcs Panyi, investigative editor at VSQUARE and investigative journalist at Direkt36 Producer and Host: Jamie Wiseman, Europe Advocacy Officer at International Press Institute (IPI) Editor: Javier Luque, head of digital communications at IPI Other episodes in this series: Under illegal surveillance – the Greek ‘Predatorgate’ Related links: Draft Sovereignty Protection Act poses fresh threat to independent media IPI joins condemnation of passing of Sovereignty Protection Act

Sunucu: Cansu Çamlıbel | Konuk: Erol Önderoğlu IPI Özgür Sohbetler: Türkiye podcast serisinin 43. bölümü yayında! IPI Özgür Sohbetler’in yeni bölümünde gazeteci Cansu Çamlıbel, meslektaşı ve Sınır Tanımayan Gazeteciler (RSF) Türkiye Temsilcisi Erol Önderoğlu ile seçim yılında Türkiye’de basın özgürlüğünün durumunu konuştu. Önderoğlu, 2023 yılının hukuk ve medya özgürlüğü değerlerinin siyasi bir amaç için araçsallaştırıldığı bir dönem olduğunu belirtti ve şu sözlerle devam etti: “Bu yıl Türkiye’de en az bir gününü hapishanede geçiren gazetecilerin sayısı 43. Ülkemizde tutuklama döngüsü o kadar hızlı işliyor ki, gazeteciler tutuklandıktan üç ay, altı ay veya bir yıl sonra tahliye oluyorlar. Yargı, belirli bir politik ortamı tatmin etmek için gazetecileri istediği zaman tekir olarak ya da grup halinde tutuklama keyfiyetine sahip.” Basın özgürlüğü için dayanışmanın önemini vurgulayan Önderoğlu, tüm baskılara rağmen mesleğini sürdüren gazetecilerin ilham kaynağı oluşturduğunu söyledi ve şu sözleri ekledi: “Yaklaşık 30 yıldır bu gazetecilerin meslek yaşamlarını takip eden bir gazeteci olarak bugüne nasıl bu kadar sağlam geldiklerini ve onca tehdide rağmen nasıl bu kadar dinamik kalabildiklerini çok iyi anlayabiliyorum çünkü Türkiye demokrasisinin on yıllardır verdiği mücadele içerisinde, geçmiş kuşaklarımıza da baktığımızda, bu gazetecilerin çok dinamik ve kamuoyunu önceleyen bir yaşam tarzları ve perspektifleri olduğunu görüyoruz. Kamuoyunu aydınlatmak, şeffaf topluma hizmet etmek, olumsuzluğa ışık tutmak kadar insanı tatmin edebilecek başka bir şey olamaz. Biz de halen onca otoriter hamleye rağmen böyle kazanımlar üzerinden yaşıyoruz.” Sohbette değinilen konu başlıklarından bazıları şöyle: Bu kayıt, Avrupa Birliğinin (AB) maddi desteği ile hazırlanmıştır. İçerik tamamıyla Uluslararası Basın Enstitüsü (IPI) sorumluluğu altındadır ve Avrupa Birliğinin görüşlerini yansıtmak zorunda değildir.

Sunucu: Cansu Çamlıbel | Konuk: Tolga Şardan IPI Özgür Sohbetler: Türkiye podcast serisinin 42. bölümü yayında! IPI Özgür Sohbetler’in yeni bölümünde gazeteci Cansu Çamlıbel, T24 haber platformunun deneyimli köşe yazarlarından Tolga Şardan ile Türkiye'de bürokrasi ve suç ağları arasındaki ilişkiyi ve bu alanda gazetecilik yapmanın esaslarını konuştu. Uzun süreli siyasi iktidarlarda bürokrasinin pervasızca hareket etme eğiliminin daha yüksek olduğunu ifade eden Şardan, “Türkiye’nin bugün yoğun bir suç gündemine sahip olmasının sebeplerinden biri de maalesef bu pervasız hareketler. Otokontrolün düşük olduğu ve siyasi iktidara yakın kesimlerin faydasına seyreden süreçler yaşandığını görüyoruz. Bu da ne yazık ki yargının, toplum dinamiklerinin, huzurun ve büyük ölçüde de demokrasinin önünde bir engel oluşturuyor” diye konuştu. Geçtiğimiz Kasım ayında Şardan'ın tutuklanmasına sebep olan ve Türk Ceza Kanunu kapsamında 217/A maddesini oluşturan “dezenformasyon suçu” hakkında da konuşan Şardan, Türkiye'de gazetecilerin özellikle son 5-6 yıldır otokontrol/otosansür anlamında yaşadıkları sorunların arttığını ve yargıdaki benzer uygulamalarla bu sorunların gelecekte daha da artacağını düşündüğünü söyledi. Sohbette değinilen konu başlıklarından bazıları şöyle: Bu kayıt, Avrupa Birliğinin (AB) maddi desteği ile hazırlanmıştır. İçerik tamamıyla Uluslararası Basın Enstitüsü (IPI) sorumluluğu altındadır ve Avrupa Birliğinin görüşlerini yansıtmak zorunda değildir.

A recent study published by IPI under the title “The change we need: Strategies to support climate and environmental journalism” critically analyses different approaches adopted by media to produce and deliver fact-based, public-interest climate news. The study also finds a clear need for more resources, strategies, training, and investment to ensure climate and environmental journalism reaches audiences and contributes to finding solutions to the crisis. In this episode, experts on climate and environmental journalism discuss how to ensure the success of our environmental coverage, which types of content and formats address the needs of our audiences, which type of impact are we looking at generating and, most importantly, how to mobilize the necessary resources. Link to report: https://ipi.media/climate-journalism-new-ipi-study-identifies-challenges-and-opportunities/ Guests: Host and Producer: Barbara Trionfi, media freedom expert and author of the IPI-NICHE report “The change we need: Strategies to support climate and environmental journalism”. Editor: Javier Luque, Head of Digital Communications at IPI.

Sunucu: Cansu Çamlıbel | Konuk: Coşkun Aral IPI Özgür Sohbetler: Türkiye podcast serisinin 41. bölümü yayında! IPI Özgür Sohbetler’in yeni bölümünde gazeteci Cansu Çamlıbel, deneyimli savaş muhabiri Coşkun Aral ile İsrail-Filistin savaşından yola çıkarak Aral’ın 45 yılı aşan savaş muhabirliği kariyerindeki tecrübelerini ve savaş dönemlerinde basın kuruluşlarının propaganda konusundaki rolünü konuştu. İsrail-Filistin arasındaki son savaşta dünyanın önde gelen basın kuruluşlarının eleştiri konusu olan tutumlarını değerlendiren Aral, “Basının bazı felaket ve katliamlar karşısındaki sessizliği hep vardı. Lübnan İç Savaşı’ndan Romanya Devrimi’ne kadar pek çok farklı olayda benzer tutumları gördük. Bütün büyük yayın kuruluşları için geçerli bu” ifadelerini kullandı. Savaş fotoğrafçısı Nick Ut’un Vietnam Savaşı'nın sembolü olan "Napalm kızı" fotoğrafı üzerinden sosyal medya çağının savaş ve çatışmalara etkisini de değerlendiren Aral, sosyal medyanın getirdiği imkanların savaşları durdurma gücü olduğunu ancak tamamen bitirme güçlerinin olmadığını söyledi. Sohbette değinilen konu başlıklarından bazıları şöyle: Bu kayıt, Avrupa Birliğinin (AB) maddi desteği ile hazırlanmıştır. İçerik tamamıyla Uluslararası Basın Enstitüsü (IPI) sorumluluğu altındadır ve Avrupa Birliğinin görüşlerini yansıtmak zorunda değildir.

Finland, "the land of the free press", made headlines in January this year, when two journalists were convicted of disclosing state secrets in the infamous Finnish Intelligence Research Center case. In December 2017, Helsingin Sanomat, Finland’s leading daily newspaper, published an article about the activities of the Finnish Intelligence Research Center. The piece was the first in a series of articles aiming to shed light on plans to give Finland’s security services greater powers to carry out surveillance and covert operations domestically and abroad. Soon after the publication, authorities opened an investigation into the newspaper and the authors of the article. Five years later, following a lengthy investigation and trial, the Helsinki District Court convicted journalist Laura Halminen and her colleague Tuomo Pietiläinen of disclosing state secrets. On this podcast episode, we will have a closer look at the chain of events which lead to the landmark conviction, and how the long and unprecedented legal proceedings have affected press freedom in Finland and abroad. Guests: Salla Nazarenko, International Affairs Specialist at the Union of Journalists in Finland and Riku Neuvonen, Associate Professor of Media Law, Researcher and Senior Lecturer of Public Law at Tampere University and University of Helsinki. Producer and Host: Ronja Koskinen, Press Freedom Officer at IPI. Editor: Ronja Koskinen, Press Freedom Officer at IPI and Javier Luque, Head of Digital Communications at IPI.

Media freedom in Slovakia is heading into an uncertain new era, and a potential return to the past. On 16 October 2023, a new coalition government was formed following the closely contested general election in late September. At the head of this new government is Robert Fico, the populist leader of the SMER party, which has joined together with centre-left HLAS and nationalist Slovak National Party. For a country which has seen a process of rebuilding for media freedom in recent years following the murder in 2018 of Slovak journalist Jan Kuciak and his partner – there is a worrying sense of déjà vu Fico was the Prime Minister when the murder took place and was topped by mass protests – ending a rule in which journalists became the target of verbal attacks and denigration by politicians. His comeback has sparked renewed concerns that the fragile progress made under the former government is in jeopardy, and could even go into swift reversal, as the grudge-holding Prime Minister and his new cabinet move to settle old scores. In this episode of the MFRR In Focus, we speak to one o the country’s leading editors-in-chief about where the potential flashpoints for media freedom will be in the months ahead, and what the future could hold. Guests: Beata Balogova, Editor-In-Chief of Slovak daily newspaper SME Producer and Host: Jamie Wiseman, Europe Advocacy Officer at IPI Editor: Javier Luque, Head of Digital Communications at IPI Other episodes in this series: MFRR in Focus: Reforming Croatia’s controversial draft media law Related links: Analysis: How much has media freedom in Slovakia changed five years after Ján Kuciak murder? Fifth anniversary of Kuciak and Kušnírová’s killing marked by fragile press freedom progress Deepfake audio of Denník N journalist offers worrying example of AI abuse

Press freedom in Greece, the birthplace of democracy, faces serious challenges. In recent years, media freedom in Greece has deteriorated significantly. During this period, Greece witnessed a crime reporter's brazen daytime assassination, multiple arson attacks on media offices, numerous vexatious lawsuits against the press, and criminal charges against media outlets reporting on a major pharmaceutical scandal, among other incidents. This podcast episode focuses on a significant attack on press freedom in Greece: the illegal surveillance of a journalist using spyware. We will discuss with reporter Thanasis Koukakis, who had his phone hacked using the advanced spyware tool, Predator. This marked the first confirmed case in the world of a journalist falling victim to this little-known hacking tool. Additionally, Koukakis was separately wiretapped by Greek security services on "national security" grounds. Guest: Journalist Thanasis Koukakis. Producer and Host: Ronja Koskinen, Press Freedom Officer at IPI. Editor: Ronja Koskinen, Press Freedom Officer at IPI and Javier Luque, Head of Digital Communications at IPI.

In Croatia, a new draft media law brought forward by the government which critics say would weaken media freedoms has sparked intense debate, international attention and demands for urgent reform. If adopted in its current form, there are fears it would roll back journalistic freedoms, limit critical reporting, jeopardize journalistic source protection, and could allow for greater politicization of media regulation and funding. The appearance of the controversial draft law surprised even the working group that had been established specifically to help develop such a piece of legislation, causing uproar and criticism from international media freedom groups. This episode of the MFRR In Focus, we speak with Maja Sever, a respected Croatian journalist and the President of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), to take a deep dive into the draft law, to assess its most problematic elements and discuss what needs to change if it is to meet international standards and represent a boost for media freedom, rather than an unnecessary burden. Guests: Maja Sever, Croatian journalist and President of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ). Producer and Host: Dumitrița Holdiș, Central and Eastern Europe Media Support Coordinator. Editor: Dumitrița Holdiș, Central and Eastern Europe Media Support Coordinator, with support from Javier Luque Martinez, Head of Digital Communications at IPI. Additional Reading: Croatia: Bill on Media is intolerable and must be fought (IFJ) Croatia’s Proposed Media Law Condemned as ‘Death for Journalism’ (Balkan Insight)

This episode of the MFRR In Focus explores the economic relationship between the main political parties in Romania and the media and discusses the tools right-wing political parties use to circumvent mainstream media and reach new audiences directly. Guests: Adina Marincea, a researcher and media scholar, “Elie Wiesel” National Institute for the Study of the Holocaust in Romania Producer and Host: Dumitrița Holdiș, Central and Eastern Europe Media Support Coordinator Editor: Dumitrița Holdiș, Central and Eastern Europe Media Support Coordinator

On October 15, Polish voters elected a new parliament, with a broad opposition coalition led by ex-Prime Minister Donald Tusk winning a majority of seats, according to official results published on Tuesday. If the opposition coalition is able to form a government, it will mean the end of the eight-year rule of the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party. Under PiS, press freedom in Poland came under increasing pressure, with the government borrowing from the illiberal playbook of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán. A report published by IPI and its MFRR partners last month documented how media capture and the widespread use of vexatious lawsuits have been used to create a hostile climate for independent journalism in the country. PiS was also widely seen as undermining the rule of law and judicial independence in Poland, which sparked an ongoing conflict with the EU. This edition of MFRR in Focus explores what the opposition’s victory might mean for press freedom and the rule of law in Poland. Our guest is Aleksandra Sobczak, deputy editor-in-chief of Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland’s leading daily newspaper, which had a clear pro-opposition editorial line and has been vocal in its support for media freedom. Guests: Aleksandra Sobczak, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Gazeta Wyborcza. Producer and Host: Karol Łuczka, Eastern Europe Advocacy and Monitoring Officer at IPI. Editor: Javier Luque, Head of digital communications at IPI. Other episodes in this series: Engrained challenges for press freedom in Bulgaria MFRR in Focus: Ariane Lavrilleux and the case of source protection in France MFRR In Focus: How will the takeover of Polska Press in Poland impact the upcoming election? Related links: Report: Media freedom at a crossroads – Journalism in Poland faces uncertain future ahead of election Poland: Media capture fears confirmed in new report examining PKN Orlen takeover of Polska Press

Sunucu: Cansu Çamlıbel | Konuk: Hale Gönültaş IPI Özgür Sohbetler’in 40. bölümünde gazeteci Cansu Çamlıbel, serbest gazeteci Hale Gönültaş ile Türkiye’de serbest gazeteciliğin dönüşümünü ve Gönültaş’ın gazetecilik faaliyetlerinden dolayı maruz kaldığı tehdit ve baskıyı konuştu. Geçtiğimiz Mayıs ayında, 18 yaşında IŞİD yapılanmasına dahil olan ve daha sonra İslamcı Tevhid Grubu ile çeşitli bağlantıları olduğu ortaya çıkan bir genç kadının hikayesini haberleştirdikten sonra grup üyeleri tarafından tehdit ve baskılara maruz kaldığına değinen Gönültaş, konu hakkında savcılığa yaptığı suç duyurusu için “takipsizlik” kararı verilmesinin kendisini üzdüğünü ifade ederek “Takipsizlik kararını görünce üzüldüm. Daha önce benzer kararlarla karşı karşıya kalmama, bu duruma alışkın olmama karşın bir kez daha üzüldüm. Demek ki hala bir umut besliyoruz” diye konuştu. Gönültaş, 2022’nin Aralık ayında da Manisa’da iki kişinin cinsel istismarına uğradıktan sonra devlet korumasına alınan fakat daha sonra pavyonlarda çalıştırıldığı ortaya çıkan 12 yaşındaki bir kız çocuğunun hikayesini haberleştirmiş, haber sonrasında hakkında soruşturma açılmış ve kendisini ifadeye çağıran polisler tarafından tehditkar ifadelerin hedefi olmuştu. Gazetecilik faaliyetleri sebebiyle aldığı tehditler ve gördüğü baskı hakkında konuşan Gönültaş “Aldığım tehditler sebebiyle haber olmak beni çok yıpratıyor. Haberdeki öznelerin önüne geçmek istemiyorum. Ancak belirli bir noktaya gelindiğinde hem arkadaşlarımın hem de meslek örgütlerinin çalışmalarıyla ister istemez kamuoyunun bu konularda bilgisi oluyor” ifadelerini kullandı. Sohbette değinilen konu başlıklarından bazıları şöyle: Bu kayıt, Avrupa Birliğinin (AB) maddi desteği ile hazırlanmıştır. İçerik tamamıyla Uluslararası Basın Enstitüsü (IPI) sorumluluğu altındadır ve Avrupa Birliğinin görüşlerini yansıtmak zorunda değildir.

New podcast episode examines effect of controversial media takeover on pluralism and citizen’s access to independent journalism Under Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, which is seeking a third term in government, press freedom in the country has deteriorated over the last decade. While the media landscape remains vibrant and pluralistic overall, independent media critical of the ruling party have faced regulatory, financial and legal pressure. As the parliamentary election on 15 October 2023 looms, there are major concerns about the increased control that Law and Justice wields, both directly and indirectly, over regional and local media, and what this means for editorial freedoms of journalists working there. In this episode of the MFRR In Focus, we examine how the takeover of regional media network Polska Press by the country’s state-controlled oil giant PKN Orlen in late 2020 maps onto previous capture of media by the government and its allies, and more broadly, what the implications of this control over local journalism are in an election in which rural voters in particular will be crucial for electoral success. Guests: Konrad Siemaszko, Legal Officer at the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights in Poland Producer and Host: Jamie Wiseman, Europe Advocacy Officer at IPI Editor: Javier Luque, head of digital communications at IPI Other episodes in this series: Ariane Lavrilleux and the case of source protection in France Related links: Media capture fears confirmed in new report examining PKN Orlen takeover of Polska Press

Today, we turn to the case of Ariane Lavrilleux, a French investigative journalist with the non-profit investigative media outlet Disclose. On September 19, French police raided Lavrilleux’s home in Marseille, confiscating equipment and ultimately placing her under arrest. Under French law, police may detain anyone for up to 48 hours without pressing charges, thanks to which security forces were able to hold the journalist behind bars for a total of 39 hours. Prosecutors suspected her of having disseminated defence secrets, through an investigation on French special operations in Egypt, which was published in 2021. Guests: Mathias Destal, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Disclose. Producer and Host: Karol Łuczka, Advocacy and Monitoring Officer at IPI. Editor: Javier Luque, head of digital communications at IPI. Related links: France: IPI condems the arrest of investigative journalist Ariane Lavrilleux

Sunucu: Cansu Çamlıbel | Konuk: Yıldız Yazıcıoğlu Özgür Sohbetler’in 39. bölümünde gazeteci Cansu Çamlıbel, meslektaşı Yıldız Yazıcıoğlu ile Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi’nin kendisini hedef göstermesinden hareketle ülkedeki bağımsız gazetecilik alanının giderek daha çok bastırılmasını konuştu. Yazıcıoğlu, 24 Ocak 2023 tarihinde MHP’nin grup toplantısının ardından suikasta uğrayan eski Ülkü Ocakları Başkanı Sinan Ateş hakkında bir soru sormak isteyince MHP lideri Devlet Bahçeli “Hadi işine bak” şeklinde yanıt verdi. Ardından Yazıcıoğlu uzaklaşmaya çalışırken MHP vekilleri tarafından itildi. Yazıcıoğlu, gazetecilerin mesleki ve toplumsal sorumluluğunun siyasetçilere soru sormak olduğunun altını çizerken olayın yaşandığı dönemde bunun üzerinde durmamasını şu sözlerle anlattı: “O günlerde ben sadece bir kez açıklamada bulundum, buradaki gerekçe korku veya çekince değildi. Buradaki gerekçe gazetecilerin haber öznesi olmaması gerektiğinden hareketle duyduğum ilkesel bir yaklaşımdı.” Sohbette değinilen konu başlıklarından bazıları şöyle: Bu kayıt, Avrupa Birliğinin (AB) maddi desteği ile hazırlanmıştır. İçerik tamamıyla Uluslararası Basın Enstitüsü (IPI) sorumluluğu altındadır ve Avrupa Birliğinin görüşlerini yansıtmak zorunda değildir.