Europe: Press Freedom Report 2024 warns about persistent threats
PICTURE: Brett Sayles/Pexels
International Federation of Journalists
Strasbourg/Brussels
The risks facing journalists covering the war of aggression of Russia against Ukraine remained the most pressing concern related to the safety of journalists in Europe in 2024, according to the annual report of the partner organisations to the Council of Europe’s Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists.
The ‘Europe Press Freedom Report 2024: Confronting Political Pressure, Disinformation and the Erosion of Media Independence’ also identifies as serious threats the digital surveillance of journalists and its risks to source confidentiality, the transnational repression of journalists – notably, from Russia and Belarus – and the trend towards media capture by governments in some countries.
The report warns of the rising threat of disinformation, including AI-generated content and state propaganda, used to manipulate public opinion and undermine independent journalism
The Platform partners address a set of recommendations urging the Council of Europe, the European Commission and the 46 Council of Europe member states for stronger legal protection for journalists, safeguards against disinformation and measures to combat media capture and surveillance.
They call on governments and institutions to uphold press freedom through policy reforms, transparency and stronger protections against threats and harassment.
In 2024, the platform partners published 265 alerts of physical attacks, intimidation, detention, impunity and other restrictive actions, which was slightly below the number of alerts in 2023 (285), but significantly above pre-COVID levels.
The countries with the highest number of alerts were Ukraine (40), most related to Russian-occupied territories or attributed to Russian forces, Russia (32), Türkiye (28), Serbia (20) and Georgia (18). Georgia experienced the sharpest rise in the alerts, more than threefold compared to the previous year – mainly due to attacks on journalists during pro-EU protests.
Seventy-seven alerts were related to attacks on journalists’ physical safety and integrity compared to 52 in 2023. These included the deaths of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna while in Russian custody, Reuters safety adviser Ryan Evans and Kazakh journalist Aidos Sadykov.
Except for acts of war brought on by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, most physical assaults on journalists were connected to their coverage of public demonstrations and elections.
As of 31 December 2024, 160 journalists were held in detention across Europe, including 44 in Belarus, 30 in Azerbaijan, 29 in Russia (in addition to 28 in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine), 27 in Türkiye and 1 in Georgia.
While abusive legal threats against media and journalists continued to raise concerns, the platform partners welcome the adoption of a Council of Europe recommendation on countering Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), the enactment of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and the anti-SLAPP EU directive’s implementation, and trust these will contribute to creating a more favourable environment for media freedom.
In April 2025, the Safety of Journalists Platform will mark its 10th anniversary. Since its launch in 2015, the Platform has registered approximately 2 000 alerts as of 31 December 2024
The Platform’s annual report covers the 46 Council of Europe member states, as well as Russia – following its expulsion from the Council of Europe in 2022 – and Belarus.
The Platform was set up by in co-operation with prominent international NGOs active in the field of the freedom of expression and associations of journalists to provide information which may serve as a basis for dialogue with member states about possible protective or remedial action.
The 15 partners are:
the European Federation of Journalists
the IFJ
the Association of European Journalists
the Committee to Protect Journalists
the International Press Institute
the International News Safety Institute
the Rory Peck Trust
the European Broadcasting Union
the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom
Free Press Unlimited, and
the Justice for Journalists Foundation
- Read the full report here
