Media freedom ‘under sustained attack’ across EU as public trust drops, report finds
Summary
A report by the Civil Liberties Union for Europe shows that journalists across the EU face more harassment, threats, and violence. Media outlets are owned by fewer people, public trust in the news has dropped, and public media are losing independence due to political interference and budget cuts.Key Facts
- Journalists in the EU are experiencing increased harassment, threats, and physical violence, including bomb attacks.
- Media ownership is becoming more concentrated, with fewer people controlling many outlets in countries like Hungary, France, and Slovakia.
- Public trust in media has fallen sharply across Europe.
- Political interference and budget cuts are harming public TV and radio services, limiting their independence.
- In Italy, 118 attacks on journalists were recorded last year, including physical violence, with many journalists under police protection.
- Online harassment of journalists reached a record high, with 377 serious attacks including death threats in 2025.
- Some politicians have started campaigns that label independent news outlets as “foreign propaganda” or “forces of darkness.”
- Lawsuits intended to silence journalists (called SLAPPs) are still widely used despite EU rules meant to stop them.
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