IPI Report Warns of Growing Hostility Toward Journalism Across Europe

A new research report published by the International Press Institute (IPI) and partners from the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) network warns that journalists across Europe are facing an increasingly hostile environment marked by legal intimidation, political pressure, and growing threats to their safety. The study examines developments affecting press freedom across European Union member states and candidate countries, highlighting a worrying deterioration in the conditions under which journalists operate.

The report finds that media workers across the region are encountering a broad range of threats, including physical attacks, harassment, intimidation, and attempts to control or influence independent media. Researchers identified legal pressure as a particularly significant challenge, with journalists and media outlets increasingly targeted through lawsuits, criminal charges, and restrictive legislation that can discourage investigative reporting. These tactics, often referred to as strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), are used to burden journalists with costly legal proceedings and create a chilling effect on critical reporting.

In addition to legal intimidation, the report highlights attempts by governments or political actors to exert control over media institutions, a phenomenon commonly described as “media capture.” Such efforts include political interference in public service broadcasting, pressure on editorial independence, and financial manipulation of media markets. These developments threaten pluralism and weaken the role of journalism as an independent watchdog within democratic societies.

The research also documents the persistence of violence and intimidation against journalists across the continent. According to monitoring data cited in the report, hundreds of press freedom violations have been recorded in recent years, including threats, smear campaigns, physical assaults, and interference with reporting activities. Online harassment remains one of the most frequent forms of abuse, particularly targeting journalists who report on politically sensitive issues.

Detention of journalists remains another concern. By the end of 2025, at least 148 journalists were reported to be imprisoned across Europe, with significant numbers held in countries such as Azerbaijan, Russia, Belarus, and Türkiye. The report warns that the use of detention and criminal prosecution against journalists reflects a growing tendency among authorities to treat independent reporting as a threat rather than a democratic necessity.

The findings also highlight transnational repression, where governments attempt to intimidate or surveil journalists living in exile abroad. This trend has been documented among journalists who fled authoritarian regimes but continue reporting from European countries.

IPI and partner organisations conclude that the mounting threats to journalism pose a serious challenge to democratic governance. The report calls on European governments and institutions to strengthen protections for journalists, fully implement anti-SLAPP measures, and ensure accountability for attacks against media workers in order to safeguard press freedom across the region.

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