Czech Republic’s IPI Launches New Journalist Safety Platform

September 17, 2025 – Czechia – 

The Czech National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI) has unveiled a new platform aimed at improving safety for journalists and media professionals. Called “Safe Journalism,” the initiative provides a secure way for journalists to report incidents of harassment, threats, or attacks, and to access legal and psychological support.

The platform is designed to fill an urgent gap in protections for journalists amid rising challenges, both online and in person, including verbal abuse, legal intimidation, and mental health strains. Users will be able to log incidents that threaten their safety, while the initiative also offers resources to help deal with repercussions.

IPI’s Czech committee emphasized that many journalists in the country face not only physical threats but also legal and institutional pressures. The Safe Journalism platform will thus serve as a reporting mechanism and a support system, uniting several forms of assistance under one umbrella.

The move has drawn backing from multiple media-freedom organisations, which argue that documenting threats is crucial both for protecting individuals and for tracking patterns of abuse. Legal assistance is particularly significant, as many cases of intimidation or defamation hinge on complex law. Psychological counselling is also highlighted, recognizing the emotional toll of such pressures.

Safe Journalism arrives just ahead of the Czech parliamentary elections scheduled for early October 2025, amid concerns about political rhetoric targeting journalists, disinformation, and attacks on press freedom. The platform could help journalists feel safer in covering sensitive stories and provide evidence for advocacy and possible legal reform.

In summary, the Czech IPI’s safety platform is a timely measure offering journalists tools to report threats, seek help, and build resilience. Its combination of reporting capabilities plus legal and psychological support addresses the multifaceted risks journalists face and is intended to reinforce media freedom at a critical time in Czech political life.

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Czech Republic: IPI National Committee launches new journalist safety platform