In 2022, we expanded our geographic scope to support independent media in Central Europe with an aim to help media become more resilient in the face of ever more challenging domestic contexts. Our Central Europe Media Resilience Programme was fully funded by the US...
Central Europe
Verfassungsblog: From zero to hero
A 20-year-old activist being sued by a two-billion-euro company for highlighting the environmental impact of its activities. Local journalist facing criminal charges for sending an email with inquiries to a press office of a state owned company. The president of an NGO confronting a private indictment for pointing out that the state is benefiting from deforestation. A student accused of defamation after reporting to the university’s anti-discrimination committee that she was molested by a professor.
Verfassungsblog: Media pluralism in KRRiT-ical condition
In April 2023, the Chairman of the Polish National Broadcasting Council imposed a 80.000 PLN (that is 20.000 euro) fine on Inforadio, the owner of the independent TOK FM radio station (the ‘TOK FM case’). The Broadcasting Council, or Krajowa Rada Radiofonii i Telewizji (KRRiT) in Polish, found unfavorable statements about a highly debated – and government supported – history textbook to violate the Polish Media Act (Ustawa o radiofonii i telewizji).