Council of Europe report finds attacks on journalists becoming a ‘new normal’

Tom Gibson/CPJ European Union Representative
A picture taken on May 5, 2019, shows flags during the open day marking the 70th Anniversary of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France. (AFP/Frederick Florin)

A picture taken on May 5, 2019, shows flags during the open day marking the 70th Anniversary of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France. (AFP/Frederick Florin)

The Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism and the Safety of Journalists today published its annual report, “Hands off Press Freedom.”

The report, which analyzes media freedom violations reported to the platform in 2019, shows a growing pattern of intimidation to silence journalists in Europe. The COVID-19 pandemic has produced “a fresh assault on media freedom” in the region, the platform said today.

CPJ is a partner to the platform, which is made up of 14 leading international journalist and media organizations as well as freedom of expression advocacy groups.

The report can be read here.

Tom Gibson is CPJ’s lead advocate in Brussels, covering the EU. Before joining CPJ, Gibson managed Protection International’s Burundi and Congo desks, advocating for stronger state accountability for the protection of human rights defenders and journalists. Gibson was also part of Amnesty International’s Africa program in London and Nairobi.

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