Six years after Chile's military spied on him for exposing defence corruption, the judge and general responsible have been convicted: a first ruling of its kind. Mauricio Weibel spoke to us about the case, its cost, and what comes next.: https://bit.ly/3Tsrzqe

#Azerbaijan: On 27 July, 9 journalists and others associated with Toplum TV were handed sentences of up to 15 yrs on charges relating to foreign funding. At least 25 journalists are currently jailed in an ongoing crackdown on independent media. cpj.org/2026/07/azer...

Azerbaijan: CPJ condemns shocking sentences handed down in Toplum TV case - Committee to Protect Journalists

New York, July 28, 2026 – The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the extremely harsh prison sentences of up to 15 years handed down on July 27 to journalists and other individuals associated wi...

cpj.org

Our latest newsletter is out: Media Defence's 2025 Lawyers Impact Report, case news from France, Chile, Argentina and Hungary, a new UNESCO report on why independent journalism matters and much more. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/3U200nK

🇿🇼'Free at last': The High Court in Harare has quashed criminal charges against Zimbabwe Independent editor Faye Zaba and her employer, Alpha Media Holdings, over a satirical article critical of the president. Read more here: mediadefence.org/news/zimbabw...

Our legal consultant Marta Cabrera co-facilitates a practical workshop at Festival Gabo (Bogotá, 24–26 Jul) on using Inter-American Court jurisprudence to investigate and tell human rights stories. View full event schedule: https://bit.ly/444cmgQ 🔗 festivalgabo.com

New UNESCO report: independent journalism isn't just a democratic good; it's a high-return public investment. $1 in journalism → $100+ in public savings Disinformation costs societies $355–516B/year Funding healthy media = 0.1% of global GDP Read more: https://bit.ly/4pA8rT3

Update: due to the exceptionally high volume of applications, our call closes early on Monday, 27th July.

Media Defence @mediadefence.bsky.social · 2w ago

There's still time to apply for our next Litigation Surgery, taking place in Nairobi on 2-4 October 2026. Don't miss this opportunity- apply today!

There's still time to apply for our next Litigation Surgery, taking place in Nairobi on 2-4 October 2026. Don't miss this opportunity- apply today!

Media Defence @mediadefence.bsky.social · 3w ago

Are you a human rights lawyer in Sub-Saharan Africa? Sharpen your litigation strategy with peers and specialists. Media Defence, @kennedyhrc.bsky.social and Vuka! invite you to apply for a funded litigation surgery in Nairobi, 2–4 Oct 26. Deadline 31 Jul: www.mediadefence.org/news/call-fo...

The Paris Court of Appeals has ordered the reinvestigation of journalist Ariane Lavrilleux's case, months after she was cleared of all charges tied to the "Egypt Papers" investigation. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4fCtUY5

Are you a human rights lawyer in Sub-Saharan Africa? Sharpen your litigation strategy with peers and specialists. Media Defence, @kennedyhrc.bsky.social and Vuka! invite you to apply for a funded litigation surgery in Nairobi, 2–4 Oct 26. Deadline 31 Jul: www.mediadefence.org/news/call-fo...

Today is the European Day of Action Against SLAPPs. Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation. Find out more in our Resource Hub https://bit.ly/4gSU0XP and donate today to help us fight SLAPPs and defend Freedom of Expression

Earlier this month, Media Defence brought lawyers from Bulgaria, Hungary, North Macedonia, Turkey, and Ukraine to Budapest to tackle some of the most pressing legal threats to journalism in Europe, from SLAPPs to surveillance. Read more: https://bit.ly/4oOBbah

⚖️ Landmark ruling: A Chilean court sentenced a former judge and a retired army general to 5 yrs in prison for spying on journalist @mauricioweibel.bsky.social . Media Defence supported Weibel in this case, and celebrate this milestone for press freedom. mediadefence.org/news/chile-j...

#Rwanda ranked 139th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index. This month @reutersinstitute.bsky.social spoke to Louis Gitinywa, a Rwandan advocate and longtime Media Defence partner for analysis of the press freedom environment. reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/inside-...

Inside Rwanda’s campaign to silence independent journalism

In January 2023, John Williams Ntwali, an investigative journalist known for his independent reporting, died in what police described as a car accident. Colleagues and press freedom advocates have que...

reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk

Mexico is one of the deadliest countries for journalists. Now legal threats are surging too, as laid out by this The New York Times investigation. Our partner Propuesta Cívica works to defend those facing these threats in the country. https://bit.ly/3Sv1EO3

Mexico’s Laws Have a New Target: Journalists

Politicians and officials in Mexico are using the country’s laws to intimidate critics and the media, forcing them into censorship and blunting scrutiny.

bit.ly

#Paraguay: @pressfreedom.bsky.social has joined our petition with the Instituto de Derecho y Economía Ambiental, challenging impunity in the case of journalist Léo Veras, killed in front of his family more than 6 yrs ago. More on the case: mediadefence.org/news/case-ch...

#Bulgaria: Media Defence is concerned by reports that investigative journalist Dimitar Stoyanov is facing threats of violence. This is the latest in a documented pattern of harassment against Stoyanov, known for his corruption & organised crime reporting. cpj.org/2026/06/bulg...

Bulgarian investigative journalist Dimitar Stoyanov faces threat of violence - Committee to Protect Journalists

Berlin, June 24, 2026—Bulgarian authorities must thoroughly investigate reports that prominent journalist Dimitar Stoyanov is facing threats of violence linked to his reporting and act immediately to ...

cpj.org

Fleeing persecution is not the same as reaching safety. Authoritarian regimes follow journalists into exile, from in absentia prosecutions, surveillance and Interpol Red Notices to violence. Media Defence supports journalists facing these threats. Support our work: cafdonate.cafonline.org/19478

1/ On the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, António Guterres warned that hate speech is the first step down the path of dehumanisation. The harm is real, yet so is the risk of getting the response wrong.

Congratulations to all 2026 IPI-IMS World Press Freedom Hero recipients, and a special shoutout to @elclip.bsky.social, co-founded by the chair of our board, Maria Teresa Ronderos, recognised as a Free Media Pioneer alongside @abzasmedia.bsky.social and @meydantv.bsky.social

International Press Institute (IPI)@globalfreemedia.bsky.social · 2mo ago

📣 IPI is proud to announce this year’s recipients of the World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer awards, who demonstrate remarkable courage and resilience amid an increasingly challenging global environment for press freedom. Our press release: buff.ly/rBqdM5c

En nuestro último boletín: el Protocolo Antipiquete en Argentina, nuestro Informe Anual 2025 y noticias de libertad de prensa en América Latina. Suscríbete 👇 bit.ly/4xAEFB6

#Uzbekistan: A draft law against publishing insults online is threatening the country's press freedom due to a provision punishing "other actions that undermine the public order," an extremely vaguely-worded category that could lead to media censorship. RSF calls for this provision to be withdrawn.

WhatsApp is seeking to hold NSO Group in contempt of court for continued attempts to target its users despite a permanent injunction. Media Defence is among 12 CSOs, led by @accessnow.org, that recently filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court to protect the injunction. 👇

Access Now@accessnow.org · 2mo ago

Spyware attacks threaten the privacy and safety of people around the world. Following a landmark ruling against NSO Group, WhatsApp is seeking to hold the company accountable for violating the court’s order and continuing attempts to target users.

On 24 June, the Arusha Initiative will present the 2027 African Human Rights System Vacancy Situation Report in a multilingual webinar, with AU Member States, NHRIs, bar associations, CSOs, and youth groups from across the continent. Register here https://shorturl.at/CHQTt.

Kenyan lawyer Sumayyah J. Mokku, from @katibainstitute.bsky.social, joined our Fellowship Programme last month to sharpen her tools to fight for press freedom in Kenya. We spoke to her about press freedom in Kenya and what the programme gave her. Read here: bit.ly/3RY9uQ4

#Hungary: For 6 years the #GDPR has been weaponised to gag the press, forcing journalists to warn the targets of their investigations. Our partner, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, fought back, winning a landmark ruling to help restore press freedom to Hungarian data law. 👉 tinyurl.com/3jzpra9r

The last 3 years were the hottest ever recorded. Yet, climate coverage is down 38% since 2021. When coverage of an already dangerous beat fades, so does protection for those writing those stories. 🌿Explore our resources: mediadefence.org/resource-hub/defending-environmental-defenders/

This #WorldEnvironmentWeek, we are reminded that the fight for our planet cannot exist without a free press. We work to defend the journalists who are making that fight possible. Explore our resources here: mediadefence.org/resource-hub/defending-environmental-defenders/

Four years ago, Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira were killed in the Amazon. This #WorldEnvironmentDay, we share the words of Dom’s widow, Alessandra Sampaio and renew our commitment to protecting those carrying that work forward. Donate today bit.ly/4xcdZXd

Argentina's anti-picket protocol authorises security forces to disperse protests without a court order. We spoke with lawyer Damián Loreti, who represents @SiPreBA in the class action challenging the protocol, about the risks to press freedom. Read more: https://bit.ly/4dIaCjf