In Official Letter, SEEMO Asks Kosovo President to Reconsider Signing Penal Code Changes
Vienna, 26 April 2012
The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organsation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), on Thursday sent an official letter to Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga asking her to return the recently approved Penal Code to the parliament and reconsider signing off on it... read more
SEEMO Supports Kosovo Journalists in Struggle to Change New Criminal Code
Vienna, 24 April 2012
The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), is dismayed at recent changes in the Kosovo Penal Code, approved on April 20, 2012, in the Kosovo parliament... read more
SEEMO Condemns Destruction of Elita TV Headquarters in Moldova
Vienna, 12 April 2012
The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), condemns the destruction of technical installations of the regional channel Elita TV, based in Rezina, 100 kilometers from Chisinau, Moldovas capital... read more
SEEMO Strongly Condemns Attacks on Journalists in Greece
Vienna, 11 April 2012
The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), strongly condemns the latest attacks on journalists in Greece.
On 5 April 2012, Mario Lolos, the president of the Greek Photojournalists Union, was covering an anti-government rally on Syntagma Square, downtown Athens, when a policeman allegedly hit him several times with a baton. Lolos suffered serious head injuries and underwent surgery for a cranial fracture at Hygeia hospital... read more
SEEMO Condemns Latest Attack on Journalist in Montenegro
Vienna, 10 April 2012
Physical and verbal attacks against journalists are continuing unabated in Montenegro. The latest victim was Marko Milacic, a correspondent for the Belgrade-based daily Press in Montenegro. Milacic entered a restaurant and was told by a local businessman that he should not mention him in the media. The businessmans bodyguard allegedly pushed Milacic and injured his hand... read more
SEEMO Concerned at Criminal Charges against Journalists in Albania
Vienna, 31 March 2012
In January 2012, Albania’s prime minister, Sali Berisha, declared that his administration would decriminalise slander, and on February 17 and March 1, 2012, two sets of reforms, both to the civil and penal code, were voted on in the parliament. However, in February 2012, the Director for Public Relations at the Council of Ministers, Gjovalin Prenga, filed criminal charges over alleged slander in Tirana’s District Court, seeking a two-year prison sentence for Lindita Cela, a journalist for the daily newspaper Shekulli... read more
SEEMO Calls for Police Investigation over Threatening Phone Calls to Kosovo Daily Express
Vienna, 29 March 2012
After publishing an article on fuel quality and distribution in Kosovo, on March 28, 2012, several journalists from the Pristina-based daily Express started receiving threatening phone calls. One caller threatened to bomb the paper’s offices, according to Express Editor-in-Chief Leonard Kerquki... read more
Hungary Media Laws Remain Cause for Concern, Say Media Experts
Vienna, 28 March 2012
Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orban, “who once fought for democratic principles against an oppressive communist regime, seems to have succumbed to the toxic polarization of Hungarian politics by adopting a winner –take-all approach to governing, “wrote Paula Schriefer, Vice President for Global Programs, Freedom House, in her recent analysis for the web portal www.hungarypressfreedom.org, specialised in monitoring media developments in Hungary... read more
SEEMO Condemns Hate Speech in the Republic of Macedonia/Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Vienna, 22 March 2012
The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns all forms of hate speech and expresses concerns over the recent reappearance of ethnic labelling in the Republic of Macedonia/Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia... read more
SEEMO Condemns Pressure against Journalists in Kosovo
Vienna, 21 March 2012
Kastriot Jahaj, anchor of the program "Justice in Kosovo"
The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), condemns the latest pressure against the reporters of the “Justice in Kosovo” TV program... read more
Journalists in Turkey Self-Censor, to Avoid Problems with the Authorities, Say Media Experts
Vienna, 20 March 2012
“Although many in the West present Turkey as a role-model for the ‘Arab Spring’ countries, Ankara’s freedom of the press record gets worse and worse each day,” writes Emre Kizilkaya, foreign news editor at the Turkish dailyHürriyet, in his recent analysis for a web portal specialised in monitoring media developments in Turkey,www.turkeypressfreedom.org, run by the Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), in cooperation with the Slovenia-based International Media Center (IMC)... read more
SEEMO Urges Bulgarian Religious Representatives to Abstain from Pressuring Journalists
Vienna, 14 March 2012
“I strongly condemn pressure on reporters in Bulgaria and urge the authorities of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church to respect media freedom,” said Oliver Vujovic, Secretary General of the Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI)... read more
Nedim Şener Released from Prison -IPI World Press Freedom Hero Still Facing Terrorism Charges
Vienna, 12 March 2012
Turkish investigative journalist and International Press Institute (IPI) World Press Freedom Hero Nedim Şener was released from prison today pending trial, after spending more than a year behind bars on charges of aiding a terrorist group... read more
SEEMO Observes Increasing Pressure on Local Journalists in Serbia
Vienna, 12 March 2012
The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), observes increasing pressure on local media in Serbia. On March 9, 2012, the president of the city council in Zagubica, (170 kilometers southeast of Belgrade) reportedly decided that the local TV broadcaster As should not film a municipal gathering and allegedly expelled the crew by hitting the camera, as a video appears to show. Asked why the reporters were not allowed to film, he apparently replied: “Because I say so,” according to the same video... read more
Director of police of Montengro Božidar Vuksanović and editor-in-chief of Vijesti Mihailo Jovovic after the attack
Photo by : Zoran Đurić, Vijesti
The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), strongly condemns the brutal physical attack on Olivera Lakic, an investigative reporter with the Podgorica-based daily Vijesti. When she opened the door of her apartment building, at 9:30 PM on Mar. 7, 2012, a man approached Lakic and hit her several times in the head. The journalist was hospitalised. Her life is not in danger. The perpetrator escaped... read more
SEEMO Condemns Pressure from Local Authorities against Serbia Media
Vienna, 7 March 2012
The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), condemns alleged attempts by the authorities of the municipality of Becej, 110 kilometres north of Belgrade, to prevent Nened Jovovic, a journalist with the regional public broadcaster Radio Televizija Vojvodine (RTV), from attending a municipal meeting. City councillors were discussing local security issues... read more
Top Level Jobs in Media Still Occupied by Men,Gender Sensitive Reporting Missing from Media in South, East and Central Europe
Vienna, 7 March 2012
The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), marked International Women's Day by calling on media organisations in South, East and Central Europe to increase the participation of women in top-level management positions, guarantee salary equality, improve reporting on gender-related issues, avoid stereotyping and respect ethical standards when reporting on women, in particular as victims of violence... read more
Media Experts Identify Economic Problems, Political Pressure as Major Challenges Facing Media in Republic of Macedonia/Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Vienna, 6 March 2012
Economic difficulties and political pressure are the main challenges faced by the media in the Republic of Macedonia/Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, according to experts who have recently analysed the situation for a webpage specialised in monitoring media developments in the country,www.macedoniapressfreedom.org , run by the Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute, and partners... read more
The Vienna-based South East Europe media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), welcomes amendments to the defamation law in Albania. Two sets of reforms, both to the civil and penal code, were voted in on Feb. 17 and Mar. 1, 2012... read more
One Year On, Prominent Turkish Reporter and IPI World Press Freedom Hero Languishes in Prison
Vienna, 5 March 2012
Journalists around the world today joined the International Press Institute (IPI) in condemning Turkey’s continued imprisonment of investigative journalist and IPI World Press Freedom Hero Nedim Şener, one year after he was detained in connection with an alleged coup plot... read more
IPI's Turkish National Committee Welcomes Release of Journalist in Oda TV Case
Vienna, 26 February 2012
The International Press Institute (IPI)s Turkish National Committee today welcomed the release of one of the defendants in the Oda TV trial and called for the release of other journalists the group said had been jailed because of their work... read more
SEEMO Concerned at Efforts to Curb Press Freedom in Republic of Macedonia / Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Vienna, 23 February 2012
The Republic of Macedonia / Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia appears to be sliding towards a tightly controlled media environment. The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), has observed a steady trend towards increasing pressure on journalists. Reporters are subject to pressure from different sources... read more
The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), condemns the alleged assault against a Studio B TV crew.
On 22 February 2212, reporters from Belgrade-based Studio B were filming in the downtown area of the Serbian capital when a person approached and threatened them, and subsequently hit the camera assistant. The police detained him... read more
SEEMO Challenges Authorities to Solve Journalist Murder Cases in Serbia
Vienna, 22 February 2012
According to the statistics by Serbia’s Ministry of Interior, attacks on journalists in the country have decreased in the past two years. In 2010, there were seven recorded attacks against journalists. In 2011, three cases of threats to journalists’ safety were recorded. The police had solved all of the above-mentioned cases, Serbia’s Minister of the Interior, Ivica Dacic, said during a recent meeting with a delegation of the Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), headed by Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General. The meeting took place at the Ministry’s headquarters in Belgrade, Serbia... read more
Turkish Newspaper’s Europe Offices Attacked Zaman Blames Kurdish Militants for Violence in Paris, Cologne
Vienna, 17 February 2012
The International Press Institute (IPI) today condemned attacks yesterday on the offices of Turkish-language newspaper Zaman in Paris and in the German city of Cologne allegedly carried out by supporters of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Zaman reported that a group of nearly 15 PKK supporters wearing masks entered its Paris office and threatened employees, broke windows, and damaged furniture, televisions and computers... read more
SEEMO Hopes Court of Appeal Will Reconsider Excessive Fines against Turkish-Language Media in Greece
Vienna, 13 February 2012
On 24 February 2012, the Court of Appeal in Komotini, north-eastern Greece, is expected to revise the sentence against the Turkish-minority publications Gundem and Millet which have been ordered to pay 150,000 Euros and 120,000 Euros respectively to a local teacher who sued them... read more
Slovak Court Blocks Book on Graft ScandalMove Comes Amid Protests Over Reports in ‘Gorilla’ File
Vienna, 7 February 2012
A Slovak court last week reportedly blocked publication of a book implicating a private equity group in a high-level graft scandal.
Local media said a Bratislava court on Thursday granted the Penta group’s request for a preliminary injunction against a book containing information from the so-called “Gorilla” file... read more
SEEMO Reminds European Institutions that Hungary’s Public Broadcasters Violate European Principles
Vienna, 2 February 2012
The 2010 overhaul of Hungary’s media laws set a dangerous precedent in Europe. Instead of guaranteeing press freedom in a European Union member country, they seem to guarantee press freedom for the governing party at the expense of the right of the public to free information... read more
SEEMO Surprised at Croatia Electronic Media Council Warning to RTL
Vienna, 26 January 2012
The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute, expresses surprise at the latest warning of Croatia’s seven-member Electronic Media Council, an electronic regulatory body. On 19 January, 2012 the Council ordered RTL TV Croatia (RTL Hrvatska) to translate its programmes from Serbian into Croatian. The decision, based on the electronic media law, states that RTL Hrvatska is legally obliged to “broadcast in Croatian or translate into Croatian”. On the same day, RTL had to change its programming and suspend the only program that was not translated: a Serbian TV series. If the broadcaster does not abide by the decision, it could lose its licence... read more
SEEMO Urges New Croatia Government to Create Legal and Institutional Environment for Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT) to Function as a Public Broadcaster
Vienna, 19 January 2012
Transforming state television channels into public broadcasters has been a slow and difficult process in most post-communist countries, including those that are already in the European Union or are about to join. Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT) has been struggling and failing to fulfil this task. The December 2010 law regulating the public broadcaster did not meet expectations. The theoretically non-partisan Programme Council has not been functioning as such. Its members are perceived to represent political interests. Journalists feel ignored and sidelined. The open conflict between the Council members and journalists is aired on TV... read more
SEEMO Calls on Romanian Authorities to Identify and Prosecute Aggressors of Journalists
Vienna, 18 January 2012
source:
Jurnalul national, Antena3, GSP
Numerous reporters were physically assaulted by protesters and policemen while covering peaceful anti-government protests that degenerated into violence in Bucharest between 15 and 16 January 2012. It appeared that the journalists were deliberate targets. Catalin Lupasteanu, from the Mediafax news agency, said that he was beaten up by the police although he shouted:"Press! Press!" ... read more
SEEMO Condemns Police Beating of Kosovo Photojournalist
Vienna, 17 January 2012
The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), condemns alleged police violence against Kosovo freelance photojournalist Vedat Xhymshiti. On Saturday 14
January, the reporter was covering clashes between demonstrators and Kosovo police near the Merdare border crossing between Serbia and Kosovo, when he was struck by policemen. He lost conscioussness but was not hospitalised. The attack was filmed... read more
SEEMO: 2011 Overview of Press Freedom Violations in South, East and Central Europe
Vienna, 5 January 2012
In 2011, the Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), registered 684 press freedom violations in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Turkey, and Ukraine... read more
The South East Europe Media Organisation * Südosteuropäische Medienorganisation * Медијска организација Југоисточне Европе * Medijska organizacija Jugoistočne Europe Medijska organizacija Jugoistočne Evrope * Organizata mediale e Evropës Juglindore * Medijska organizacija za Jugovzhodno Evropo Медиумската организација на југоисточна Европа * Organizzazione dei Media del Sud-Est Europa * l’Organisation des médias du Sud Est de l’Europe
Délkelet-európai Médiaszervezet * Organizácia médií juhovýchodnej Európy * Organizace medií jihovýchodní Evropy * Kaakkois-Euroopan maiden mediajarjesto
Медийна организация за югоизточна Европа * Media Organisatie voor Zuid Oost Europa * Organización de Medios de Comunicación del Sureste Europeo
Dimosiografikos Organismos Notioanatolikis Evropis (Δημοσιογραφικός Οργανισμός Νοτιοανατολικής Ευρώπης) * Медиа Организация Юго-Восточной Европы
Медiа Органiзацiя Пiвденно-Схiдно Європи * Organizacja Medii Poludniowo-Wschodniej Europy * Cənubi-Şərqi Avropa üzrə Media Təşkilatının
Den sydøsteuropæiske medieorganisation * ארגון המדיה הדרום-מזרח אירופי * दक्षिण पूर्वी यूरोप मीडिया संगठन * Güneydoğu Avrupa Medya Örgütü
