JX Fund – European Fund for Journalism in Exile

Ahmet Dönmez, a Turkish journalist living in exile in Sweden, said in an interview with the Journalisten news website that he left the country for the United States some two years after surviving a brutal attack in Stockholm. Dönmez had narrowly escaped death after being severely beaten in a suburb of Stockholm in March 2022.

Women Press Freedom identifies transnational repression as a significant threat to journalists who have fled authoritarian regimes, highlighting the increased use of tactics like surveillance, harassment, and violence to silence dissent beyond national borders. According to the report, 50% of exiled women journalists were targeted through transnational repression reside in the EU.

Following last year’s joint investigation into the use of NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware against Galina Timchenko, co-founder, CEO, and publisher of Meduza, Access Now, the Citizen Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto (“the Citizen Lab”), and independent digital security expert Nikolai Kvantiliani have uncovered how at least seven more Russian, Belarusian, Latvian, and Israeli journalists and activists have been targeted with NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware within the EU.

At least seven journalists and activists who have been vocal critics of the Kremlin and its allies have been targeted inside the EU by a state using Pegasus, the hacking spyware made by Israel’s NSO Group, according to a new report by security researchers.

Journalism has moved online, exposing journalists to targeted attacks and surveillance. This guide helps building digital armor, protecting data, sources, and critical work in an evolving digital landscape.

Ahead of World Press Freedom Day on Friday 3 May, the BBC is announcing for the first time that over 300 World Service journalists – around 15% – are working in exile. Recent crackdowns on press freedom in Russia, Afghanistan and Ethiopia have pushed more BBC teams to relocate for their own safety, many leaving family and friends behind.

Pouria Zeraati, journalist and reporter for Iran International, was stabbed outside his London home. A Guardian report says that the attack was believed to be another example of Iran hiring proxies to assault its critics in the west.

The Editor Safety Hub is a dedicated training platform for news editors and managers, providing them with a free and efficient way to improve their safety skills and practice through self-paced courses, practical tools and resources. It is created by the ACOS Alliance and WAN-IFRA in partnership with leading safety trainers, editors and journalists.

The newly published “Press Freedom in Europe: Time to turn the Tide” report highlights the persistent use of spyware technology to surveil media actors, jeopardising both media freedom and the digital security of journalists.

Two prominent Chinese bloggers in exile said police were investigating their millions of followers on international social media platforms, in an escalation of Beijing’s attempts to clamp down on critical speech even outside of the country’s borders.

From spying through diplomatic missions and pro-government diaspora organizations to denial of consular services and outright intimidation and illegal renditions, the Turkish government has been using a wide range of tactics against its critics overseas.

Highlighting potential hazards, the Justice for Journalists Foundation (JFJ) sheds light on the obstacles faced by independent media outlets and workers exiled by non-democratic regimes.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) highlights the vital role of encryption for journalists, offering insights and recommended tools to enhance data and communication security online.

For the first time, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) unveiled a map depicting the migration patterns of journalists compelled to seek safety abroad and the nations hosting exiled media.

Addressing the unique digital security challenges of exiled journalists, the guide outlines practical steps to enhance safety against hacking, online harassment, and website attacks.

This article provides a short exit plan to move to a safer region or country – from documents to have ready over preventative measures, digital and physical safety steps, and organizations to contact.

Examining the role of Syrian diaspora journalists in promoting newsafety for homeland media landscapes, the study explores how they perceive and counter physical and digital threats.