Balkan Free Media Initiative

Why the Balkans Are the EU’s Weakest Link in Defending Democracy — Balkan Free Media Initiative Media freedom is under attack in EU candidate countries, with disinformation, foreign influence, and democratic backsliding on the rise. A key EU hearing highlights the urgent need for stronger suppor...

The EU is fighting an algorithmic war with analogue instincts.
And it’s losing.

📰 A thoughtful and timely piece by our colleague Vanessa Valcheva on 👉 "The Balkans Are the EU’s Blind Spot in the Fight for Democracy"
Well worth the read → bit.ly/3H79rMt
#Balkans #MediaFreedom #EU

Congratulations to our Georgi Gotev, on the launch of EUalive. It’s inspiring to see his continued commitment to independent journalism. We wish him all the best in this exciting new venture and look forward to the positive impact it will have on the media landscape. Best of luck!

BFMI Joins Forces with Out Loud Foundation for Erasmus+ Youth Project — Balkan Free Media Initiative Out Loud Foundation and BFMI Sign Strategic Agreement for Youth Media Literacy Project under Erasmus+

Imagine a platform where teens don’t just scroll—they question, create, and lead.
📢 That’s the vision behind our latest partnership with the Out Loud Foundation (Bulgaria) for the Erasmus+ project S.C.R.O.L.L. Read more: bit.ly/bfmi-scroll
#ErasmusPlus

My colleagues and our broadcasts, devoted to telling America’s story to the world — honestly, fairly and with an unwavering commitment to the truth​, are being silenced this weekend […]

[Original post on journa.host]

The closure of RFERL after 75 years is a devastating loss for independent journalism and those who rely on it for truth in closed societies.Silencing one of the last beacons of free information is a gift to autocrats.A decision like this doesn’t just weaken the free press but the democracy itself.

🔴 Vučić vs. Serbia’s Youth: Fear, Repression, and Censorship
The Serbian police just used a LRAD sonic cannon against the student protesters in Belgrade while they were holding their 15 minutes of silence.
#Vučić #FreeSpeech #YouthUnderAttack #Serbia #FreedomToProtest

Defunding Disinformation in the Balkans:

A new study by BFMI and @CRTArs finds that global brands are funding media outlets that spread pro-Kremlin #disinformation in 🇷🇸&🇧🇬 exacerbating the fragile political situation in the #Balkans.

Download here ⤵️
balkanfreemedia.org/research