Press freedom in peril: navigating elections and political turmoil in Poland, Slovakia and Bulgaria

IPI Press Freedom Podcasts

As politics in Eastern Europe becomes increasingly volatile during the super election year, press freedom is at grave risk. Throughout the pre- and post-election periods, independent media face numerous threats, including verbal and physical assaults, cyber attacks, smear campaigns, and vexatious lawsuits.

As the dust settles on the European Parliament elections, and Central and Eastern Europe gears up for more elections on local and national levels, we analyze the state of press freedom in Poland, Slovakia and Bulgaria with the leading journalists from these countries and members of IPI’s Central Europe Independent Media Network. We also delve into the media environments in the pre- and post-election periods and examine the major challenges journalists face when covering elections.

Guests: Patrycja Maciejewicz, head of Business Desk at Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland

Peter Hanak, journalist at Aktuality, Slovakia

Angel Petrov, international correspondent at Dnevnik, Bulgaria

Producer and Host: Teona Sekhniashvili, Europe Network and Press Freedom

Coordinator at International Press Institute (IPI)

Editor: Javier Luque, Head of Digital Communications at International Press Institute (IPI)

Other episodes in this series:

Earth Day reflections: Italy’s climate reporting dilemma

Media Freedom in Focus: Untangling media capture in Greece

MFRR in Focus: Aftermath of Finland’s unprecedented state secrets conviction

MFRR in Focus: Opposition wins Poland election

MFRR In Focus: Media in Slovakia brace for populist PM’s return

MFRR Podcast: Navigating Hungary’s new Sovereignty Protection Act

Related links:

IPI’s Central Europe Independent Media Network

IPI condemns shooting of Slovak PM, expresses concerns over backlash against media

Poland: Recommendations for democratic reform for press freedom and public media

Media freedom groups call on Slovakia’s Parliament to reject public broadcasting bill

Bulgaria Minister urged to drop defamation lawsuit