Justice for Journalists

The Charity is also a signatory of the ACOS Alliance,[6] a unique global coalition of 150+ news organizations, journalist associations and press freedom NGOs working together to champion safe and responsible journalism practices.

In 2019, thanks to the support from the Foundation's grant program, the Kyiv Post media outlet published a special project called Dying for Truth, a series of investigative articles about violence against journalists in Ukraine.

[15] In partnership with the Foreign Policy Centre and International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), the Charity organised three Anti-SLAPP Conferences in London, UK which brought together dozens of experts from across the globe to examine the impact SLAPPs has on journalists, media freedom and wider society.

[18] In 2020, the Charity supported monitoring of court cases involving media outlets and journalists in Armenia that has been conducted by Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression.

Nigerian investigative journalist Patrick Egwu looked into these murders, those behind them, and the growing calls for justice by families of victims and press freedom groups.

Europe released a documentary titled THIS MESSAGE (MATERIAL) CREATED AND DISTRIBUTED that reveals the stories of journalists who continue to do their professional work in Russia, where independent journalism is almost prohibited, and all legal protection is destroyed.

In 2022, the Charity supported the release of the podcast Pig Iron[21] by Tortoise where journalist Basia Cummings investigates Christopher Allen’s death on a distant frontline in South Sudan.

[23] In 2022, the Charity supported an investigative report by The Sentry[24] which exposed how South Sudan’s National Security Service, a highly militarised agency operating under the supervision of President Salva Kiir, has cemented control over the country and its various institutions, including the independent media.

[26] BIRN’s survey of journalists in 15 countries who have been put under surveillance by intelligence services, criminal groups or private companies over the past few decades reveal how the monitoring of media workers remains a significant issue in Central and South-East Europe.

In 2024, during the International Journalism Festival in Perugia, FLIP and Media Defence hosted the side event showing the documentary Recent surveillance cases in Colombia, El Salvador and Mexico, supported by the Charity’s Investigative Grant Programme.

The Foundation published reports on attacks against journalists, bloggers and media workers in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine for 2017-2020.

[34] In May 2019, the Justice for Journalists Foundation prepared a project with the NGO Index on Censorship to monitor attacks and media rights violations related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[42] Lana produced podcast, Trouble with the Truth, in which she interviewed independent journalists from around the world and discussed the threats and risks specific to media workers in their regions.

Together with Association of Independent Press of Moldova[48] (API), the Justice for Journalists Foundation  has contributed to the UPR by submitting the joint report for inclusion in the summary of stakeholder submissions.

In 2023, together with Article 19, OVD-Info and Access Now, the Charity submitted a UPR Submission[49] that gauges the constantly worsening situation of freedom of expression in Russia for the 44th Session of the Working Group.

In May 2024, during the UNESCO  Press Freedom Day in Santiago, Chile, the Justice for Journalists Foundation and Journalismfund[50] organised a side event Investigating Environmental Crimes: Can You Cover Coal Mining or Water Scarcity and Stay Alive[51] in the Gabriela Mistral Cultural Centre.

The trailer for the documentary Black Snow, supported by the Charity’s Investigative Grant Programme, was screened, and a lively discussion on the challenges of global environmental journalism followed.

[53] The Director of the Justice for Journalists Foundation, Maria Ordzhonikidze, signed the agreement to join the Platform with the Council of Europe Secretary General, Marija Pejčinović Burić.

The conference focused on the importance of independent journalism as well as on the need to seriously address the challenges related to the dynamics of the digital realm to promote and protect democratic values.

[57] Following events, JFJ has issued a statement[58] calling on authorities of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to release the imprisoned journalists and bring their laws and practices into compliance with international commitments.

On April 15, 2021, the Justice for Journalists Foundation Director Maria Ordzhonikidze participated in the annual #UNCOVERED conference of the Investigative Journalism for Europe (IJ4EU) programme.