As part of World Press Freedom Day 2026, the Foreign Policy Centre (FPC), the Centre for Freedom of the Media (CFOM) at the University of Sheffield, and the Centre for Journalism and Democracy at City St George’s, University of London, with the support of Wiggin, invite you to join the second webinar of the ‘Media Freedom Under Threat’ series. This series brings together leading experts to examine the most pressing challenges facing media freedom and the safety of journalists today.

Transnational repression (TNR) involves the actions of authoritarian states, and those acting on their behalf, to silence opposition and independent voices beyond their borders. It targets a wide array of individuals and groups using tactics that range from surveillance and online harassment to legal intimidation and coercion of family members overseas. 

This webinar will focus on how journalists in particular have become especially susceptible to TNR as a result of their work. It will explore what measures have been taken across Europe to push back against TNR, as well as consider what further steps are needed to strengthen protections. 

The event will take place on Zoom. Registration is required to attend, please click here.

Speakers:

– Basma Mostafa, Egyptian human rights defender living in exile. Director of Programs, Law and Democracy Support Foundation; Co‑Spokesperson, Coalition Against Transnational Repression in Germany.

– Emily Patterson, Co-Executive Director of the State Capture Accountability Project.

– Siena Anstis, Senior Legal Adviser at The Citizen Lab.

– Chair: Dr Lucia Ardovini, Director of The Richardson Institute, Lancaster University, and FPC Research Fellow.