Media Defence provides legal help to journalists, citizen journalists and independent media across the world.

“Thanks to the support, I never felt alone or intimidated during the last three years. It’s fundamental for freelance journalists who are not backed by a media company to get this free legal assistance.”

Raffaella Cosentino, Journalist

“There are certainly some people who think every story must be balanced, but to me, really good journalism is about changing what’s wrong with the world.”

Alan Morison, Founder of Phuketwan

What We Do

Emergency Defence

We fund legal defence for journalists and independent media across the world.

Strategic Litigation

We take on strategic cases to promote and improve media freedom.

Capacity Building

We build local legal capacity to defend journalists through legal training and by funding local legal centres to defend journalists.

Reports and Events

Watch our Webinar: From Judgments to Justice: Human Rights Bodies vs. Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists

Launching our 2024 Annual Report

Launching our 2025-2029 Strategy

Latest Articles

Case Challenging Impunity in the Killing of Journalist Léo Veras Reaches the IACHR Six Years After His Death

On the sixth anniversary of the killing of Brazilian journalist Lourenço “Léo” Veras, the Institute for Environmental Law and Economics

Seis años después del asesinato del periodista Léo Veras, su caso llega a la CIDH ante la falta de justicia

En el sexto aniversario del asesinato del periodista brasileño Lourenço “Léo” Veras, el Instituto de Derecho y Economía Ambiental (IDEA)

French Court of Appeal Dismisses Surgeon’s Defamation Lawsuit Against Marsactu and Mediapart

Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal dismissed surgeon Michel Assor’s defamation lawsuit against Marsactu's article published in 2024.

Khadija Ismayilova Secures Win against Azerbaijan at European Court

The European Court of Human Rights has found that the criminal conviction of Khadija Ismayilova, a renowned Azeri journalist and

Cameroon Court Reduces 10-Year Sentence Against Journalist Kingsley Fomunyuy Njoka

Late last year brought a small victory for the case of freelance journalist Kingsley Fomunyuy Njoka, who spent more than

Urgent Action needed to End Solitary Confinement of Journalist Lê Đình Lượng

Lượng is currently being held in Nam Ha prison, serving the eighth year of a 20-year sentence that the UN