Across Central Europe, press freedom is under siege. In Hungary, political control strangles independent voices. Serbian journalists face systematic intimidation. Slovakia’s independent media and civil society face systematic attacks.
These aren’t isolated incidents—they’re coordinated campaigns by authoritarian leaders desperate to secure their grip on power, knowing that criminal trials and accountability await many of them once they lose control.

Join us for an urgent conversation with frontline defenders of press freedom from Serbia, Hungary, and Slovakia. These experts from independent media outlets and think tanks will reveal the sophisticated tactics used to crush journalism, share the creative strategies they’ve developed to survive and resist, and explain why Europe’s democratic future hangs in the balance.
This isn’t just about media—it’s about the survival of accountability, transparency, and the public’s right to know. When journalism dies, democracy follows.

The evening offers space for conversation, questions, and informal networking with snacks and drinks — with the chance to browse publications by the speakers and CORRECTIV.

Exile Talks is a monthly series highlighting the expertise and experiences of exiled journalists and media professionals. This edition is organized in cooperation with the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung.