….Warns of Rising Impunity, Calls for Accountability

By Favour Ulebor

The Executive Director of the International Press Institute (IPI), Scott Griffen, has expressed concern over rising attacks on journalists across the world, stressing the need for stronger accountability and international support to protect independent journalism.

Griffen spoke while addressing journalists from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe during the Austria-Africa Media Fellowship Programme 2026 held in Vienna, Austria, from May 17 to 22, 2026.

Speaking during a farewell engagement hosted by IPI, Griffen explained that the organization’s work is built around four key areas: press freedom and journalist safety, support for journalism, media innovation and sustainability, and strengthening its global membership network.

He said attacks on journalists, intimidation, censorship and impunity continue to threaten independent journalism worldwide, making it necessary for media organizations and governments to work together to improve protections for journalists.

Griffen noted that IPI supports investigative journalism, legal assistance programmes, hostile environment training and innovation initiatives designed to help news organizations adapt to artificial intelligence, digital disruption and changing audience behaviour while maintaining editorial independence.

He also said the organization’s media innovation and sustainability programmes help independent media organizations develop sustainable business models and innovative news products through incubator and accelerator initiatives.

Speaking on accountability for attacks on journalists, Griffen pointed to the situation in Gaza, describing it as one of the most troubling examples facing the global media community.

He said, “I think that what we are concerned about is exactly this accountability. Let’s take the example of Gaza for instance, which as horrific as it is, and it is horrific for the journalists who are working there, for those who have been killed, for their families, what is also deeply concerning is the example that this is setting.”

According to him, the absence of accountability for attacks on journalists creates dangerous precedents that could encourage further violations in other parts of the world.

He added, “We really see this lack of accountability. What IPI does is we work to put pressure, in that case, on states that have some type of leverage, in this case over Israel, but it’s not the only example.”

Griffen said promoting press freedom requires long-term advocacy efforts, legal reforms and continuous engagement with governments and institutions capable of influencing change.

Speaking on the role of businesses in protecting press freedom, he said the private sector also has a responsibility to uphold human rights and support a free press.

He noted that IPI is exploring ways to deepen engagement with private sector actors, particularly in Africa, including through climate and environmental reporting projects.

“We also, I think, in general, believe that private actors can also have a positive role to play,” he said.

Also speaking, IPI Membership and Engagement Manager, Grace Linczer, formally welcomed the African journalists into the organization’s global network.

She announced that each fellow had received a one year IPI membership, providing access to networking opportunities, workshops, leadership programmes, advocacy support, newsletters, member-only events and connections with journalists and editors in more than 110 countries.

The fellowship brought together media professionals from across Africa and Europe, creating a platform for professional dialogue and knowledge-sharing on challenges facing journalism globally.

The fellowship programme, was organized by the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs in collaboration with IPI; It focused on press freedom, journalist safety, media innovation, sustainability, democracy and international media collaboration.

The Austria-Africa Media Fellowship Programme 2026 ended with renewed commitments to strengthen international media collaboration, promote press freedom, improve journalist safety and support sustainable independent journalism across Africa and beyond