# Mediterranean Journalists Festival press freedom > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/mediterranean-journalists-festival-press-freedom > Updated: 2026-07-28T15:22:50.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. The 18th Mediterranean Journalists Festival is scheduled for 1–4 September 2026 in Otranto, Italy. Organized by patron Tommaso Forte, the event foregrounds the urgency of press freedom, framing it as a right belonging to both citizens and journalists. The programme will bring together Italian and foreign reporters, analysts, writers and officials to discuss geopolitics, climate change, human‑rights issues and new media. Notably, the festival will repeatedly cite the March kidnapping of U.S. freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson in Baghdad—her brief captivity is used as a case study of the dangers reporters face in conflict zones. Key participants include Vittorio Di Trapani, president of the Italian National Press Federation, along with representatives from Italy’s public‑service broadcaster Rai. The festival aims to foster renewed alliances between journalists and the public to protect constitutional press‑freedom rights. ## Timeline ### 2026-07-28: Mediterranean Journalists Festival in Otranto Focuses on Press Freedom Eighteenth Mediterranean Journalists Festival in Otranto (1‑4 Sept) stresses press freedom, with patron Tommaso Forte, FNSI president Vittorio di Trapani and guest Shelly Kittleson featured. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mediterranean-journalists-festival-in-otranto-focuses-on-press-freedom ### 2026-07-25: Mediterranean Journalists Festival to Spotlight Press Freedom in Otranto, Italy The 18th Mediterranean Journalists Festival takes place 1‑4 Sept 2026 in Otranto, focusing on press freedom, with federation president Di Trapani speaking and the kidnapping of reporter Shelly Kittleson cited. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mediterranean-journalists-festival-to-spotlight-press-freedom-in-otranto-italy --- Cite as: Mediterranean Journalists Festival press freedom. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/mediterranean-journalists-festival-press-freedom