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Slain and in combat, dozens die in 2008


CPJ's Joel Simon, Robert Mahoney, and Nina Ognianova pay tribute
to journalists who died in 2008.
Reuters

Petitions seek release of imprisoned Cubans

CPJ sends petitions to the Cuban government signed by more than 500 people seeking the release of Héctor Maseda Gutiérrez, a 2008 International Press Freedom Awardee, and 20 other journalists jailed in Cuba. In a letter to President Raúl Castro, right, CPJ notes that the journalists are held in inhumane conditions and that many suffer from serious illnesses. At home, CPJ says, their families are regularly watched and often harassed by state authorities.
• Video: Héctor Maseda Gutiérrez
• CPJ's 2008 prison census
• Background: Cuba's Long Black Spring
Iraq is the world's deadliest country for the press for the sixth consecutive year, CPJ's year-end analysis finds. The 11 deaths in Iraq, while a sharp drop from prior years, remained among the highest annual tolls in CPJ history. Worldwide, 41 journalists were killed in connection to their work in 2008. South Asia became a riskier place. There, the victims included reporter Abdul Samad Rohani, right.
Abdel Karim Suleiman, an Egyptian blogger, is one of 56 online journalists jailed worldwide. (Reuters)

Online journalists
now most jailed

Reflecting the rising influence of online reporting and commentary, more Internet journalists are jailed worldwide today than journalists working in any other medium. In its annual census of imprisoned journalists, CPJ found that 45 percent of all media workers jailed worldwide are bloggers, Web-based reporters, or online editors. Online journalists represent the largest professional category for the first time in CPJ's prison census.
 • CPJ's annual prison census
 • CPJ Blog: What's become of the jailed Eritreans?

Six press freedom
leaders are honored

Zimbabwean media lawyer Beatrice Metetwa, who has defended numerous journalists facing prison, is among six people honored at CPJ's International Press Freedom Award ceremony. The other awardees are Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein, Andrew Mwenda of Uganda, Danish Karokhel and Farida Nekzad of Afghanistan, and imprisoned Cuban journalist Héctor Maseda Gutiérrez. "Arrest, imprisonment, even death are very cheap costs for us to pay compared to the continued loss of freedom and liberty," Mwenda said.
41 journalists killed in 2008
125 journalists in prison in 2008
136 journalists and 51 media workers killed since March 2003
Journalists killed 1992–2008 »

New York, January 5, 2009--The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for a transparent investigation into the shooting of an Iraqi video editor by U.S. military forces on January 1.

New York, January 2, 2009--A government soldier killed Radio Shabelle reporter Hassan Mayow Hassan, shooting the veteran journalist twice in the head after stopping him in the Somali town of Afgoye on Thursday morning, three local journalists told the Committee to Protect Journalists today. The journalists said they had interviewed witnesses to the killing. 

New York, December 31, 2008--The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the intimidation of Tunisian journalists who tried to cover efforts Tuesday by the opposition Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) to demonstrate against Israeli attacks on Gaza. Two journalists were assaulted and three faced harassment in Tunis, according to several CPJ interviews.

Dear President Castro: The Committee to Protect Journalists is writing to you on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution to renew its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all journalists jailed in your country. With 21 reporters and editors unjustly incarcerated, Cuba is one of the leading jailers of journalists in the world, second only to China.

Reporter for opposition newspaper stabbed in Almaty

In Gaza bombing, CPJ seeks explanation

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New York, January 2, 2009--A government soldier killed Radio Shabelle reporter Hassan Mayow Hassan, shooting the veteran journalist twice in the head after stopping him in the Somali town of Afgoye on Thursday morning, three local journalists told the Committee to Protect Journalists today. The journalists said they had interviewed...

CPJ’s Joel Simon, Robert Mahoney, and Nina Ognianova pay tribute to journalists who died in 2008. The toll was highest in Iraq, but conflicts in South Asia and the Caucasus were deadly as well. Impunity in journalist murders in Russia, Philippines, and Mexico were top issues....

Zimbabwe's media has suffered much from repression, exile, and worse, and on December 18 it lost one of its most beloved and compassionate voices. Caroline Gombakomba, a reporter and radio host since 2003 for the Voice of America's Studio 7 broadcasts to the Southern African country, died in Silver Spring, Maryland. Gombakomba, 40,...

Guinean media at near-standstill after president's death

With the death on Monday of Guinean President Lansana Conté, uncertainty hangs over what--or who--is to follow. Yet, as recently as last week, coverage of the poor health of the reclusive autocrat, who ruled this mineral-rich but poor West African nation since 1984, proved risky for the Guinean independent media. ...

CPJ urges Kibaki to reject media bill

Broadcaster silenced in Islamist-held city

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CPJ’s Joel Simon, Robert Mahoney, and Nina Ognianova pay tribute to journalists who died in 2008. The toll was highest in Iraq, but conflicts in South Asia and the Caucasus were deadly as well. Impunity in journalist murders in Russia, Philippines, and Mexico were top issues....

Dear President Castro: The Committee to Protect Journalists is writing to you on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution to renew its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all journalists jailed in your country. With 21 reporters and editors unjustly incarcerated, Cuba is one of the leading jailers of journalists in the world, second only to China.

Press freedom in the news 12/19/08

Making news today is yesterday's release of our year-end analysis of the deadliest countries for journalists. The report found that 41 journalists were killed for their work in 2008, with Iraq named the most deadly for the sixth straight year. The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse all ran stories outlining the report's findings yesterday. Today...

New York, December 18, 2008—For the sixth consecutive year, Iraq was the deadliest country in the world for the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists found in its end-of-year analysis. The 11 deaths recorded in Iraq in 2008, while a sharp drop from prior years, remained among the highest annual...

In Uruguay, Senate approves new press bill

BBC and VOA Web sites banned in China

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CPJ’s Joel Simon, Robert Mahoney, and Nina Ognianova pay tribute to journalists who died in 2008. The toll was highest in Iraq, but conflicts in South Asia and the Caucasus were deadly as well. Impunity in journalist murders in Russia, Philippines, and Mexico were top issues....

Press freedom in the news 12/26/08

The news that BBC reporter Jonathan Head could face jail time in Thailand for alledgely insulting the Thai monarchy has recieved significant coverage over the holidays. Our alert on the incident from Wendesday has been cited in a number of outlets including The Associated Press, the UK-based Press Association, and the Irish...

New York, December 24, 2008--The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the ongoing legal harassment of BBC correspondent Jonathan Head. Police Lt. Col. Wattanasak Mungkandee filed a third criminal complaint this year against Head on December 23, alleging he had insulted the Thai monarchy in his reporting. ...

New York, December 22, 2008--Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's coalition government must carry out an open, independent, and nonpartisan investigation into Sunday's attack on Himalmedia in Kathmandu, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today....

Press freedom in the news 12/19/08

For sixth straight year, Iraq deadliest nation for press

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CPJ’s Joel Simon, Robert Mahoney, and Nina Ognianova pay tribute to journalists who died in 2008. The toll was highest in Iraq, but conflicts in South Asia and the Caucasus were deadly as well. Impunity in journalist murders in Russia, Philippines, and Mexico were top issues....

New York, December 30, 2008--Kazakh authorities must launch a thorough investigation into the stabbing of Artyom Miusov, a reporter with the opposition weekly Taszhargan, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. ...

New York, December 23, 2008--Russian authorities should promptly investigate the attack on Zhanna Akbasheva, a correspondent for the Regnum news agency in the republic of Karachai-Cherkessia, in Russia's North Caucasus, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. ...

New York, December 22, 2008--The Committee to Protect Journalists is incensed by the violent attack on journalists covering a Sunday demonstration in Vladivostok, the regional capital of Primorsky Krai in Russia's Far East. ...

Press freedom in the news 12/19/08

For sixth straight year, Iraq deadliest nation for press

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New York, January 5, 2009--The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for a transparent investigation into the shooting of an Iraqi video editor by U.S. military forces on January 1....

CPJ’s Joel Simon, Robert Mahoney, and Nina Ognianova pay tribute to journalists who died in 2008. The toll was highest in Iraq, but conflicts in South Asia and the Caucasus were deadly as well. Impunity in journalist murders in Russia, Philippines, and Mexico were top issues....

New York, December 31, 2008--The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the intimidation of Tunisian journalists who tried to cover efforts Tuesday by the opposition Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) to demonstrate against Israeli attacks on Gaza. Two journalists were assaulted and three faced harassment in Tunis, according to several CPJ interviews....

Dear Defense Minister Barak: The Committee to Protect Journalists urgently demands an explanation for the bombing of Al-Aqsa TV headquarter in Gaza City by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Sunday. We are also dismayed by the army's decision to declare Gaza's northern boundary with Israel and other parts of the territory "closed military zones."

Court hands down jail terms in defamation case

Reporter reflects as Iraq named deadliest for journalists

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Guide for reporting in hazardous situations.
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The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1981. We promote press freedom worldwide by defending the rights of journalists to report the news without fear of reprisal.
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The Paul Klebnikov case is among many unsolved journalist murders. Join CPJ's fight against impunity.

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CPJ's Impunity Index ranks countries where killers of journalists go free.
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