2014
Four journalists honored for commitment to press freedom
New Initiatives Fund set up to help combat ‘war on journalists’ New York, November 26, 2014–Four journalists from Burma, Iran, Russia, and South Africa were honored Tuesday night at the Committee to Protect Journalists’ 24th annual International Press Freedom Awards for their work in defiance of imprisonment, repression, and censorship.
Journalist jailed on anti-royal charges in Thailand
New York, November 25, 2014–The editor of an online news aggregator in Thailand was sentenced on Monday to four and a half years in prison on charges of defaming the country’s monarch, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the sentence and calls for an end to the use of the country’s…
Authorities order radio stations to be closed in the DRC
Nairobi, November 24, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists today calls on authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo to stop meddling with radio station broadcasts in the country. The Congolese Information Minister Lambert Mende has called for the shutdown of several radio stations in recent weeks, and a few have gone off the air.
Media massacre witness killed, another wounded, in the Philippines
Bangkok, November 20, 2014–A state witness in the mass killing of 57 people, including 32 journalists and media workers, in the Philippines in 2009 was shot dead by assailants on Tuesday while traveling in a remote area of southern Maguindanao province, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the killing and calls…
Accounting for impunity is obligation for all states
This week, members of UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication will meet to discuss the director general’s biannual report, which examines the cases of nearly 600 journalists killed around the world from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2013. The report, and lacklustre response from member states who had been asked to provide…
CPJ calls on Belgium to defend press freedom at Committee of Ministers
CPJ calls on Didier Reynders, Belgium’s foreign minister, to use his country’s presidency at the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe–the largest pan-European human rights watchdog–to defend press freedom in Europe, and address violations by members states. CPJ’s letter highlights press freedom abuses in Azerbaijan, Hungary, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine.
Thai military authorities force broadcast reporter off the air
New York, November 17, 2014–Military authorities in Thailand have forced the suspension of a broadcast reporter for violating orders under martial law that bar critical reporting on the country’s ruling junta, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for an end to intimidation and harassment of journalists and a lifting of all…
Algerian journalist held for more than a year without charge
New York, November 14, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the imprisonment of Algerian journalist Abdelhai Abdessamia, who has been held since August 18, 2013. News of Abdessamia’s imprisonment was reported by his family in early November, according to news reports.