Press Freedom in the News 11/17/08

Three men charged in the 2007 murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya are on trial in Moscow beginning today.

Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and AP all have coverage of the trial, which will be open to the public despite an earlier decision to hold proceedings in a closed military court. UK-based news outlets Sky and BBC News are reporting on the story as well today. In Russia, RIA Novosti and The Moscow Times are covering the trial.

In other news out of Russia, the beating of Moscow-based editor Mikhail Beketov on Friday is making headlines across the Russian press with the story receiving coverage in The Moscow Times, and in Russian-language papers Novaya Gazeta, Ekho Moskvy, and Vzglyad. CPJ released an alert condemning the attack on Friday.

Philippine radio broadcaster Areteo Padrigao was shot and killed this morning in the southern region of the Philippines according to reports from AP, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse.