Paul Steiger’s challenge: Double your donation to CPJ

We want to thank all of you who responded to the challenge set out by our chairman, Paul Steiger, calling on individuals who care about independent media to support CPJ. His e-mail has already generated an unprecedented response, but we still have a ways to go before reaching our goal. Paul has offered a $25,000 matching gift that will effectively double new or increased contributions, up to $500.  

If you are a regular reader, you may have noticed a shift in CPJ’s work over recent years. As the media landscape has transformed, we increasingly take up cases involving individuals working alone or with limited institutional support—freelancers, Internet journalists, bloggers. Meanwhile, the mainstream media institutions that have long supported our work are themselves facing a profound economic and even existential crisis. 

At this critical moment, we need individuals who care about free expression to step up to support journalists at risk around the world. 

A glance through our Web site shows what’s at stake. Twenty-six journalists are imprisoned in China; most of them were prosecuted for publishing news and opinion online. In Afghanistan, militants are increasingly targeting local journalists and foreign correspondents. The Russian government routinely turns a blind eye when journalists are murdered for reporting on crime or corruption.

Journalists from around the world depend on CPJ to speak out and deliver urgent assistance in crisis situations. Our advocacy literally saves lives.

Thanks again to all of you who have contributed to the campaign. If you haven’t already, please consider making a donation to CPJ. And help spread the word about why it’s so important to support media freedom now.