April 2019 - Page 2 of 7 - Committee to Protect Journalists

Soldiers are seen in the Ayeyarwaddy Delta region in Myanmar on February 2, 2018. The Myanmar military recently sued independent news outlet The Irrawaddy for defamation over its coverage. (Reuters/Lynn Bo Bo/Pool)

Myanmar military sues The Irrawaddy for criminal defamation over conflict coverage

April 25, 2019 11:32 AM EDT

Bangkok, April 25, 2019 — Myanmar’s military should drop its criminal defamation case against independent news outlet The Irrawaddy over its coverage of the conflict in the country’s Rakhine state, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

People wait in line at a government-run grocery store in Havana, Cuba, on April 17, 2019. Cuban police detained and beat journalist Roberto Jesús Quiñones in Guantánamo on April 22. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Cuban police detain and beat journalist Roberto Jesús Quiñones in Guantánamo

April 24, 2019 6:13 PM EDT

Miami, April 24, 2019–Cuban authorities should immediately release journalist Roberto Jesús Quiñones, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks to media on October 27, 2016. The president recently provided information to a Philippine daily alleging media and human rights organizations were plotting a coup against him. (Reuters/Issei Kato)

Philippine news and human rights organizations accused of ‘plot’ against Duterte

April 24, 2019 2:31 PM EDT

Washington, D.C., April 24, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed concern over Philippines President Roderigo Duterte providing information to The Manila Times, a local daily, alleging that media and legal groups orchestrated a “plot” to discredit and oust him.

Police escort Reuters journalist Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone from a court hearing in Yangon in August 2018. The Myanmar Supreme Court has upheld their seven-year conviction. (Reuters/Ann Wang)

Myanmar court rejects appeal by Reuters’ Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo

April 22, 2019 11:31 PM EDT

New York, April 22, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed deep disappointment today after the Myanmar Supreme Court upheld Reuters’ journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo’s convictions. Reuters reported that the Supreme Court justice said the appeal was rejected and did not elaborate further.

Friends and family carry the coffin of Peru's former president, Alan Garcia, who killed himself on April 17, in Lima, Peru, on April 19, 2019. Some government officials have blamed Peruvian investigative journalists for his suicide, and engaged in a harassment campaign. (Reuters/Janine Costa)

In Peru, journalist Gustavo Gorriti, other media blamed for ex-president’s suicide

April 22, 2019 6:11 PM EDT

New York, April 22, 2019 – Peruvian authorities should immediately take action to ensure the safety of journalists at news website IDL-Reporteros, and officials should refrain from making inflammatory statements blaming the outlet and its director, Gustavo Gorriti, for the suicide last week of former President Alan García, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Lawyers and opposition MPs gather outside an Istanbul courthouse in February to protest an appeal court ruling on Cumhuriyet staff. Lawyers for the Cumhuriyet employees held a press conference about the case on April 22. (AFP/Ozan Kose)

Turkey can jail Cumhuriyet staff ‘at any minute,’ lawyers say

April 22, 2019 3:55 PM EDT

Istanbul, April 22, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Turkish authorities to not take eight former employees from the daily Cumhuriyet into custody until the Supreme Court has heard their colleagues’ appeal. At a press conference in Istanbul today, lawyers representing the employees said they would ask authorities to delay acting on a local…

A police officer lays flowers passed to her by members of the public at the scene where journalist Lyra McKee was fatally shot amid rioting overnight in the Creggan area of Londonderry in Northern Ireland on April 19, 2019. (AFP/Paul Faith)

Journalist Lyra McKee shot dead during riot in Northern Ireland

April 19, 2019 9:47 AM EDT

New York, April 19, 2019 – Freelance journalist Lyra McKee was fatally injured late last night during riots and a police operation in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, according to multiple news reports.

The Supreme Court, pictured on April 15, is due to hear arguments in a case brought by South Dakota daily, the Argus Leader, that centers around exemptions to Freedom of Information Act requests. (AFP/Eric Baradat)

Supreme Court could limit FOIA, curtail investigative reporting

April 18, 2019 3:32 PM EDT

It’s been over eight years since Jonathan Ellis, an investigative reporter at the Argus Leader, filed what he thought was a routine Freedom of Information Act request. He wanted five years of reimbursement data from the Agriculture Department (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)–a program that helps people with low incomes buy food from grocery…

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, pictured giving a speech in Ankara on April 18, lashed out at a Financial Times report on Turkey's economy. (Presidential Press Service via AP/Pool)

Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of April 14, 2019

April 18, 2019 2:56 PM EDT

Sözcü journalists on trial At a hearing for journalists from the opposition daily Sözcü, in Istanbul, on April 18, the prosecutor asked that seven staff members be found guilty for “willingly and knowingly helping a [terrorist] organization without being in its hierarchical structure,” the news website Diken reported. The prosecutors argued that Sözcü was aiding…

A newspaper vendor is seen in Bucharest, Romania, on May 30, 2017. Romanian reporter Emilia Șercan recently received death threats relating to her work. (AP/Vadim Ghirda)

Romanian investigative journalist Emilia Șercan receives death threats

April 18, 2019 1:44 PM EDT

New York, April 18, 2019 — Romanian authorities should conduct a swift investigation into the death threats levied against investigative journalist Emilia Șercan and ensure her safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.