New York, November 11, 2026 — Ahead of the 36th annual International Press Freedom Awards (IPFA) on Thursday, November 19, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) will deliver a media briefing to members of the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) about the global state of press freedom in 2026.
Since 1992, CPJ has documented attacks against the press. Last year was the deadliest year on record for the press and, for the fifth year in a row, more than 300 journalists were imprisoned worldwide as of the end of 2025.
In August, CPJ announced it would honor journalists from Colombia, Eritrea, El Salvador, Hungary, Lebanon, and Myanmar at its gala. This year’s awardees are emblematic of the risks journalists worldwide face when reporting. Together, they have endured targeting, imprisonment, exile, and surveillance for simply reporting the news.
The media briefing will provide U.N. correspondents with the opportunity to speak with CPJ’s honorees about their experiences and the challenges to journalist safety worldwide, including impunity, the criminalization of journalism, and the growing need for journalists to flee their countries to seek safe refuge.
WHO: CPJ’s 2026 International Press Freedom Awardees onsite for the briefing:
- Christina Assi (Lebanon)
- Szabolcs Panyi (Hungary)
- Estefany Rodríguez (Colombia)
- Carlos Dada (El Salvador) — 2026 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Awardee
CPJ representatives representing imprisoned awardees:
- Beh Lih Yi, CPJ’s Asia-Pacific regional director, to discuss the case of imprisoned awardee Sai Zaw Thaike (Myanmar)
- Muthoki Mumo, CPJ’s Africa program coordinator, to discuss the case of imprisoned awardees the Eritrea 16, (Eritrea) — joining virtually
Moderated by Carlos Martínez de la Serna, CPJ’s chief programs officer.
WHAT: An in-person, one-hour media briefing with CPJ’s 2026 International Press Freedom Awardees.
WHEN: Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET.
WHERE: United Nations Headquarters, 405 E. 42nd St., Room S-310, New York, NY 10017.
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About the Committee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide. We defend the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal.
Media contact: [email protected]