Press freedom in the news 12/04/08

Editor & Publisher has coverage of our annual census of imprisoned journalists, which was released earlier today. The report lists 125 journalists in jail as of December 1, 56 of whom are online journalists.

The Philippine media is abuzz with news of the shooting of another radio broadcaster, Leo Mila, this time in Northern Samar. GMA News quotes CPJ’s Bob Dietz from our alert released yesterday, “Mila’s murder is a reminder that police throughout the Philippines must respond immediately with investigations and protection when journalists are threatened for their work.” Mila was killed outside the gates of his radio station early Wednesday when he was shot multiple times by an unknown gunman. 

The Web site Menassat, based in Beirut, has coverage of the jailing of Adel Hussein in Iraqi Kurdistan. CPJ has covered the jailing of Hussein for writing a story on sex and health, and has called for his release–he is being held under an outdated law.