Venezuelan authorities raid, shutter VPITV broadcaster
Bogotá, January 11, 2021 – Venezuelan authorities should return all equipment confiscated from VPITV and allow it to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On January 8, authorities raided the Caracas offices of VPITV, an independent online broadcaster, where they confiscated cameras, computers, transmission equipment, and documents, and ordered the station to…
Section 230 reform could have unintended consequences for the press
Twitter’s permanent suspension of President Donald Trump’s account is reinvigorating debate about the law that protects social media platforms – specifically, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The statute shields tech companies and news websites from liability for making decisions about what people can say on their platforms, whether they take it down, or…
A positive step for Julian Assange but a blow to press freedom
A London court’s decision this week not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States imperils press freedom even as it benefits Assange. In her January 4 decision, Judge Vanessa Baraister ruled that Assange would be at risk of suicide should he be extradited to the U.S. to face criminal prosecution, including on espionage…
CPJ calls for accountability for attacks on media during US Capitol assault
New York, January 8, 2021—U.S. authorities must thoroughly investigate the many attacks on journalists during the violent takeover of the U.S. Capitol this week, and hold the perpetrators to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On January 6, supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. as both houses…
Nicaraguan journalist Aníbal Toruño harassed, home raided
Los Angeles, January 8, 2021 — Nicaraguan authorities should cease harassing journalist Aníbal Toruño and allow him to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, national police officers raided Toruño’s home in the northwestern city of León, and broke the home’s front door and other furniture, according to news reports, video of…
Colombian journalist Andrés Felipe Guevara shot and killed
Bogotá, January 8, 2021 — Colombian authorities must thoroughly investigate the killing of journalist Andrés Felipe Guevara Henao, determine if he was targeted for his work, and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On December 21, 2020, in the western city of Cali, an unidentified assailant shot Guevara four…
‘Three people threatened to shoot me.’ Journalists describe covering mob violence at the US Capitol
Yesterday’s pro-Trump protests in Washington, D.C. — during which a mob broke into the Capitol building and forced journalists, lawmakers, and staff to shelter-in-place for hours — were full of anti-press sentiment. The words “Murder the Media” were etched on a door inside the building, according to The New York Times, and individuals in the crowd repeatedly threatened…
CPJ joins call for Guatemalan authorities to drop criminal charges against journalist Anastasia Mejía
The Committee to Protect Journalists today joined 50 human rights organizations, media outlets, and individuals in a statement calling on Guatemalan authorities to drop all remaining charges against Indigenous radio journalist Anastasia Mejía Tiriquiz. Mejía is facing charges of sedition and aggravated attack for her alleged participation in an August 24, 2020, demonstration, according to…
CPJ urges respect for United States press freedom, journalist safety
New York, January 6, 2020—In response to events today in Washington D.C., the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “We are gravely concerned by today’s attack on American institutions, including the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., where journalists as well as lawmakers are at risk,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. “Journalists and…
Journalist Marcus Henderson covered the COVID-19 outbreak inside his own prison
When news of the global COVID-19 pandemic reached San Quentin prison, a state-run men’s prison in California, earlier this year, Marcus Henderson knew it was only a matter of time before the virus spread through the facility. It did, killing 28 inmates and at least one staff member and infecting Henderson and 2,200 other inmates…