Washington, February 27, 2008—Conditions for domestic journalists remain poor in China despite the government’s promises to improve the press freedom environment before the Beijing Olympics, the Committee to Protect Journalists told the Congressional-Executive Commission on China today. Bob Dietz, CPJ Asia Program Coordinator, told the commission in Washington that China is holding at least 25…
New York, February 11, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release of imprisoned journalist Yu Huafeng on Friday after his sentence was reduced, but remains concerned about conditions for critical reporters in China. Yu’s appeal lawyer, Pu Zhiqiang, confirmed the release in an e-mail to CPJ. The deputy editor-in-chief and general manager of…
Hong Kong, February 5, 2008–The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about today’s nearly simultaneous sentencing of Chinese journalist Lü Gengsong and the unexpected release on parole of veteran Hong Kong reporter Ching Cheong. “While CPJ welcomes Ching Cheong’s release after nearly three years behind bars, the goodwill was dissipated by Lü Gengsong’s prison…
By Joel SimonIn August 2008, when the Olympic torch is lit in Beijing, more than 20,000 journalists will be on hand to cover the competition between the world’s greatest athletes. Behind the scenes, another competition will be taking place. If the Chinese government has its way, this one will remain hidden. It will be a…
When Press Freedom and Democracy Are Out of StepBy Tom RhodesBallots may have replaced bullets in much of Africa since the dawn of this new century, but one of the great political ironies for at least part of the continent has been a loss of press freedom following the voting. Leaders in a large swath…
Rewriting the Law to Make Journalism a CrimeBy Nina OgnianovaIn its 17 years on the air, Moscow-based Ekho Moskvy Radio has enjoyed, by Russian standards, extraordinary editorial independence. Nearly alone among Russian broadcasters in its critical approach, the station employs some of the country’s most outspoken journalists, who produce in-depth reporting on the most sensitive…
In a year of internal political wrangling and further emergence on the global stage, Chinese leadership under President Hu Jintao showed a keen awareness of public opinion at home and abroad. But the result was not greater freedom for the press. The administration undertook a clumsy effort to woo the foreign press corps while simultaneously…
New York, January 31, 2008—As part of its ongoing campaign to urge China to adopt reforms promised when the International Olympic Committee awarded the country the 2008 Olympics, CPJ today delivered more than 500 advocacy cards to the Chinese Consulate in New York urging the government to release 29 jailed journalists. The IOC granted China…
New York, January 22, 2008–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the one-day closed-door trial of imprisoned journalist Lü Gengsong that took place today in Hangzhou, southeast China, and calls on the Chinese government to release him and all journalists held under vague “national security” laws before the 2008 Olympics.