Magnus Ag

Assistant Advocacy Director Magnus Ag is a New York-based human rights advocate and journalist. Prior to joining CPJ in 2010, Ag worked as head of section in the Danish Ministry for Science, Technology, and Innovation. He holds a bachelor's and a master's degree in political science from the University of Copenhagen. He speaks English, Danish, and Norwegian. Contact him here or follow him on Twitter @AgMagnus.

CPJ Press Freedom Awards: Honoring tenacity and courage

New York, September 13, 2012–Four journalists who risked their lives and liberty to reveal abuses of power and human rights violations in Brazil, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Liberia will be honored with the Committee to Protect Journalists’ 2012 International Press Freedom Awards, an annual recognition of courageous reporting. The awardees–Mauri König (Gazeta do Povo, Brazil), Mae…

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Mauri König, Brazil

2012 CPJ International Press Freedom Awardee (Courtesy of CNN) To watch Mauri König’s acceptance speech, click here. Mauri König’s 22-year career as a journalist has led him to become one of Brazil’s premier investigative reporters. His extensive investigations, in which he has exposed human rights abuses and corruption, have brought him worldwide acclaim and numerous…

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Dhondup Wangchen, China

2012 CPJ International Press Freedom Awardee (Courtesy of CNN) Dhondup Wangchen is a self-taught Tibetan documentary filmmaker who conceived and shot the film “Leaving Fear Behind“ to portray life in Tibet in advance of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Shortly after his footage was smuggled overseas, Wangchen disappeared into Chinese detention. His colleagues in Switzerland…

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Azimjon Askarov, Kyrgyzstan

2012 CPJ International Press Freedom Awardee (Courtesy of CNN) Azimjon Askarov, a Kyrgyz journalist and human rights defender whose work has exposed official wrongdoing and abuse, is serving a life term in prison after a judicial process marred by torture, lack of evidence, and fabricated charges. His prosecution and conviction have been challenged by a…

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Mae Azango, Liberia

2012 CPJ International Press Freedom Awardee (Courtesy of CNN) To watch Mae Azango’s acceptance speech, click here. One of a small number of female reporters in her native Liberia, Mae Azango is also one of the most acclaimed journalists in the country. After her father was killed by rebels in 1990 during the country’s civil…

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Alan Rusbridger, U.K.

2012 CPJ Burton Benjamin Memorial Awardee (Guardian News & Media Ltd/David Levene) Alan Rusbridger has been the editor of the Guardian since 1995, leading the U.K. newspaper into becoming a stalwart of watchdog reporting and independent journalism while pioneering and championing open journalism. Whether in courtrooms or on online platforms, Rusbridger has persevered in staunch…

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Hermann Aboa (CPJ)

CPJ Impact

News from the Committee to Protect Journalists, January 2012 Journalist released after 163 daysCPJ was pleased to report on the January release of imprisoned journalist Hermann Aboa, who languished behind bars for 163 days. The former Ivorian state TV presenter was freed on bail after being jailed in July 21 on antistate charges for his role as a moderator…

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Tajik journalist Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov was convicted on insult charges in October, but was released from prison. He is banned from all journalistic work for three years. (RFE/RL Radio Ozodi)

CPJ Impact

News from the Committee to Protect Journalists, December 2011 The year in press freedom This year was marked by a wave of anti-press violence as social unrest stirred millions into action. Journalists from Belarus to Egypt and Mexico to Beijing continued exposing the truth despite being attacked for their reporting. The Committee to Protect Journalists’…

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The Agenda: Global press freedom

CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon was on Canadian TVO’s show The Agenda talking about CPJ’s newly published 2011 prisoned census and press freedom around the world.

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CPJ/Michael Nagle

CPJ International Press Freedom Awards 2011

21st Annual Ceremony and Dinner To benefit the Committee to Protect Journalists Four intrepid reporters and editors from Bahrain, Belarus, Mexico, and Pakistan were honored Tuesday, November 22, at the Committee to Protect Journalists’ 21st Annual International Press Freedom Awards benefit dinner, an annual recognition of courageous journalism. The event, held at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria…

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