Council of Europe journalist safety platform publishes annual report on press freedom
On March 7, 2023, the Council of Europe’s platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists published “War in Europe and the fight for the right to report,” an annual report providing a snapshot of the situation regarding media freedom and journalist safety in Europe, including recommendations for action. The report was…
CPJ, press freedom groups express support for Guardian journalist Carole Cadwalladr following libel verdict
The Committee to Protect Journalists and 12 other international press freedom organizations reiterated their support on Wednesday for journalist Carole Cadwalladr after the U.K. Court of Appeal ruled in a libel lawsuit against her on February 28. Cadwalladr reports for the Guardian newspaper and its Sunday sister paper, the Observer. Millionaire businessman and political donor…
Editor Tamás Bodoky on threats to Hungary’s independent media funding
“Átlátszó” means “transparent” in Hungarian. Since launching an independent nonprofit media outlet under that name, editor-in-chief Tamás Bodoky and his colleagues have worked hard to live up to it, publishing detailed funding reports on their website, he told CPJ in a recent interview. But that hasn’t stopped pro-government institutions from accusing Átlátszó of serving foreign…
CPJ calls for Morocco to release journalist Taoufik Bouachrine 5 years after his arrest
CPJ has joined 41 other rights groups urging Moroccan authorities to immediately release journalist Taoufik Bouachrine, former editor-in-chief of local independent newspaper Akhbar al-Youm, on the fifth anniversary of his arrest in 2018. Bouachrine is serving a 15-year prison sentence on sexual assault charges that were brought in retaliation for his reporting. The joint statement…
CPJ, partners send recommendations to European Commission ahead of rule of law report
CPJ on Wednesday, February 22, joined 33 partner organizations in a statement to the European Commission about its rule of law report, which assesses on an annual basis the media freedom environment in the member states of the EU. The statement makes concrete recommendations in advance of this year’s report, which will be published in…
Newly released from Turkish prison, Kurdish journalist Nedim Türfent reflects on sham prosecution
Nedim Türfent knows why he spent six and a half years of his life behind bars as a convicted terrorist in Turkey. The court that sentenced him explained the verdict in official documents: Because he writes “exaggerated and disturbing news stories” about the state. After his prison term ended in November 2022, “It was…
Slovakia press freedom delegation demands justice for Ján Kuciak
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined a delegation in Slovakia on Tuesday marking the fifth anniversary of the murder of Slovak investigative journalist, Ján Kuciak. The organizations renewed calls for full justice for Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová who were both killed five years ago today, on 21 February 2018, and called on the…
‘No other option to survive’: After one year of war, Ukrainian journalists are equipped for the long haul
In January, Ukrainian photojournalist Anton Skyba rushed to the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine to report on a town near the front line, Chasiv Yar. He came prepared. In a phone call with CPJ, he ticked off the items in his suitcase: personal protective equipment, including a helmet and an individual first aid kit with a chest patch “for…
CPJ joins renewed call for Romanian authorities to investigate harassment of journalist Emilia Șercan
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined nine other international press freedom organizations in a letter to Romanian authorities on February 17, 2023, expressing deep concern over delays in the investigation into the harassment of investigative journalist Emilia Șercan. Despite earlier calls to Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă and other government officials, authorities have failed to investigate…
Iran’s seizure of detained journalists’ devices raises fears of fresh arrests, convictions
Five months after the death of a young woman in morality police custody sparked widespread protests, Iranian authorities are charging journalists who covered the uprising with anti-state crimes. In many of these cases, authorities have powerful tools at their disposal to aid in convictions: journalists’ phones and laptops. CPJ counted at least 95 journalists arrested since the start of the protests….