In the News

  

Turkey unfairly detains journalists

CPJ’s special report on Turkey ignited a widespread public debate on the country’s press freedom.  Following the launch, a blog post by CPJ Executive Director, Joel Simon, summarizes and responds to criticisms the organization received during several days of intensive media interviews. A New York Times blog evaluates the Turkish government’s reaction to CPJ’s report.    Click here…

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Turkey ‘cracking down’ on press freedom

On October 22, CPJ launched a report on Turkey’s press freedom crisis.  The report, which is available in English and Turkish, details the cases of 76 journalists jailed in Turkey as of August 1, and the factors leading to their imprisonment. In BBC’s coverage of the report, Joel Simon, CPJ Executive Director, emphasizes Turkey’s campaign to label…

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Threats fail to deter young Somali reporters

In 2012, Somali was ranked on CPJ’s Impunity Index as one of the worst nations in combating journalist murders.  According to CPJ research, ten Somali journalists have been killed in direct retaliation for their reporting this year alone. CPJ East Africa Representative, Tom Rhodes, speaks to Aljazeera English on the willingness of young Somali journalists to report despite…

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Rookie freelancers risking lives to cover the Arab Spring

As hundreds of journalists are attacked, jailed, threatened, or placed under surveillance each year, research by CPJ show many of the journalists are freelancers who are responsible for their own preparation, equipment, and safety.  In launching a new Journalist Security Guide, CPJ provides a blueprint for reporters and freelancers to take concrete steps for their…

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Harsh prison sentences for 3 Vietnamese bloggers

Days after CPJ issued a special report on Vietnam’s confined media, authorities sentenced three bloggers, Nguyen Van Hai, Ta Phong Tan, and Phan Thanh Hai, to harsh prison terms on anti-state charges.In a statement to the International Herald Tribune, CPJ Senior Southeast Asia representative, Shawn Crispin underscores the extreme risks that journalists in Vietnam face…

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Pakistan journalists’ choice: Face death or jail

CPJ’s 2012 Impunity Index, an annual ranking of countries where journalists are murdered regularly and governments fail to solve the crimes, found unsolved journalist murders have increased in Pakistan.In an interview with the Associated Press, Bob Dietz, CPJ Asia Program Coordinator, describes the escalating violence against journalists in Pakistan’s province of Baluchistan. Click here for the full…

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Bahrain’s PR Offensive

Press freedom in Bahrain has worsened in the past year as authorities use deportations, arbitrary detentions, and anti-state charges to silence critical journalists, according to CPJ research.  HuffPost Live interviewed CPJ Executive Director, Joel Simon, and regional experts on Bahrain’s human rights abuses as it works to improve its image. Click here for the full story

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Egypt’s press freedom under Mursi spotlighted at trial

CPJ has documented a stream of attacks against the press under Egyptian leader Mohamed Morsi.  Islam Afifi, editor-in-chief of the independent daily Al-Dustour was charged with insulting the president.Bloomberg reports on the story and quotes CPJ Deputy Director, Robert Mahoney, on this benchmark press freedom case under Morsi. Click here for the full story

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Myanmar government ends direct media censorship

Burma announced today that it would abolish pre-publication censorship, a step CPJ welcomes but considers a partial measure in addressing the country’s restrictive practices. Burma came in seventh on CPJ’s 2012 list of most censored countries released in May.  The Associated Press interviewed CPJ Senior Southeast Asia representative, Shawn Crispin, on the significance of the ruling. Click here…

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South Sudan minister defies condemnation against international reporter

Critical journalists often face attacks from governments, CPJ found.  A South Sudan minister recently accused a reporter of McClatchy newspaper “to be in pay” of Sudan, after the journalist detailed the country’s support of Sudanese rebels. The Sudan Tribune reports on the story, with commentary from CPJ’s East Africa Consultant, Tom Rhodes. Click here for the full story

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