Press Releases

New York, September 28--Cuban journalists are finding more space to be critical but restrictive laws, the fear of persecution, and limited and expensive access to the internet is slowing the country's press freedom progress, CPJ found in a report released today. The report finds that although President Raúl Castro's call for reforms five years ago has energized the press scene, many bloggers remain wary of publishing content that is too critical.

New York, September 28 - Internet restrictions are curbing independent voices in Cuba and leaving Cubans disconnected from the rest of the world, the Committee to Protect Journalists found in a special report released today. Only a fraction of Cuba's 11 million people have internet access, and it is expensive, slow, and heavily censored, CPJ found.

New York, August 29, 2016--A culture of impunity in India is leaving the country's press vulnerable to threats and attacks, CPJ found in a report released today. The report finds that regional investigations have failed to secure justice for journalists murdered for their work, and urges the national government to enact legislation that would provide federal oversight.

"My passion is photography, but I am paying the price for my passion with my life"

-- Mahmoud Abou Zeid "Shawkan"

New York, August 23, 2016 - The Committee to Protect Journalists, in partnership with the Bronx Documentary Center, will showcase the work of Egyptian freelance photojournalist Mahmoud Abou Zeid, known as Shawkan, who has been imprisoned for more than three years. The exhibit, which runs from September 8 to 11, will highlight Shawkan's images of the Egyptian revolution, from protests and celebrations in Tahrir Square to shots of everyday life in Cairo.

New York, August 3, 2016 -- The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the creation of a press freedom complaints mechanism by the International Olympic Committee that will enable journalists covering the organization and staging of the Olympic Games to report a violation of their press freedom. Thousands of journalists are converging on Rio de Janeiro ahead of the opening of the 2016 Olympic Games on Friday.

New York, July 25, 2016-- The United Nations Economic Social Council (ECOSOC) today voted to grant consultative status to the Committee to Protect Journalists. The step will allow the independent nonprofit organization to access U.N. bodies and processes, such as the Human Rights Council in Geneva, where accredited NGOs can deliver a counter-narrative to states.

Awardees from Egypt, India, Turkey, and El Salvador

New York, July 18, 2016--The Committee to Protect Journalists will honor journalists from Egypt, India, Turkey, and El Salvador with its 2016 International Press Freedom Awards. The journalists have faced threats, legal action, and imprisonment. CPJ is also honoring Christiane Amanpour, chief international correspondent and anchor at CNN, with the Burton Benjamin Memorial Award.

New York, June 1, 2016--The U.S. Department of Justice must reopen an investigation into the cases of five Vietnamese-American journalists killed between 1981 and 1990, based on information uncovered by ProPublica and Frontline, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today during a press conference at the National Press Club, in Washington, D.C.

New York. May 26, 2016--The NGO Committee of the United Nations voted today to deny the Committee to Protect Journalists consultative status with the Economic Social Council (ECOSOC). Without such status, CPJ is unable to access U.N. bodies and processes, notably the Human Rights Council in Geneva, where accredited NGOs can deliver a counter-narrative to states. During Thursday's vote, six members voted in favor of CPJ's application, 10 voted against CPJ, and three abstained. The full list of votes is available below.

San Francisco, May 12, 2016 -- Today, CPJ launched a SecureDrop instance that will allow journalists to contact the organization with reports of press freedom violations safely and anonymously.