Press Releases

  

All but one country in Americas criminalize defamation

CPJ releases comparative study of criminal defamation laws in the Americas Lima, Peru, March 2, 2016–An alarming resurgence in the use of outdated criminal defamation provisions to target critical journalists across Latin America represents a danger to freedom of expression in the region, according to a new report released today by the Committee to Protect…

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Fourth most deadly year on record for journalists

In 2015, 71 journalists killed in relation to their work; 199 imprisoned New York, January 6, 2015–In 2015, 71 journalists were killed in direct relation to their work, making it the fourth deadliest year since the Committee to Protect Journalists began keeping records in 1992, the organization said today. Thirty of the journalists killed, or…

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China, Egypt are worst jailers of journalists worldwide

Total number imprisoned globally falls slightly, CPJ finds New York, December 15, 2015–China is holding 49 journalists behind bars, the highest number ever recorded there, making it the worst jailer of journalists worldwide for the second year in a row, the Committee to Protect Journalists has found. The number of journalists jailed in Egypt and…

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The EU must engage with Turkey on press freedom

CPJ joins calls for Brussels to push for release of jailed journalists Brussels, December 15, 2015–The European Union must not allow the challenges of the refugee crisis to deter it from confronting Turkey about its poor press freedom record, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, and the European Federation of Journalists said at…

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Journalists honored for courageous reporting

International Press Freedom Awards go to Ethiopian bloggers, Malaysian cartoonist, Paraguayan crime reporter, Syrian citizen journalists New York, November 25, 2015–Journalists from Ethiopia, Malaysia, Paraguay, and Syria were honored Tuesday night at the Committee to Protect Journalists’ 25th annual International Press Freedom Awards for courageous work amid risks such as physical attack, imprisonment, exile, and…

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We need a free press to succeed, Tunisia’s leaders tell CPJ

Prime Minister vows to protect journalists Tunis, October 28, 2015–Tunisia’s senior leadership vowed in meetings with the Committee to Protect Journalists in Tunis on Wednesday to uphold press freedom as the country transitions to democracy, and to protect journalists assaulted by security forces or threatened by extremists.

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Security fears lead to press freedom decline in Tunisia

Threats of violence and government restrictions lead to self-censorship, CPJ report finds New York, October 27, 2015–Tunisian press freedom is under threat as journalists are squeezed between violent extremists and security services sensitive to criticism, CPJ finds in a report released today, “In Tunisia, press freedom erodes amid security fears.” The report finds that while…

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Bangladesh, South Sudan join CPJ’s Global Impunity Index

Somalia tops list of countries where journalists are murdered and killers go free New York, October 8, 2015- The ambush of a convoy in South Sudan and the hacking deaths of bloggers in Bangladesh propelled the two nations onto the Committee to Protect Journalists’ Global Impunity Index of countries where journalists are murdered and their…

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EU’s reputation as global leader in press freedom at risk, CPJ report finds

Surveillance, restrictive media laws, and weak responses to threats restrict press and challenge EU ideals. Brussels, September 29, 2015- Press freedom in Europe is in peril and the European Union has a moral imperative to defend this right and hold its member states accountable, the Committee to Protect Journalists found in Balancing Act: Press freedom…

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As world leaders take to UNGA stage, CPJ highlights countries of concern

Press freedom records of Egypt, Russia, Iran, China, Nigeria, Mexico, Ecuador New York, September 25, 2015–Each year, the world’s leaders are invited to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, where they are given a platform to speak freely and openly. But while the leaders of many countries enjoy this privilege, their journalists back…

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