Press Releases

  
Journalists watch the televised debate between Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in Philadelphia on September 10, 2024. (Photo: Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein)

US press freedom under unprecedented pressure ahead of election, CPJ report finds

Attacks on journalists in the US increase by more than 50% from 2023 to 2024 New York, October 1, 2024 — The safety of journalists in the United States is no longer a given as members of the media face a slew of threats – including violence, online harassment, legal challenges, and attacks by police…

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CPJ announces $1M initiative to protect climate journalists

Nearly one-third of the funds have been raised  New York, September 23, 2024 — The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) today announced the Climate Crisis Journalist Protection Initiative, which will ensure that journalists reporting on climate issues are able to do so freely and safely. The initiative will provide climate journalists with assistance, safety training,…

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CPJ to honor formidable journalists with 2024 International Press Freedom Awards

Esteemed awardees from four regions to be recognized in November New York, September 19, 2024 — The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) today announced that it will honor four exceptional journalists with its 2024 International Press Freedom Awards.  This year’s awardees, who cover Gaza, Guatemala, Niger, and Russia, have withstood extraordinary challenges to continue reporting…

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Gerry Ortega’s wife, Patria, holds a photo of the Philippine broadcast journalist, who was murdered in 2011. The alleged mastermind behind his killing, former Palawan governor Joel T. Reyes, has been sentenced to 110 years on graft charges.

CPJ, partners call for swift trial after ex-governor surrenders over Philippine journalist’s murder

New York, September 11, 2024—A coalition of three international press freedom organizations on Wednesday called for a swift and impartial trial after fugitive ex-governor Joel T. Reyes surrendered to authorities in connection with the 2011 murder of Philippine broadcast journalist Gerry Ortega. “This is long overdue. Former governor Joel T. Reyes has evaded justice for…

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U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on October 18, 2023. The two are set to meet again on July 23, 2024 in Washington, D.C., and CPJ and other rights groups are urging the President and other lawmakers to push Netanyahu to improve press freedom and address rights abuses against journalists. (Photo: AFP/Brendan Smialowski)

CPJ and rights groups: Biden should press Netanyahu on journalist killings, urge media access to Gaza

New York, July 22, 2024 — President Joe Biden should press the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the unprecedented number of journalists killed in the Gaza Strip and the near-total ban on international media entering the Strip, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and nine other human rights and press freedom organizations said in…

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Palestinian Journalist Sami Shehada, whose leg was amputated following his injury while covering events of Israel's military offensive in Nuseirat in April 2024, resumes covering events for Turkish state broadcaster TRT, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza Strip May 13, 2024. (Photo: Reuters/Doaa Rouga)

Media organizations urge Israel to open access to Gaza

New York, July 11, 2024—More than 70 media and civil society organizations have signed an open letter urging Israel to give journalists independent access to Gaza. The organizations—which include the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, BBC, CNN, The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Washington Post—point out that no independent media access to Gaza has…

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Jessica E. Lessin, 2024 International Press Freedom Awards chair, and John Oliver, host. (Photos: courtesy of The Information; John Oliver)

John Oliver and The Information’s Jessica Lessin to host and chair CPJ’s press freedom awards

Annual benefit dinner, to be held in November, honors courageous journalists New York, July 9, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Monday announced the organization’s 2024 International Press Freedom Awards (IPFA) will be hosted by John Oliver, host of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and chaired by Jessica E. Lessin, founder and CEO…

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Leading press freedom organizations submit amicus brief in Maria Ressa case

CPJ, ICFJ and RSF introduced expert legal opinion arguing the Supreme Court of the Philippines should close cyber libel case New York / Paris / Washington D.C., June 18, 2024 — In an effort to deter the legal persecution of trailblazing journalist and Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa and her former colleague Reynaldo Santos, and to…

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‘A Red Cross for journalism’: CPJ recognized by Canadian Association of Journalists for commitment to journalist safety 

New York, June 10, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) was awarded the Canadian Association of Journalists’ (CAJ) 2024 Charles Bury Award on June 1, 2024, for commitment to protecting the safety and security of journalists at risk worldwide. “This is not just an acknowledgment of the work that my colleagues at the Committee to…

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CPJ, partners call on ICJ to order unimpeded media access to Gaza following South Africa’s urgent request

New York, May 22, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), ARTICLE 19 and partners on Wednesday issued a statement (full text below) in support of South Africa’s urgent request to the International Court of Justice to order Israel to facilitate unimpeded media access to Gaza.  In a joint statement, nine human rights and press freedom…

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