Belarus sentences critical journalist to four years in a low-security prison colony
July 17, 2018 4:55 PM ET
Kiev, July 17, 2018--A Minsk court today found Belarusian journalist Dzmitry Halko guilty of assaulting a police officer, sentenced him to four years' labor at a low-security prison colony, and ordered him to pay restitution of 850 Belarusian rubles (US$430) to the officer, according to Halko's wife, Julia Garkusha,...
CPJ welcomes district court's reversal in L.A. Times prior restraint case
July 17, 2018 1:47 PM ET
New York, July 17, 2018 -- U.S. District Judge John F. Walter today vacated a temporary restraining order that he had issued three days earlier prohibiting the Los Angeles Times from publishing details of a sealed plea agreement that had mistakenly been made public. The decision came in the...
Positive steps in Ecuador under new president but press remains wary
July 12, 2018 12:30 PM ET
Quito, July 12, 2018-- President Lenín Moreno's administration has dramatically diverged from that of his predecessor, Rafael Correa, including by pledging to scale back Ecuador's restrictive media law, but the country's press remains cautious as it waits for change, the Committee to Protect Journalists found in its report, "The U-turn:...
CPJ welcomes Lucy Westcott as 2018 James W. Foley Fellow
July 11, 2018 3:44 PM ET
New York, July 11, 2018--The Committee to Protect Journalists is pleased to announce that Lucy Westcott has joined CPJ as the 2018 James W. Foley Fellow. During her fellowship, Westcott will focus on safety issues for women journalists in non-hostile environments....
Tajik journalist sentenced to 12 years after alleging official corruption
July 11, 2018 12:33 PM ET
New York, July 11, 2018--A Tajik court today found independent journalist Khayrullo Mirsaidov guilty of embezzling and misusing state fund and false reporting to police and sentenced him to 12 years in a high-security prison, according to media reports and the journalist's friends with whom CPJ spoke. The Committee...
CPJ to release report on press freedom in Ecuador
July 9, 2018 10:02 AM ET
New York, July 9, 2018--The Committee to Protect Journalists will release its report, "The U-turn: Moreno steers Ecuador away from Correa's media repression," on July 12, 2018. To mark the launch, CPJ will host a press conference with local civil society group Fundamedios, in Quito....
Myanmar court charges Reuters reporters under official secrets act
July 9, 2018 7:27 AM ET
Bangkok, July 9, 2018 - A Myanmar court charged today two Reuters reporters, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, under the Official Secrets Act, the news agency reported. The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemned the criminal charges and called on authorities to drop the landmark case, which has...
Republic of Congo releases Bemba after nearly 18 months without charge
July 3, 2018 4:24 PM ET
New York, July 3, 2018--The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed the release after nearly 18 months in prison without charge of Ghys Fortuné Dombé Bemba, editor of the privately owned newspaper Talassa, in Brazzaville. CPJ urged authorities in the Republic of Congo not to pursue further legal action...
CPJ welcomes Natalie Southwick as Central and South America program coordinator
July 2, 2018 12:36 PM ET
New York, July 2, 2018--The Committee to Protect Journalists is pleased to announce that Natalie Southwick has been named CPJ's Central and South America program coordinator. Southwick will lead efforts to report, monitor, and advocate on press freedom issues in South and Central America, and the Caribbean....
At least five people killed at newsroom shooting in Maryland
June 28, 2018 6:48 PM ET
New York, June 28, 2018--At least five people were killed in a shooting in the newsroom of the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland, this afternoon. Police have a suspect in custody, but his identity and motive are unknown, the newspaper reported on its website....