Reuters covers CPJ’s letter to SA’s President Zuma
On August 16, CPJ sent a letter to South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma to express our concern about legislative proposals that would severely restrict South Africa’s independent press corps. The letter received a great deal of media attention in South Africa and internationally. Please follow this link to read Reuters’ article about the letter.
2 Cuban reporters freed, arrive in Madrid; 13 now released
New York, August 19, 2010–Formerly imprisoned Cuban journalists Fabio Prieto Llorente and Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta arrived in Spain today, bringing to 13 the number of imprisoned reporters who were freed this year as part of an agreement between the Cuban Catholic Church and the government of President Raúl Castro.
Assault, vandalism reported at Awramba Times
On August 17, 2010, two men barged into the offices of the Awramba Times, the independent Amharic-language weekly in the capital, Addis Ababa, and assaulted Moges Tikuye, a security guard, the paper reported. Tikuye suffered minor injuries. Early the next morning, assailants smashed the windows and doors of the office.
CPJ Impact
News from the Committee to Protect Journalists, August 2010 Honduras report citing official failures draws a responseIn a few short months, seven journalists were gunned down in Honduras. While the country has been beset by crime and political turmoil, it had not been known as a particularly dangerous place for the press. Is someone targeting…
Iranian journalist Badressadat Mofidi gets six years in jail
New York, August 18, 2010–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Iranian authorities to reverse a six-year prison sentence against Iranian journalist Badressadat Mofidi.Mofidi was formerly the secretary-general of the Association of Iranian Journalists in Tehran, an organization that was established by prominent journalists in 1997 and shut down by the authorities in 2009.
Court in Venezuela bans violent photos in newspapers
New York, August 18, 2010–A Venezuelan court’s decision to ban print media from publishing images of violence is an attempt to censor news coverage of widespread crime in the weeks leading up to the September 26 legislative elections, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
YouTube wants your input on barriers to Internet freedom
In an age of widespread online journalism, Internet users worldwide are exposed to stories, footage, and leaks that probably would have gone unpublished in the print age. In response, YouTube has opened up the floor to commentary on the current condition of online freedom of expression. They’re calling on all Internet users, bloggers, and activists to submit…