Venezuela moves to silence hundreds of broadcasters
Dear Mr. Cabello: The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by your recent announcement that regulators may revoke the concessions of 240 radio stations for failing to update their registration papers. We believe that this decision is yet another attempt by Venezuelan authorities to expand pro-government media, control the flow of information, and suppress dissent.
Philippine police must act to stem journalist murders
New York, June 29, 2009–Police in the Philippines must step up investigations into journalist killings following the shooting death of radio commentator Jonathan Petalvero on Saturday, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Petalvero is the fourth Philippine journalist killed this month, the third to be targeted for murder.
Audio Report: Reporting, and Surviving, in Ciudad Juárez
In our special report, “Reporting, and Surviving, in Ciudad Juárez,” CPJ’s Mike O’Connor examines journalism in one of Mexico’s most dangerous places. Here, O’Connor describes how violence is creating pervasive self-censorship in the press. Listen to the mp3 on the player above, or right click here to download. (2:49) Read “Reporting, and Surviving, in…
In Ugandan courts, important press battles
In Uganda last week, four journalists from the leading daily Monitor filed notice that they would challenge the constitutionality of the criminal libel laws before the Supreme Court, the country’s highest court, according to the newspaper’s lawyer, James Nangwala.
Who will lead UNESCO?
Being director general of UNESCO is the definition of a plum diplomatic job. Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO’s mandate is to promote cultural exchanges and scientific research, or, as its charter more grandly puts it, “peace in the minds of men.” With the term of the current UNESCO head coming to an end, the diplomatic battle…
CPJ, JFO cite press freedom abuses in Iraq
Dear Prime Minister al-Maliki: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the Journalistic Freedoms Observatory (JFO) would like to bring to your attention several issues that harm press freedom in Iraq. In recent months, our organizations have documented a number of assaults and instances of harassment committed by government officials against journalists in various parts of the country under the control of Iraq’s central government.
Q&A: Syrian journalist Michel Kilo after prison
On May 18, Syrian journalist and pro-democracy activist Michel Kilo was released from prison after serving a three-year sentence for “weakening national sentiment and encouraging sectarian strife.” Kilo, who was a regular contributor to the leading Lebanese daily, Al-Nahar, and the London-based daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi among other publications, was detained in May 2006 after writing…
World leaders note Sri Lankan press abuses
Sri Lanka got special mention in the statements of world leaders marking World Press Freedom Day, May 3. It’s not surprising. The government in Colombo has coupled an all-out effort to end its war with the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam with an assault on critics in the Sri Lankan media. U.S. President Barack…