Ecuador on edge: Political paralysis and spiking crime pose new threats to press freedom
In Ecuador, political turmoil and a deepening security crisis are putting reporters and press freedom at increasing risk. President Guillermo Lasso, who dissolved the country’s National Assembly in May as it took steps to impeach him, has proved ineffective at stemming the rise in violent crime and journalists are watching uneasily as the party of…
Mozambican journalist Leonardo Gimo investigated for criminal defamation over report on alleged police corruption
On June 5, 2023, Mozambique authorities called Leonardo Gimo, a reporter for the privately owned broadcaster TV Sucesso, and asked him to appear before investigators on June 8, according to a statement by the Mozambican chapter of the regional press freedom group Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and the journalist, who spoke to CPJ…
Haitian television station owner disappears days after brief abduction of his journalist wife
New York, June 22, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Thursday called on Haitian authorities to investigate the reported kidnapping of Pierre-Louis Opont, the president of Haiti’s independent Télé Pluriel channel 44, and the brief abduction of his journalist wife Marie Lucie Bonhomme. The disappearance of Opont on Tuesday, June 20, came days after Bonhomme,…
Digital security: Risk assessment template
This two-part digital risk assessment form is designed to help journalists think about how to mitigate digital risk in both their everyday life and when covering a particular story. The following templates are designed to accompany CPJ’s Digital Safety Kit, which has practical steps that journalists can follow in order to help them complete the…
CPJ to release report on rising threats to press freedom in Ecuador
Update: A previous iteration of this media advisory stated “Ecuador on edge” would be published on Tuesday, June 27. Due to unforeseen circumstances, it will now be published on Wednesday, June 28. New York, June 22, 2023—On June 28, 2023, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) will release “Ecuador on edge,” a report documenting the…
CPJ’s support to exiled journalists jumped 227% in 3 years, reflecting global press freedom crisis
Keep closely connected to your homeland and don’t despair: that is advice Syrian journalist Okba Mohammad said he would offer to Afghan journalists who fled after the August 2021 Taliban takeover. Mohammad knows firsthand the challenges of exile. In 2019, he made a new life in Spain after fleeing the Syrian civil war with CPJ’s…
Resources for Journalists in Exile
Increasingly, journalists and independent media outlets are being forced into exile. Whether fleeing the immediate danger posed by a war, the threat of draconian legislation, or retaliatory harm directly related to their work, journalists are being forced to leave their countries, their homes, and even at times their family members behind, often with little hope…
Digital safety: Guidance for journalists in exile
Journalists in exile face a range of digital security challenges unique to their individual circumstances. These include hacking attempts on their accounts, online harassment, and attacks on their websites or blogs. This guide provides journalists with practical steps they can take to better ensure their safety. General guidance Keeping accounts safe from hacking attempts Journalists…
Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora sentenced to 6 years in prison
After more than a year on trial, José Rubén Zamora, president of Guatemalan newspaper elPeriódico, was convicted of money laundering and acquitted on blackmail and influence peddling charges on Wednesday. He was sentenced to a six-year prison term and a fine. Zamora has been in pretrial detention since July 29, 2022, and has also been…
CPJ calls on Biden administration to press India prime minister on media freedom during visit
New York, June 14, 2023—Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the U.S. from June 21 to 24 and meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, the Committee to Protect Journalists on Wednesday issued the following statement calling on the U.S. government to urge India to end its media crackdown and release the six…