Online journalist flees Russia following threats
New York, September 21, 2016–Russian authorities should credibly investigate threats against independent online journalist Aleksandr Sotnik and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Sotnik yesterday announced that he had fled Russia following threats connected to his critical reporting on Kremlin policies.
CPJ Newsletter: Exhibit of jailed photographer’s work moves to Photoville, journalist released from jail, and we join our partners at the UN
October edition Next stop for exhibit of Shawkan’s work: Photoville In mid-September, CPJ partnered with the Bronx Documentary Center to hold an exhibition of photographs taken by Mahmoud Abou Zeid, or Shawkan, a freelance journalist who has been imprisoned in Egypt since August 2013. Many of Shawkan’s photos–from protests and celebrations in Tahrir Square to…
How Nigeria’s cybercrime law is being used to try to muzzle the press
Since Nigeria’s cybercrime act was voted into law in May 2015 authorities have used the accusation of cyber stalking to harass and press charges against at least five bloggers who criticized politicians and businessmen online and through social media.
CPJ to release special report on press freedom in Cuba
New York, September 21–The Committee to Protect Journalists will release its special report on conditions for Cuba’s press on September 28, 2016, entitled “Connecting Cuba: More Space for Criticism but Restrictions Slow Press Freedom Progress.” Based on interviews with journalists and bloggers, the report examines how the media landscape has changed since President Raúl Castro…
Mexican journalist dies from injuries after being shot in Puebla state
Mexico City, September 20, 2016–The Committee to Protect Journalists urged authorities in the central Mexican state of Puebla today to conduct a full and credible investigation into the killing of journalist Aurelio Cabrera Campos, the founder and editorial director of a weekly news magazine, El Gráfico de la Sierra.
TV journalists beaten, threatened covering protest
Protesters in Bangalore, the capital of India’s Karnataka state, on September 12, 2016, assaulted Rohini Swamy, deputy editor of the English-language news channel India Today TV, and Madhu Y, a cameraman for the channel, as the two covered demonstrations against a Supreme Court order to divert some water from the Cauvery River to the neighboring…
Global Forum for Media Development
CPJ Advocacy Director, Courtney Radsch, will be participating in tri-annual conference of media development organizations to explore opportunities for collaboration on press freedom issues and between networks. Ms. Radsch will participate in sessions on journalist safety, policy advocacy, and speak at a session on countering violent extremism and the media.
CPJ joins call for Montenegro to free imprisoned journalist Jovo Martinović
The Committee to Protect Journalists, along with the Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders, today wrote a joint letter to Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Đukanović protesting the 11-month pretrial detention of freelance journalist Jovo Martinović, who has been accused of participating in a drug trafficking ring–an accusation he has denied and which the prosecution…
Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of September 18
Taraf chief editor detained hours after release Hours after his release from prison, the writer and journalist Ahmet Altan was detained again. Altan turned himself in late last night and was arrested after hearing that he was wanted by authorities, according to reports. According to a report in the daily, Hürriyet, the prosecution objected to…