Surging violence haunts Indian journalists ahead of elections in politically polarized West Bengal
Indian journalists Soma Maity and Ranjit Mahato had been at the protest for a matter of minutes before they were attacked by a mob on January 16. Maity said she was grabbed and lifted by two men, who pulled her hair, restrained her legs, and tore at her clothes while others touched her body. She…
Office of Indian newspaper attacked after alleged threat by Assam chief minister
New Delhi, April 15, 2026—Indian authorities in the eastern state of Assam must conduct a swift and transparent investigation into the recent attack on the office of daily newspaper Asomiya Pratidin, and ensure that all journalists in the state can report without fear of retaliation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. Early on April…
CPJ, partners condemn total impunity 27 years after murder of Serbian editor Slavko Ćuruvija
Berlin, April 10, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists and partner organizations marked the 27th anniversary of the assassination of Serbian newspaper publisher and editor Slavko Ćuruvija on April 10 by condemning the complete impunity for those responsible for one of the most serious attacks on journalism in the country’s history. Slavko Ćuruvija, a prominent critic of the…
Press freedom coalition welcomes arrest in Shan Dahar murder, urges Pakistani authorities to order transparent reinvestigation
New York, April 9, 2026—Press freedom organizations Free Press Unlimited (FPU), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcome the recent arrest of Irfan Brohi, a suspect in the 2014 murder of Pakistani journalist Zakir Hussain Dahar and call on authorities in Pakistan’s Sindh province to immediately appoint a senior police…
South Sudan’s new cybercrime law ramps up threat of jail for journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in South Sudan to urgently reform its new cybercrimes law, which punishes defamation with up to five years in prison, criminalizes speech on overbroad grounds, and fails to protect whistleblowers and public interest reporting. While government officials maintain the law is intended to address online fraud and…
Israel kills 3 journalists in Gaza and Lebanon in one day; CPJ calls for international action
New York, April 8, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns in the strongest terms the killing of at least three journalists in Lebanon and Gaza by Israel in one day, at least one of which was in a targeted attack. This pattern of attacks underscores a worsening climate of impunity and a blatant disregard for…
Hungarian elections: CPJ calls on all candidates to commit to 10 key steps to restore press freedom
Ahead of Hungary’s parliamentary elections on April 12, the Committee to Protect Journalists is calling on all political parties to commit to restoring press freedom, starting with 10 priority issues. Hungary’s media landscape has declined severely in the last 16 years under the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. His ruling Fidesz party — which faces…
Egyptian, Lebanese journalists targeted in cyber attacks
Washington, D.C., April 8, 2026 — The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by new reports about spear-phishing attacks against several Egyptian and Lebanese journalists aimed at compromising their Apple, Microsoft, and Google accounts. According to reports by digital rights organizations Access Now and SMEX, unidentified entities likely hired a South Asia-focused cyber espionage group…
How US media consolidation endangers press freedom
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is a government agency that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in the United States. Although the agency is supposed to be independent of the executive branch, recent actions by the FCC and comments by its chairman, Brendan Carr, represent a worrying politicization of the agency. In…
CPJ, RSF, Foley Foundation urge US government to designate Shelly Kittleson hostage, mobilize all resources to secure safe, swift release
CPJ, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the Foley Foundation sent a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on April 3 urging the U.S. government to secure the immediate, safe release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was abducted in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on March 31. The nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations asked…