Attacks on the Press in 2024
War, authoritarian repression, and political and economic instability continued to put journalists’ freedom and lives at risk in 2024. Last year, the Committee to Protect Journalists’ annual prison census documented more than 100 new jailings of journalists for their work.
In record year, China, Israel, and Myanmar are world’s leading jailers of journalists
China, Israel, and Myanmar emerged as the world’s three worst offenders in another record-setting year for journalists jailed because of their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists’ 2024 prison census has found. Belarus and Russia rounded out the top five, with CPJ documenting its second-highest number of journalists behind bars – a global total of…
On Edge: What the US election could mean for journalists and global press freedom
Journalists are bracing for the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. CPJ’s research ahead of the November vote finds that the hostile media climate fostered during Donald Trump’s presidency has continued to fester, with members of the press confronting challenges – including violence, lawsuits, online harassment, and police attacks – that could shape the…
Alsu Kurmasheva, U.S. – Russia
CPJ is honored to present its 2024 International Press Freedom Award to U.S.-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva. Alsu Kurmasheva, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen, is a journalist and editor at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). She first joined the outlet in 1998 as a radio program moderator. Throughout her career, Kurmasheva has covered cultural and human rights issues…
Russia fines 11 journalists, restricts 2 outlets with anti-state laws
Berlin, September 20, 2024—Russian authorities have deployed laws penalizing “foreign agents,” “undesirable” organizations, and those who “discredit” the army to issue fines against 11 journalists, at least five of whom live in exile, and to retaliate against two media outlets in the last two months. The latest figures show that Russia’s crackdown has continued apace…
CPJ announces winners of 2024 International Press Freedom Awards
The Committee to Protect Journalists announced on Thursday that it will honor four exceptional journalists with its 2024 International Press Freedom Awards. This year’s awardees, who cover Gaza, Guatemala, Niger, and Russia, have withstood extraordinary challenges to continue reporting on their communities while experiencing war, prison, government crackdowns, and the rising criminalization of their work….
Reuters safety adviser killed, 3 journalists injured in Ukraine
New York, August 26, 2024 – The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the killing of Reuters safety adviser Ryan Evans in an attack that also injured three journalists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk. “The missile strike that killed Reuters safety adviser Ryan Evans and injured three other journalists is a sad and sobering…
Russian authorities prosecute, fine Meduza journalists
Berlin, May 30, 2024—Russian authorities must end the prosecution and harassment of journalists connected with the Latvia-based independent news site Meduza and those who share its content, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On May 2, the Cheryomushki district court in the Russian capital Moscow initiated administrative proceedings against Galina Timchenko, head of Meduza,…
Georgia’s ‘foreign agent’ law will stifle media freedom, CPJ warns
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply troubled by the Georgian parliament’s vote on Tuesday to adopt the controversial Russian-style “foreign agents” law that could target foreign-funded media operating in the country. “The passage of ‘foreign agent’ legislation by the ruling Georgian Dream party, despite significant public opposition, is set to stifle media freedom…
Russia puts Forbes journalist under house arrest, detains 2 others
Berlin, May 1, 2024—Russian authorities must drop legal proceedings against Sergey Mingazov, a journalist for the Russian edition of Forbes magazine, and detained journalists Konstantin Gabov and Sergey Karelin and ensure that members of the press are not imprisoned for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On April 27, a court in the city of Khabarovsk…