Six months into the Russia-Ukraine war, 12 journalists killed
For six months, CPJ has covered how Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has affected press freedom in the region. At least 12 journalists have been killed covering the war and CPJ is investigating whether the deaths of three others were related to their work. Russia’s independent media has been gutted as scores of journalists have…
#JusticeForShireen: 100 days since the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
To mark 100 days since the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, CPJ participated in a vigil on Thursday outside the Washington, D.C., offices of Al-Jazeera English. The veteran journalist was fatally shot while covering an Israeli army operation in the West Bank town of Jenin on May 11. CPJ continues to call…
CPJ Insider: August 2022 edition
CPJ continues to demand Biden administration hold those responsible for journalist killings to account President Biden’s recent Middle East trip was a key opportunity for his administration to support the cause of press freedom. Before and during the trip, CPJ repeatedly urged the administration not to normalize journalist killings and to demand accountability for the…
Shireen Abu Akleh’s family, CPJ, U.S. lawmakers call on Biden administration to investigate journalist’s killing
On Thursday, CPJ joined the family of slain Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and U.S. lawmakers for a press conference to call for an independent, U.S.-led investigation into her killing. Also this week, CPJ called on U.S. officials to act after Blinken met with Abu Akleh’s family. “Today, we remind President Biden of his…
CPJ calls for US to pursue accountability in Shireen Abu Akleh killing
On July 4, the U.S. State Department released a statement concerning the shooting death of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. It said that while Israeli forces were “likely responsible” for shooting and killing Abu Akleh, there was “no reason to believe that this was intentional.” On Twitter, Abu Akleh’s family condemned that statement, reiterating…
Philippine authorities order Rappler to shut down, block access to 2 news websites
On Tuesday, Philippine authorities ordered the shutdown of independent news organization Rappler and the blocking of news websites Bulatlat and Pinoy Weekly. Maria Ressa, co-founder, CEO and executive editor of Rappler, was quoted in news reports Wednesday saying that the outlet would appeal the ruling. Ressa, who is a 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and…
‘I want to be a journalist like Shireen’
“I wanted to reach her, but I just couldn’t,” Shatha Hanaysha — the 29-year-old Palestinian correspondent who was seen in the video of the aftermath of the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh last week — told CPJ, recalling the danger of extending her hand to touch her colleague’s body. “When I was asked,…
Shireen Abu Akleh killing: CPJ calls for international probe
Israeli and Palestinian authorities should ensure that the investigation into the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is swift and transparent, that all evidence is shared with international investigators, and that those responsible are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Abu Akleh, a reporter for the Qatari broadcaster Al-Jazeera, was…
#NotATarget: Ahead of World Press Freedom Day, CPJ renews call for protection of journalists in Ukraine
On Wednesday, CPJ welcomed the European Commission’s “decisive” move to pass an initiative addressing the abuse of SLAPPs (strategic lawsuits against public participation). CPJ has long advocated for the EU to address SLAPPs, which are abusive lawsuits filed by powerful officials, businesspeople, or corporations against individuals, including critical journalists or news outlets, to restrict or…
People’s Tribunal on the Murder of Journalists to hear the case of Miguel Ángel López Velasco in Mexico City
New York, April 26, 2022 – In an unprecedented effort to achieve justice in the killing of journalists, three leading press freedom groups launched a People’s Tribunal in November 2021 to hold governments accountable. The Tribunal, a form of grassroots justice, relies on investigations and high quality legal analysis involving specific cases in three countries. The next hearing…