‘Night and day’: The Biden administration and the press
President Joe Biden’s approach to U.S. media is a stark contrast to Donald Trump’s vicious rhetoric. However, one year into the Biden administration, press freedom advocates remain concerned about issues like the president’s limited availability to journalists, the administration’s slow responses to requests for information, its planned extradition of Julian Assange, restrictions on media access…
CPJ to release 2021 Global Impunity Index
New York, October 21, 2021–The Committee to Protect Journalists will publish its annual list of countries where journalists are murdered regularly and their killers go free on October 28, 2021. The launch of the report, “Killers of journalists still get away with murder: CPJ’s 2021 Global Impunity Index,” comes just days ahead of the International…
CPJ congratulates Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov for winning the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize
New York, October 8, 2021 — The Committee to Protect Journalists congratulates journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, who were awarded this year’s Nobel Peace Prize today. Their award comes at a time of unprecedented attacks on journalists in the form of sweeping crackdowns, digital surveillance, and an erosion of public trust in journalism. “Dmitry…
Ethiopian journalist Abebe Bayu abducted and assaulted
Last week, unidentified men in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa abducted Ethio Forumjournalist Abebe Bayu at gunpoint, drove him to the city’s outskirts, and warned him to cease criticizing the government. They then seized both of his cell phones and fled the scene. Three days later, Ethio Forum announced on Facebook that it was…
Bangladesh court hands down convictions in 2015 murders of blogger and publisher
In Bangladesh, a court sentenced five people to death for their involvement in the 2015 murder of blogger Avijit Roy, and another to life in prison. The court handed down death sentences to members of the same group for the 2015 murder of Roy’s publisher, Faisal Arefin Dipan. CPJ’s senior Asia researcher, Aliya Iftikhar, welcomed…
‘Not at the finish line’: Slovak editor Peter Bárdy on ending impunity for Ján Kuciak’s murder
Last month brought mixed news in the quest for justice for 27-year-old Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak, who was murdered with his fiancée Martina Kušnírová in their home outside Bratislava on February 21, 2018. The alleged mastermind, businessman Marián Kočner, is behind bars for forgery; on January 12 an appeals court upheld a lower court ruling sentencing Kočner to…
Globally journalists covering the pandemic continue to face threats
Journalists worldwide continue to face attacks and harassment while covering COVID-19 and related lockdowns. In Brazil, an unidentified group harassed and threatened journalist Bárbara Barbosa and a camera operator while reporting on lockdown compliance. In Italy, a television crew covering anti-lockdown demonstrations were attacked and chased, and journalist Mimmo Rubio was threatened over his reporting…
CPJ to release annual Global Impunity Index
New York, October 19, 2020–The Committee to Protect Journalists will publish its annual list of countries where journalists are murdered regularly and their killers go free on October 28, 2020. The launch of the report, “Getting Away with Murder: CPJ’s 2020 Global Impunity Index” will mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against…
Police militarization (and wildfires) put U.S. journalists at risk
An increasingly militarized police presence at protests across the United States creates a dangerous reporting environment, journalists told CPJ. Those covering unrest in the U.S. are encouraged to consult CPJ’s new legal guide, which explains the rights of journalists when confronted by law enforcement while covering a protest or political event. Female journalists in Pakistan…
The Trump administration and the media
Attacks on press credibility endanger US democracy and global press freedom The Trump administration has stepped up prosecutions of news sources, interfered in the business of media owners, harassed journalists crossing U.S. borders, and empowered foreign leaders to restrict their own media. But Trump’s most effective ploy has been to destroy the credibility of the…