CPJ Insider: September 2019 edition
Putting First Amendment values in the spotlight CPJ has partnered with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the Los Angeles Times to produce LA Press Freedom Week, five days of programming that will engage the public and the journalistic community in and around Los Angeles in a conversation about today’s challenges to press freedom and…
10 Most Censored Countries
Repressive governments use sophisticated digital censorship and surveillance alongside more traditional methods to silence independent media. A special report by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Published September 10, 2019 Eritrea is the world’s most censored country, according to a list compiled by the Committee to Protect Journalists. The list is based on CPJ’s research into the…
Mexico’s deadly violence rises with killing of Estado de México reporter
Mexico City, August 27, 2019—The Committee to Protect Journalists today called for an immediate, transparent, and credible investigation into the killing of Nevith Condés Jaramillo, a reporter stabbed to death in the central Mexican state of Estado de México.
Iranian photojournalist Forough Alaei detained for 5 days over soccer stadium coverage
On August 12, 2019, intelligence agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps arrested freelance photojournalist Forough Alaei and five women’s rights activists, accusing them of attempting to illegally enter Tehran’s Azadi Stadium, according to a report by the BBC’s Persian service. The six were released on bail on August 17, according to Iranian press freedom…
CPJ calls on SADC heads of state to prioritize press freedom and the safety of journalists
CPJ writes to the executive secretary and heads of state of the Southern African Development Community ahead of the 39th Ordinary Summit, urging them to prioritize press freedom and the safety of journalists in SADC.
South Sudan detains Al-Watan editor for over 3 weeks
New York, August 9, 2019—Authorities in South Sudan should immediately release Michael Christopher, editor-in-chief of the Arabic-language daily Al-Watan, and halt its harassment of his publication, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Tanzania switches track, charges Kabendera with economic crimes
Nairobi, August 05, 2019—Prosecutors in Tanzania today charged freelance journalist Erick Kabendera with money laundering, tax evasion, and assisting an organized crime racket, according to a copy of the charge sheet. When he was detained on July 29, the Dar es Salaam police chief said at a press conference that police were investigating Kabendera’s citizenship…
Two Guerrero state journalists killed in one week in Mexico
Mexico City, August 2, 2019—Mexican authorities must immediately investigate the killing of Guerrero state journalists Rogelio Barragán Pérez, founder of the news website Guerrero Al Instante, and Edgar Alberto Nava López, founder of the news website La Verdad de Zihuatanejo, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
From conflict zones to courtrooms, Myanmar’s journalists are under fire
Hopes for greater press freedom when Myanmar moved to quasi-democratic rule were quickly quashed with the jailing in 2017 of two Reuters reporters. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo have their freedom again, but journalists and press freedom activists who met with CPJ’s Senior Southeast Asia Representative Shawn Crispin in Yangon in June said that…
A blow to transparency of the US government: SCOTUS imposes new limits on government records requests
Earlier this month, journalists, digital rights activists, and tech companies gathered in Tunisia’s capital, Tunis, for RightsCon and the International Federation of Journalists congress. A CPJ mission in the country found that while Tunisia has greater press freedom compared with other countries in the region, challenges including funding, transparency, and government pressure remain. A U.S….