CPJ expands access to safety chatbot amid spiking threats to the press in a record year of global elections
New York, May 2, 2024—Ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) today announced the launch of CPJ’s journalist safety chatbot, which equips journalists with safety information on their phones via WhatsApp. The tool will expand the reach and usability of CPJ’s suite of safety tools tailored for…
Indian journalists fear violence ahead of elections
From April 19 until June 1, India will hold the world’s biggest election, which the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to win. It’s a critical time for journalists. Earlier this year, CPJ compiled safety resources for journalists covering India’s elections, empowering them to tackle a range of…
Indian journalists’ 2024 election concerns: political violence, trolling, device hacking
As the scorching summer peaks this year, India’s political landscape is coming to a boil. From April 19 until June 1, the world’s biggest democracy will hold the world’s biggest election, which the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been in power since 2014, is expected to win….
Safely covering U.S. election events
RISK ASSESSMENT EDITORS’ CHECKLISTS SAFETY RESOURCES Assess your risk Journalists covering the upcoming U.S. election should complete a risk assessment to consider the dangers they may face while on assignment and mitigate those risks. Journalists should consider: Mitigation plans may include: Review CPJ’s risk assessment here. Additional resources and guides for mitigating safety concerns Online…
U.S. Presidential Election 2024: Journalist safety kit
The 2024 United States presidential election will take place on Tuesday, November 5 amid an increasingly polarized political climate. In addition to facing a high level of distrust in the media, journalists are likely to confront significant security challenges in the lead-up to the election, as well as on election day. The contested 2020 election…
Turkish authorities attack, threaten, arrest several journalists during post-election unrest
Istanbul, April 5, 2024—Turkish authorities should allow media and journalists to do their jobs, and investigate reports of journalists being attacked by security forces and threatened online for their election reporting, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. After Sunday’s local elections, Turkey’s highest election authority, the Supreme Election Council (YSK), rescinded the victory of a pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM)…
Nigerian soldiers hit and detain journalist Dele Fasan, thugs attack 3 journalists covering election
On February 23, at least seven soldiers arrested and handcuffed journalist Dele Fasan and hit him with a gun as he filmed at the scene of a planned protest in Nigeria’s southern Delta State, according to news reports and Fasan, who spoke to CPJ by phone. Fasan, regional bureau chief for the privately owned Galaxy…
Turkish journalists shot at, banned from observing vote count in local elections
Istanbul, April 2, 2024—Turkish authorities must not disregard the news media’s legally protected right to observe the election process and must investigate the armed attack on a group of journalists in Diyarbakır, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Sunday’s election day, the High Board of Elections (YSK) banned reporters from observing the votes…
Russia jails journalist over plane crash coverage, detains another during election
New York, March 19, 2024—Russian authorities must drop all charges against journalist Sergey Kustov, release him, and stop prosecuting the press to stifle their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Monday, a court sentenced Kustov, chief editor of local broadcaster Bars, to 10 days imprisonment on charges of disobeying a police officer,…
CPJ joins call for Russia to keep the internet on during presidential elections
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined #KeepItOn Coalition partners on Thursday in calling on Russian authorities and telecommunications providers to maintain free, open, and secure internet access before, during, and after presidential elections scheduled for March 15 to 17. The letter highlights Russia’s history of internet shutdowns, including the blocking of tech companies that refused…