In 2020, U.S. journalists faced unprecedented attacks
As the Committee to Protect Journalists publishes its annual tally of journalists imprisoned around the world, not a single U.S. reporter is behind bars for their work. But that statistic belies the country’s marred press freedom landscape following the summer’s Black Lives Matter protests in which journalists were handcuffed, shoved, and shot at with less-lethal…
BBC correspondent describes staying safe, finding journalistic camaraderie during Nagorno-Karabakh’s 6-week war
Journalists who covered the recent six-week-long conflict between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh faced violence to get the story of the region’s latest bloody chapter to the world. At least six journalists were injured in shelling attacks in Nagorno-Karabakh and two were assaulted when a mob descended on a broadcaster in Armenia to oppose its reporting on…
Mexican journalists shot, beaten as police disperse protest in Cancún
In the evening of November 9, 2020, at least two reporters received gunshot wounds and at least two others were beaten, as state police dispersed a protest the reporters were covering in the city of Cancún, in Quintana Roo state in southern Mexico. The police used live ammunition to shoot in the air, according to…
Guatemalan journalist Jovanna García attacked while covering anti-government protest
Los Angeles, December 4, 2020 – Guatemalan authorities should ensure journalists’ safety while covering protests and investigate attacks on the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 28, a man participating in an anti-government demonstration in Guatemala City hit Jovanna García, a journalist with the online outlet Ruda, with an iron pole in…
Venezuelan journalist Jamel Louka shot, injured in attack
Bogotá, Colombia, December 4, 2020 – Venezuelan authorities should immediately investigate the shooting attack against journalist Jamel Louka and ensure the safety of Louka and his family, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On December 2 in the town of Altagracia de Orituco in central Guárico state, armed assailants shot Louka, a reporter and photographer…
Brazilian journalist assaulted and threatened over political coverage
At about 2:30 p.m. on October 21, 2020, two men entered the home of journalist José Airton Alves Júnior in the town of Itarema, in Brazil’s northeast Ceará state, punched and kicked him several times, and threatened him, according to news reports and the journalist, who spoke to CPJ in a phone interview. Alves Júnior…
Journalists detained, attacked while covering contested election in Ivory Coast
New York, November 17, 2020 — Authorities in Ivory Coast should drop their investigation into journalist Yao Alex Hallane Clément, and cease intimidating and harassing members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 3, police officers arrested Yao, a reporter with the privately owned PDCI 24 TV broadcaster, along with…
Police arrest, fine journalists covering protests in Russian far east; 3 remain in detention
New York, November 16, 2020 – Russian authorities should immediately release all journalists detained while covering recent protests, and ensure that the press can cover demonstrations freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since November 5, police have detained at least six journalists covering protests in the eastern city of Khabarovsk, which have been…
At least 35 journalists injured covering anti-government protests in Peru
Bogotá, November 16, 2020 – Peruvian authorities should ensure that journalists can cover protests safely, and thoroughly investigate attacks on the press by demonstrators and police officers alike, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police officers attacked members of the press with tear gas, pellets, and other ordnance while they were covering protests following…
Polish riot police attack journalists covering demonstrations
Berlin, November 16, 2020 — Polish authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate police attacks on journalists covering recent protests, hold those responsible to account, and ensure that reporters can cover events of public interest without fear of injury, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 11, during clashes between riot police and protesters…