Journalist covering sensitive rural issues in India jailed
Plainclothes police arrested Somaru Nag on July 16, 2015, at his family’s mobile phone shop on the outskirts of Darbha town, according his brother, Sonaru, who was cited by the South Asian media watchdog group The Hoot. The family was told of his arrest three days later.
CPJ calls on Egypt to release freelance journalist Ismail Alexandrani
New York, December 1–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Egyptian authorities to release freelance investigative journalist and researcher Ismail Alexandrani. The journalist was charged today with publishing false news and belonging to the banned group, the Muslim Brotherhood, according to news reports.
Don’t Forget Rasool: In international reporting, local journalists often suffer
When two journalists from VICE, Jake Hanrahan and Philip Pendlebury, were arrested with Iraqi journalist Mohammed Ismael Rasool on August 28, a familiar scenario unfolded. A week later, Hanrahan and Pendlebury were released following a media flurry and worldwide attention. Still behind bars is Rasool, an experienced journalist and translator who had worked extensively in…
A year after James Foley and Steven Sotloff murders, more awareness of risks
Journalists who regularly cover violence are considered a hard-boiled bunch. But a year ago this month, even the toughest were crying. There was no emotional body armor to deflect the horror of the beheading videos of freelancers James Foley, Steven Sotloff, and other Westerners held hostage in Syria by the self-styled Islamic State, also known…
‘I don’t want to die here’: Gao Yu’s health deteriorates in Beijing prison
The lawyer for jailed Chinese journalist Gao Yu says the freelance reporter’s health has declined since she was sentenced in April to seven years in prison for leaking state secrets. Shang Baojun, who visited Gao in Beijing No.1 Detention Center on July 28, told CPJ that Gao says she is scared she will die in…
Indian journalist beaten and dragged behind motorbike
New York, June 15, 2015–An Indian journalist was beaten by a group of men and dragged behind a motorcycle in Uttar Pradesh state on June 13, in apparent reprisal for his critical reporting, according to reports. The attack comes days after freelance journalist Jagendra Singh was killed in the same state in a case that…
CPJ calls for investigation into journalist’s burning death; police accused
New York, June 10, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for an independent investigation into the death of Jagendra Singh, an Indian freelance journalist who died from burn injuries in a hospital in Lucknow on Monday, the Press Trust of India reported. Before he died, Singh alleged that police set him on fire, according to…
CPJ condemns attack on investigative journalist in Croatia
New York, June 2, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the attack on investigative reporter Zeljko Peratovic who, according to news reports, was beaten in his home in Luka Pokupska, near the city of Karlovac, and calls on Croatian authorities to investigate if journalism was the motive.
Mission Journal: Challenges for India’s press increase as Modi marks first year in office
“Modi has tightened the screws on information.” This statement from Bangalore-based journalist Subir Ghosh underscores a common challenge repeated to me by several of India’s journalists, who say the space for criticism is shrinking under Narendra Modi’s rule. Since a landslide victory made him leader of the world’s largest democracy nearly one year ago, the…
Veteran Chinese journalist Gao Yu awaits her fate
A verdict is expected Friday in the case of veteran journalist and staunch government critic Gao Yu. The 71-year-old freelance journalist, who writes about politics, the economy, and social trends for Chinese media in Hong Kong and overseas, was tried in November for disclosing state secrets.