press freedom Archives - Committee to Protect Journalists

A demonstrator dressed as a whistle protests outside of a London court holding a hearing on the U.S. extradition case of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in October 2019. (Reuters/Henry Nicholls)

For the sake of press freedom, Julian Assange must be defended

December 11, 2019 12:00 AM EST

Nine years ago this month, the Committee to Protect Journalists took a stand on one of the most polarizing figures in journalism. We wrote President Barack Obama and his attorney general, Eric Holder, urging them not to prosecute Julian Assange.

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and Committee to Protect Journalists Launch Nationwide Campaign to Protect Press Freedom

November 7, 2019 8:00 AM EST

“Protect Press Freedom” campaign media partners include Barron’s, CBS News, Comcast-NBC Universal, CNN, Facebook, Gannett/USA TODAY NETWORK, The Los Angeles Times, McClatchy, The New York Times, NPR, Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting, Reuters, Scripps, Sinclair, Twitter, The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones, The Washington Post WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 7, 2019— The nonprofit organizations the Reporters…

Patricia Espinosa, the sister of Rubén Espinosa, a photographer murdered in 2015, and Alejandro Encinas, undersecretary for human rights, population, and migration, speak at CPJ's press freedom summit. (Ian Garciafigueroa)

Press freedom summit urges Mexico to reform journalist protections

July 2, 2019 6:21 PM EDT

On June 18, more than 400 people converged in Mexico City for CPJ’s Mexico Press Freedom Summit. Energized by a sense that the country is at a point of profound political change under the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the conference delved into the threats for Mexican journalists.

A banner of Tanzanian President John Magufuli hangs on a wall around a tanzanite mine, in April 2018. CPJ and other organizations are calling on the Human Rights Council to address a crackdown on journalists, human rights defenders, and other groups in the country. (AFP/Joseph Lyimo)

Human Rights Council should address Tanzania crackdown

May 13, 2019 2:35 PM EDT

The Committee to Protect Journalists and 37 other non-governmental organizations today sent a letter to member and observer states of the United Nations Human Rights Council, asking them to address the crackdown on human rights in Tanzania at the 41st session of the council.

A view of the State Duma building in Moscow, in March 2018. CPJ and other rights groups have called on President Vladimir Putin to not approve amendments to a bill that could further limit internet and press freedom in Russia. (AFP/Vasily Maximov)

Letter calls on Putin to not approve Russia’s ‘sovereign internet’ bill

May 1, 2019 11:22 AM EDT

CPJ and a coalition of international human rights and press freedom organizations called on President Vladimir Putin to not approve legislative amendments known as the “bill on a sovereign internet” that could lead to further limitations on internet and media freedom in Russia.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed speaks during a press conference in Addis Ababa, in August 2018. Since Abiy's election, conditions for Ethiopia's journalists have improved, but some challenges remain. (AFP/Michael Tewelde)

Under Abiy, Ethiopia’s media have more freedom but challenges remain

April 29, 2019 3:00 PM EDT

During a trip to Addis Ababa in January, it was impossible to miss the signs that Ethiopian media are enjoying unprecedented freedom. A flurry of new publications were on the streets. At a public forum that CPJ attended, journalists spoke about positive reforms, but also openly criticized their lack of access to the government. At…

Slovakia's president-elect Zuzana Čaputová, pictured talking to the press outside a polling station in Pezinok on March 30. CPJ and other rights organizations are calling on the newly elected leader to ensure the safety of journalists. (AFP/Vladimir Simicek)

Calls for Slovakia’s new president to respect press freedom

April 2, 2019 12:27 PM EDT

CPJ and a coalition of eight other international press freedom groups today called on the newly elected president of Slovakia to respect press freedom and ensure the safety of journalists.

Broadcast equipment is placed on a poster during a protest in Istanbul in October 2017 over Turkey's press freedom crackdown. CPJ is joining a call for Turkish authorities to release all journalists jailed for their work. (AP/Lefteris Pitarakis)

CPJ joins call for Turkey to release jailed journalists

February 14, 2019 9:10 AM EST

The Committee to Protect Journalists today joined 47 members of the European Parliament and other press freedom organizations to call on Turkey to end its crackdown on the press and the mass imprisonment of journalists.

The European Parliament prepares for a debate on press freedom in Strasbourg in March, following the murder of Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak. The Council of Europe's platform on journalist safety finds the media increasingly faces hostility. (AFP/Frederick Florin)

Council of Europe report finds journalists face obstruction, violence

February 12, 2019 8:30 AM EST

The Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism and the Safety of Journalists today published its annual report, “Democracy at Risk.”

FrontPageAfrica publisher Rodney Sieh, pictured on his release from prison in November 2013. Sieh says journalists in Liberia continue to face threats and harassment for their critical reporting. (AP/Mark Darrough)

Q&A: Rodney Sieh on how Liberia’s press is faring under Weah presidency

January 29, 2019 7:01 PM EST

Rodney Sieh, editor-in-chief and publisher of Liberian investigative outlet FrontPageAfrica, knows first-hand the harassment and risks critical journalists in his country face. In 2013, CPJ documented how he was sentenced to prison over unpaid fines in a criminal defamation case.