CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Angela Quintal recounts her detention in Tanzania (screenshot, The Daily Maverick).
CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Angela Quintal recounts her detention in Tanzania (screenshot, The Daily Maverick).

Five courageous journalists to be honored at CPJ’s 2018 International Press Freedom Awards

The Torch is a weekly newsletter from the Committee to Protect Journalists that brings you the latest press freedom and journalist safety news from around the world. Subscribe here.

CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Angela Quintal recounts CPJ’s harrowing ordeal in Tanzania. CPJ will honor four exceptional journalists at the 2018 International Press Freedom Awards. In the wake of the Capital Gazette attack, local U.S. newsrooms reassess their security. Bangladesh court grants bail to jailed photojournalist Shahidul Alam.

Global press freedom updates

  • CPJ and some of its 2018 awardees met Wednesday with U.S. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert and discussed press freedom challenges in Venezuela, Ukraine, Vietnam, the Philippines, Tanzania, and Egypt
  • CPJ expressed outrage at Tanzania’s treatment of its Africa program team
  • Authorities in the Philippines threaten to indict critical site Rappler on tax evasion charges. CPJ will honor Rappler‘s executive editor, Maria Ressa, with the 2018 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award next week
  • Authorities in Indian-controlled Kashmir deny bail for journalist Aasif Sultan
  • Steven Butler, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator, expressed concern about the detention of Pakistani journalist Nasrullah Chaudhry on vague terrorism accusations. Read “Acts of Intimidation,” CPJ’s special report on press freedom in Pakistan
  • CPJ interviews a Syrian journalist about her experience reporting from Damascus
  • CPJ welcomes the repeal of the anti-defamation law in the Maldives
  • Read the latest Turkey Crackdown Chronicle, CPJ’s weekly round-up of press freedom violations in the country

Spotlight

Clockwise from top left: Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh (Family Photo), Anastasiya Stanko (Homradske), Maria Ressa (Maria Ressa), Amal Khalifa Idris Habbani (AFP), and Luz Mely Reyes (Luz Mely Reyes)
Clockwise from top left: Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh (Family Photo), Anastasiya Stanko (Homradske), Maria Ressa (Maria Ressa), Amal Khalifa Idris Habbani (AFP), and Luz Mely Reyes (Luz Mely Reyes)

Amid a challenging time for press freedom around the world, CPJ will honor four exceptional journalists for their courage at the 2018 International Press Freedom Awards on November 20 in New York City. CPJ will also present the 2018 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award to Rappler editor Maria Ressa.

The event is due to be livestreamed on our Facebook page and we encourage supporters to engage with us on Twitter and Facebook using #IPFA to let these amazing journalists know how much their work is appreciated. Get notified when the live broadcast starts.

What we are reading

Please note The Torch newsletter will not be published on November 23. Subscribers will instead receive an update on CPJ’s International Press Freedom Awards. Subscribe here.

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