Ahead of Human Rights Day, CPJ Advocacy Director Courtney Radsch delivered powerful testimony to Congress, calling for the U.S. government to redouble its efforts to defend press freedom. In a year marked by grave human rights abuses, Radsch underscored the wide scope of threats confronting journalists, which the global pandemic has compounded. She reminded viewers: “Humans have a right to engage in journalism, and a right to access and exchange news and information, a right that has life and death consequences during a global health pandemic.” Watch the full hearing here.
For war correspondents, risk comes with the job. This has certainly been the case for journalists on the ground covering the recent six-week war in Nagorno-Karabakh. CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia researcher, Elena Rodina, spoke with a BBC Russia correspondent about working in war zones, the difficulty of planning ahead, and safety tips for press covering the conflict. Journalists can find resources and safety information on our website.
Global press freedom updates
- India: Uttar Pradesh journalist dies after alleged arson attack. Separately in the country, the Indian government gave the go ahead for contempt proceedings against cartoonist
- Hong Kong court denies bail to Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai in fraud case
- Mexican journalists shot, beaten as police disperse protest in Cancún
- Venezuelan journalist Jamel Louka shot, injured in attack
- Guatemalan journalist attacked while covering anti-government protest
- Rio de Janeiro Military Police publish video criticizing, insulting journalist
- Colombian TV station employees flee country amid threats from FARC militants
- Two journalists detained in Mali for weeks over criticism of judiciary
- Iranian journalist begins 3-year prison sentence over protest coverage
- Turkish journalist Ayşegül Doğan sentenced to six years, three months in prison
- Iraqi Kurdish security forces raid NRT headquarters, suspend broadcasts
- Two men threaten to kill journalists at Croatian outlet over coverage of wedding amid coronavirus
- US immigration agency subpoenas BuzzFeed News, seeking information on source
Spotlight
For the families of murdered journalists, the prospect of justice can seem dim. Year after year, journalists are killed with impunity — in many cases without even a single arrest. This week, Free Press Unlimited, Reporters Without Borders, and CPJ launched A Safer World For The Truth, acampaign intended to reverse this. The project aims to reinvigorate investigations into cold cases and erect a “digital monument” to slain journalists.
The investigations will be used to prepare cases to go to court while the “living” monument will be updated regularly with stories about the lives of these journalists.
Learn more about the project here, and join us in the fight against impunity on Twitter and Facebook. Explore CPJ’s Campaign Against Impunity to learn more about the long fight for justice for journalists.
In another exciting project bringing together journalists from around the world, Forbidden Stories published a new investigation into the murder of Mexican journalist Regina Martínez. The report, one of a five-part series about the killings of reporters in Mexico named “The Cartel Project,” lays bare serious flaws in the investigation in a context of violence and political corruption. The project is part of Forbidden Stories’ mission to continue the work of reporters who are threatened, censored, or killed.
What we are reading
- Trump is leaving press freedom in tatters. Biden can take these bold steps to repair the damage. — Margaret Sullivan, The Washington Post
- Mapping Black Media — Center for Community Media
- The Missing Perspectives of Women in News — Luba Kassova, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
- Al Jazeera journalist files hack and leak suit against Saudi Arabian and UAE crown princes — Maggie Miller, The Hill
- Khashoggi Murder Probe Is Set for Partial Disclosure by U.S. — Bob van Voris, Bloomberg