The Torch

2020

  

A year like no other: The state of press freedom in 2020

What a year! Over the past 12 months, journalists worldwide faced the risk of COVID-19 exposure while reporting on the frontlines of the pandemic, and bore the brunt of virus-related crackdowns and censorship. Journalists mobilized to cover consequential elections, and a wave of protests and unrest around the world from Minsk to Minneapolis. Authorities surveilled…

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Journalist murders double in 2020; Criminal and extremist groups target reporters in democracies

The number of journalists murdered in retaliation for their work more than doubled in 2020 as criminal gangs and militant groups targeted reporters working in violent but democratic nations. Globally, at least 30 journalists were killed of December 15, 2020. Of those, 21 were murdered in direct retaliation for their work, compared with 10 in…

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A deplorable year for press freedom: CPJ finds record high behind bars

CPJ has found that the number of journalists jailed around the world for their work has hit a new high in 2020, a statistic with dire implications for the future of press freedom. The pandemic, coupled with protests in numerous countries, created a perfect storm for an increase in journalist detentions. China was the world’s…

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CPJ calls on US government to redouble efforts to defend press freedom

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:…

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#HoldTheLine: Rappler’s Maria Ressa faces new cyber libel charge

What do you do when the government won’t stop harassing you? It’s an apt question for Rappler founder and CEO, and CPJ’s 2018 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Awardee, Maria Ressa. The celebrated journalist is set to appear in court Friday following a second trumped-up cyber libel charge for her journalism. The latest charge carries a…

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Two journalists killed in the Philippines in one week

Eleven years after the Maguindanao massacre in the Philippines, where 32 journalists and media workers were killed, the government has prematurely declared an end to impunity in journalist murders. Meanwhile, journalist killings continue: CPJ calls on Philippine authorities to investigate the deaths of Ronnie Villamor, shot by unidentified assailants on November 10, and Virgilio Maganes,…

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Media luminaries join together in a powerful celebration of press freedom #IPFA

The media community and supporters of press freedom came together in a powerful celebration of journalism at last night’s International Press Freedom Awards. The host, veteran broadcast journalist Lester Holt, kicked off the evening, which took viewers on a journey through the repression faced by journalists in Iran, the brutal experience of prison for a…

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Three journalists killed in Mexico in two weeks

In Mexico, reporter Israel Vázquez was shot and killed in the state of Guanajuato on Monday. He was the third journalist killed in the country in the last two weeks. So far in 2020, Mexico is the deadliest country for journalists with at least four journalists killed in direct relation for their work. Freelancer Lizbeth…

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Globally journalists covering the pandemic continue to face threats

Journalists worldwide continue to face attacks and harassment while covering COVID-19 and related lockdowns. In Brazil, an unidentified group harassed and threatened journalist Bárbara Barbosa and a camera operator while reporting on lockdown compliance. In Italy, a television crew covering anti-lockdown demonstrations were attacked and chased, and journalist Mimmo Rubio was threatened over his reporting…

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CPJ providing safety resources ahead of US election

Journalists from foreign outlets spoke to CPJ about their concerns covering the U.S. elections, which are exacerbated by COVID-19, curtailed campaigns, civil unrest, visa issues, and an unpredictable political environment. CPJ’s Deputy Executive Director Robert Mahoney called the Trump administration’s plans to restrict foreign journalist visas “chilling,” warning they could “invite similarly restrictive moves by…

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2020