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.
On Tuesday, Philippine authorities ordered the shutdown of independent news organization Rappler and the blocking of news websites Bulatlat and Pinoy Weekly. Maria Ressa, co-founder, CEO and executive editor of Rappler, was quoted in news reports Wednesday saying that the outlet would appeal the ruling.
Ressa, who is a 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and the 2018 recipient of CPJ’s Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award, and her news organization face a sustained campaign of legal persecution, which has also targeted her colleagues. In June alone, prosecutors threw out 28 cases of cyber libel against Rappler that had been filed since January.
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) order revoking Rappler’s license to operate is the first of its kind in history – both for the Commission and for Philippine media. The SEC decision upheld an earlier ruling revoking the news outlet’s operating license for violating foreign ownership rules, which Rappler denies.
SEC’s ruling against Rappler came just days before President Rodrigo Duterte stepped down after six years in power and President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was inaugurated. In a public letter sent in May, CPJ called on Marcos to reverse his predecessor’s various press freedom-eroding actions and policies, including against Rappler and Altermidya network members.
Watch CPJ’s video on Rappler’s case here.
Meanwhile in Mexico, journalist Antonio de la Cruz was shot dead in Ciudad Victoria, the capital of the northern state of Tamaulipas, on Wednesday. In a press conference, prosecutor Irving Barrios said that de la Cruz, a reporter for the newspaper Expreso, was shot multiple times while in a car with his daughter. Mexico is the deadliest country for reporters in the Western Hemisphere. At least three journalists have been killed in the country in 2022 in direct relation to their work. CPJ is investigating another seven killings to determine the motive.
Global press freedom updates
- Ukrainian journalists Sevgil Musaieva and Sonia Lukashova receive death threats
- Proposed Russian legislation expands “foreign agent” regulations
- Indian journalist Mohammad Zubair arrested in Delhi
- Kuwait withdraws licenses of 90 news websites, refers 73 outlets for prosecution
- New details raise questions about whether Sri Lankan president was complicit in the killing of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge
- Turkish photojournalist Abdurrahman Gök found guilty on terrorism charge
- Tajikistan authorities detain, question relatives of exiled journalist Anora Sarkorova. Separately in the country, authorities arrest two journalists over critical reporting
- CPJ urges Gambia authorities to prioritize legal reforms, accountability for crimes against the press
- Congolese journalist Chilassy Bofumbo denied provisional release
- Angolan journalists continue to face criminal insult and defamation proceedings
- Ethiopian authorities re-arrest journalist Yayesew Shimelis one week after release on bail
- Zimbabwean journalist threatened with assault after corruption reporting
- Guinean police detain, question journalist Mamadou Sagnane
- Nigerian publisher Olamilekan Hammed Adewale Bashiru granted bail with strict conditions
- Burkina Faso journalist Ahmed Newton Barry threatened
- DRC journalist Baby Ndombe Mwilungu detained for 3 hours over coverage of governor
- Bangladesh journalist arrested, two charged under Digital Security Act
- CPJ joins letter calling on Romanian authorities to hasten investigation into harassment of journalist Emilia Șercan
- Nicaraguan police raid, close independent news outlet Trinchera de la Noticia
Spotlight
We need your input! CPJ and the Global Reporting Centre [Note spelling change] at the University of British Columbia are collaborating on a survey on disinformation and harassment targeting journalists. The survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete, and all your responses will be anonymous by default. Take the survey here.
What we are reading
- Journalists assaulted, detained at reproductive rights protests in Los Angeles, other cities – U.S. Press Freedom Tracker
- Two Murders in the Amazon – Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker
- The State of U.S. Local News, 2022 Report – Penny Abernathy, Local News Initiative
A closer look | CPJ’s most-read features in June
- Seeking ‘answers and accountability’: Reporters cover Uvalde shooting amid police obstruction – Katherine Jacobsen/CPJ U.S. and Canada program coordinator
- ‘The war eats you alive’: Gaza journalists on the toll of covering Israeli attacks – Justin Shilad/Senior Middle East and North Africa researcher
Explore our database of attacks on the press.
Do you have an Amazon Alexa-enabled device? Enable CPJ's flash briefing skill to stay up to date with the latest press freedom news from around the world.