In Bangalore, journalists attacked outside courthouse
New York, March 2, 2012–Ten Indian journalists were reported injured today after being attacked by a group of lawyers outside a court in the city of Bangalore, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the attack and calls on authorities to conduct an immediate investigation.
On board the election bus in China’s Wukan
Village elections taking place this weekend in southern Guangdong province’s Wukan illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of China’s media control. Censorship measures have not prevented strong domestic and international coverage of the democratic process. But has official tolerance of dissenting views increased since leaders cracked down on the attempted Jasmine revolution last year? Or is…
Relief greets evacuation, but concern over fallen
New York, March, 1, 2012–The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the news that two French journalists injured in Homs last week have reached safety in Lebanon. “We are relieved that Edith Bouvier and William Daniels are now safe but are concerned that the Syrian government’s assault on Homs has made it impossible to retrieve the…
Sudan attempts to silence opposition news coverage
New York, March 1, 2012–Sudanese authorities must halt their efforts to silence news coverage of opposition leadership, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Authorities have already closed three newspapers in 2012 and confiscated thousands of copies, CPJ research shows.
Reporters injured while covering clashes in Azerbaijan
New York, March 1, 2012–At least two journalists were injured and another five suffered the effects of tear gas while covering violent clashes between police and residents of the northeastern city of Quba, according to news reports and CPJ sources.
‘Invisible Tibet’ blogger elicits China’s extra-judicial ire
Beijing-based blogger Woeser reported on her website Invisible Tibet today that she has been confined to her residence by Beijing public security officers who are stationed outside her home. Woeser, an outspoken critic of Chinese government policies in Tibet, has written about a series of recent self-immolations among monks and arrests of writers in western…
Two years after Nepal murder, no progress, mission finds
On the evening of March 1, 2010, Arun Singhaniya, owner of Janakpur Today newspaper and Janakpur Today Radio, stepped out of a prayer service during a holy celebration in Janakpur, Nepal’s second largest city. A gunman on a motorcycle shot and killed the news proprietor, making him the second person affiliated with the Janakpur Today…
Iran’s opposition: Gagged by years of intimidation
With parliamentary elections scheduled for March 2, the Iranian government is restricting journalists and media outlets in their political coverage. In this BBC World News article, CPJ’s Mohamed Abdel Dayem, Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator, speaks on the state of Iranian press freedom prior to the elections. Click here for the full story
Myanmar relaxes grip on media, vows end to censors
Burma’s heavily censored media is one of the worst in the world. The country is now taking steps to expand and protect press freedom. These steps, however, are being questioned by local journalists. The Associated Press (AP) reports on this new development, with commentary from CPJ’s Southeast Asia representative, Shawn Crispin.Click here for the full…