How Egypt’s laws are used to choke its independent press
The conviction of Mada Masr Editor-in-Chief Lina Attalah highlights the persistent threat of how Egyptian authorities use licensing requirements, criminal penalties, and website blocking to silence independent journalism, despite constitutional guarantees of press freedom. On October 27, in a trial marked by serious violations, the New Cairo Misdemeanor Court ordered the closure of Mada Masr,…
Ecuador journalist Tomás Beltrán Conforme, who denounced government corruption, killed
Bogotá, November 9, 2026—Ecuadorian authorities must thoroughly investigate the killing of journalist Tomás Beltrán Conforme, determine if he was targeted for his work, and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On Sunday, November 8, armed men shot and killed Beltrán, founder and editor of the Facebook-based local news site…
Algerian journalist Abdelali Mezghiche sentenced to 3 years in prison
New York, November 9, 2026— The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Algerian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release journalist Abdelali Mezghiche, overturn his conviction, and stop prosecuting journalists for exercising their right to freedom of expression. On Sunday, November 8, a court in Chéraga, west of the capital Algiers, sentenced Mezghiche to three years…
CPJ welcomes Dunja Mijatović as Senior Advisor, Europe & Central Asia
New York, November 9, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dunja Mijatović as Senior Advisor, Europe and Central Asia. In this position, Mijatović will play a leading role in the organization’s work across the region, with a particular focus on Russia and Eastern Europe. “Dunja’s expertise, knowledge and…
Post-mortem of a ‘killing’: How the Russian state forced Novaya Gazeta to close
Berlin, November 6, 2026—Novaya Gazeta, one of Russia’s last remaining independent media outlets and a powerful symbol of fearless devotion to the truth, will cease to exist on Monday after a sustained campaign of relentless repression that over more than 30 years cost the lives of five of its journalists and finally dealt a fatal…
CPJ, partners welcome initial media reforms in Hungary, call for further safeguards
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and 12 partner organizations on Friday welcomed significant steps taken by Hungary’s new government to dismantle institutions captured under former prime minister Viktor Orbán and restore independence to Hungary’s public media and regulatory system. In a joint statement following a fact-finding mission to Budapest on November 4-6, the delegation said…
After historic election, Serbia’s new government must prioritize journalist safety and accountability
Berlin, November 6, 2026—The defeat of Aleksandar Vučić in October’s election provides a real opportunity for Serbia to reverse the backslide on media freedom that has blighted the country for 14 years. Serbia’s incoming government must now prioritize journalist safety, ensure past attacks and abuses are investigated, hold perpetrators to account, and introduce reforms to…
120th Congress must protect the First Amendment right to a free press
New York, November 5, 2026—The newly elected U.S. Congress should restore press freedom protections at home and abroad by immediately strengthening oversight of federal agencies, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on Thursday. “The incoming Congress has a historic opportunity to reverse the United States’ precipitous decline in press freedom and hold officials accountable…
Cuban journalist Yoani Sánchez, director of 14ymedio, arrested amid wider crackdown on independent reporting
Editor’s note: Yoani Sánchez was released on November 5, after several hours in detention. Miami, November 5, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns Thursday morning’s arrest of Cuban independent journalist Yoani Sánchez, founder and director of independent news outlet 14ymedio, who was detained by State Security agents in the capital Havana shortly after she…
Ethiopia suspends The Reporter indefinitely in escalating assault on independent media
Nairobi, November 5, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Ethiopian authorities to immediately lift the indefinite suspension of The Reporter, one of the country’s oldest independent newspapers. In a November 2 statement, the regulatory Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) accused the Amharic- and English-language editions of the newspaper and their digital platforms of repeatedly publishing…