Azerbaijan Supreme Court rejects appeal of 7 Abzas Media, RFE/RL imprisoned journalists
New York, April 8, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the Azerbaijani Supreme Court’s April 3 decision to uphold lengthy prison sentences for six journalists from the independent media outlet Abzas Media and a correspondent for U.S. Congress-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). CPJ calls on the authorities to immediately release all journalists wrongly jailed during the country’s…
Israel kills 3 journalists in Gaza and Lebanon in one day; CPJ calls for international action
New York, April 8, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns in the strongest terms the killing of at least three journalists in Lebanon and Gaza by Israel in one day, at least one of which was in a targeted attack. This pattern of attacks underscores a worsening climate of impunity and a blatant disregard for…
Hungarian elections: CPJ calls on all candidates to commit to 10 key steps to restore press freedom
Ahead of Hungary’s parliamentary elections on April 12, the Committee to Protect Journalists is calling on all political parties to commit to restoring press freedom, starting with 10 priority issues. Hungary’s media landscape has declined severely in the last 16 years under the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. His ruling Fidesz party — which faces…
Lebanese radio presenter killed in Israeli strike on her home
Amman, April 8, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns the killing of Lebanese journalist Ghada Dayekh in an Israeli airstrike on her home in the southern city of Tyre on Tuesday. Dayekh, a presenter and reporter at the privately-owned Sawt Al-Farah radio station, was killed when an Israeli strike hit her apartment building, completely…
Egyptian, Lebanese journalists targeted in cyber attacks
Washington, D.C., April 8, 2026 — The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by new reports about spear-phishing attacks against several Egyptian and Lebanese journalists aimed at compromising their Apple, Microsoft, and Google accounts. According to reports by digital rights organizations Access Now and SMEX, unidentified entities likely hired a South Asia-focused cyber espionage group…
How US media consolidation endangers press freedom
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is a government agency that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in the United States. Although the agency is supposed to be independent of the executive branch, recent actions by the FCC and comments by its chairman, Brendan Carr, represent a worrying politicization of the agency. In…
Egypt arrests commentator Ahmed Douma over article and posts
Washington, D.C., April 7, 2026 — The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Egyptian authorities to immediately release political commentator Ahmed Douma, who was arrested on April 6 at the Supreme State Security Prosecution headquarters following a six-hour interrogation, which ordered his detention for four days pending investigation. Douma is facing several charges, including publishing…
CPJ, RSF, Foley Foundation urge US government to designate Shelly Kittleson hostage, mobilize all resources to secure safe, swift release
CPJ, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the Foley Foundation sent a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on April 3 urging the U.S. government to secure the immediate, safe release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was abducted in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on March 31. The nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations asked…
Zimbabwean journalists harassed at hearings to extend president’s term
Lusaka, April 3, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Zimbabwean authorities to urgently investigate the harassment and violence against journalists covering March 31 public hearings in the capital, Harare, to discuss a bill to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule. Chaos has marred four days of hearings, hosted by Parliament and ending on April 2, to debate the Constitutional…
CPJ, partners condemn Russia’s labeling of IWMF as ‘undesirable organization’
Washington, D.C., April 2, 2026— The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and partners in the Journalist Assistance Network (JAN) condemn Russia’s unabashed attempt to silence independent journalism and the civil society that supports their critical work by designating the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) an “undesirable organization.” In response, the JAN issued the following statement…