New York, June 27, 2019– On the eve of the Global Conference for Media Freedom in the U.K., CPJ representatives will be in London July 8-11 to highlight threats to journalists and global attacks on press freedom from democratic and authoritarian countries alike. CPJ has documented at least 9 journalists killed in connection to their work this year, including Lyra McKee, who was fatally injured during riots in Northern Ireland. The killings come as hundreds of journalists are jailed globally for the third consecutive year.
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland and U.K. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt will co-host the Global Conference for Media Freedom on July 10 and 11. The event will bring together policymakers, journalists, and civil society organizations working to defend media freedom and improve the safety of journalists. CPJ’S booth will provide information on its advocacy and emergencies work, and CPJ Advocacy Director Courtney Radsch will moderate a panel about combatting impunity in the murder of journalists. CPJ research shows that in nine out of 10 cases where a journalist is singled out for murder, the killers go free
Ahead of the conference, Radsch will deliver the annual St. Bride’s Church Tom Olsen Lecture on “‘Enemies of the People’ – The Global Assault on Journalists and Press Freedom,” on July 8. CPJ will also join a conversation on The Last Column and threats to the media with journalist and author Lindsey Hilsum at the Frontline Club on July 9.
News and conversation on the conference will be found at #defendmediafreedom.
For more information on these events or to arrange an interview, email press@cpj.org