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.
In recognition of their commitment to independent reporting in the face of immense challenges, including government crackdowns, aggression, and imprisonment, Niyaz Abdullah (Iraqi Kurdistan), Abraham Jiménez Enoa (Cuba), Sevgil Musaieva (Ukraine), and Pham Doan Trang (Vietnam) have been named the recipients of CPJ’s 2022 International Press Freedom Awards.
“Our award winners exemplify the best of journalism: work that shines a light on the impacts of war, corruption, and abuse of power on everyday lives,” said CPJ President Jodie Ginsberg. “We look forward to honoring these inspirational journalists, who demonstrate the central role journalism plays in serving the public good.”
CPJ will also honor Galina Timchenko, editor of the independent Russian news website Meduza, with the 2022 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award. Timchenko fled Russia due to pressure from the authorities during the previous invasion of Ukraine in 2014. The Gwen Ifill award is presented annually by CPJ’s board of directors in recognition of extraordinary and sustained commitment to press freedom.
Three of this year’s awardees live in exile, reflecting a growing trend in which journalists are forced to leave their home countries or risk imprisonment, violence, and even death. The awardees will be honored during a gala dinner in New York City on November 17, 2022.
Global press freedom updates
- Journalist Hasibur Rahman Rubel found dead in Bangladesh
- Belarusian journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva convicted of treason, sentenced to additional eight years imprisonment
- Tanzanian regulator suspends DarMpya online news outlet, citing expired license
- Police threaten to shoot two journalists covering Liberia elections
- Italian police seize and search journalist Francesco Pesante’s phone in leak investigation
- Tajikistan authorities arrest two journalists who criticized other journalists’ detentions
- The ECOWAS Court has “declared unlawful the suspension of Twitter by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, and ordered the administration never to repeat it again.”
- Journalist Slava Radulov ejected from parliamentary session in Moldova
- At least five journalists face court hearings over reporting in Belarus
- Police attack News First journalists covering Sri Lanka protests
- Zimbabwean journalist Anyway Yotamu charged after assault by police
- Nigerian authorities criminally charge two journalists over political reporting
- Pakistani journalists Ayaz Amir and Ahmer Shaheen attacked in separate incidents in Lahore
Spotlight
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, India, on April 25, 2022. CPJ called on the EU to hold India to account for its recent media clampdown. (AP/Press Information Bureau)
Ahead of the annual India-EU Human Rights Dialogue on Friday, July 15, CPJ called on the European External Action Service to hold Indian authorities accountable for widespread and severe press freedom violations.
“The dialogue should be an opportunity for the EU to raise press freedom abuses with the Indian government, led by the Hindu right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, statements from previous dialogues have been limited in scope,” said Tom Gibson, CPJ’s EU representative.
The EU must press India on other press freedom violations documented by CPJ, said Gibson. These include using the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act to keep at least three journalists behind bars and holding at least five journalists in pre-trial detention under India’s draconian anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
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What we are reading
- With Dom, we all died a little bit – Natalia Viana, Nieman Foundation
- Women-only media start-up wants to fight stigma in Somalia – AFP
- Maria Ressa: Amal Clooney condemns court after Nobel laureate’s conviction upheld – Rebecca Ratcliffe, The Guardian
- ‘Endangered’ Review: When journalism becomes imperiled – Ben Kenigsberg, The New York Times
Explore our database of attacks on the press.
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