Americas

  
Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro scuffle with members of the media at the Simon Bolivar international airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela, on February 11, 2020. (Reuters/Manaure Quintero)

Pro-government groups attack reporters covering Juan Guaidó’s return to Venezuela

Miami, February 13, 2020 — Venezuelan authorities should quickly and thoroughly investigate the violent attacks on journalists covering Juan Guaidó’s return to the country, and determine whether security forces were negligent in protecting journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, British then-Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, and Canadian then-Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland address a news conference on media freedom in Dinard, France on April 5, 2019. A panel of legal experts led by Clooney recommend more sanctions targeted at press freedom violators. (Reuters/Stephane Mahe)

CPJ welcomes call for targeted sanctions to protect journalists

When the U.K. launched an initiative to support media freedom in the waning days of Jeremy Hunt’s tenure as foreign minister, CPJ was skeptical that this government-led effort would be more than a feel-good campaign. However, we chose to engage, given the current vacuum of leadership on press freedom globally. As the U.S. pulls back…

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An AFP fact-checking team journalist works at Agence France-Presse Bureau in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on September 27, 2018. On February 11, 2020, Brazilian journalist Patrícia Campos Mello faced online harassment campaign after allegations made during a congressional hearing on fake news. (AFP/Maruo Pimentel)

Brazilian journalist Patrícia Campos Mello faces online harassment campaign

Rio de Janeiro, February 12, 2020 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the online harassment campaign against Brazilian journalist Patrícia Campos Mello.

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Police vehicles are seen in Quito, Ecuador, on October 13, 2019. Ecuadorian journalist Víctor Aguirre recently survived a bombing attack at his house. (AP/Fernando Vergara)

Explosive device detonated at home of journalist in Ecuador

Bogotá, February 12, 2020 — Ecuadorian authorities should conduct a speedy and transparent investigation into the explosion of a device at the home of journalist Víctor Aguirre, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Journalist Amr Alfiky is arrested in New York on February 11, 2020. (Screenshot of video taken by Mostafa Bassim)

Journalist Amr Alfiky arrested, charged with disorderly conduct in New York

Washington, D.C., February 12, 2020 — The New York City Police Department should drop all charges against photojournalist Amr Alfiky and provide a public explanation for his arrest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Police are seen in Lima, Peru, on October 1, 2019. Two journalists recently requested police protection after receiving threats and being surveilled. (Reuters/Guadalupe Pardo)

Peruvian journalists threatened, surveilled over coverage of politician

Two Peruvian journalists have sought police protection after one received a death threat and the other said her home was being spied upon, according to news reports.

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People block train tracks as part of a protest against British Columbia's Coastal GasLink pipeline, in Tyendinaga, Canada, on February 9, 2020. Police recently obstructed and detained journalists covering the protests. (Reuters/Alex Filipe)

Canadian police detain, obstruct journalists covering raid on pipeline protesters

On February 6, 2020, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police announced that they would begin physically removing protesters, many of whom are members of the indigenous Wet’suwet’en people, from encampments in British Columbia, where they have been demonstrating against the construction of a natural gas pipeline, according to media reports.

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Demonstrators march on Las Americas highway demanding the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rossello, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on July 22, 2019. Rossello resigned in early August, but first signed two laws that obstruct the work of investigative journalists in Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

New laws obstruct work of investigative journalists in Puerto Rico

In July 2019, anti-government protesters gathered on the streets of Puerto Rico, motivated in part by the work of investigative journalists who had obtained and published over 900 messages exchanged by then Governor Ricardo Rosselló and his allies that disparaged political opponents and the island’s citizens. Before Rosselló gave in to public pressure to resign…

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Mexican journalists, wearing personal protective equipment amid the COVID-19 pandemic, cover a protest by administrative workers at the General Balbuena Hospital in Mexico City on April 16, 2020. (AFP/Pedro Pardo)

CPJ Safety Advisory: Covering the coronavirus pandemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2020.

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Supporters of the Wet’suwet’en Nation indigenous group, who oppose the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline, protest outside the provincial headquarters of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, on January 16, 2020. In early February, the RCMP prevented journalists from covering the takeover of an indigenous protest camp. (Reuters/Jesse Winter)

CPJ calls on Canadian police to let journalists work freely at indigenous protest sites

New York, February 7, 2020—In response to news reports that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) yesterday obstructed journalists trying to cover police operations at indigenous protest camps in British Columbia, the Committee to Protect Journalists today issued the following statement:

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