Americas

  
Freelance journalist Bryan Carmody, left, is seen with his attorney, Thomas Burke, at a panel event held by the Society of Professional Journalists in San Francisco on August 13, 2019. Police raided Carmody's home and office in May while investigating the leak of a report on the death of a San Francisco public defender. (AP/Juliet Williams)

FAC, CPJ ask San Francisco mayor to protect journalist freedoms

The Committee to Protect Journalists and the free speech non-profit First Amendment Coalition today sent a letter to San Francisco Mayor London Breed requesting a meeting about steps the city can take to ensure press freedom.

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Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts swears in senators during the procedural start of the Senate impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump in this frame grab from video shot in the Senate Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on January 16, 2020. CPJ and 57 news organizations asked the Senate to rethink press restrictions during the impeachment trial. (Reuters/U.S. Senate TV/Handout via Reuters)

CPJ, 57 news organizations ask Senate to rethink press restrictions during impeachment

The Committee to Protect Journalists and at 57 other news organizations yesterday sent a letter to Senate authorities asking them to reconsider press restrictions during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.

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Chilean newspapers are sold in Santiago, on October 20, 2019. Masked attackers in January broke into the offices of Chilean paper El Mercurio de Antofagasta, damaged equipment and set fires. (AFP/Martin Bernetti)

Masked attackers ransack Chilean newspaper, break equipment and set fires

Miami, January 16, 2020—Chilean authorities should immediately investigate an attack on the daily newspaper El Mercurio de Antofagasta and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Masked men broke into the newspaper’s headquarters in Antofagasta, a city in northern Chile, on January 13, damaging several offices, stealing equipment, and setting…

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A checkpoint controlled by the community police in Cheran, Michoacán state, in December 2019. The body of journalist who was reported missing in the Mexican state was found in January. (AFP/Pedro Pardo)

Missing radio anchor found dead in Mexico’s Michoacán state

Mexico City, January 13, 2020—The Committee to Protect Journalists today urged Mexican authorities to open a credible and transparent investigation into the death of reporter Fidel Ávila Góme, whose body was found on January 7 near the state borders of Michoacán and Guerrero.

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The front page of the January 11, 2020, issue of Semana, pictured, alleged a widespread military campaign of espionage against the magazine. (Photo by CPJ)

Colombian magazine Semana alleges military spied on its journalists

Bogotá, January 13, 2020 – Colombian authorities must undertake an in-depth and transparent investigation into allegations that the military illegally spied on journalists, and ensure those responsible are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Police officers are seen in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on January 7, 2020. Amid recent protests, police have detained and attacked journalists. (Reuters/Amanda Perobelli)

Police beat, detain journalists covering protests in São Paulo

Rio de Janeiro, January 10, 2020 — Brazilian authorities must promptly investigate alleged police harassment and attacks against journalists covering protests in São Paulo, and ensure that reporters can safely cover demonstrations, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A mosaic of late leader Hugo Chavez and President Nicolas Maduro is seen in Caracas, Venezuela, on December 19, 2019. Venezuelan authorities recently released freelance photojournalist Jesús Medina after 16 months of detention. (AP/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuelan photojournalist Jesús Medina released after 16 months in prison

New York, January 7, 2020 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed the release of Venezuelan freelance photojournalist Jesús Medina after more than 16 months of arbitrary detention, and called for Venezuelan authorities to drop all charges against him.

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The wreck of the World Trade Center after the 9/11 terror attack in New York. Journalists who developed health issues after reporting from Ground Zero can seek support from several programs. (Reuters/Peter Morgan)

For journalists with health issues from covering 9/11, support is available

Like the first responders who rushed to the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, thoughts of personal safety were far from the minds of the journalists who covered the largest terror attack on U.S. soil.

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Road Town, in the British Virgin Islands, is seen on April 3, 2009. The territory's legislature recently passed a bill that imposes harsh penalties for online defamation. (AP/Todd VanSickle)

British Virgin Islands law to impose fines, jail terms for online defamation

Miami, December 23, 2019 — British Virgin Islands Governor Augustus Jaspert should reject cybercrime legislation recently approved by the territory’s legislature, or require revisions to the bill to protect press freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Police officers are seen in front of a burning barricade in Valparaiso, Chile, on November 26, 2019. The Valparaiso headquarters of Chilean daily El Lider were vandalized and burned by protesters on November 26. (Reuters/Goran Tomasevic)

Headquarters of Chilean daily El Líder damaged in arson attack by protesters

On November 26, 2019, at around 8 p.m., unidentified demonstrators broke into the headquarters of Chilean newspaper El Líder, in the commune of San Antonio, Valparaíso, started fires, and vandalized the newspaper’s offices, according to news reports and a statement from the National Press Association, an independent association of Chilean media outlets.

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