Enemies of the Press: The 10 Worst Offenders of 1997
On May 3, in conjunction with World Press Freedom Day, CPJ announced its annual choices of the top 10 Enemies of the Press worldwide. Those who made the list this year, as in the past, earned the dubious distinction by exhibiting particular zeal for the ruthless suppression of journalists. For the second consecutive year, the…
Dangerous Assignments: Spring 1998
CPJ, Turkish Press council meet with Yilmaz to encourage Reform Representatives of CPJ and the Press council of Turkey met with Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, urging him to fulfill his promise to reform the Turkish press laws, and to review the cases of 12 imprisoned reporters and editors the two groups say have been convicted…
Key Media Officials in Azerbaijan
Minister of Press and Information: Siruz Khudat ogli Tabrizli, born 1942 in Tabriz, Iran. A writer, poet, former journalist. Holds democratic views but is a strong supporter of President Heidar Aliyev. Member of parliament and a leader of Aliyev’s New Azerbaijan party. Serves as minister under the “List of 18” exception which allows 15 percent…
Armenian Officials Tout Press Freedom But Bully the Press
There are two views of the press in Armenia today. The first holds that the press is entirely free to report as it chooses. The second is that the press is irresponsible. One thing is certain: In the absence of censorship, Armenian officials resort to verbal pressure and sometimes physical retribution, to knock journalists into…
Cut It Out: Notes from An Azerbaijani Censor
A 1993 censor’s log book, revealing the interplay between censors and the cuts they made, has been circulating among Baku editors. Some extracts from the purloined document: ³24/VIII/93 ³An article cut from Azadliq. It said that S. Husseinov demanded the resignation of President Aliyev at his press conference at Ganja. If you see such information…
Censorship While You Wait: An Azerbaijani Newspaper Struggles to Stay Alive
At 25, Gunduz M. Tairli is a chain – smoking, ink – stained journalist. His face is angular; his expression intense. He is also chief editor of Azadliq, one of Baku’s most popular newspapers, and the organ of the opposition Popular Front party. Putting out Azadliq is a daily struggle for Tairli, who labors 12…
Press Freedom Under the Dragon: Special Report on Hong Kong
Six journalists–from Croatia, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Russia, Taiwan, and the United States–who have risked their freedom and their lives to report the news will receive the 1997 International Press Freedom Awards from the Committee to Protect Journalists. The recipients are Christine Anyanwu, imprisoned editor in chief of the independent Nigerian news weekly The Sunday Magazine;…
Press Freedom Under the Dragon Can Hong Kong’s Media Still Breathe Fire?
After serving nearly 32 months in prison for his newspaper’s critical coverage of Turkey’s ongoing conflict with Kurdish insurgents, editor Ocak Isik Yurtçu was freed from Saray Prison on August 15, one day after Turkey’s parliament unanimously passed an amnesty law allowing for the release of several jailed editors.
Turkey’s Journalists View Amnesty Plans With Caution
When the Turkish government in March announced a plan to coordinate the release from prison of some of the many journalists who have been convicted under the country’s infamous anti-terror law, Turkish journalists greeted the announcement with skepticism. Given Turkey’s dismal press freedom record under the government of Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan, and that of…