Philippines / Asia

This week, CPJ’s Shawn W. Crispin examined the incredible risks and challenges confronting witnesses to journalist murders in the Philippines. Crispin’s report, “Under Oath, Under Threat,” featured Bob Flores, a man who has demonstrated extraordinary courage in identifying a gunman in the slaying of radio journalist Dennis Cuesta. Crispin and I had met Flores earlier…

The shooting death last year of Radio Mindanao Network broadcaster Dennis Cuesta raised the realization among journalists here that the profession we know and love could cost us life and limb. 

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility reports today that a Philippine court has denied a motion to dismiss murder charges against two government officials accused of ordering the 2005 murder of journalist Marlene Garcia-Esperat.

Making news today is yesterday’s release of our year-end analysis of the deadliest countries for journalists. The report found that 41 journalists were killed for their work in 2008, with Iraq named the most deadly for the sixth straight year. The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse all ran stories outlining the report’s findings yesterday. Today the story is receiving widespread coverage in both the…

Editor & Publisher has coverage of our annual census of imprisoned journalists, which was released earlier today. The report lists 125 journalists in jail as of December 1, 56 of whom are online journalists.

Another radio journalist has been killed in the Philippines today according to reports from The Associated Press. Leo Mila, a radio broadcaster in the north of the country, was gunned down in front of his radio station earlier today. Mila’s program focused on discussing citizen’s complaints. According to reports, he had been working on a…

RIA Novosti has continued coverage of the Anna Politkovskaya murder trial, which began yesterday in Moscow.

Three men charged in the 2007 murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya are on trial in Moscow beginning today.