Ognianova: Kazakhstan’s broken promises
In a September 22 commentary in the Guardian of London, CPJ’s Nina Ognianova details Kazakhstan’s broken promises to reform its repressive press policies. Kazakhstan made the pledges in exchange for gaining chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, or OSCE. In the Guardian, Ognianova calls on OSCE members to “remember and adhere…
Mexico: The war next door
CPJ’s representative in Mexico, Mike O’Connor, appeared on “NBC Nightly News” with Brian Williams on Tuesday. The segment is about the killing of a staff photographer of El Diario, the major daily in the Mexican city of Ciudad Juárez, and the announcement that the paper will restrict its coverage in the wake of the shooting…
Simon: Japan should stand up for press freedom
On September 8, the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun ran an op-ed by CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. Here is the English translation: Japan should stand up for press freedomBy Joel Simon Japan’s government has supported press freedom at home and defended Japanese journalists reporting in conflict…
Is the pen still mightier than the sword?
CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney is quoted in an article in MediaGlobal about the dangers faced by journalists when they expose societal ills and injustice. In the article entitled “Is the pen still mightier than the sword? The plight and protection of journalists” Mahoney tells how “Most journalists are targeted. They aren’t caught in a…
O’Brien: The Internet’s secret back door
In an article in Slate Magazine, CPJ Internet Advocacy Coordinator Danny O’Brien writes about how Web users in the United Arab Emirates have more to worry about than having just their BlackBerries cracked. “The UAE continues to wrestle with Research in Motion over government access to BlackBerry messages, threatening to ban the company’s services if it…
Lauría op-ed on Mexico in El País
In an op-ed in the Spanish newspaper El País, CPJ senior program coordinator for the Americas Carlos Lauría argues the wave of violence that has hit Mexico in the current war between powerful drug cartels has let to widespread self-censorship in Mexican media. Lauría describes how the situation has become untenable for reporters covering issues…
CPJ in the Philippines
Bob Dietz, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator currently on a CPJ mission to the Philippines, writes in The Huffington Post about the Maguindanao massacre. On November 23, 2009, 32 journalists and media workers were killed in the single deadliest event for the press since 1992, when CPJ began keeping detailed records on journalist deaths. Now, nine…
Labidi: Jordan, latest enemy of press freedom online?
CPJ Middle East and North Africa consultant Kamel Labidi writes in an article in the Guardian Comment is Free that Jordan’s new provisional law on cyber crimes, has brought the Hashemite kingdom a step closer to Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Egypt, which are considered among the most notorious online oppressors worldwide. On August 17, CPJ sent…
Danny O’Brien podcasts: How RIM shares your e-mail
Jesse Brown, the host of “Search Engine” on TVO.org, interviews CPJ Internet Advocacy Coordinator Danny O’Brien about the Internet’s impact on politics and culture. O’Brien talks about the conflict between Canadian-based Research in Motion (RIM) and several governments in the Middle East over access to BlackBerry users’ e-mails. O’Brien has previously written about “Why governments don’t need RIM…
Reuters covers CPJ’s letter to SA’s President Zuma
On August 16, CPJ sent a letter to South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma to express our concern about legislative proposals that would severely restrict South Africa’s independent press corps. The letter received a great deal of media attention in South Africa and internationally. Please follow this link to read Reuters’ article about the letter.