Dozens of El Salvador journalists targeted with Pegasus spyware
In one of the most widespread known uses of Pegasus spyware to surveil journalists in the world, a forensic analysis of dozens of phones in El Salvador found that devices belonging to 35 people, mostly members of the press, were infected with between July 2020 and November 2021. “Suspecting you’ve been targeted isn’t the same…
U.S. press freedom under President Biden
Since his inauguration, U.S. President Joe Biden has underscored the importance of protecting press freedom. In a new report by CPJ, Leonard Downie Jr. finds an almost complete reversal from the Trump administration’s hostile anti-media rhetoric and a return to a more traditional relationship between the press and the White House. However, journalists and advocates…
‘All-out assault’ on Hong Kong’s press continues ahead of Beijing Olympics
As China prepares to host the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Chinese authorities continue to imprison journalists without consequence and crack down on the independent press in Hong Kong. Last month, Hong Kong authorities filed new charges against media entrepreneur and CPJ 2021 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Awardee Jimmy Lai, along with six former staff…
What inspired us this year?
Over the last 12 tumultuous months, CPJ has published hundreds of stories covering attacks on the press and journalists’ efforts to bring us the news. It was a year with some hard-fought success stories, from the collective effort to bring dozens of Afghan journalists to safety, including a family of four journalists who were resettled…
The most-read press freedom stories of 2021
2021 began with protestors threatening journalists covering the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. The news at the end of the year isn’t much brighter, with Ethiopia using its emergency law to ramp up arrests of journalists and the first documented death of a journalist in custody in Myanmar since the country’s February coup….
First Myanmar journalist to die in custody since February coup
On December 10, soldiers in Myanmar arrested photographer Soe Naing after he photographed a “silent strike” protest in Yangon against the country’s military junta government. Citing anonymous friends, colleagues, and family members of the photographer, media reports stated on Tuesday that Soe Naing had died in custody. Those reports did not state any suspected cause of…
‘A disturbing sign for press freedom’: A record 293 journalists imprisoned worldwide, the worst in 30 years
There are a record 293 journalists jailed worldwide for doing their job, according to CPJ’s 2021 prison census, the worst number CPJ has recorded since we began keeping track in 1992. Meanwhile, killings of journalists also continue to persist, with 24 documented by CPJ so far this year. The reasons for the relentless climb in…
Journalist at risk in Afghanistan after 100+ days of Taliban rule
The Taliban has repeatedly failed to uphold its stated commitment to press freedom in Afghanistan since taking power more than 100 days ago, as violent attacks against journalists continue unabated. Last month in Kabul, two unidentified men beat and attempted to shoot journalist Ahmad Baseer Ahmadi, breaking his jaw and teeth. Ahmadi is one of…
What we’re grateful for at CPJ
Most weeks, this newsletter highlights cases of journalists under threat globally. Today, ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, and as we approach the end of 2021, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on events we are grateful for: Afghan journalists make it to safety When the Taliban swept into Kabul…
Streaming today: The 31st annual International Press Freedom Awards #IPFA
In a small town in central Guatemala, authorities have repeatedly harassed radio journalist Anastasia Mejía in connection to her protest coverage. Mejía’s outlet Xolabaj Radio, which she co-founded, provides a platform for Indigenous women. In Mozambique, Matías Guente and his newspaper, Canal de Moçambique, have faced official harassment and intimidation in recent years, including a…