A devastating loss for press freedom in Hong Kong
In recognition of his sustained commitment to press freedom, CPJ will honor Jimmy Lai, the imprisoned founder of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaperand the paper’s parent company, Next Digital, with the 2021 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award. However, in deeply troubling developments, the Chinese government has ramped up its efforts to stomp out critical…
The high cost paid by journalists in exile
Journalists forced to flee their countries face many challenges, including physical attacks and threats to family members they left behind. In some cases, they are pushed out of their professions completely. In a new feature released ahead of World Refugee Day, CPJ examines the risks facing journalists in exile, with recommendations on how nations, the…
In Belarus, authorities are ‘purging the media space’
As the EU moves forward with sanctions against Belarus, in response to the detention of journalist Raman Pratasevich, CPJ held a press briefing Wednesday to shed light on the broad range of restrictions and reprisals facing journalists there. CPJ noted the upcoming Biden-Putin summit as an opportunity to focus on press freedom and welcomed a…
New York Times freelancer Jeffrey Moyo detained in Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe, authorities arrested New York Times freelancer Jeffrey Moyo and charged him over allegedly misrepresenting the accreditation status of two of his Times colleagues. Authorities denied Moyo’s bail request, and ordered him to remain in custody until June 10. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in jail. In Myanmar, authorities’ crackdown…
Belarus makes it clear they will cross any red line to censor independent voices
In a shocking move, even for Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, authorities in Belarus forcibly diverted a jet to Minsk to arrest journalist Raman Pratasevich. The next day, Pratasevich appeared in a government video apparently confessing to “organizing mass riots.” In an op-ed for CNN, CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator Gulnoza Said stressed how…
At least 18 media outlets bombed by Israeli forces
In less than a week, journalists in Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory have experienced an alarming onslaught of attacks. Israel bombed the offices of at least 18 media outlets, including a tower housing The Associated Press and Al-Jazeera. Also, Palestinian journalist Yousef Abu Hussein was killed when an Israeli air strike hit his home. In…
Israeli air strikes destroy buildings housing more than a dozen media outlets in Gaza
In Colombia, journalists covering mass protests have been robbed, harassed, and injured; nearly half of the violations against journalists were allegedly committed by the National Police and its Mobile Anti-Riot Squad, according to the Bogotá-based Foundation for Press Freedom (FLIP). More information can be found in our safety advisory for journalists reporting on unrest in…
Dozens of journalists behind bars in Myanmar
Myanmar’s military junta is holding at least 40 journalists behind bars as of April 28, according to CPJ’s preliminary investigations. Many of the detained journalists have been denied access to lawyers or family since their arrests, and at least two are foreign journalists. “Myanmar’s military regime has almost overnight become one of the worst jailers…
From Syria to Spain: The story of Madrid’s first refugee-led news site
Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, which came out of a conference attended by independent journalists and was supported by a dozen international organizations. Two years after that gathering in Namibia, the United Nations declared May 3 World Press Freedom Day. As UNESCO notes, “The ideas exchanged by African journalists and media…
Two Spanish journalists killed in Burkina Faso while covering poaching
Burkina Faso was the site of tragedy this week as Spanish journalists David Beriain and Roberto Fraile were killed after being abducted Monday from a wildlife reserve. The pair were working on a documentary about poaching when unidentified gunmen ambushed the group they were traveling with. CPJ called on authorities to thoroughly investigate the killings…