Two years after military coup, international community must support Myanmar’s independent media February 9, 2023 IPI Contributor Lena Dal Santo The IPI global network calls on the international community to renew its support for press freedom in Myanmar. Two years since the military took power in a violent coup d’état, and despite extraordinary resilience and courage by the country’s media, the state of press freedom remains in peril. The international community must act with urgency […] Read more »
EU: Call to MEPs for strong European Media Freedom Act February 9, 2023 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joins 40 organisations in urging Members of the European Parliament to push for a strong European Media Freedom Act. – IPI position on the European Media Freedom Act – How the European Media Freedom Act could affect Hungary and Poland – European Media Freedom Act breaks significant new ground […] Read more »
Kosovo: Media freedom groups write to PM Kurti over RTK appointment February 3, 2023 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined four international media freedom organisations in writing to the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, to raise our shared concerns about a recent appointment to Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) which undermines recent reform progress. Read the full letter below. Dear Albin Kurti, President of Vetevendosje […] Read more »
IPI, partners request meeting with Kyrgyz president February 1, 2023 Today, IPI and a group of partner organizations sent a letter to Sadyr Japarov, President of Kyrgyzstan, requesting a meeting to discuss the rapidly deteriorating situation of press freedom in this country. The letter was co-signed by Committee to Protect journalists, Article 19, Human Rights Watch, Justice For Journalists Foundation, Norwegian Helsinki Committee, and Reporters […] Read more »
Daily Star | Blogging in Bangladesh: Caught between a rock and a hard place January 31, 2023 Pinaki Roy and Wasim Habib, Daily Star This article is published in collaboration with the Daily Star in Bangladesh, as part of a content series supported by the IPI South Asia cross-border journalism project, which aims to support press freedom and promote the safety of journalists in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Nepal. [separator style_type=”single” top_margin=”20px” bottom_margin=”20px” sep_color=”#c4c4c4″ border_size=”1px” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” […] Read more »
Rwanda: 90 rights groups call for independent investigation into death of journalist John Williams Ntwali January 31, 2023 The International Press Institute (IPI) today is among 90 civil society and press freedom organizations calling on the Rwandan authorities to ensure an independent and thorough investigation into the death of prominent journalist John Williams Ntwali. Authorities said Ntwali died in a traffic accident on January 19 but have failed to provide any additional information […] Read more »
Part 2: Venezuela’s local media collaborates to tell big stories January 29, 2023 Andrés Schäfer It’s a photo that tells clashing stories: on its surface, the idyll of a water-side childhood; underneath, the destructive pollution from mining. It’s Fabiola Ferrero’s shot from deep in the immensity of the Gran Sabana in Venezuela’s south, capturing a Pemón child floating mid-air as he dives from steep banks into an almost magically blue […] Read more »
India: Government uses emergency powers to block BBC documentary critical of Modi January 25, 2023 The IPI global network expresses alarm over the Indian government’s use of emergency powers granted under the country’s IT rules to block clips of a BBC documentary critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from being accessed and shared online. The Modi government must refrain from using these powers to force online platforms to censor critical […] Read more »
Death of Rwandan journalist John Williams Ntwali must be investigated January 23, 2023 IPI, the global network of press freedom, calls for a thorough and independent investigation into the death of Rwandan journalist John Williams Ntwali, a well-known critic of the Rwandan government who was killed in what authorities have claimed was a traffic accident. Williams Ntwali, an editor of the privately owned newspaper The Chronicles and who […] Read more »
IPI position on the European Media Freedom Act January 23, 2023 The International Press Institute (IPI) today published its detailed position on the draft proposal for European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). IPI submitted its position on January 23, 2023, as part of the European Commission’s Public Consultation. Overall, IPI and our global network welcome the proposal for the EMFA as a crucial move to address serious […] Read more »
Under threat, local newsrooms innovate to survive in Georgia January 20, 2023 Teona Sekhniashvili In its 30 years of independence, Georgia has faced deep political polarization. The news media landscape itself has come to reflect these divisions, resulting in societal tension. Meanwhile, media capture has dramatically reduced the state of press freedom in Georgia. Despite these challenges, local newsrooms continue to survive and thrive through innovation and building relationships […] Read more »
Burundi: IPI reiterates call for release of journalist Floriane Irangaibye January 17, 2023 The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of publishers, editors and journalists, reiterates its call on authorities in Burundi to release Rwanda-based journalist Floriane Irangabiye, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison earlier this month, and drop charges against her. Authorities in Burundi, instead of stifling the work of journalists, must respect press […] Read more »
Somalia: Harassment of journalists continues amid deteriorating press freedom situation January 11, 2023 The IPI global network is increasingly concerned about the deteriorating press freedom situation in Somalia after seven journalists were assaulted or detained in December 2022 alone. IPI reiterates its call on authorities to stop all attacks on press freedom and respect independent journalism. On December 22, security forces raided a local radio station, Radio Hiiraanweyn, […] Read more »
IPI Press Freedom and Communications Intern January 1, 2023 IPI welcomes applications for non-paid internships in our press freedom and communications department in 2023. IPI internships require a high degree of initiative and an ability to work independently and in a diverse environment. Candidates should have a keen interest in human rights, particularly media freedom. Applications may be sent in on a rolling basis […] Read more »
Russian court in Crimea sentences citizen journalist Iryna Danylovych On 28 December 2022, a Russian court in occupied Crimea sentenced citizen journalist Iryna Danylovych to 7 years of prison for allegedly acquiring or keeping explosive items, a charge which Danylovych fully refutes and links to her work as an activist and citizen journalist. Danylovych was also fined the equivalent of 650 euros. The Ukrainian […] Read more »
Italy: New government must improve legal framework for media freedom December 22, 2022 On 23 October 2022, the new Italian government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was appointed following the parliamentary elections in September, made up a far-right coalition formed by the League (Lega), Forward Italy (Forza Italia), and the Brothers of Italy (Fratelli D’Italia). The International Press Institute (IPI) today joins ARTICLE 19 Europe and members […] Read more »
12 European newsrooms selected to join Thomson Media Deep-Dive Business Consultancy December 20, 2022 Twelve media newsrooms from Europe have been selected for an in-depth business support, following a transparent and multi-staged evaluation process. The call was targeted towards mid-sized, regional or local media and niche outlets, with a clearly identified problem they are willing to solve. Selected media will receive customised mentoring and grant support as part of […] Read more »
Analysis European Journalism Now: Prague Conference Wrap-up December 14, 2022 The International Press Institute (IPI), together with our Czech National Committee and Endowment Fund for Independent Journalism (NFNZ), held a joint two-day European Journalism Now conference in Prague on December 1–2, focusing on how to evaluate quality journalism, media capture in Central and Eastern Europe, and the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). The first day, […] Read more »
IPI joins call for Somali authorities to drop charges against journalist Abdalle Ahmed Mumin December 13, 2022 IPI on Monday joined six other international organisations in a letter calling on Somali authorities to drop the criminal charges filed against Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, a journalist and the Secretary General of the Somalia Journalist Syndicate. Mumin was first arrested on October 11 at the Mogadishu airport while attempting to travel to Nairobi. His arrest […] Read more »
Russian journalist detained, found guilty of publishing “extremist” materials On 9 December 2022, RFE/RL reported that Olga Belova, an independent journalist, was detained by authorities along with at least two human rights activists in Samara Oblast. Following her detention, Belova was found guilty of violating article 20.29 of the Russian code of administrative offences by publishing “extremist” materials. It was not clear which materials […] Read more »
Guatemala: IPI reiterates call for release of journalist José Rubén Zamora December 7, 2022 The IPI global press freedom network reiterated its call on Guatemala to immediately release IPI World Press Freedom José Rubén Zamora, who has been jailed since July on money-laundering charges that are widely considered politically motivated. Zamora faces a next hearing in the case on December 8. Zamora, the president and founder of the independent […] Read more »
IPI Dec. 10 Campaign in Turkey: If there is no press freedom, there is no democracy December 5, 2022 The International Press Institute (IPI) and IPI’s Turkey National Committee mark Human Rights Day on December 10 with an annual campaign in Turkey highlighting the stifled media environment and continued attacks on press freedom. Spotlight: IPI’s Turkey newsletter Receive breaking news, track the state of press and media freedom, access detailed factsheets on ongoing challenges, […] Read more »
Ethiopia: Internet shutdowns in Tigray persist as Ethiopia hosts UN internet meeting December 2, 2022 As a U.N. meeting on internet freedom convenes this week in Ethiopia, the IPI global network urges Ethiopian authorities to immediately restore internet and telecommunications services to more than six million people in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, which has been deprived of these critical communications services since the outbreak of the conflict in this region […] Read more »
IPI Dec. 10 Campaign in Turkey: If there is no press freedom, there is no democracy December 1, 2022 The International Press Institute (IPI) and IPI’s Turkey National Committee mark Human Rights Day on December 10 with an annual campaign in Turkey highlighting the stifled media environment and continued attacks on press freedom. This year, IPI collaborated with two of Turkey’s last remaining critical satire magazines, LeMan and Bayan Yanı, to create cover pages […] Read more »
Daily Star | Choking the lifeblood of democracy December 1, 2022 Pinaki Roy and Wasim Habib, Daily Star This article is published in collaboration with the Daily Star in Bangladesh, as part of a content series supported by the IPI South Asia cross-border journalism project, which aims to support press freedom and promote the safety of journalists in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Nepal. [separator style_type=”single” top_margin=”20px” bottom_margin=”20px” sep_color=”#c4c4c4″ border_size=”1px” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””] […] Read more »
Portugal: Press freedom remains robust even as media face resource strains December 1, 2022 By IPI contributor Cláudia Marques Santos Press freedom remains strong in Portugal. The country is democratically stable and the risks of government interference in the media are low. Both the constitution and the national Press Law safeguard journalists in their daily reporting. But there are some areas of concern: journalists’ deteriorating work conditions and precarity, as well as significant concentration of media […] Read more »
IPI condemns Russia’s sentencing of three Crimean Tatar citizen journalists November 30, 2022 The IPI global network condemns Russia’s sentencing last week of three Crimean Tatar citizen journalists to 14 years in prison. IPI calls on the Russian authorities to release Osman Arifmemetov, Ruslan Suleymanov, and Rustem Sheykhaliyev. On November 24, Crimean Tatar citizen journalists Arifmemetov, Suleymanov and Sheykhaliyev were sentenced to 14 years of prison, plus an […] Read more »
Film screening: “The Killing of a Journalist” at This Human World 2022 (Vienna, Dec. 8) On February 21, 2018, Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, archeologist Martina Kušnírová, were brutally murdered in their home. As a journalist working for the online news site Aktuality.sk, Kuciak had uncovered allegations of tax fraud and financial crime implicating prominent business and political leaders in Slovakia. The double murder sparked the largest protests in Slovakia […] Read more »
Interview: Europe’s draft media freedom law: Strengths and weaknesses November 29, 2022 (Text below produced by Whitehouse Communications) In mid-September 2022, the European Commission unveiled its draft proposal for the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), a flagship new legislative initiative intended to protect media pluralism and independence in the European Union. According to the Commission, the EMFA seeks to respond to growing concerns over malign foreign influence, […] Read more »
Italy: PM Meloni urged to drop defamation lawsuit against newspaper Domani November 25, 2022 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joins the undersigned organisations in calling for the filed against the newspaper Domani by Italy’s new Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to be dropped and for the Italian Parliament to adopt a comprehensive reform of the country’s defamation laws. We note with concern that this is not the first time […] Read more »
Burundi: Authorities must release journalist Floriane Irangabiye November 22, 2022 The IPI global network for press freedom condemns the arrest and continued detention of journalist Floriane Irangabiye in Burundi. Irangabiye, a Burundian national based in Rwanda, was arrested by Burundi intelligence personnel in the capital Bujumbura on August 30. She was in the country to attend the funeral of one of her parents at the […] Read more »
Isam Abdullah, Syria On November 20, 2022, journalist for the Syria-based Hawar News Agency (ANHA), Isam Abdullah, was killed in strikes on the Dêrik (Al Malikiyah) town in al Hasakah, in the northeastern corner of Syria. The journalist was among a total of nine people killed in the town by two airstrikes carried out by Türkiye in response […] Read more »
Italy: IPI joins call to support Roberto Saviano in a defamation trial November 16, 2022 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joins the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE), with the support of the coalition’s Italian group and its partners in the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in expressing solidarity with Roberto Saviano who attended the first hearing in the proceedings for aggravated defamation initiated against him by current Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. […] Read more »
