Malta: Greater urgency needed in implementing Daphne Caruana Galizia inquiry July 29, 2022 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joins other European media freedom and journalists’ rights organisations in expressing renewed concern about the lack of implementation of the recommendations of the milestone Public Inquiry into the assassination of Malta’s leading investigative journalist, Daphne Caruana Galizia. On the first anniversary of the Public Inquiry report’s publication, we urge […] Read more »
Ten years of Russia’s foreign agent law: Evolution of a press freedom crackdown July 25, 2022 IPI Contributor Daniel Salaru Russia’s now-notorious foreign agent law – a key tool for repressing independent media – first emerged ten years ago, in July 2012. Its development provides a unique lens for tracking the expansion of authoritarian control within the country. Long abused by the government, the law was instrumental in causing self-censorship and a mass exodus of […] Read more »
SLAPPs in Romania: The rise of lawsuits used to threaten the media and free speech (Libertatea) July 14, 2022 Diana Meseșan and Răzvan Luțac, Libertatea This piece is published in collaboration with Libertatea as part of a content series on threats to independent media in Central Europe. Read more. On December 2, 2020, Bucharest’s District 4 mayor Daniel Băluță, a former dentist who was elected to office in 2016, sued two investigative journalists from the Romanian daily newspaper Libertatea, as well as the […] Read more »
U.S. President Biden must prioritize press freedom during Middle East visit July 13, 2022 The IPI global network urges U.S. President Joe Biden to prioritize press freedom during his diplomatic visits this week with leaders in Israel, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, all of which have seen recent egregious attacks on journalists and media freedom that remain mired in impunity. We stand with our friends at the Committee to Protect […] Read more »
Court registers case against The Insider Editor-in-Chief for “discrediting” the Russian army On 27 July 2022, a court in Moscow registered a case against journalist Roman Dobrokhotov, accusing him of “discrediting” the Russian army. If found guilty, the Editor-in-Chief of The Insider could face a fine of up to 50,000 rubles. Stay informed. Stay engaged. Join thousands of journalists who receive the IPI Weekly Digest—press freedom news, […] Read more »
Albania: PM Edi Rama must reverse journalist press conference ban July 6, 2022 The International Press Institute (IPI) was today joined by international press freedom organisations in writing an open letter to Prime Minister Edi Rama to protest against his move to ban journalists from attending government press conferences. Read Albanian translation below Subject: Open letter to Prime Minister Edi Rama from international press freedom groups […] Read more »
IPI joins Africa media stakeholders in strengthening the Digital Platform for the Safety of Journalists July 6, 2022 The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, publishers and leading journalists for media freedom, has formally joined the media stakeholders in Africa engaged in the Digital Platform for the Safety of Journalists (https://safetyofjournalistsinafrica.africa/), having signed a partnership agreement to strengthen the platform. “I welcome this much-needed support from our partner the International […] Read more »
Joint statement on the European Media Freedom Act June 30, 2022 Click here to read our organisations’ letter to Prime Minister Petr Fiala and EU leaders about the European Media Freedom Act and the upcoming Czech Presidency ——————————- The European Commission is currently finalising the draft proposal for a European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). We thank the European Commission for taking on this task and the […] Read more »
Chance for Czech Presidency of EU to champion media freedom June 30, 2022 The International Press Institute (IPI) was today joined by sixteen media freedom and freedom of expression organisations from across Europe in writing to Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala to urge his government to use it upcoming presidency of the European Union to help drive forward vital EU initiatives to protect media freedom across the bloc, […] Read more »
Philippines: Government orders news site Rappler to shut down June 29, 2022 By IPI Contributor Salomé Cloteaux The IPI global network expressed outrage after Philippine authorities ordered the shutdown of Rappler, the pioneering news organization founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner and IPI Executive Board member Maria Ressa. Affirming an earlier decision, the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission revoked Rappler’s certificates of incorporation on June 28 for violating foreign ownership rules. Rappler […] Read more »
Daily Star | A series of delayed justice June 29, 2022 Pinaki Roy and Wasim Habib, Daily Star IPI’s media partners in the South Asia Cross-border journalism project in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Nepal document press freedom violations in their countries. [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=””] Razia Rahman had to wait for six years to get a trial court’s verdict in her husband Faisal Arefin […] Read more »
Nepal: Two journalists detained, five others threatened and attacked June 27, 2022 By IPI Contributor Salomé Cloteaux The IPI global network is alarmed by recent attacks on media freedom in Nepal after seven journalists and media workers have faced arrests, threats, or attacks in separate incidents in the past month. We call on the government to cease its harassment of independent journalists and to safeguard freedom of the press. IPI has documented […] Read more »
Turkey: IPI in solidarity with local journalism groups against ‘disinformation’ bill June 24, 2022 International Press Institute (IPI) representatives joined journalism organizations, media professionals, and citizens who gathered in the heart of Ankara, Turkey, on June 22 to protest against a bill on disinformation submitted to the parliament by the governing alliance of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). IPI and other organizations have […] Read more »
Spain: Fine against photographer underscores urgent need for reform of Gag Law June 21, 2022 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joins the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and other press freedom organisations in expressing serious concern over the recent €1,000 fine issued to Pulitzer prize-winning photographer Javier Bauluz under Spain’s controversial “Gag Law”. Our organisations believe this fine represents another example of the need for the Spanish government to […] Read more »
Czech Republic: MFRR pushes for reforms to strengthen independence of public broadcaster June 21, 2022 Czech version below Representatives from the International Press Institute (IPI) and European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) travelled to Prague on Wednesday June 15 to meet with officials from the Ministry of Culture and push for the development of reforms which strengthen the independence of the country’s public broadcaster. During the one-day visit, […] Read more »
Palestinian journalist Ghufran Harun Warasneh shot and killed June 13, 2022 IPI Contributor Salomé Cloteaux The IPI global network strongly condemns the killing of Palestinian journalist Ghufran Harun Warasneh who was shot dead by Israeli forces on June 1 in the occupied West Bank. Warasneh was killed at an Israeli checkpoint near the Al-Arroub refugee camp as she commuted to her job at a radio station in the city of […] Read more »
New European Commission internet regulation undermines media freedom June 8, 2022 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joins 72 other civil society organisations and professional bodies in writing to the European Commission urging a new internet regulation to be withdrawn to protect journalistic source protection and media freedom. The demand – “European Commission: uphold privacy, security and free expression by withdrawing new law“ – cautions EU […] Read more »
International groups call on Turkey’s parliament to reject the “disinformation” bill as a tool of digital censorship June 8, 2022 The International Press Institute (IPI) and twenty two international media freedom, freedom of expression and journalists’ organisations today called for the immediate dismissal of the bill on “disinformation and fake news” which was submitted to the parliament on May 27 by the governing alliance of Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The bill […] Read more »
Founder of Agentura.ru Andrei Soldatov placed on wanted list, then under criminal investigation The founder and chief editor of the publication Agentura.ru, Andrei Soldatov, was added to the wanted list of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and all of his bank accounts were frozen. Soldatov said he did not know what he is being charged with. Several human rights advocates stated that they suspect he would be charged […] Read more »
Ethiopia: 19 media workers detained in May as press freedom situation deteriorates June 3, 2022 IPI condemns the illegal detention of 19 Ethiopian journalists and media workers who were arrested by security forces in Addis Ababa and the Amhara region as part of an “anti-crime operation” for offenses that include “incitement to violence” and other vague offenses. The arrests began May 10 when Muhayadin Abdullahi, an Oromo journalist and editor […] Read more »
Egypt: Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed Taha sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison June 2, 2022 The IPI global network of journalists, editors, and publishers strongly condemns the sentencing in absentia of Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed Taha to 15 years in prison in Egypt on charges of “spreading false news”. This judgment should be immediately reversed. We also call on the Egyptian government to release all journalists currently being imprisoned in […] Read more »
IPI at RightsCon 2022 (June 9, 2022) The International Press Institute (IPI) is proud to take part in the 11th edition of the world’s leading summit on human rights in the digital age – the RightsCon 2022 conference. From Monday, June 6 to Friday, June 10, 2022, RightsCon will take place entirely online, spanning multiple time zones, featuring a program of more […] Read more »
Somaliland: Two journalists jailed for reporting on a prison fight May 27, 2022 The IPI global network calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Somaliland journalists Mohamed Adbi Sheikh Mohamed of MM Somali TV and Adijabar Mohamed Hussein of Horncable. The two journalists were sentenced to 16-month prison terms on May 23 by a court in Hargeisa for reporting on a prison fight at Hargeisa Central Prison. […] Read more »
Italy: Concern after authorities search Report editorial office and home of journalist May 27, 2022 The International Press Institute (IPI) and partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today express serious concern over the searches carried out by police at the offices of Rai 3’s investigative programme ‘Report’ and the home of investigative journalist Paolo Mondani. We urge the Italian Anti-Mafia Investigative Directorate (DIA) to provide assurances that […] Read more »
34 rights groups demand independent investigation into the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh May 26, 2022 IPI has joined a coalition of 34 press freedom and human rights groups calling for an immediate and independent investigation into the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh on May 11. Read the full statement below. We, the undersigned organisations, call for an immediate, thorough, and independent investigation into the killing of veteran […] Read more » TaggedAl Jazeera impunity International Press Institute IPI Israel journalist palestine Shireen Abu Akleh West Bank
Russian forces shell TV tower in Orikhiv On 25 May 2022, Russian forces shelled a TV tower in Orikhiv, in Ukraine’s Zaporizhia region. The tower complex was damaged in the attack. It was unclear whether TV and radio signal were cut off in the region as a result. Stay informed. Stay engaged. Join thousands of journalists who receive the IPI Weekly Digest—press […] Read more »
Czech Republic: Independence of public broadcasters must be insulated against future attacks May 10, 2022 Press freedom in the Czech Republic has undergone a welcome boost since the government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala came to power. The undersigned media freedom and journalists organisations today urge the new administration to use this momentum to push forward with amendments which will strengthen the institutional independence of Česká televize (Czech Television) and […] Read more »
European Commission must take ambitious approach to European Media Freedom Act May 9, 2022 IPI today joined 16 organisations in signing an open letter to European Commissioners Vera Jourová, Thierry Breton and Margrethe Vestager on the occasion of Europe Day urging the Commission to take an ambitious approach to the European Media Freedom Act. Dear Commissioners, On the occasion of Europe Day 2022, celebrating peace and unity in […] Read more »
Ninth journalist murdered in Mexico this year May 6, 2022 Veera Nikkanen, Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Journalism Fellow at IPI The IPI global network strongly condemns the killing of veteran journalist Luis Enrique Ramírez, the ninth journalist to be slain in Mexico in 2022. The government must ensure that authorities conduct a swift, independent, and thorough investigation into his murder to determin the motive and ensure all perpetrators are brought to justice. The Mexican government […] Read more »
Estonia: Criminal fines for journalists over public interest reporting send dangerous signal May 6, 2022 The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners are concerned about the imposition of fines on two journalists and a news outlet in Estonia after they published information about pre-trial criminal proceedings without seeking permission or informing the prosecutor’s office. On 25 March 2022, journalists Tarmo Vahter and Sulev Vedler published an article in the weekly […] Read more »
WPFD 2022 Nepal | The culture of silence among journalists on the rise May 3, 2022 MyRepublica To mark World Press Freedom Day 2022, IPI’s media partners in the South Asia Cross-border journalism project in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Nepal have documented several press freedom violations in their countries. These stories are published in all the five news publications – The Daily Star, The Week, Dawn, Republica and Nagarik. [separator style_type=”single” top_margin=”20px” […] Read more » TaggedNepal press freedom World Press Freedom Day wpfd 2022
Turkey: Spectre of a Digital Lockdown The International Press Institute (IPI) today warned of a further deterioration of the media freedom situation in Turkey as it launches its report ‘Turkey: Spectre of a Digital Lockdown’. The report, published on the eve of World Press Freedom Day 2022, examines government efforts to increase digital censorship through further control of online information in […] Read more »
New IPI report: Growing digital censorship in Turkey May 2, 2022 The International Press Institute (IPI) today warned of a further deterioration of the media freedom situation in Turkey as it launches its report ‘Turkey: Spectre of a Digital Lockdown’. The report, published on the eve of World Press Freedom Day 2022, examines government efforts to increase digital censorship through further control of online information in […] Read more »
