IPI Monitoring: Journalists in Uganda, Sudan, DRC, and Senegal face attacks, arrests, violence August 2, 2023 IPI Africa’s monitoring of press freedom threats and violations in June recorded at least 40 incidents in 15 countries across the continent, with the highest number of incidents in Uganda, Sudan, Senegal, and DRC. These attacks have been perpetrated by security and law enforcement officers, representatives and supporters of political parties, and members of the […] Read more »
IJ4EU Interview: ‘Migration management is a massive euphemism’ July 28, 2023 Few dispute that migration needs governing. But what happens when a little-known organisation working far from the glare of public scrutiny takes things too far? The Vienna-based International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) has operated since the early 1990s along the geographical fringes of the European Union. Its remit is “migration management”, which may […] Read more » Taggedij4eu
South African journalist barred from covering Russia- Africa Summit July 27, 2023 The IPI global network condemns the recent decision by Russian authorities to revoke accreditation for Daily Maverick journalist Peter Fabricius for the Russia-Africa summit taking place this week in St. Petersburg. The Summit’s Organising Committee did not provide reasons for the revocation nor did they afford the journalist an avenue to appeal the decision. Fabricius […] Read more »
Turkey: International and local groups condemn detention of journalists in Ankara, Diyarbakır, İstanbul and İzmir July 26, 2023 The undersigned media freedom, freedom of expression and human rights organizations strongly condemn the detention of T24 editor Sibel Yükler, Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporters Delal Akyüz and Fırat Can Arslan, bianeteditor Evrim Kepenek and freelance journalist Evrim Deniz in Turkey on July 25. While four of these journalists were conditionally released, Arslan was arrested later […] Read more »
Russia must stop designating media as ‘undesirable’ July 26, 2023 Russia must stop its practice of designating media companies as ‘undesirable’, the International Press Institute (IPI) said. IPI made the call following Russia’s latest such designation, which targeted independent television broadcaster TV Rain. The broadcaster was forced to leave Russia last year and now operates out of the EU. The designation has previously been used […] Read more »
United States: Reauthorization of Section 702 surveillance law will imperil the work of journalists July 25, 2023 IPI Contributor Rowan Humphries As U.S. lawmakers debate the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which is set to expire at the end of this year, the IPI global network expresses profound concerns about the statute’s risks for journalists, and calls on Congress to enact serious reforms to Section 702 that address those risks […] Read more »
Oleg Deripaska demands removal of video mentioning his reported PMCs On 24 July 2023, a court in Moscow published information on a defamation lawsuit filed by Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska, who demanded that Russian journalist Elizaveta Osetinskaya fully remove a recent Youtube video interview with human rights defender Olga Romanova. In the interview, Romanova claimed that Deripaska owned two private military companies, similar to Wagner, […] Read more »
Myanmar: Junta threatens legal action against independent media over broadcasting fees July 20, 2023 IPI Contributor Katherine Dailey The IPI global network condemns plans by Myanmar’s military junta to sue two independent media outlets, Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) and Mizzima, for broadcasting fees incurred prior to the military coup in February 2021. Since the junta took power, independent media has faced an extreme crackdown, including the jailing of journalists and closure of […] Read more »
Seven years into new era, Uzbekistan’s independent media fight for survival July 18, 2023 On July 9, Uzbekistan, Central Asia’s most populous nation, re-elected its president, in an atmosphere which local independent journalists describe as extremely constraining for their profession, limiting options for real political pluralism in Uzbekistan. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was officially declared the winner of the race, receiving 87 percent of the vote, in an election described […] Read more »
Seven years into new era, Uzbekistan’s independent media fight for survival July 18, 2023 On July 9, Uzbekistan, Central Asia’s most populous nation, re-elected its president, in an atmosphere which local independent journalists describe as extremely constraining for their profession, limiting options for real political pluralism in Uzbekistan. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was officially declared the winner of the race, receiving 87 percent of the vote, in an election described […] Read more »
Uganda: More than a dozen journalists assaulted in recent months July 17, 2023 The IPI global network is alarmed by growing attacks on journalists in Uganda this year and calls on Ugandan authorities to take appropriate measures to safeguard press freedom and protect the safety of journalists. Journalists must be able to operate freely and report on matters of public interest without fear of retaliation or interference by […] Read more »
Russia designates Karen Shainyan as “extremist”, opens criminal case against journalist On 14 July 2023, the Russian institution for the control of financial transactions, Rosfinmonitoring, added journalist Karen Shainyan to its list of “terrorists and extremists”, forbidding any financial transactions in Russia by the journalist. According to Russian independent media, this step indicates authorities have opened a criminal case for extremism against Shainyan, without however publishing […] Read more »
IPI welcomes Kyrgyz court decision reversing order to close Radio Azattyk July 14, 2023 IPI Contributor Rowan Humphries IPI and its global network welcome the Bishkek City Court’s decision to annul an April shut down order for Radio Azattyk, the Kyrgyz service of the U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. The ruling clears the way for the broadcaster to return online after being blocked since October of last year. IPI had previously condemned the decision […] Read more »
Poland: Media capture fears confirmed in new report examining PKN Orlen takeover of Polska Press July 13, 2023 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joins the undersigned organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium in warning that the findings of a new report assessing the impact of the takeover of regional news publisher Polska Press by Poland’s state-controlled oil company PKN Orlen illustrate a shocking example of media capture in the […] Read more »
#IPIWoCo Recap: Media and democracy in the age of AI July 12, 2023 AI can be harnessed to help journalists do their jobs more efficiently, but is also poised to further pollute the information landscape, panelists at the opening Town Hall of the 2023 IPI World Congress and Media Innovation Festival said. They assessed the risks of AI to independent journalism, and the information landscape more broadly, and […] Read more »
Turkey Trial Blog: Court releases 15 journalists detained for over a year in Diyarbakır July 12, 2023 The International Press Institute (IPI) traveled to Diyarbakır, Turkey, in July 2023 to monitor the first hearing of a case in which 17 Kurdish journalists and 1 media worker – 15 of whom are currently in pre-trial detention are charged with “membership in a terrorist organization” and face a prison sentence up to 15 years. […] Read more »
Polen: Neuer Bericht über die Übernahme von Polska Press durch PKN Orlen bestätigt die Befürchtungen einer Vereinnahmung des Mediums July 12, 2023 Read in English Das International Press Institute (IPI) schließt sich heute den unterzeichnenden Organisationen des Konsortiums Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) an und warnt davor, dass die Ergebnisse eines neuen Berichts, der die Auswirkungen der Übernahme des regionalen Nachrichtenverlags Polska Press durch den staatlich kontrollierten polnischen Ölkonzern PKN Orlen bewertet, ein schockierendes Beispiel für die Vereinnahmung […] Read more »
Mexico: IPI condemns the killing of journalist Luis Martín Sánchez Íñiguez July 10, 2023 IPI Contributor Rowan Humphries The IPI global network condemns the killing of Mexican journalist Luis Martín Sánchez Íñiguez, who was found dead in the Mexican state of Nayarit after going missing last week. He is at least the fourth journalist to be killed in Mexico this year. IPI urgently calls on the Mexican government to thoroughly investigate all cases […] Read more »
Analysis: A new global cybercrime treaty risks becoming yet another legal instrument to punish and muzzle the press July 9, 2023 By Amy Brouillette, IPI Director of Advocacy For journalists and rights advocates, much is at stake as UN-member states gather in New York next month to hammer out the final points of a new global treaty to combat cybercrime. The treaty being negotiated could hand authorities far-reaching surveillance and investigatory powers both at home and abroad — and give repressive governments even […] Read more »
Media freedom and journalist groups call on EU to secure effective Media Freedom Act July 7, 2023 To the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission On behalf of media freedom, journalists and human rights organizations across Europe, we call upon the European Union institutions to negotiate a strong and effective European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) that can counter media capture and protect editorial independence and media pluralism across Europe. […] Read more »
‘Journalists are not legitimate targets’: Pegasus hacks amidst a war July 4, 2023 IPI contributor Rowan Humphries Researchers have been tracking the use of cyber surveillance software to target journalists for years, but until now no government has ever been caught using it during an active international conflict. New revelations from digital rights researchers and advocates uncovered the targeting of public officials and journalists with Pegasus spyware during the 2020 war between […] Read more »
Russia: IPI horrified by violent attack on journalist Elena Milashina in Chechnya July 4, 2023 IPI and its global network denounce in the firmest possible terms the violent attack on Elena Milashina, an investigative journalist with the renowned Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, who was assaulted along with lawyer Alexander Nemov as they were heading to monitor the trial of political prisoner Zarema Musayeva in Chechnya. According to Milashina, she and […] Read more »
IPI Central Europe Network: Leading editors call for strong EMFA July 3, 2023 Leading editors from within the International Press Institute’s (IPI) Central Europe Independent Media Network have today published an open letter calling on EU bodies to pass a strong and effective European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) which helps safeguard independent journalism and roll back media capture across the bloc. Read the full open letter below […] Read more »
Belarus: Amid authoritarian crackdown, journalists and the LGBTQ+ community face intersecting threats June 30, 2023 IPI Contributor Katherine Dailey In Belarus, journalists and members of the LGBTQ+ community face alarmingly restrictive landscapes. Thirty-four journalists are currently jailed in Belarus, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ). Most are charged with “extremist activities” or “violating public order” as part of the crackdown on the press following the 2020 presidential election. More recently, BAJ was […] Read more »
Colombia: For queer journalists, identity helps inform their reporting June 30, 2023 IPI Contributor Katherine Dailey Mariana Escobar Bernoske and Felipe Morales Sierra are both reporters at El Espectador, one of Colombia’s biggest national newspapers, working in the Gender and Diversity section and the Judicial section, respectively. Both a part of the LGBTQ+ community, they find that their identity as queer journalists informs their reporting on their respective beats. For Escobar […] Read more »
Ethiopia: ‘Constant terror’ for LGBTQ+ journalists, even those in the closet June 30, 2023 IPI Contributor Katherine Dailey In Ethiopia, “when you’re a journalist, once or twice you will end up in jail”, said a journalist who spoke to IPI requested anonymity. But for an LGBTQ+ journalist, they said, this could mean an investigation into one’s personal life — and if someone is found to be queer, they could be charged and imprisoned […] Read more »
Kenya: Reporting on undercovered LGBTQ+ community brings potential scrutiny June 30, 2023 IPI Contributor Katherine Dailey Before publishing a recent project centering on the LGBTQ+ community in Africa, an anonymous Kenyan journalist prepared for backlash and harassment online. Though the negative response was not as strong as he had feared, the personal risks for a queer journalist remain high. Homosexuality is illegal in Kenya, punishable by up to 21 years in […] Read more »
Russia: IPI denounces designation of Novaya Gazeta Europe as “undesirable organization” June 30, 2023 IPI and its global network today denounce the decision by Russian authorities to designate Novaya Gazeta Europe, a leading independent Russian media outlet, as an “undesirable organization”. The Russian Prosecutor-General’s Office claimed that Novaya Gazeta Europe “created and disseminated tendentious informational materials harming the interests of Russia”. Authorities also accused the outlet of disseminating “false […] Read more »
EU must prioritize media freedom in Turkey post-election June 28, 2023 The undersigned organisations call on the incoming Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union to place media freedom and human rights front and centre of relations with the newly re-elected Government of Turkey. The May elections, which saw a parliamentary majority for the AKP and its allies and the re-election of Recep Tayyip […] Read more »
Russian Prosecutor-General designates Novaya Gazeta Europe as an “undesirable organization” On 28 June 2023, the Russian Prosecutor-General’s office designated Novaya Gazeta Europe, a leading independent Russian media outlet, as an “undesirable organization”. Stay informed. Stay engaged. Join thousands of journalists who receive the IPI Weekly Digest—press freedom news, opportunities, and media innovation insights delivered weekly. Join us! Authorities claimed that Novaya Gazeta Europe “created and disseminated […] Read more »
IPI joins coalition calling on Sierra Leone to protect internet access during election June 22, 2023 The IPI global network joined dozens of other press freedom, human rights, and digital rights organizations from across the globe under the auspices of the #KeepItOn coalition to call on the Sierra Leonean government to keep the internet on during the country’s general elections on June 24. The letter calls on President Julius Maada Bio […] Read more »
Kenya: Government officials must cease attacks on media June 22, 2023 The IPI global network condemns the attack on Nation Media Group (NMG) by a top Kenyan government official, Cabinet Secretary for Trade, Moses Kuria, and calls on government officials to allow the media and journalists to carry out their work without fear of reprisals in any forms. According to reports, on June 19, Moses Kuria […] Read more »
Palestine: IPI condemns shooting of journalist Hazem Nasser by Israeli forces June 22, 2023 IPI Contributor Katherine Dailey IPI strongly condemns the attack on Hazem Nasser, a photojournalist at al-Ghad TV channel, who was shot and seriously wounded during an Israeli raid on a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on June 19. Similarly to Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed by Israeli forces in 2022, […] Read more »
