Media face financial ruin under Russian “foreign agent” law May 10, 2021 IPI Contributor Antonio Prokscha | Leave a Comment On April 23, Latvia-based independent newspaper Meduza and PASMI, a Russia-based news medium reporting on corruption, were both declared a “foreign agent” by the Russian state. The decision by Russia’s Justice Ministry made the two publications the latest in a string of independent media to be added to the list of co-called “foreign agents”, throwing […] Read more »
IJ4EU rebooted: €1.1M in grants for investigative journalism in Europe May 5, 2021 | Leave a Comment IJ4EU relaunches in 2021 with €1.1 million for cross-border projects in EU Includes new support scheme for freelancers First call launches in June Stay informed via our newsletter and website The Investigative Journalism for Europe (IJ4EU) fund will disburse €1.1 million in grants to cross-border projects in EU member states in 2021 and launch […] Read more » Taggedij4eu investigative journalism
WPFD Pakistan: Target on their backs May 3, 2021 Naziha Syed Ali | Leave a Comment To mark World Press Freedom Day, 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. [button link=”https://ipi.media/covering-and-investigating-attacks-against-journalists-in-south-asia-a-cross-border-cooperation/” color=”custom” size=”large” […] Read more »
Turkey: IPI condemns police directive preventing audio-visual reporting on protests May 1, 2021 | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI) today condemned a directive sent on Tuesday by Turkey’s Security General Directorate (EGM) to all police departments in the country requesting officers to prevent audio and visual recordings of protests and public demonstrations. The note circulated is seen as a clear move to prevent citizens and journalists from reporting on […] Read more »
Poland: Purge of editors begins despite court ruling suspending purchase of Polska Press April 30, 2021 | Leave a Comment The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today calls on Poland’s state-controlled oil giant PKN Orlen to immediately halt its interference in the newsrooms and editorial independence of Polska Press media and to fully respect the court’s interim decision suspending its purchase of the publisher pending a review. The MFRR warns that yesterday the long-expected purge […] Read more »
MFRR writes to Albanian PM after seizure order against news outlet Lapsi April 23, 2021 | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined its partners in the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFFR) in writing to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to express deep concern over the recent seizure order approved by a judge against online news outlet Lapsi.al after it revealed the existence of a massive voter database. ————– To: Edi […] Read more »
MFRR writes to Albanian PM after seizure order against news outlet Lapsi April 23, 2021 | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined its partners in the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFFR) in writing to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to express deep concern over the recent seizure order approved by a judge against online news outlet Lapsi.al after it revealed the existence of a massive voter database. ————– To: Edi […] Read more »
Japanese freelance journalist detained again in Myanmar April 19, 2021 IPI Contributor Riikka Maukonen | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network for editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today condemned the detention of Japanese freelance journalist Yuki Kitazumi in Myanmar and demanded his immediate release. According to news reports, Yangon-based Kitazumi was detained and taken away from his home in a police vehicle during the […] Read more »
Ahmet Altan: ECtHR finds rights violations in case of Turkish journalist and writer April 14, 2021 | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI) welcomed a European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruling yesterday, April 13, finding that Turkey had violated the rights of Ahmet Altan, a prominent writer and journalist with the now-shuttered Taraf newspaper. Altan has been jailed for four-and-a-half years over his alleged links to the now-outlawed Gülen movement and articles critical of […] Read more »
Over 600 COVID-19 related press freedom violations in past year April 14, 2021 | Leave a Comment A little more than one year after the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic, IPI data show the extent to which media outlets and journalists have faced harassment and attacks while doing their jobs in reporting on the unprecedented health crisis. Since February 5, 2020, IPI’s COVID-19 Press Freedom Tracker has recorded 620 press freedom […] Read more »
Wiretapping of journalists in Italy must be thoroughly investigated April 12, 2021 | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined its partners in the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and other groups in writing to Italian ministers to express serious concerns over reports that prosecutors in Sicily wiretapped journalists and their sources during a probe and urge them to ensure a thorough investigation is conducted. To: Marta Cartabia, […] Read more »
Greece: MFRR urges thorough investigation into murder of Giorgos Karaivaz April 11, 2021 | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI) today publishes a letter sent by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) to ministers in the Greek government and the chief of Hellenic police which urged them to ensure a swift and thorough investigation into the murder of journalist Giorgos Karaivaz. ———————— To: Minister for Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrisochoidis Minister of […] Read more »
New Tanzania president to lift ban on media organizations April 6, 2021 IPI Contributor Antonio Prokscha | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today welcomed President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s decision to lift sanctions imposed on media outlets in Tanzania. The announcement by Tanzania’s new president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, suspending all bans on media organizations is a welcome first step to […] Read more »
Malta: Submission to Public Inquiry into assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia April 2, 2021 | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI) joined a coalition of nine freedom of expression and media freedom organizations, led by ARTICLE 19, to make a submission to the Public Inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Since its establishment in December 2019, our organisations have closely monitored and participated in the work of the independent […] Read more »
International groups call on EU leaders to prioritize fundamental rights ahead of Turkey visit April 1, 2021 | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI) and 20 international human rights and freedom of expression organizations sent today a joint letter to the presidents of the European Council and European Commission to call on EU leaders to prioritize improved human rights records in Turkey ahead of their visit to the Turkish president Erdoğan on April 6. […] Read more »
Myanmar journalists brave crackdown to continue reporting April 1, 2021 IPI Contributor Antonio Prokscha | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media managers and leading journalists for press freedom, today vehemently condemned the ongoing repression of journalists in Myanmar as well as the military regime’s brutal crackdown on protests. After two weeks under arrest, Polish photojournalist Robert Bociaga was deported this week from Myanmar. From abroad, […] Read more »
Vietnam: Journalists and media watchdogs fear increased persecution March 26, 2021 IPI Contributor Loren Sandoval Arteaga | Leave a Comment The re-election of the leaders of Vietnam’s Communist Party during the party’s official congress last month heralds a continuation of oppressive policies toward press freedom, experts say. The congress, which ended on February 1, saw the re-election of key party members, including party’s general secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong, who is also Vietnam’s president. Nguyen Phu […] Read more »
Cuba: Independent journalism officially outlawed by the regime March 26, 2021 IPI Contributor Loren Sandoval Arteaga | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI) today criticized the exclusion of independent journalism from allowable self-employment and private enterprise activities by the Cuban government. On February 9, the Cuban government published a list of prohibited self-employment activities. The list excludes the “production and distribution of information” and “activities of news agencies”. The document is a reform to […] Read more »
Serbia: Groups condemn deafening silence of government over KRIK smear campaign March 24, 2021 | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined nine other media freedom groups in writing to the Serbian president and prime minister to express serious concerns over the lack of a resolute government response to the dangerous smear campaign against independent news outlet KRIK. The muted response from government leaders was the main catalyst for four […] Read more »
IPI calls on European Council to prioritize press freedom in Turkey ahead of EU leaders’ meeting March 23, 2021 | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI) today sent a letter to the European Council President Charles Michel ahead of the European Council meeting on March 25 and 26 where EU-Turkey relations will be discussed. The letter calls on Michel and the European Council to insist on an improved human rights record in Turkey, especially in press freedom […] Read more »
Why governments in Asia want to control a media they can no longer command March 22, 2021 Jacqui Park, IPI Head of Network Strategy and Innovation | Leave a Comment Across the Asia-Pacific, we’re seeing in real time the tactics being adopted by populist authoritarian governments to control a news media that they can no longer command. The new strategy: a bullying domination through heavy-handed harassment, raids on pretexts of financial irregularity, attacks on news media credibility, culture war outrage and disinformation to distract and […] Read more »
Prominent Pakistani journalist taken off air after criticizing government March 19, 2021 | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute, a global network of editors, media executives and journalists for press freedom, today vehemently criticized the government of Pakistan for reportedly putting pressure on GEO News channel to take off air well-known journalist Hamid Mir who had criticized the country’s military. According to media reports Geo News channel informed Hamid Mir […] Read more »
Indian news site takes government to court over new IT rules March 19, 2021 Riikka Maukonen, Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Journalism Fellow at IPI | Leave a Comment On March 9, the Delhi High Court issued a notice in a petition that is challenging the Indian government’s new Information Technology (IT) Rules for digital platforms. The petition was filed by the Foundation for Independent Journalism, which is the publisher of the Indian news site The Wire. Siddharth Varadrajan, the founding editor of The […] Read more »
IPI urges Colombia to return to Inter-American Court proceedings in Jineth Bedoya case March 18, 2021 IPI Contributor Loren Sandoval Arteaga | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today condemned the Colombian government’s decision to leave the online public hearing in the case of journalist Jineth Bedoya at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, as well as their attempts to harass her. On Monday, March […] Read more »
In Zimbabwe, one year of COVID-19 saw surge in harassment of free press March 17, 2021 Riikka Maukonen, Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Journalism Fellow at IPI | Leave a Comment One year ago, in March 2020, Kudzanai Musengi, a senior journalist, was covering the impact of a freshly imposed COVID-19 lockdown in the central business district in Gweru, Zimbabwe, when he was suddenly arrested. Police claimed that Musengi had been working without valid accreditation. Musengi’s arrest was a harbinger of Zimbabwe’s coming efforts to silence […] Read more »
Regional official in Honduras issues order blocking medical personnel from providing official information about the COVID-19 epidemic Dinorah Nolasco, leader of Honduras’s Sanitaria region, issud an order prohibiting medical personnel from giving statements on behalf of the Ministry of Health to journalists, as well as judicial and human rights entities. She named three medical officials who had the sole authorization to provide such information. The IPI Weekly Digest Subscribe for press freedom […] Read more »
Statement to UN: States must urge Poland to end assault on media freedom March 15, 2021 | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined ARTICLE 19 in issuing a statement to the United Nations Human Rights Council about concerted efforts by the Polish government to weaken independent media and erode press freedom. ARTICLE 19 and International Press Institute are concerned about the ongoing crackdown on media freedom in Poland. Since 2015, the Law […] Read more »
Egypt must release journalists Solafa Magdy and Esraa Abdel Fattah March 12, 2021 | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives, and leading journalists for press freedom, today called on Egypt to immediate release journalists Solafa Mgady and Esraa Abdel Fattah and investigate reports that they have been harassed and assaulted in prison. Abdel Fattah, who was detained on October 13, 2019, and Magdy, […] Read more »
European Union must act on media freedom in Poland, Hungary and Slovenia March 9, 2021 | Leave a Comment Ahead of a major debate at the European Parliament on efforts by governments to silence free media, the International Press Institute (IPI) was today joined by 18 other groups in calling on the European Union to take decisive action to defend independent journalism and media freedom in Hungary, Poland and Slovenia. —————– Statement to Members […] Read more »
In the crossfire March 8, 2021 Sumaira Jajja, investigative reporter, Dawn, Pakistan | Leave a Comment Journalists around the world face online harassment for their critical reporting. In particular, female journalists receive a disproportionate number of online attacks and threats compared to their male colleagues. The vicious and widespread nature of these attacks reflects latent misogyny in society and not only endangers the gains that female journalists have made in the […] Read more »
Poland: Court suspends sale of newspaper group to state-controlled PKN Orlen March 4, 2021 | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today welcomed the announcement that a Polish court has suspended the controversial purchase of newspaper group Polska Press by state-controlled oil company PKN Orlen. On Monday April 12, the Court of Competition and Consumer Protection in Warsaw […] Read more »
Erosion of media freedom in Poland and Hungary On Tuesday 9 March, one day ahead of a major debate in the European Parliament, the International Press Institute (IPI) and ARTICLE 19 hosted a high-level panel event to discuss the erosion of media freedom and pluralism in Poland and Hungary and its effect on democracy within the European Union. Speakers: * Teresa Ribeiro, Representative on Freedom of […] Read more »
Belarus: Authorities raid country’s largest independent news outlet March 3, 2021 IPI Contributor Antonio Prokscha | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, today denounced the recent raids on the newsroom and homes of journalists and the editor-in-chief on Belarus’s largest independent news outlet TUT.BY. IPI renews its calls for an immediate end to the ongoing repression of independent journalism in Belarus and […] Read more »
