IPI calls on European Council to prioritize press freedom in Turkey ahead of EU leaders’ meeting March 23, 2021 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 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 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 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 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 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. Stay informed. Stay engaged. Join thousands of journalists […] Read more »
Statement to UN: States must urge Poland to end assault on media freedom March 15, 2021 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 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 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 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 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 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 »
Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in Turkey (March 8, 2021) On March 8, 2021 we marked International Women’s Day in Turkey at the webinar “Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)” with leading Turkish feminists and journalists. The meeting brought together leading women activists and journalists to talk about gender-based violence, including online harassment and abuse against female journalists and its impact on press freedom. […] Read more »
Arrests of journalists in Belarus continue ahead of planned protests March 3, 2021 IPI Contributor Antonio Prokscha The International Press Institute (IPI) today condemned the continued repression of journalists in Belarus and called for the immediate release of the 12 currently imprisoned journalists who have been prosecuted for carrying out their professional duties. In the latest sign of the continuing crackdown, on the morning of March 22 a journalist working for the […] Read more »
Journalists arrested as protest crackdown intensifies in Myanmar March 2, 2021 IPI Contributor Antonio Prokscha The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today condemned the latest arrests of journalists covering protests in Myanmar and called for an end to all attacks on media in the country. Protests in Myanmar have intensified since the military coup and last weekend saw […] Read more »
Vietnam must release two journalists jailed for “abusing democratic freedom” February 25, 2021 IPI Contributor Loren Sandoval Arteaga Two journalists arrested in Vietnam for criticizing the government should be immediately released, the International Press Institute (IPI) said today. On February 5, bureau chief of the online magazine Giao Duc Va Thoi Dai (Age and Education) Phan Bui Bao Thy and his associate Le Anh Dung were held for questioning by the police. Five […] Read more »
Belarus: Two Belsat journalists sentenced to penal colony for reporting rally February 18, 2021 Authorities in Belarus must immediately release Belsat TV journalist Katsyaryna Andreyeva and camerawoman Darya Chultsova and end the brutal crackdown on media reporting on anti-government protests, the International Press Institute (IPI) said today. On Thursday February 18, a judge delivered a guilty verdict against the two media workers and sentenced them to two years of […] Read more »
Serbia: Arsonists who targeted journalist must face justice February 10, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined its partners in the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in urging the Second Basic Court in Belgrade to ensure access to justice in the case of Serbian journalist Milan Jovanovic, who in 2018 was the victim of an arson attack on his house in Belgrade after investigating cases […] Read more »
”Our work is to report in whatever situation”: Myanmar’s press finds new ways to do its job after coup February 10, 2021 IPI Contributor Riikka Maukonen It’s been just over a week since the military seized power in Myanmar, reversing the country’s transition to democracy and posing a grave threat to press freedom. The impact is already being felt on the country’s media, including the multimedia news organization Mizzima, which has already changed its headquarters and moved its heavy broadcasting equipment […] Read more »
Belarus: Call to European institutions over media crackdown February 9, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined other members of an NGO coalition to call on the European Commission, the European Council, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament to adopt new sanctions and recommendations for Belarus in response to its brutal crackdown on media freedom. —————————————————————— Ursula Von der Leyen, President of […] Read more »
IPI welcomes release of journalist Mahmoud Hussein in Egypt February 6, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today welcomed the release of Al Jazeera journalist and IPI member Mahmoud Hussein from an Egyptian prison after more than four years. The Doha-based journalist had been held in Cairo’s notorious Tora prison after being arbitrarily detained […] Read more »
Government ad bans deepen Kashmir media’s agony February 5, 2021 IPI Contributor Riikka Maukonen For the past one-and-a-half years, Indian-administered Kashmir has been under a blanket of restrictions. In August 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government repealed the region’s special autonomous status and split the state of Jammu Kashmir into two union territories: Jammu and Kashmir; and Ladakh. To curb protests against the decision, the government imposed severe restrictions […] Read more »
Report Launch: MFRR Press Freedom Mission to Poland (Feb. 11, 2021) The International Press Institute (IPI) and its partner organisations in the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) held a webinar to present the findings of its recent international press freedom mission to Poland. The event brought together press freedom experts and interlocutors from the mission, including editors and human rights experts, to discuss the most significant developments […] Read more »
IPI demands release of all journalists detained in Belarus February 3, 2021 By IPI contributor Ilya Lobanov The International Press Institute (IPI) today demanded the immediate release of all the journalists and media workers remaining in custody in Belarus and called on the international community to condemn the Lukashenko regime for its brutal crackdown on media freedom and human rights. IPI, a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for […] Read more »
Urgent protection required after assassination threats against Montenegro journalist Olivera Lakić January 29, 2021 The International Pres Institute (IPI) today joined its partners in the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) to write to the Prime Minister of Montenegro and other government and security officials to call for urgent police protection following assassination threats against journalist Olivera Lakić. ———————————————————— To, Prime Minister, Zdravko Krivokapić, Deputy Prime Minister, Dritan Abazović Minister […] Read more »
IPI condemns arrest of Egyptian cartoonist Ashraf Hamdi January 26, 2021 IPI Contributor Riikka Maukonen The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today condemned the arrest of Egyptian cartoonist Ashraf Hamdi and demanded his immediate release. Hamdi, who is known for his animations on social and political issues, was arrested early on January 25 after he had posted online […] Read more »
Free expression groups mark Charlie Hebdo anniversary January 26, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI) today marked the one-year anniversary of the attack on the Paris offices of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo by joining with PEN International, its affiliates and 41 other free expression groups around the world in reaffirming a commitment to defend the right to freedom of expression. In an open letter, the […] Read more »
IPI condemns mass detentions of journalists covering Russia rallies January 25, 2021 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today condemned mass detentions and violence against journalists covering the weekend’s nationwide protests in Russia in support of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny. IPI said the spate of arrests and violence against the press was yet another […] Read more »
Ethiopia expels New York Times journalist January 22, 2021 IPI Contributor Antonio Prokscha The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, today vehemently condemned the Ethiopian government’s decision to expel The New York Times journalist Simon Marks describing it as an attempt to stifle the media. According to media reports, Simon Marks was summoned by the authorities on May 20 and […] Read more »
IPI urges release of Egyptian journalists Hamdi al-Zaeem and Ahmed Khalifa January 20, 2021 Riikka Maukonen, Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Journalism Fellow at IPI The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today condemned the imprisonment of Egyptian journalists Hamdi al-Zaeem and Ahmed Khalifa. Al-Zaeem, a freelance photojournalist, and Khalifa, a freelance reporter, have been detained in two separate cases since the beginning of January. According to news reports […] Read more »
China jails citizen journalists who reported on COVID-19 December 28, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today vehemently condemned the sentencing of Zhang Zhan, a citizen journalist who reported from Wuhan about COVID-19. A court in Shanghai today convicted Zhang for ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’, a charge often levelled by the Chinese […] Read more »
