IPI’s urgent appeal to release journalist Mahmoud Hussein December 22, 2020 His Excellency Mr. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi President Arab Republic of Egypt 22 December 2020 Urgent appeal to release journalist Mahmoud Hussein Your excellency, On behalf the members of International Press Institute (IPI), a Vienna-based global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, I would like to express IPI’s deep concern about […] Read more » TaggedAl Jazeera Egypt press freedom
In new ad, IPI renews call on Egypt to release Mahmoud Hussein December 21, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI) today published a full-page ad in The Washington Post calling on Egypt to release Al Jazeera journalist Mahmoud Hussein and all other jailed journalists in the country. Hussein has now been arbitrarily detained in Egypt for four years. The Doha-based journalist was arrested by Egyptian authorities upon his arrival in […] Read more »
Journalist arrested in Vietnam for criticising government December 18, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today criticized the Vietnamese government for arresting freelance journalist Truong Chau Huu Danh and demanded his immediate release. According to media reports, Truong was arrested by the police on December 17 in Can Tho, a city in […] Read more » TaggedVietnam
In Thailand, digital media rise to report the struggle for democracy December 18, 2020 Jacqui Park As pro-democracy protests continue in Thailand, the authorities have reached back to lese-majeste laws to charge protest leaders for their speeches. Meanwhile, Thai media have reached for innovative ways to circumvent the crackdown and keep reporting the news, Jacqui Park writes. Freedom of expression and press freedom have come under pressure as pro-democracy protests continue […] Read more »
Montenegro: New government must prioritise and uphold press and media freedom December 17, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI) joins its partners in the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) in urging the new government of Montenegro to put press and media freedom high on its agenda as the country enters a new era. The call marks the launch of a new […] Read more »
IPI launches Global Journalism Project to strengthen network December 16, 2020 As the network of the world’s journalists, editors and media leaders, the International Press Institute (IPI) has been busy, reimagining journalism with 2020 vision. Since 1950, IPI has endured as the global forum for journalists and editors to discuss among themselves the challenges and opportunities of press freedom and the journalism that sustains democracy. As […] Read more » TaggedInternational Press Institute press freedom
#HRD2020: Let Turkey’s Journalists Report Freely December 7, 2020 Read this article on IPI’s FreeTurkeyJournalists website As the world marks Human Rights Day on December 10, the International Press Institute (IPI) is running a new campaign calling on Turkey and the international community to protect press freedom and let journalists report freely. Newspaper ads in Turkey and Europe this week will highlight the importance […] Read more »
IPI joins letter urging Merkel not to compromise on core EU values in budget stalemate December 4, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined other civil society organizations in writing to German Chancellor Angela Merkel urging her to ensure that respect for the rule of law and other core EU principles such as press freedom are not up for negotiation in the ongoing stalemate with Hungary and Poland over passing of the […] Read more »
Slovenia, SLAPPs and Silencing of the Media November 26, 2020 By IPI Contributor Aljaž Pengov Bitenc Zur deutschen Version The second wave of the Covid-19 epidemic in Slovenia has coincided with a perfect storm of wrong political priorities, a cavalier public attitude towards the coronavirus and disastrous government communication. At the same time, the team at Necenzurirano, a Slovenian investigative news portal, was facing a wave of their own: a series […] Read more »
G20 leaders should hold Saudi Arabia accountable for lack of press freedom November 19, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today called on the leaders of the G20 nations to urge Saudi Arabia to bring the masterminds behind the gruesome of Jamal Khashoggi to justice. In a statement issued ahead of the G20 Summit in Riyadh scheduled […] Read more »
SLAPPs: EU law needed to protect journalists against gag lawsuits November 18, 2020 More and more journalists and civil society organisations are being sued by powerful businessmen and politicians. The International Press Institute (IPI) has joined a group of 87 organisations and media freedom groups calling on the EU to ensure those with a watchdog role are protected from gag lawsuits. —————— One hot spring afternoon in Malta, a journalist drove up […] Read more »
States placing disproprotionate restrictions on independent media, groups warn November 18, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and journalists, joined 16 other press freedom organizations in expressing concern over restrictions imposed on independent media by governments. The statement was issued as part of the global Media Freedom Coalition Advisory Network on the sidelines of the 2nd Global Media Freedom conference. […] Read more »
EU must end gag lawsuits to protect press freedom and fundamental rights November 18, 2020 The EU must end gag lawsuits used to silence individuals and organisations that hold those in positions of power to account. Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) are lawsuits brought forward by powerful actors (e.g. companies, public officials in their private capacity, high profile persons) to harass and silence those speaking out in the public […] Read more » TaggedEU Europe lawsuits SLAPP
Global Conference for Media Freedom 2020 The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, co-hosted today the second Global Conference for Media Freedom with Kabo Neale Sechele Morwaeng, Botswana’s Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration. “We live in a time of unprecedented challenges. Journalists play a critical role to protect and promote human rights, democracy and the freedom of […] Read more »
Poland: IPI condemns police violence against journalists amidst Warsaw clashes November 13, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI) today strongly condemned police violence against photojournalists reporting on clashes in the Polish capital Warsaw. The violence led to numerous injuries and the hospitalization of a 74-year-old photographer who was shot in the face with a rubber bullet. IPI, a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for […] Read more »
Vexatious lawsuits a SLAPP in the face for journalists in Croatia November 11, 2020 By IPI Contributor Jelena Prtoric On October 28, the Croatian Journalists’ Association (HND) issued a stark warning about a new wave of lawsuits against journalists and media in the country. It reported that a dozen lawsuits had been filed by high-ranking politicians and public personalities, such as former Member of Parliament Branimir Glavaš, Rector of the University of Zagreb, Damir […] Read more » Taggedcourt Croatia defamation HND law lawsuit media SLAPP
Italian journalists covering anti-lockdown protests face increasing violence November 10, 2020 Read this statement in Italian here The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today expresses our serious concern over the string of physical attacks, death threats and acts of intimidation against journalists and media workers covering issues related to COVID-19 and recent anti-lockdown protests across Italy. Over the last three weeks, MFRR partners have documented at […] Read more » Taggedattacks COVID19 intimidation Italy MFRR police protest theats
Mexico must investigate latest journalist murder November 10, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and journalists for press freedom, today condemned the brutal killing of El Salamantino journalist Israel Vázquez Rangel in Mexico and urged the government to increase protection for journalists. According to media reports, Vázquez Rangel was shot dead on November 9 by unidentified gunmen […] Read more »
Nicaragua’s proposed ‘cyber security’ laws threaten press freedom November 9, 2020 IPI Contributor Nathalia González On September 28, representatives of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s authoritarian regime unveiled a draft cybercrime law that would introduce an array of new crimes that would seriously undermine press freedom. Nicaraguan journalists view the proposals as a response to critical reporting on the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic as well as its abuse of […] Read more »
IPI condemns re-arrest of Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono November 4, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today condemned the re-arrest of Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono. The investigative journalist and documentary-maker was arrested at his Harare home on November 3, after being accused of breaching bail conditions. Chin’ono had previously been arrested in July […] Read more »
In Hungary, GDPR is the new weapon against independent media November 3, 2020 By IPI Contributor Márton Bede Zur deutschen Version 2020 was the most difficult year for Hungarian media since the fall of the Berlin Wall over 30 years ago. The slow suffocation of independent outlets by the government was sped up, and the coronavirus pandemic’s economic impact forced all media companies to tighten their belts. But the scariest development, at least […] Read more » TaggedBarabás Forbes GDPR General Data Protection Regulation HCLU Hungary Magyar Narancs Orban
Egypt photojournalist disappears in custody October 30, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today demanded that Egypt reveal the whereabouts of photojournalist Mohamed al-Raai, who disappeared after interrogation by the National Security Agency. According to media reports, Mohamed al-Raai, who works for the newspaper Darb, has been missing since the […] Read more »
IPI joins statement urging protection of journalists covering Nagorno Karabakh conflict October 29, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, joined 10 partner organisations of the Council of Europe (COE) Platform in raising serious concerns about the risks to physical safety and undue restrictions faced by journalists covering the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh. Earlier this month, IPI condemned […] Read more »
Mahmoud Hussein completes 1400 days in Egypt prison October 23, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today reiterated its demand for the release of IPI member and Al Jazeera journalist Mahmoud Hussein from Egyptian prison. Hussein has spent 1,400 days in the notorious Tora prison as the Egyptian government has repeatedly and illegally […] Read more »
Cambodia cyber-crime law will stifle press freedom October 20, 2020 Cambodia’s current draft cyber-crime law would severely undermine press freedom, the International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, said today, urging the government to hold consultations with media organizations and journalists groups before moving ahead. According to information received by IPI, the draft provides for […] Read more »
Safety and Independence of Journalism: Media freedom webinar (Oct. 20, 2020) In advance of the Second Global Conference on Media Freedom ORGANIZED BY → Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria → Embassy of Canada in Austria → British Embassy in Austria → International Press Institute (IPI) → Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)/Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media The […] Read more »
Compromised independence of Turkey’s institutions chokes press freedom October 15, 2020 Turkey’s press freedom crisis is worsening amid growing state capture of media, the lack of independence of regulatory institutions, and a new social media law designed to clamp down on the remaining spaces for free comment, a coalition of 11 international press freedom, journalism and human rights groups warned following a four-day mission to the […] Read more »
Conviction of Montenegro journalist Jovo Martinovic widely condemned October 8, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined several other press freedom and journalists’ organizations in expressing dismay at the decision of a court in Montenegro to find journalist Jovo Martinović guilty of participating in drug trafficking, despite clear evidence he was working undercover as part of an investigation at the time. In a highly damaging […] Read more »
Groups urge acquittal of Montenegrin journalist Martinović October 7, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined several other press freedom and journalists’ organizations in calling for the acquittal of Montenegrin investigative journalist Jovo Martinović, who faces a verdict on Thursday in a years-long case against him. Read the full statement below. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ On 8 October 2020, the verdict in the retrial of the Montenegrin […] Read more »
International coalition starts Turkey press freedom mission October 6, 2020 A coalition of 11 international press freedom, freedom of expression and journalists‘ organisations are leading a joint press freedom mission to Turkey this week from 6 to 9 October amid the country’s continued press freedom crisis, which has further worsened under the coronavirus pandemic. Representatives of the 11 organisations, led by the Vienna-based International Press […] Read more »
Egypt arrests journalist Basama Mostafa October 5, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today vehemently condemned the arrest and imprisonment of Basama Mostafa, a Egyptian journalist for Al Manassa website on Sunday. According to media reports, Mostafa, was arrested when she had travelled to Luxor district on October 3 to […] Read more »
Rush to pass ‘fake news’ laws during Covid-19 intensifying global media freedom challenges October 3, 2020 By IPI Advocacy Officer Jamie Wiseman Few terms have become so engrained in global political discourse in the last half decade than that of so-called “fake news.” The widely used yet ill-defined phrase has become a messy shorthand enveloping everything from social media rumours, to online political disinformation, to state-sponsored internet propaganda. With vastly different […] Read more »
IPI condemns Mexico’s decision to abolish journalist protection fund October 2, 2020 IPI Contributor Nathalia González Versión en español The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today condemned the decision by Mexico’s Budget and Public Account Commission to abolish a fund that supports a protection mechanisms for threatened journalists and human rights defenders. n September 29, Mexico’s Budget and Public […] Read more » TaggedIPI Contributor Nathalia González
