OSCE study confirms nearly 100 journalists currently in prison in Turkey April 2, 2012 Scott Griffen The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) today released a detailed study finding that the number of journalists imprisoned in Turkey nearly doubled over the past year, prompting the group to call for immediate reform of the country’s broadly interpreted anti-terror laws. The report – an update to a similar report released one […] Read more »
Ugandan journalist who reported allegations against local politician facing defamation charges March 28, 2012 Scott Griffen A Ugandan journalist who had reported on the alleged involvement of a local politician in the theft of donated solar panels has been charged under the country’s criminal-defamation laws, according to the Human Rights Network for Journalists – Uganda (HRNJ). The journalist, Ronald Ssembuusi of Uganda’s Central Broadcasting Service (CBS), had aired a story in […] Read more »
IPI Executive Board condemns Iran’s interference with international broadcasts March 27, 2012 All 27 members of the Executive Board of the International Press Institute (IPI), the world’s oldest global press freedom organisation, today passed a resolution strongly condemning an escalating campaign by the Iranian government to silence free and independent media in Iran. International broadcasters including the BBC, Deutsche Welle and Voice of America have all recently […] Read more »
IPI condemns Sudan newspaper confiscations March 23, 2012 Nisha Thanki IPI is concerned about a recent trend of censorship through the confiscation of newspapers in Sudan. The Sudanese authorities confiscated the fourth issue of Al Midan in a row on March 20, and have also banned two journalists for Alwan, Mujahid Abdullah and Essam Jaafar, from writing for any Sudanese newspaper, according to the Arabic […] Read more »
Syria must free imprisoned press freedom advocates; ensure their physical safety March 15, 2012 IPI has joined nearly 20 other organizations in again calling for the release of Mazen Darwish and his colleagues from the Syrian Centre for Media & Freedom of Expression, one month after they were detained during a raid on their Damascus offices. The full text of the statement is below: The Syrian authorities must reveal […] Read more »
IPI honours world’s longest-serving editor March 5, 2012 Nisha Thanki IPI announced on Tuesday that it would be honouring Sir Étienne Dupuch OBE posthumously for being the world’s longest-serving editor, at the IPI World Congress 2012 in Trinidad and Tobago in June. Born in 1899, Sir Étienne served as editor and publisher of the Nassau Tribune, in the Bahamas, for an astounding 54 years. Sir […] Read more »
Ban Ki-moon should speak out on imprisoned Ethiopian journalists March 5, 2012 On 5 March, as online journalist Eskinder Nega was scheduled to return to court in a trial in which he faces terrorism charges, the International Press Institute (IPI) sent an open letter to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, asking him to speak out against the use of anti-terrorism legislation against media members in Ethiopia. […] Read more »
One year on, prominent Turkish reporter and IPI World Press Freedom Hero languishes in prison March 2, 2012 Steven M. Ellis Journalists around the world today joined the International Press Institute (IPI) in condemning Turkey’s continued imprisonment of investigative journalist and IPI World Press Freedom Hero Nedim Şener, one year after he was detained in connection with an alleged coup plot. IPI Executive Director Alison Bethel McKenzie said: “The fact that Nedim Şener has been taken […] Read more »
Nepal must improve press freedom, international groups say February 29, 2012 At a meeting on Feb. 27 with International Press Institute members in Nepal, IPI Senior Press Freedom Adviser Barbara Trionfi said that Nepal must ensure strong constitutional guarantees for freedom of expression. The meeting was held following an International Media Mission visit to Nepal where international media and press freedom groups, including IPI, met with […] Read more »
Ecuador president pardons journalists convicted of libel February 28, 2012 Mariela Hoyer Guerrero, Nisha Thanki Lea este artículo en español Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa announced on Monday that he had granted pardons in two high-profile libel cases involving the media. In one, El Universo newspaper had been ordered to pay $40 million in damages and its three directors and a former columnist had been sentenced to three years in prison, […] Read more »
IPI’s Turkish National Committee welcomes release of journalist in Oda TV case February 27, 2012 Steven M. Ellis The International Press Institute (IPI)’s Turkish National Committee today welcomed the release of one of the defendants in the Oda TV trial and called for the release of other journalists the group said had been jailed because of their work. News website Bianet reported Wednesday that an Istanbul court ordered the release of journalist and […] Read more »
Efforts to rescue wounded journalists in Syria continue February 27, 2012 Scott Griffen An attempt to rescue two Western journalists wounded in a rocket attack in Syria failed over the weekend, while efforts were apparently underway to secure the release of two Welsh journalists detained in Libya. According to news reports, Sunday Times (U.K.) photographer Paul Conroy and Le Figaro correspondent Edith Bouvier declined to be evacuated on […] Read more »
As attacks continue, IPI joins 32 organizations in calling for release of Syrian detainees February 23, 2012 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of publishers, editors and leading journalists dedicated to the defense and furtherance of press freedom around the world, has joined 32 other international human rights and press freedom organizations in calling for the immediate release of Mazen Darwish and others arrested during a raid on the Syrian […] Read more »
Palestinian journalists facing wave of detentions, attacks February 20, 2012 Scott Griffen The International Press Institute (IPI) is concerned over a recent wave of press-freedom violations against Palestinian journalists at the hands of both Israeli forces and Palestinian security services. Since the beginning of 2012, at least five journalists working in the Palestinian Territories have been subjected to arbitrary arrest and a further two have seen their […] Read more »
Open letter to T&T’s commissioner of police February 16, 2012 The International Press Institute (IPI) today addressed an open letter to Dwayne Gibbs, Trinidad & Tobago’s Commissioner of Police, regarding recent intimidation tactics against journalists and media houses perpetrated by the police force. Earlier this week, the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau of Trinidad and Tobago conducted a raid on the offices of Newsday, searched a senior […] Read more »
IPI concerned at El Universo court decision February 16, 2012 Mariela Hoyer, Scott Griffen Lea este artículo en español The International Press Institute (IPI) is gravely concerned at the decision on Wednesday by Ecuador’s National Court of Justice to uphold a lower court decision ordering El Universo newspaper to pay $40 million to Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa and sentencing the paper’s owners, brothers Carlos, César, and Nicolás Perez, to […] Read more »
Malaysia deports Saudi journalist wanted on blasphemy charges February 13, 2012 Scott Griffen, Nisha Thanki Malaysian authorities on Sunday forcibly repatriated a Saudi Arabian newspaper columnist who had fled Saudi Arabia after receiving death threats over Twitter posts deemed insulting to the Prophet Muhammad. Hamza Kashgari, 23, had been arrested on Thursday while attempting to pass through an immigration checkpoint at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Reports say he had been […] Read more »
IPI Trindad & Tobago conference to play host to all four press freedom rapporteurs February 8, 2012 Dunja Mijatovic, OSCE representative on freedom of the media, and Faith Pansy Tlakula, special rapporteur on freedom of expression and access to information of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), are the latest additions to a stellar line-up of speakers at this year’s IPI World Congress to be held in Port of […] Read more »
Restrictions on independent media in Syria must end, says IPI February 6, 2012 Scott Griffen Violence has intensified in Syria in the wake of a failed United Nations Security Council Resolution, with news reports suggesting Syrian security forces killed as many as 50 people in the city of Homs on Monday morning. Russia and China on Saturday jointly vetoed a resolution that would have backed an Arab League plan calling […] Read more »
Iran represses independent media ahead of March elections February 3, 2012 Scott Griffen Iran has begun a widespread campaign of terror against independent media ahead of a 2 March parliamentary election. Amnesty International this week reported on the arrests of 12 journalists and social media activists, while the BBC’s Persian service confirmed that the Iranian government was continuing to pressure it by taking family members of its London-based […] Read more »
UN: Philippines journalist defamation conviction a violation of free speech February 2, 2012 Scott Griffen In a landmark ruling that could have global implications, the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) has found that the conviction of a Philippines journalist on charges of criminal defamation violated the journalist’s right to free expression. The Committee said that the nearly five-year prison sentence imposed on Alexander Adonis of Bombo Radyo in Davao […] Read more »
IPI partners condemn Ethiopia journalist sentencing January 30, 2012 In a letter dated 30 January, IPI partners at the Pakistan Press Foundation wrote to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi condemning the recent conviction of journalists on terrorism charges. The letter, signed by IPI Executive Board Member Owais Aslam Ali, calls for the release of all journalists jailed in Ethiopia on terrorism charges. The full […] Read more »
Ethiopian journalist sentenced, in absentia, to life in prison; 2 others get 14 years January 27, 2012 Two Ethiopian journalists were sentenced to 14 years in prison on Thursday, while a third was sentenced to life in prison. A fourth journalist was told he must defend himself against various terrorism charges on Monday, and could face the death penalty if convicted.* Reyot Alemu of Feteh newspaper and Wubshet Taye of the now-defunct […] Read more »
Organisation of American States adopts working group proposals January 26, 2012 Scott Griffen The Organisation of American States (OAS) Permanent Council yesterday adopted by consensus the proposals of a working group convened last June to strengthen the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). But included among the non-binding proposals were three recommendations that threaten the reach and independence of the Special Rapporteurship for Freedom of Expression—a key bulwark […] Read more »
UN and OAS Special Rapporteurs on Freedom of Expression to speak at IPI World Congress January 25, 2012 Frank La Rue, UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, and Catalina Botero, Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Organization of American States (OAS), will join a stellar line-up of moderators, speakers and panellists at this year’s IPI World Congress, to be held […] Read more »
European Commission draws criticism over response to Hungary media laws January 24, 2012 Scott Griffen Human Rights Watch (HRW) in its annual report has criticised the European Commission (EC) for dropping proceedings against Hungary over the country’s controversial new media laws. The group said in a report released Sunday that the EC had “failed to pursue vigorously its duty to enforce fundamental rights” in a number of cases, including that […] Read more »
Dominican Republic journalist convicted of libel January 24, 2012 Nisha Thanki Jhonny Alberto Salazar, a councillor for Nagua and journalist for Vida FM and vidadominicana.com, has been found guilty of libelling lawyer, Pedro Baldera Gomez. Salazar could be the first journalist to go to jail in the Dominican Republic for defamation. Salazar made comments on his radio station about a number of murders in the area […] Read more »
Proposals threaten OAS Special Rapporteurship January 23, 2012 Scott Griffen Over the past several years, a dire press-freedom situation has emerged in Latin America––now the most dangerous region in the world for journalists, with 105 media workers killed there since 2008, according to IPI’s Death Watch. In addition to the rising death toll, the number of death threats and instances of physical aggression against members […] Read more »
IPI condemns journalist convictions in Ethiopia January 19, 2012 The International Press Institute, a global network of publishers, editors and leading journalists, today condemned the conviction of three Ethiopian journalists on terrorism-related charges. Those convicted were Reyot Alemu of Feteh newspaper; Wubshet Taye, deputy editor of the now-defunct Awramba Times; and Elias Kifle, chief editor of the United States-based Ethiopian Review. Two members of […] Read more »
IFEX-TMG calls for recent public media appointments to be revoked and for journalists’ protection January 17, 2012 The statement below was issued by the Tunisia Monitoring Group, a coalition of over 20 free expression and press freedom organizations including IPI that are grouped under the umbrella of the International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX). IFEX-TMG calls for recent public media appointments to be revoked and for journalists’ protection (IFEX-TMG) – 16 January […] Read more »
The state of press freedom worldwide The International Press Institute (IPI) kicked off today its 63rd World Congress in Cape Town with an opening ceremony that featured singing, dancing and drums. Tim Du Plessis, the executive editor of Media24 Afrikaans News, welcomed the nearly 300 participants to the Congress and Obed Bapela, the deputy minister of the Department of Performance Monitoring […] Read more »
Media in a Challenging World – A 360 Degree Perspective Read IPI’s Coverage of Panel Discussions and Other Events at the 61st Annual IPI World Congress in Trinidad and Tobago, June 23-26, 2012 SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012 9:30: Seminar on Covering Corruption SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 2012 10:30: Opening Ceremony • Wesley Gibbings, president, Association of Caribbean MediaWorkers • Dawn Thomas, group CEO, One Caribbean Media […] Read more »
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister to open IPI World Congress Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Trinidad and Tobago’s first female prime minister, will open this year’s IPI World Congress, the International Press Institute (IPI) freemedia.atannounced today. Persad-Bissessar, a former attorney general, won a landslide victory in elections in May 2010, pledging to bring transparency and accountability to all areas of government. IPI’s World Congress 2012 – in Port […] Read more »