Journalists urge Myanmar to recommit to media freedom Myanmar should move to reverse recent, troubling developments setting back press freedom in order to meet its leaders’ public commitments to protect the fundamental human right, leading global journalists gathered in the country said today. Members of the International Press Institute (IPI), meeting at their 64th Annual General Assembly during the 2015 IPI World Congress […] Read more »
IFEX-TMG concerned by attacks on journalists January 12, 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 concerned by attacks on journalists and academics Despite promises by Tunisia’s new government to uphold free expression, […] Read more »
Ireland to prioritise Internet freedom during OSCE chairmanship January 12, 2012 Scott Griffen Irish Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore declared today that protecting online freedom of expression will be given “top priority” during his country’s 2012 chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In remarks made to an OSCE Permanent Council meeting at the group’s Vienna headquarters, Mr. Eamon set out what he later […] Read more »
Deadly trends for journalists in 2011; 103 killed January 4, 2012 In 2011, 12-31 journalists were killed because of their work, according to the International Press Institute (IPI) Death Watch. Reporters and cameramen faced a range of threats. Some were in the wrong place at the wrong time, on the job when natural disaster struck or bombs exploded. But almost all of the journalists killed in […] Read more »
‘Friends’ of the West, enemies of press freedom December 31, 2011 At the close of the year, the International Press Institute (IPI) takes a look at 10 states that have poor records on press freedom, but on whose strategic support the west depends. These ‘Friends’ of the West, Enemies of Press Freedom are listed in no particular order below. *********************************************************** Turkey Friend: Relations between the west and […] Read more »
Journalists jailed in Ethiopia, China December 27, 2011 An Ethiopian court Tuesday sentenced two Swedish journalists to 11 years in prison for allegedly supporting terrorism while officials in China handed down a nine-year prison sentence for a dissident online journalist, news reports said. Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye were convicted in Ethiopia last week after being arrested in July in the Ogaden, a […] Read more »
Brutal Syria crackdown on media continues December 22, 2011 Nisha Thanki To describe 2011 as a turbulent year for Syria would be an understatement. As other regimes in the Arab world have fallen, President Bashar al-Assad has ruthlessly clung to power. At every step, media attempts to shed light on developments have been thwarted. The government has cracked down on local journalists and denied access to […] Read more »
Turkish journalist sends message from prison December 21, 2011 International Press Institute (IPI) World Press Freedom Hero Nedim Şener, a Turkish investigative journalist and writer and winner of the Freedom of Expression Award, last week sent holiday greetings to colleagues and supporters from the Silivri prison. Şener, who was named an IPI World Press Freedom Hero in 2010 for his work, including his book […] Read more »
Concern over journalist safety in Cairo clashes December 20, 2011 Naomi Hunt Media professionals have come under attack while covering clashes between protesters and security forces near Tahrir Square in Cairo – in an echo of the violence against the media that occurred during the mass demonstrations that ousted former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak from power earlier this year, according to news reports. Reporters covering the latest […] Read more »
SEEMO calls on president of Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) to respect and support country’s public broadcasters December 20, 2011 The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), is extremely concerned at the latest declarations by Milorad Dodik, president of the Serb-controlled entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska. On 13 December 2011, the president said that the Public Broadcasting Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT) should […] Read more »
Journalist gunned down in Russia December 16, 2011 Nisha Thanki Influential journalist and human rights activist Hadzhimurad Kamalov was brutally gunned down in Russia on Thursday – a day dedicated to the commemoration of the assassination of journalists in the country. Kamalov was the founder of Chernovik, an independent local newspaper in Dagestan. The newspaper is well known for reporting on government corruption. He was […] Read more »
IPI to offer annual Li Journalism Fellowship December 5, 2011 The International Press Institute (IPI), the world’s oldest global press freedom organization with members from leading media outlets spanning every continent, on Thursday announced the creation of the Li Journalism Fellowship. The annual, two-month fellowship is named after IPI Vice-Chairman Simon Li, a former assistant managing editor for The Los Angeles Times, and his wife, […] Read more »
IPI to offer annual Li Journalism Fellowship The International Press Institute (IPI), the world’s oldest global press freedom organization with members from leading media outlets spanning every continent, on Monday announced the creation of the Li Journalism Fellowship. The annual, two-month fellowship is named after IPI Vice-Chairman Simon Li, a former assistant managing editor for The Los Angeles Times, and his wife, June, […] Read more »
Turkey’s record on press freedom worst among European countries, ECHR judge says December 1, 2011 Scott Griffen Turkey has the worst record on press freedom and freedom of expression among all member states of the Council of Europe, according to a judge at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which operates under the Council’s auspices. The Council of Europe has 47 members and includes all sovereign states with territory in Europe, […] Read more »
Open letter to Turkey’s president November 30, 2011 The International Press Institute (IPI) named South African editor and publisher Raymond Louw a World Press Freedom Hero earlier this year in recognition of his long-time struggle for press freedom and journalists’ rights. Louw – the editor and publisher of the private circulation current affairs weekly Southern Africa Report until early 2011, when he sold […] Read more »
One-day experts workshop organised by IPI and Austria focuses on journalist safety November 24, 2011 Naomi Hunt A one-day experts meeting on impunity and the safety of journalists held on Wednesday by the International Press Institute (IPI) in cooperation with the Austrian Foreign Ministry ended with a resolve by Austria to carry the critical issue forward during its term on the Human Rights Council of the United Nations, to which it was […] Read more »
Justice delayed: The Maguindanao massacre, two years on November 22, 2011 Scott Griffen On the day of the crime … Ampatuan Jr. told his father by phone – with its loudspeaker on – that he had blocked the convoy. The father ordered him to gun down everybody but spare the media, to which Ampatuan Jr. replied: “No … somebody could talk if we won’t wipe out everybody.” – […] Read more »
IPI SPECIAL REPORT: Impunity: a global scourge November 22, 2011 Scott Griffen 23 November 2011 marks the two-year anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre, in which 32 journalists along with 26 civilians were slain in a terrible incidence of electoral violence. Today serves as a day of remembrance––but in light of the fact that the masterminds of this heinous crime have yet to be brought to justice, we […] Read more »
Thai editor faces jail on lèse majesté charges November 21, 2011 Barbara Trionfi The International Press Institute (IPI) on Monday expressed concern about the lèse majesté charges pending against Thai editor Somyot Prueksakasemsuk in connection with two articles that appeared in his newspaper, the Voice of the Oppressed (Voice of Taksin), earlier this year and which, Thai authorities argue, made negative references to the monarchy. Lèse majesté laws, […] Read more »
Council of Europe criticises Turkey November 18, 2011 Steven M. Ellis The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined with the Council of Europe’s leadership in calling on Turkey to change its attitude toward media freedom. Reuters reported on Tuesday that the Council’s secretary general, Thorbjorn Jagland, said Turkey had approximately 16,000 cases pending before the European Court of Human Rights, 1,000 of which concerned media freedom. […] Read more »
Hungarian media law: International mission condemns chilling effect and calls for change November 17, 2011 Hungary’s new model of media regulation is creating a chilling effect and undermining freedom of expression said an international partnership mission comprised of leading press freedom and media development organizations today. The partnership mission to Hungary, which took place from November 14th to 16th, included meetings with lawyers, journalists, editors, professional associations, representatives of civil […] Read more »
Amnesty International report details crackdown on dissent in Azerbaijan November 16, 2011 Scott Griffen The government of Azerbaijan has stepped up its campaign to silence independent media and free expression in the country, according to a new report by Amnesty International. In the report, called “The spring that never blossomed: Freedoms suppressed in Azerbaijan,” Amnesty details a worsening human rights situation in the oil-rich former Soviet republic. The group […] Read more »
South Sudan editors still in detention November 15, 2011 Naomi Hunt The International Press Institute (IPI) calls for the immediate release of the editor and deputy editor of The Destiny newspaper in South Sudan, who were arrested just days after the paper – now banned – published its first issue. Ngor Garang and Dengdit Ayok have been in detention since 2 November and 5 November, respectively. […] Read more »
Swedish journalists appear in Ethiopia court November 3, 2011 Naomi Hunt Swedish journalists Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye were on Thursday acquitted in an Ethiopian court of conspiring to commit acts of terrorism, but still face charges of supporting the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), which Ethiopia deems a terrorist organization, and of entering the country illegally, news reports said. The reporter pair had already admitted […] Read more »
Macedonia media freedom still concerning November 2, 2011 Steven M. Ellis International groups again raised concern last week over the state of media freedom in the Republic of Macedonia / Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. A joint delegation of freedom of expression and media development groups – including the International Press Institute (IPI) and its affiliate, the South and East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) – did […] Read more »
Azerbaijani editor arrested November 2, 2011 Steven M. Ellis Azerbaijani authorities have arrested an opposition newspaper editor following a Parliament member’s claim that the editor demanded more than €9,200 from her to avoid the release of compromising information. Local media reported that authorities detained Khural Chief Editor Avaz Zeynalli Friday on blackmail and extortion charges under a court order allowing them to hold him […] Read more »
IPI Blog: Electronic ‘media fiefdoms’ up for sale October 31, 2011 Alison Bethel McKenzie Every month I receive my email copy of Escape from America Magazine (EFAM), produced by Escapeartist.com. Because I am so busy, I often find myself having to catch up on back issues. Well, recently I was reading through the April issue when I came across this headline: “Own a Country, Now You Can With Escapeartist.” […] Read more »
Journalists charged under Ethiopian anti-terror law appear in court October 25, 2011 Three Ethiopian journalists arrested this summer and charged with terrorism appeared before an Addis Ababa court last week. Their respective cases, along with that of two Swedish journalists detained in eastern Ethiopia in July, have deepened suspicions that the government is using a new, vaguely-worded national security law to stifle independent media in the country. […] Read more »
Journalists charged under Ethiopian anti-terror law appear in court October 25, 2011 Scott Griffen Three Ethiopian journalists arrested this summer and charged with terrorism appeared before an Addis Ababa court last week. Their respective cases, along with that of two Swedish journalists detained in eastern Ethiopia in July, have deepened suspicions that the government is using a new, vaguely-worded national security law to stifle independent media in the country. […] Read more »
Ukrainian reporter shot in head October 21, 2011 Steven M. Ellis The International Press Institute (IPI) today urged Ukrainian authorities to determine who shot a local reporter in the head this week, leaving him in critical condition, and to bring the assailant to justice. The website novosti-N.mk.ua reported that the journalist, Oleksandr Vlaschenko, who also reports for the Nash Gorod Nikolaev newspaper, was attacked Sunday night in a […] Read more »
Freed Turkish journalist dies October 18, 2011 Steven M. Ellis A Turkish journalist released in June after spending two years in pre-trial detention has died, reportedly as a result of the government’s alleged failure to provide adequate medical care during her incarceration. Hürriyet reported that Suzan Zengin – a human rights activist, journalist and translator who was imprisoned for alleged ties to an illegal organisation […] Read more »
Press freedom deteriorates in Chile October 18, 2011 Scott Griffen The International Press Institute (IPI) is highly concerned at the continued deterioration of press freedom in Chile. As major student-led protests continue across the country, the frequency of attacks on journalists has risen sharply and the government has drafted a new law that would unacceptably limit both freedom of expression and the ability of reporters […] Read more »
Italy TV station seeks compensation October 13, 2011 Steven M. Ellis An Italian television station argued before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) yesterday that the Italian government should pay the station over two billion Euros for not allowing it to take to the airwaves for eleven years. Centro Europa 7 told judges at the Strasbourg court that the sanction was the only way to […] Read more »
