Turkey Trial Blog: Court releases 15 journalists detained for over a year in Diyarbakır July 12, 2023 | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI) traveled to Diyarbakır, Turkey, in July 2023 to monitor the first hearing of a case in which 17 Kurdish journalists and 1 media worker – 15 of whom are currently in pre-trial detention are charged with “membership in a terrorist organization” and face a prison sentence up to 15 years. […] Read more »
Polen: Neuer Bericht über die Übernahme von Polska Press durch PKN Orlen bestätigt die Befürchtungen einer Vereinnahmung des Mediums July 12, 2023 | Leave a Comment Read in English Das International Press Institute (IPI) schließt sich heute den unterzeichnenden Organisationen des Konsortiums Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) an und warnt davor, dass die Ergebnisse eines neuen Berichts, der die Auswirkungen der Übernahme des regionalen Nachrichtenverlags Polska Press durch den staatlich kontrollierten polnischen Ölkonzern PKN Orlen bewertet, ein schockierendes Beispiel für die Vereinnahmung […] Read more »
Mexico: IPI condemns the killing of journalist Luis Martín Sánchez Íñiguez July 10, 2023 IPI Contributor Rowan Humphries | Leave a Comment The IPI global network condemns the killing of Mexican journalist Luis Martín Sánchez Íñiguez, who was found dead in the Mexican state of Nayarit after going missing last week. He is at least the fourth journalist to be killed in Mexico this year. IPI urgently calls on the Mexican government to thoroughly investigate all cases […] Read more »
Analysis: A new global cybercrime treaty risks becoming yet another legal instrument to punish and muzzle the press July 9, 2023 By Amy Brouillette, IPI Director of Advocacy | Leave a Comment For journalists and rights advocates, much is at stake as UN-member states gather in New York next month to hammer out the final points of a new global treaty to combat cybercrime. The treaty being negotiated could hand authorities far-reaching surveillance and investigatory powers both at home and abroad — and give repressive governments even […] Read more »
Media freedom and journalist groups call on EU to secure effective Media Freedom Act July 7, 2023 | Leave a Comment To the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission On behalf of media freedom, journalists and human rights organizations across Europe, we call upon the European Union institutions to negotiate a strong and effective European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) that can counter media capture and protect editorial independence and media pluralism across Europe. […] Read more »
‘Journalists are not legitimate targets’: Pegasus hacks amidst a war July 4, 2023 IPI contributor Rowan Humphries | Leave a Comment Researchers have been tracking the use of cyber surveillance software to target journalists for years, but until now no government has ever been caught using it during an active international conflict. New revelations from digital rights researchers and advocates uncovered the targeting of public officials and journalists with Pegasus spyware during the 2020 war between […] Read more »
Russia: IPI horrified by violent attack on journalist Elena Milashina in Chechnya July 4, 2023 | Leave a Comment IPI and its global network denounce in the firmest possible terms the violent attack on Elena Milashina, an investigative journalist with the renowned Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, who was assaulted along with lawyer Alexander Nemov as they were heading to monitor the trial of political prisoner Zarema Musayeva in Chechnya. According to Milashina, she and […] Read more »
IPI Central Europe Network: Leading editors call for strong EMFA July 3, 2023 | Leave a Comment Leading editors from within the International Press Institute’s (IPI) Central Europe Independent Media Network have today published an open letter calling on EU bodies to pass a strong and effective European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) which helps safeguard independent journalism and roll back media capture across the bloc. Read the full open letter below […] Read more »
Belarus: Amid authoritarian crackdown, journalists and the LGBTQ+ community face intersecting threats June 30, 2023 IPI Contributor Katherine Dailey | Leave a Comment In Belarus, journalists and members of the LGBTQ+ community face alarmingly restrictive landscapes. Thirty-four journalists are currently jailed in Belarus, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ). Most are charged with “extremist activities” or “violating public order” as part of the crackdown on the press following the 2020 presidential election. More recently, BAJ was […] Read more »
Colombia: For queer journalists, identity helps inform their reporting June 30, 2023 IPI Contributor Katherine Dailey | Leave a Comment Mariana Escobar Bernoske and Felipe Morales Sierra are both reporters at El Espectador, one of Colombia’s biggest national newspapers, working in the Gender and Diversity section and the Judicial section, respectively. Both a part of the LGBTQ+ community, they find that their identity as queer journalists informs their reporting on their respective beats. For Escobar […] Read more »
Ethiopia: ‘Constant terror’ for LGBTQ+ journalists, even those in the closet June 30, 2023 IPI Contributor Katherine Dailey | Leave a Comment In Ethiopia, “when you’re a journalist, once or twice you will end up in jail”, said a journalist who spoke to IPI requested anonymity. But for an LGBTQ+ journalist, they said, this could mean an investigation into one’s personal life — and if someone is found to be queer, they could be charged and imprisoned […] Read more »
Kenya: Reporting on undercovered LGBTQ+ community brings potential scrutiny June 30, 2023 IPI Contributor Katherine Dailey | Leave a Comment Before publishing a recent project centering on the LGBTQ+ community in Africa, an anonymous Kenyan journalist prepared for backlash and harassment online. Though the negative response was not as strong as he had feared, the personal risks for a queer journalist remain high. Homosexuality is illegal in Kenya, punishable by up to 21 years in […] Read more »
Russia: IPI denounces designation of Novaya Gazeta Europe as “undesirable organization” June 30, 2023 | Leave a Comment IPI and its global network today denounce the decision by Russian authorities to designate Novaya Gazeta Europe, a leading independent Russian media outlet, as an “undesirable organization”. The Russian Prosecutor-General’s Office claimed that Novaya Gazeta Europe “created and disseminated tendentious informational materials harming the interests of Russia”. Authorities also accused the outlet of disseminating “false […] Read more »
EU must prioritize media freedom in Turkey post-election June 28, 2023 | Leave a Comment The undersigned organisations call on the incoming Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union to place media freedom and human rights front and centre of relations with the newly re-elected Government of Turkey. The May elections, which saw a parliamentary majority for the AKP and its allies and the re-election of Recep Tayyip […] Read more »
Russian Prosecutor-General designates Novaya Gazeta Europe as an “undesirable organization” On 28 June 2023, the Russian Prosecutor-General’s office designated Novaya Gazeta Europe, a leading independent Russian media outlet, as an “undesirable organization”. The IPI Weekly Digest Subscribe for press freedom news and updates, opportunities for journalists, and the latest in media innovation. Join us! Authorities claimed that Novaya Gazeta Europe “created and disseminated tendentious informational materials […] Read more »
IPI joins coalition calling on Sierra Leone to protect internet access during election June 22, 2023 | Leave a Comment The IPI global network joined dozens of other press freedom, human rights, and digital rights organizations from across the globe under the auspices of the #KeepItOn coalition to call on the Sierra Leonean government to keep the internet on during the country’s general elections on June 24. The letter calls on President Julius Maada Bio […] Read more »
Kenya: Government officials must cease attacks on media June 22, 2023 | Leave a Comment The IPI global network condemns the attack on Nation Media Group (NMG) by a top Kenyan government official, Cabinet Secretary for Trade, Moses Kuria, and calls on government officials to allow the media and journalists to carry out their work without fear of reprisals in any forms. According to reports, on June 19, Moses Kuria […] Read more »
Palestine: IPI condemns shooting of journalist Hazem Nasser by Israeli forces June 22, 2023 IPI Contributor Katherine Dailey | Leave a Comment IPI strongly condemns the attack on Hazem Nasser, a photojournalist at al-Ghad TV channel, who was shot and seriously wounded during an Israeli raid on a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on June 19. Similarly to Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed by Israeli forces in 2022, […] Read more »
Biden must raise press freedom issues during Modi state visit June 21, 2023 IPI Contributor Rowan Humphries | Leave a Comment The IPI global network calls for U.S. President Joe Biden to prioritize press freedom issues in India while he hosts Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week. The alarming deterioration of press freedom in India must be halted, and Biden must make tackling these issues at home and abroad a priority. Modi is in the […] Read more »
#IPIWoCo Recap: Cybercrime laws: A new frontline for press freedom June 21, 2023 | Leave a Comment With the abuse of cybercrime laws to target journalists on the rise globally, states must ensure that a planned U.N. cybercrime treaty does not undermine freedom of expression, a panel of experts said at the 2023 IPI World Congress and Media Innovation Festival. Cybercrime laws are increasingly being used to criminalize a wide scope of […] Read more »
IPI condemns recent internet shutdowns and mobile network disruptions in Mauritania, Guinea, and Senegal June 21, 2023 | Leave a Comment The IPI global network condemns the recent ordering of network disruptions and internet shutdowns by governments Mauritania, Guinea, and Senegal, where access to the internet has been either partially or completely restricted in recent months amid public protests. Internet shutdowns are a disproportionate restriction on the public’s right to access to information, including during times […] Read more »
Turkey: International groups condemn attack against journalist Sinan Aygül June 20, 2023 | Leave a Comment The undersigned media freedom, freedom of expression and human rights organizations strongly condemn the appalling attack on journalist Sinan Aygül that took place in Tatvan, a city in eastern Turkey, on June 17. Two people were arrested the following day charged with ‘intentional injury with a weapon’. While we welcome the swift arrests, we call […] Read more »
Benin: Journalist given suspended prison term for ‘false news’ June 19, 2023 | Leave a Comment The IPI global network condemns the one-year suspended prison term given to Benin journalist Virgile Ahouanse of the online radio Crystal News after being found guilty of publishing false news on his online media platform. IPI calls for the decision to be reversed and urges authorities to stop using the country’s digital code to crack […] Read more »
IPI joins call to EU Council to reconsider EMFA spyware position June 19, 2023 | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI) today joins a civil society and journalists organisations in voicing our concerns about proposals to weaken protections for journalists against spyware surveillance envisioned in the draft European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). IPI joins these groups in jointly calling on the Council of the European Union to reconsider its current position […] Read more »
#IPIWoCo Recap: The chilling effect of surveillance on journalism June 16, 2023 IPI Contributor Katherine Dailey | Leave a Comment Surveillance technologies of all kinds — from facial recognition cameras to spyware technology — are increasingly being used to target journalists around the world. Speakers at the IPI World Congress panel titled “Journalism and surveillance: A brave new world” explained how these technologies threaten freedom of the press, and how journalists can protect themselves. The COVID-19 […] Read more »
Guatemala: IPI condemns sentencing of journalist José Rubén Zamora June 15, 2023 IPI Contributors Katherine Dailey and Rowan Humphries | Leave a Comment Guatemalan journalist and IPI World Press Freedom Hero José Rubén Zamora, head of the now-shuttered elPeriódico newspaper, has been convicted on charges of money laundering and sentenced to six years in prison. The IPI global press freedom network strongly condemns this verdict as a serious attack on press freedom and calls on Guatemala and states […] Read more »
IPI condemns use of Pegasus spyware against journalists amidst Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict June 14, 2023 By IPI contributor Rowan Humphries | Leave a Comment The IPI global network is alarmed by a new report by internet watchdogs and digital rights advocacy groups uncovering the use of Pegasus, a controversial spyware developed by the Israeli cyber-arms company NSO Group, to target journalists and other civil society actors during the ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The latest revelations are another […] Read more »
#IPIWoCo Recap: Cutting loose from media capture June 13, 2023 Jamie Wiseman | Leave a Comment There is a light at the end of the tunnel after media capture, and different strategies are being developed at the political and economic level to help safeguard independent media from hostile takeovers, panellists agreed during a discussion at the IPI World Congress in Vienna on May 26. While undemocratic models of controlling media ecosystems […] Read more »
IPI Africa press freedom monitoring: Journalists in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Sudan face censorship, arrests, and violence June 7, 2023 | Leave a Comment Journalists in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Sudan faced significant pressure, including censorship, arrests, and violence, according to IPI monitoring of press freedom threats and violations for the month of April. In total, IPI documented 60 incidents across 13 countries during this month, with a vast majority of press freedom threats or violations occurring at the hands […] Read more »
Kyrgyzstan urged to stop abusing legislation to target independent media June 6, 2023 | Leave a Comment The recent ruling to close ‘Azattyk Media’, which can still be appealed in court, reflects a growing pattern in Kyrgyzstan to draft and arbitrarily implement controversial and ambiguous laws that could be misused to target people and institutions exercising their rights to free expression and information. Dear President Sadyr Japarov, We, the undersigned civil society […] Read more »
Retired Ukrainian journalist detained in occupied Melitopol June 5, 2023 | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI) global network is alarmed by the repressive arrest of retired journalist Iryna Levchenko in Melitopol, a city in Ukraine’s Zaporizhia region, occupied by Russian forces since March 2022. According to relatives in touch with the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU), Levchenko went missing around May 6 along with […] Read more »
Mexico: Authorities must investigate killing of journalist Marco Aurelio Ramírez Hernández June 1, 2023 IPI Contributor Rowan Humphries | Leave a Comment The IPI global network condemns the killing of Mexican journalist Marco Aurelio Ramírez Hernández, who was shot outside his home by armed gunmen on May 23. He is at least the third journalist to be killed in Mexico in 2023. We call on the Mexican government to thoroughly and transparently investigate any connection between Ramírez’s […] Read more »
Authorities in Khmelnitskiy refuse journalist’s request, court rules decision illegal On 1 June 2023, a court in Khmelnitskiy, Western Ukraine, ruled on a decision by the city’s Executive Committee refusing to provide journalist Alona Bereza with public information, stating that the decision was illegal. On April 19, the journalist, who works for local online media Zhar.Info, sent a request to the Khmelnitskiy Executive Committee, asking […] Read more »
