2014
Sochi olympics 2014: journalist and athlete internet and telephone activity to be monitored
As the opening ceremony for the Sochi Olympics approaches, several outlets reference CPJ’s blog on digital surveillance at Sochi.Read the Yahoo Business article here.Read the Poynter article here.Read the Foreign Policy article here.
Egypt Tries to Reassure Journalists From Abroad
Sherif Mansour, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator, spoke to David Kirkpatrick of The New York Times about the charges filed against 20 Al Jazeera journalists in Egypt. Sherif called the charges an “attempt to criminalize legitimate journalistic work.” Read the full story here.
News from the Committee to Protect Journalists, January 2014
Chilling conditions for the press ahead of Sochi Games CPJ’s special report, “Media suffer winter chill in coverage of Sochi Olympics,” which was released on January 28, garnered significant coverage in the local and international media, including CBS Sports, the Huffington Post, Al-Jazeera America, and other outlets. CPJ also issued a Russian translation of its…
Terror charges for Al-Jazeera in Egypt prompt outcry
Today, the Committee to Protect Journalists joined other leading international media freedom and human rights organizations, including Article 19, Index on Censorship, and Reporters Without Borders, in calling on the European Union and United States to demand Egyptian authorities drop charges against Al-Jazeera journalists and release those under arrest.
Niger authorities crack down on critical journalists
New York, January 29, 2014—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by recent detentions in Niger of journalists critical of the government. In the past week, four journalists have been held for days without charge, two of whom remain in custody, and the justice minister has warned of a crackdown.
Egypt to try Al-Jazeera journalists on terror charges
New York, January 29, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the Egyptian prosecutor general’s decision to put 20 Al-Jazeera journalists on trial on criminal charges of incitement, distorting the country’s image abroad, and fabricating news to aid the Muslim Brotherhood, which the government has declared a terrorist organization, according to government daily Al-Ahram and…
South African journalist arrested, threatened
Cape Town, South Africa, January 29, 2014–South African authorities should drop charges against a journalist who was roughed up and detained after photographing police officers allegedly involved in bribery, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Ricky Dire, a journalist with the Daily Sun, also received death threats.
Obama must chart clearer course on surveillance policy
Tonight President Obama has another opportunity to redirect the country’s out-of-control surveillance programs during his annual State of the Union address. He should seize it. The president’s much-anticipated January 17 speech about U.S. surveillance policy, which came in response to outrage over National Security Agency spying, left much unsaid–and many of the commitments he did…
Anti-press abuses on third anniversary of Egypt uprising
New York, January 28, 2014–Several local and international journalists have been attacked and detained in Egypt while covering deadly clashes between police and supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi, according to news reports. The clashes erupted on Saturday, the third anniversary of the uprising in Egypt.