The most comprehensive guide to the global state of free press in 2015 Attacks on the Press is the world's most comprehensive guide to international press freedom. Compiled by the Committee to Protect Journalists, this informative guide features analytical essays from CPJ and other experts and provides a platform for direct advocacy with governments and the diplomatic community to give voice to journalists worldwide. Reporters and photographers face a myriad of risks, from highly publicized murder to imprisonment, cyberattacks, harassment, frivolous lawsuits, and censorship. The risks are increasing due to widespread unrest and in response to the broad dissemination of critical information through social media and the Internet. This book gives journalists a seat at the discussions at the United Nations, Organization of American States, European Union, African Union, and more, to protect journalists and the freedom of press that is so essential to human rights. By publicly revealing abuses against the press and acting on behalf of imprisoned and threatened journalists, CPJ effectively warns journalists and news organizations where free press is in danger. This book is their annual guide to where these attacks are occurring, and who is doing the attacking. * Assess dangers to freelance journalists in conflict zones * Evaluate new forms of censorship in places like Egypt, Hong Kong, and Turkey * Contemplate the long-range impacts of the publicized executions of journalists by militant groups * Review available cybersecurity measures and the price journalists pay to keep up with spies * Analyze the 10 most censored countries in the world Strong press freedom encourages the growth of a robust civil society, which leads to stable, sustainable democracies and healthy social, political, and economic development. Attacks on the Press is the most comprehensive annual survey of global press freedom, and a calling out of those who threaten it.
THE WORLD'S MOST COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO INTERNATIONAL PRESS FREEDOM
Recent highly publicized murders of journalists have heightened awareness of the grave dangers that reporters and photographers face around the world. Less widely known are the myriad other risks to journalists, including imprisonment, cyberattacks, harassment, frivolous lawsuits, and censorship. These threats exist to varying degrees in war zones, politically volatile regions, and even stable countries, and they all hold the potential to limit public access to news.
The risks are increasing due to widespread unrest and in response to the broad dissemination of critical information through social media and the Internet.
For almost three decades, the Committee to Protect Journalists has published Attacks on the Press as part of its mission to protect and advocate for journalists around the world. The book chronicles contemporary global threats through a mix of original reporting, personal accounts, and rigorously vetted data. The results are illuminating and cautionary, and provide timely information and guidance for media professionals working on the front lines.
This volume includes:
- An expert assessment of the dangers to freelance journalists in conflict zones as well as one young reporter's firsthand account of her experience freelancing in Syria
- A critical look at the collapse of the independent media in Russia and another on the media vacuum in contested areas of Ukraine
- Reports on physical risks to journalists in Mexico, Pakistan, and Paraguay and on the jailing of bloggers in Ethiopia
- Evaluations of new forms of censorship in places like Egypt, Hong Kong, and Turkey, and of changing laws governing digital information around the world
- A review of available cybersecurity measures and the price journalists pay to keep up with spies
- News on the rise of right-wing harassment of journalists in Europe and on the backlash against the U.K. media in the wake of that country's phone-hacking scandal
- A contemplation of the long-range impacts of the publicized executions of journalists by militant groups such as Islamic State
- And an analysis of the 10 most censored countries in the world
Among the journalists under attack are seasoned reporters and photographers working for established media organizations as well as freelancers and bloggersmost of them localwho typically have limited support and may face open hostility from governments, militants, corrupt police, or criminal cartels. In some cases, the risks have reduced coverage of events of international significance, which limits public understanding and in some cases leads to escalating violence.
Attacks on the Press is published by the Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide.