Press Freedom
CPJ Updates
- Journalist Casimir Kpedjo detained, facing false news accusations in Benin
- Trial of detained Nicaraguan journalists Lucía Pineda and Miguel Mora indefinitely delayed
- Editor-in-chief of Mexican newspaper Reforma targeted by death threats following criticism from president
- Peruvian judge orders assets freeze for Ojo Público, 2 journalists in defamation case
- Israeli forces injure four Palestinian journalists covering Gaza protests
- Two journalists arrested covering yellow vest protests in France
- Jordanian journalist Abdulrahman Farhana detained by Saudi authorities
- Myanmar military sues The Irrawaddy for criminal defamation over conflict coverage
- #WeStandWithLyra
Reporter Without Borders
- Media pluralism – collateral victim of the crisis in Indian-held Kashmir
- US should redouble efforts to secure the safe return of detained American journalist Austin Tice
- Media regulator threatens Brazzaville weekly with closure
- Philippine army “red-tagging” leads to threats, violence against journalists
- Kyrgyz TV channel’s forced closure deals blow to media pluralism
- US – #WeeklyAddress: August 5 – August 11: Trump administration floats draft of social media “censorship” executive order
- Total of journalists abducted in Yemen in past five years reaches 20
- RSF refers Myanmar journalist’s arbitrary detention to UN
OPC Applauds Obama for Signing Daniel Pearl Media Act
The Honorable Mr. Barack Obama
President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500
Mr. President:
The Freedom of the Press Committee of the Overseas Press Club of America (OPC) applauds the Daniel Pearl Act on Freedom of the Media which you signed yesterday, authorizing the Department of State to compile a public list of all nations and states violating that freedom.
For more than seventy years, the OPC has objected to government abuses of press freedom through letters to leaders, appropriate cabinet officers, and chiefs of police. In recent years, we have received increasing numbers of responses, indicating that political leaders are aware of how quickly such actions damage their country’s global image.
Such a public gesture as your signature to the Daniel Pearl Act, making it a law, lends increased authority to our efforts and those of fellow organizations to aid our colleagues in distress, in prison or otherwise. Archives of our press freedom letters on our website (www.opcofamerica.org) attest to our efforts and results.
Our good wishes to you, Mr. President. Again, we are grateful for your efforts, which aid our cause.
Respectfully yours,
Jacqueline Albert Simon
Larry Martz
Freedom of the Press Committee