News

March 17, 2025 - Ghana -  In a significant development, the Ghana Police Service has arrested Daniel Owusu Koranteng, also known as Akwasi Amakye, in connection with the 2019 murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale. Koranteng, a former colleague of Suale at Tiger Eye Private Investigations, is accused of leaking photographs of Suale to a prominent politician before his assassination. Suale was shot dead near his family home in Madina on January 16, 2019, shortly after collaborating with the BBC on an exposé revealing corruption in Ghanaian football. The arrest follows a lengthy investigation, during...

March 17, 2025 - General -  In response to the decline of local journalism, Washington State lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill 5400, aiming to bolster the industry through a novel funding mechanism. The bill proposes imposing a surcharge on large social media platforms and search engines with annual gross revenues exceeding $5 million. This surcharge is expected to generate approximately $27 million in fiscal year 2027, with projections of an additional $102 million between 2027 and 2031. The revenue from this surcharge would be allocated to the Washington Local News Journalism Corps Program, established within...

March 17, 2025 - USA -  In March 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the elimination of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees key international broadcasters such as Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia (RFA), and others. This move has led to widespread concern among journalists and media advocates about the future of independent journalism and U.S. soft power globally. The shutdown order resulted in the suspension of operations at these outlets, placing journalists, including those on work visas from repressive regimes, at...

March 17, 2025 - Syria -  A Hezbollah missile strike targeted a group of journalists from Al Arabiya while they were covering events near the Syrian-Lebanese border. The attack resulted in injuries to several media personnel and was condemned by Syria's newly established government. The Syrian Ministry of Information described the strike as a deliberate violation of international laws protecting journalists and called on the Lebanese government to hold those responsible accountable. This incident occurred against the backdrop of escalating tensions between Syria and Hezbollah. The day before, Syria accused Hezbollah of kidnapping and executing...

March 17, 2025 - South Africa -  Authorities in South Africa have announced a R50,000 reward for anyone who can provide information leading to the safe location of missing journalist Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu and his partner, Zodwa Precious Mdhluli. The couple went missing on February 18, 2025, and their disappearance has prompted a widespread search involving both law enforcement and community members. The reward is intended to incentivize those who may have seen or heard anything related to the couple’s whereabouts to come forward and assist investigators. Police have encouraged the public to share any...

March 17, 2025 - Somalia -  Journalist Bahjo Abdullahi Salad of RTN TV was detained by the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) following her report on the health hazards posed by waste left in public spaces in Mogadishu's Wardhigley district. Her report highlighted the risks to the local community, particularly young children, from the accumulation of rubbish and leftover food. The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) condemned the unlawful detention and the raid on her home, emphasizing the importance of press freedom in holding authorities accountable. This incident is part of a broader pattern...

March 17, 2025 - Uganda -  During the Kawempe North parliamentary by-election in Kampala, Uganda, at least 18 journalists were subjected to severe physical assaults by security forces, including the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force (JATT). These attacks occurred despite the journalists being clearly identifiable by their press attire. Victims included Hasifah Nanvuma of Nation Media Group, Hassan Wasswa of NBS Television, and Francis Ijjo from NTV Uganda, all of whom required urgent medical attention. The assaults were not isolated incidents but part of a coordinated effort to intimidate...

March 17, 2025 - Palestine - Israeli police arrested Palestinian journalist Latifeh Abdellatif in Jerusalem's Old City. Abdellatif, a freelance photojournalist whose work has been featured in Reuters, ABC News, BBC, Al Jazeera, and TRT, was detained on suspicion of "incitement" and "supporting terrorism" due to her social media posts. Authorities allege that she shared content praising Hamas and its former leader, Yahya Sinwar, including a video where Sinwar expresses a desire to die as a martyr. Following her arrest, Abdellatif appeared in court via video link. While a judge initially ordered her release, Israeli...

March 17, 2025 - India -  Two Telangana-based journalists, Pogadadanda Revathi and Thanvi Yadav, were recently granted bail after being arrested for sharing a video featuring a farmer criticizing Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. The video, which went viral, became a flashpoint in ongoing tensions between the media and political leadership. The journalists, both affiliated with the Pulse Digital News Network, were detained on March 11 following a complaint by a Congress social media cell official. The arrest invoked serious charges under India's Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 111,...

March 17, 2025 - Source: CPJ -  A new wave of concern over press freedom has erupted in Telangana, India, after two journalists were arrested for sharing a video critical of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy—prompting sharp backlash when Reddy publicly threatened to strip other journalists of their credentials. Pogadadanda Revathi and Thanvi Yadav, both affiliated with Pulse Digital News Network, were arrested earlier in March after posting an interview featuring a farmer who harshly criticized the Chief Minister’s agricultural policies. The farmer accused Reddy of abandoning pre-election promises, including loan waivers. Soon after the...

March 17, 2025 - Indonesia -  In a significant legal development, Indonesian prosecutors are appealing for the death penalty against three individuals convicted of the premeditated murder of journalist Rico Sempurna Pasaribu and his family in Karo Regency, North Sumatra. The initial verdicts, delivered by the Kabanjahe District Court on March 27, 2025, sentenced two of the defendants to life imprisonment and the third to 20 years in prison. The North Sumatra Prosecutors' Office filed the appeal, arguing that the severity of the crime, resulting in the deaths of Pasaribu, his wife, child, and grandchild,...

March 17, 2025 - Haiti -  Haiti's media landscape came under severe assault as armed gangs launched coordinated attacks on prominent news outlets in Port-au-Prince. The Viv Ansanm gang coalition targeted Radio Télévision Caraïbes (RTVC), Radio Mélodie FM, and Télé Pluriel, setting their facilities ablaze and looting equipment. These attacks are part of a broader strategy to silence independent journalism and instill fear among media professionals. The violence forced many journalists to flee their homes and workplaces, seeking safety amid escalating threats. Jean-Jacques Asperges, a veteran radio journalist, was displaced twice due to gang violence...

March 17, 2025 - Netherlands -  After more than four decades of impunity, El Salvador was set to commence the trial for the 1982 murders of four Dutch journalists. However, the proceedings have been postponed until June 3, 2025. The journalists—Koos Koster, Jan Kuiper, Joop Willemsen, and Hans ter Laag—were ambushed and killed by Salvadoran soldiers while attempting to enter guerrilla-controlled territory during the country's civil war. The trial involves three former military officials: ex-Defense Minister José Guillermo García, former Treasury Police director Francisco Antonio Morán, and Colonel Mario Adalberto Reyes Mena. García and Morán...

March 16, 2025 - Pakistan -  Baloch journalist Asif Kareem Khetran, affiliated with the Barkhan Press Club in Pakistan's Balochistan province, has been reported missing since March 15, 2025. Before his disappearance, Khetran had publicly alleged intimidation and threats from Pakistan Army officials, including being summoned to an army camp and having family members abducted. He also reported that his home was raided and his shop sealed by authorities, actions he believed were attempts to silence him. Human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir expressed deep concern over Khetran's disappearance, highlighting that he had informed her...

March 16, 2025 - Palestine -  After 15 months of displacement due to the ongoing Gaza-Israel conflict, several Palestinian journalists have returned to their homes, confronting both the emotional relief of reuniting with their communities and the overwhelming devastation left by the war. Among them is Anas Baba, an NPR reporter who remained in Gaza throughout the conflict. Following a ceasefire agreement in January 2025, Baba returned to Gaza City, finding his family home partially damaged but still standing. Despite the relief of returning to a habitable space, Baba described the experience as surreal, highlighting...

March 16, 2025  - Iraq/Kurdish -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has urgently called for the release of two investigative journalists, Bashdar Bazyani and Sherwan Sherwani, who were detained in Iraqi Kurdistan. Both journalists have been known for their critical reporting on regional political and social issues, which has reportedly led to their arrests. The detentions have sparked widespread concern among press freedom advocates, as RSF highlights a troubling pattern of intimidation and repression against independent media in the region. Authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan have been accused of using legal and extralegal measures to silence journalists...

March 16, 2025 - Philippines - On March 11, 2025, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa was honored with the 2025 Rotary Peace Laureate Award by the Rotary Club of Makati San Lorenzo in the Philippines. The award recognizes her unwavering commitment to press freedom, truth, and social justice amid ongoing challenges to journalism in the country. Ressa, co-founder and CEO of the digital news platform Rappler, has been a prominent figure in advocating for media independence and transparency. Her work has often placed her at odds with governmental authorities, leading to multiple legal challenges...

March 16, 2025 - Georgia -  Georgia's media landscape has witnessed a significant decline in press freedom, marked by increasing violence against journalists and restrictive legislation. On March 15, 2025, Gela Mtivlishvili, editor-in-chief of the “Mtis Ambebi” publication, was attacked by an armed officer from the Ministry of Internal Affairs near Tserovani. The assailant, accompanied by another individual, threatened and physically assaulted Mtivlishvili, attempting to seize his phone as he documented the incident. Eyewitnesses captured the attack on video. This incident underscores the hazardous conditions journalists face in Georgia. The Media Advocacy Coalition (MAC), comprising...

March 16, 2025 - General -  In an opinion piece for The Colorado Sun, columnist Mario Nicolais sounded the alarm over the growing threats facing independent journalism in the United States. Using recent developments at The Washington Post as a case study, Nicolais argues that editorial independence is increasingly compromised by political and corporate pressures, putting democratic integrity at risk. The controversy centers on the paper’s decision not to endorse a presidential candidate in the upcoming election, a move Nicolais interprets as an effort to avoid angering former President Donald Trump. He highlights this as...

March 16, 2025 - Kudish/Iraq -  Sherwan Sherwani, a Kurdish investigative journalist and human rights defender, remains incarcerated in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq following a series of controversial legal actions that have drawn widespread condemnation from international human rights organizations. Initially arrested in October 2020 for covering anti-government protests in Duhok, Sherwani was sentenced in February 2021 to six years in prison on charges of "endangering national security." The trial was criticized for serious violations of fair trial standards, including allegations of torture and the use of coerced confessions. In February 2022, his sentence...

March 15, 2025 - General - The Royal Television Society (RTS) reversed its controversial decision to withdraw an award recognizing Gaza-based journalists following widespread criticism and public outcry. The award initially honored their courageous reporting on the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The dispute began when RTS rescinded the award, citing concerns over impartiality, sparking accusations that the move amounted to censorship and suppression of vital frontline journalism. Many media professionals, human rights advocates, and international observers condemned the decision, arguing it undermined press freedom and the crucial role of journalists covering conflict zones. Following intense...

March 15, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  Since late 2023, Azerbaijan has escalated its campaign against independent journalism, imprisoning more than 20 journalists and media workers, mostly women, on politically motivated charges. This crackdown is widely seen as a deliberate effort by President Ilham Aliyev’s government to silence dissenting voices and control the flow of information. Many detained journalists work for critical outlets such as Abzas Media, Meydan TV, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). For example, Sevinj Vagifgizi, editor-in-chief of Abzas Media, faces accusations of “smuggling foreign currency,” which she and her supporters reject as...

March 15, 2025 - Palestine/USA/Europe -  The United States and European Union jointly announced the suspension of Al-Aqsa TV from all satellite networks, a move that has sparked widespread condemnation from Palestinian groups and media organizations. The decision includes severe financial penalties and potential legal actions against satellite providers that continue to broadcast the channel, which is affiliated with Hamas. Hamas has denounced the ban as a blatant violation of media freedom and an attempt to suppress the Palestinian narrative. The group asserts that the decision is part of a broader campaign to silence Palestinian...

March 15, 2025 - Africa -  Press freedom remains a critical barometer of democracy and human rights across Africa. In 2025, several African nations have stood out either for upholding robust media freedoms or for continuing to restrict independent journalism under government pressures. Among the best performers, Ghana consistently ranks as a leader in press freedom. Its vibrant and pluralistic media environment allows journalists to operate relatively independently without fear of censorship or persecution. Ghana’s constitutional protections and active civil society contribute to a flourishing media landscape, making it a regional beacon for press rights....

March 15, 2025 - Palestine -  Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least nine individuals, including eight aid workers and journalists affiliated with the UK-based Al Khair Foundation. The victims were conducting humanitarian efforts in Beit Lahia when their vehicles were targeted. The Israeli military claimed to have struck "terrorists operating a drone," but the Al Khair Foundation and witnesses assert that the victims were civilians engaged in relief work, not combatants. The attack has drawn widespread condemnation from international organizations and human rights groups, who view it as a...