Research

“Protecting those who inform us is protecting the truth.” – Thibaut Bruttin, Reporters Without Borders’ Director General According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 114 journalists were killed in 2024, the majority through crossfire, dangerous assignments, and murder. As of December 2024, 361 journalists are imprisoned worldwide. International humanitarian law distinguishes journalists and war correspondents when delegating protections to media workers. War correspondents accompany the armed forces of a state and are entitled to prisoner-of-war status upon capture, according to the Third Geneva Convention. Under Article 82 of the convention, it states that “no prisoner of war may be tried...

April 21, 2025 - Source: Mission Local -  In the last month, Luz Mely Reyes, a reporter at the International Center for Journalists, has been advised to avoid international travel, close her social media account, and scrub information from her phone. It’s the same advice that she used to follow before she moved to the United States in 2020 — back in the days when she was living in her home country of Venezuela, covering human rights and politics. Now, it’s becoming the new normal Stateside. “Some people are very worried about the consequences of speaking up...

Legally, know your rights According to UN declarations, the legal protection of journalists at work in conflict zones is adequate in theory, but it is not respected in reality. According to IFEX, in nine out of ten cases of journalist murder, the perpetrators of these crimes are never prosecuted, although targeting journalists based on their social function should be regarded as an aggravating circumstance. FPU fight against impunity   International mechanisms Although UNESCO adopted the UN Plan of Action on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity in April 2012, data show that unless governments are willing...

Journalists are continually subject to harm or the threat of harm during their reporting in foreign wars. The US based Committee to Protect Journalists states that at least 24 journalists have been murdered in 2022 so far globally. The surge in armed groups such as Islamic State and Al Qaeda after September 11, 2001, have also led to the increased targeting of war correspondents with corresponding unsafe conditions. Journalist for the Wall Street Journal Daniel Pearl was beheaded whilst reporting on the deteriorating situation in Pakistan in 2002. Many media staff have also been deliberately targeted. According to...

I. Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals in Time of Armed Conflict The number of journalists killed in the world in 2003 – 42 – is the highest since 1995. This figure can be largely explained by the recent military campaign in Iraq, which inflicted a proportionally higher number of casualties on journalists than on members of the coalition’s armed forces: 14 journalists and media personnel lost their lives, two went missing and a dozen or so were wounded while covering the conflict and its aftermath. In recent years, one might also mention the deliberate...

April 18, 2025 - Source: Counter Punch -  Recall those feverish days leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq when Colin Powell presented his dubious evidence to the United Nations Security Council, claiming Saddam Hussein possessed WMDs. The result of those bogus lies was The Iraq Resolution, which authorized the use of force against the sovereign state, and passed the Senate by a decisive 77-23 margin, with only 23 dissenting votes. Support crossed party lines as Hillary Clinton and many other prominent Democrats consistently reached into George W. Bush’s basket of lies, repeating the neocons’ WMD propaganda. The New York Times, fulfilling...

April 18, 2025 - Source: Freedom of the Press Foundation -  A series to spotlight public-records-based local journalism A major reason why politicians are able to attack the press without much resistance is that the public distrusts the media. And one of the reasons for that distrust is that when people think “journalist,” they often think of partisan cable news pundits rather than the thousands of local investigative reporters serving communities across the country. We’re hoping to play a small part in changing that by profiling local journalists who use public records laws to hold...

A stated policy goal of the Trump administration is to significantly change U.S. travel and immigration policies. Foreign nationals whose countries do not meet U.S. vetting standards may be barred entry. Journalists will not be exempt and should anticipate potential restrictions or questioning when traveling to or from the United States. Under a draft Trump administration proposal, more than 40 countries, including Iran, Russia, Venezuela, and several African countries, are being considered for full or partially restricted travel to the U.S. The policy is based on a travel ban Trump enacted during his first term, which the Supreme Court upheld. Whilst the...

Journalists from all over the world gathered again this year at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia to discuss some of the news industry's most crucial issues in a time of upheaval. The Reuters Institute's editorial team curated some of the festival's highlights in this piece. You'll find cool projects, several takeaways and quotes that made us think – but not the name of the person who was in everyone's minds. We'll keep updating the article in the next few days.   Stuff we learnt 1. Everyone is building AI summaries. But those doing it...

The Council of Europe’s interactive charts page offers a visual representation of the data collected under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM). This tool allows users to explore how different European countries are implementing the rights and protections of national minorities. Key features include: Interactive Visuals: Graphs and charts display country-by-country comparisons on various minority rights issues. Topics Covered: Education in minority languages, media access, anti-discrimination policies, cultural participation, and political representation. Comparative Analysis: Users can compare how different countries have implemented recommendations made by the Advisory Committee of the FCNM....

April 10, 2025 - Source: Monitor -  This update covers developments relating to the freedoms of expression, association and assembly in Haiti from 15th October 2024 to 31st March 2025. On 4th December 2024, Haiti was labeled a “country of concern” in our yearly People Power Under Attack report. GENERAL Haiti continues to face deep political, security and humanitarian crises, and the chaos caused by gang violence continues. On 27th March 2025, former Jamaican Prime Minister and member of the CARICOM Eminent Persons Group trying to mediate in the Haitian political crisis, warned that Haiti was “perilously close” to being...

Nick Turse’s report explores the growing dangers faced by journalists covering war and conflict. It highlights how both governments and armed groups use threats, censorship, and violence to suppress reporting. Conflict zones have become increasingly deadly, especially for local journalists who often lack protection and resources. The report points to a sharp rise in journalist deaths, particularly in recent conflicts, where hundreds have been killed. As the number of foreign correspondents declines, local reporters are taking more risks to fill the gap, often without proper support. This decline in safe, accurate, and independent reporting not...

April 08, 2025 - Source: Global Investigative Journalism Network Moroccan journalist Soulaimane Raissouni was arrested outside his home in Rabat, Morocco’s capital city, in May 2020. The editor-in-chief of the newspaper Akhbar Al Yaoum had long been a thorn in the side of the Moroccan authorities, publishing investigations into corruption and state repression — such as a salary bonuses scandal involving the country’s finance minister and the treasurer general. “We are under attack, but we are not defeated. Journalism is evolving, and we will find ways to keep telling the stories that matter.” — Walid Mejri, Alqatiba...

April 07, 2025 - Source: Global Investigative Journalism Network -  In his influential book on tyranny and authoritarianism published at the dawn of the 20th century, the prominent Syrian intellectual Abdul Rahman Al-Kawakibi wrote: “A tyrannical government is oppressive in all its branches, from the supreme despot to the policeman, the servant, and even the street sweeper.” “We can’t afford loopholes in our reporting. We can’t afford sensationalism. We cannot afford mistakes.” — Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of the Egyptian investigative journalism site Mada MasrAl-Kawakibi was notable for being openly critical of the political establishment of the era...

April 05, 2025 - Source: Kashmir Times -  “It takes a very long time for an imprisoned journalist to be back to normal life even after being released,” says Fahad Shah, a Kashmiri journalist and the founder of the now-banned Kashmir Walla News outlet. Shah was arrested on 4 February 2022 and released on 23 November 2023 after a court order but after spending more than 650 days in different jails, facing numerous cases, including the Public Safety Act (PSA) of 1978, allowing for detention without charge for up to two years. His release on bail was a long-drawn ordeal. Slapped with charges...

Journalists operate at the frontlines of information, often under threat. International law offers them multiple layers of protection, yet enforcement remains inconsistent, and gaps persist. At the foundation lies international human rights law, most notably Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which enshrines freedom of opinion and expression as fundamental. This tenet has been reinforced by numerous regional instruments and UN resolutions, underscoring the indispensable role of journalists in democratic societies. In situations of armed conflict, international humanitarian law (IHL) provides explicit safeguards. Journalists are considered civilians and must not be directly targeted...

March 27, 2025 - Source: Forbidden Stories -  On October 9, 2024, Fadi Al-Wahidi was reporting alongside a crew of journalists from Al Jazeera, Al Araby TV, and others, in the Al Saftawi area near Jabalia, when what they claim was an “Israeli quadcopter” initiated a chase that ended with Al-Wahidi being shot in the neck. Forbidden Stories and its partners reconstructed the event that has paralyzed both of his legs. On January 2, 2025, Fadi Al-Wahidi would have celebrated his 25th birthday in the Gaza Strip, surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues like Anas...

March 25, 2025 - Source: Havana Times -  The regime has closed or confiscated 61 Nicaraguan media outlets, has 4 reporters in jail, and has forced more than 283 journalists into exile   By Confidencial HAVANA TIMES – When raids, forced closures, media confiscations, and arrests of Nicaraguan journalists seemed like they couldn’t get any worse, the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo took it a step further with a bogus court ruling, delivering yet another blow to the national press. Stripping journalists and media directors of their citizenship has been one of the...

March 19, 2025 - Source: Pappas Post -  In May 1948, the body of CBS correspondent George Polk was found floating in Salonika Bay, Greece. His hands and feet were bound and he had been shot in the back of the head. It is widely accepted that he was assassinated, but the mystery of who did it remains unsolved. Polk, 34 years old, was a rising star at the network and was preparing to return to the United States to take up a Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University. Seven months before his death he had...

The Supreme Court ruled in 1964 that journalistic organizations were protected from libel or defamation lawsuits brought by a public figure unless that plaintiff could prove the journalists had acted intentionally. The book, “Murder the Truth," documents a well-funded effort to undo that longstanding protection. William Brangham spoke with author David Enrich for our series, On Democracy.   Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. Geoff Bennett: While the Trump administration eliminates Voice of America, a new book examines another longer-term attack...

March 17, 2025 - Source: Balkan Insight -  BIRN investigations have uncovered how journalists conducting public-interest investigations in Romania were put under surveillance by their targets with the help of law enforcement. “Do you see that guy taking pictures of us?” “Yes.” “Don’t stare. He’s following us.” We were in Bucharest’s Old Town in the spring of 2023, returning from a meeting with a source for a story about the Tate brothers and their alleged connections to Romanian organized crime. Luiza, my partner in life and journalism, stopped to grab some fries from a takeaway shop,...

World Press Freedom Day 2025: Promoting Freedom of Expression Observed annually on May 3, World Press Freedom Day highlights the vital role of journalism in protecting democratic values and fostering informed societies. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, the day marks the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek, a milestone in defending press freedom. Origins and Purpose Since its inception, World Press Freedom Day has served as a platform to: Celebrate the principles of press freedom. Reflect on the challenges faced by journalists worldwide. Advocate for the independence and safety of media...

March 16, 2025 - Source: World Economics -  Freedom of the press is the right to circulate opinions in print and other media without censorship by the government. The data below is a relative index on a scale of 0-100 comparing each countries freedom to all others in the database. 0 = Least freedom, 100 Most freedom. Base data source: RSF Reporters Without Borders, Paris Data indexed by: World Economics, London   Read more: https://www.worldeconomics.com/Indicator-Data/ESG/Governance/Press-Freedom/

March 16, 2025 – Source: The Tribune –  ‘I Am on the Hit List’ by Rollo Romig is a detailed investigative analysis of the mystery surrounding the brutal assassination of journalist Gauri Lankesh Here is a book which is bound to touch the reader because of its powerful narrative style. It is a detailed investigative analysis of the mystery surrounding the brutal assassination of journalist Gauri Lankesh. Moreover, it is also a gripping commentary on the fragility of Indian democracy in the light of growing extremism and political disenchantment. What I really appreciate is the...

March 11, 2025 - Source: Net Mission -  Human rights online encompasses digital freedom that protects individuals’ privacy, expression, and access to information in a connected world. These rights are crucial for ensuring democratic participation and safeguarding personal dignity while exercising fundamental rights. Recently, numerous human rights violations have emerged, from unauthorized data scraping by AI companies to systematic harassment of journalists, threatening both privacy and press freedom. To this effect, in this case study, we will be highlighting the rising concerns of surveillance capitalism and authoritarianism worldwide to reveal the urgent need for comprehensive digital rights...