World Press Freedom Day 2022
The past few years have presented unprecedented challenges for journalists and others working in media as they were increasingly targeted for repression, arrested, silenced, threatened, and more.
Sri Lanka in crisis
Sri Lanka is in crisis after protests against the nation's Rajapaksa government intensified at the end of March 2022 over economic and social issues. Officials are violently cracking down on dissenters.
Civic Media Observatory
The Civic Media Observatory is a method to investigate and decode how people understand information and create knowledge in complex and seemingly chaotic media ecosystems.
Unfreedom Monitor
The Unfreedom Monitor is a project to analyze, document, and report on the growing use of digital communications technology to advance authoritarian governance around the world.
Latest stories
In Azerbaijan's capital, calls for an end to impunity against activists
A group of civil society activists held a rally in Baku, demanding an end to impunity against government critics, political activists, and journalists.
Podcast: The state of press freedom
This week, we head to China, India, Colombia, Indonesia and Serbia to hear from journalists and researchers about what challenges the media faces in those countries.
For Russians living abroad and denouncing Ukraine's invasion, a new flag symbolizes opposition to Putin
Russians living abroad and opposing Putin's policies and the invasion of Ukraine are coming together under a redesigned Russian flag that embodies the refusal of imperialism and violence.
Not Yet Uhuru: Surveillance, censorship and data practices in the new Tanzania
Internet censorship in Tanzania has taken on a rather oppressive turn in the last five years, with media suppression taking the lead.
Jamaica's Barbara Gloudon, a giant of journalism and theatre, passes away at 87
Gloudon developed a huge following, empathising with callers to her popular radio show and delivering a mix of “rootsy” wisdom, laced with humour and social commentary.
‘The ambition of expressing myself freely': A conversation with Iranian artist Arghavan Khosravi
"One does not need to be Iranian to relate to the sense of uncertainty and repression woven into [Khosravi's] paintings."
Pride or shame? Russian influencers on the war in Ukraine
Explore the narratives of Russian celebrities and thinkers on the war in Ukraine.
Russia's opposition needs to put aside their quarrels and unite against the war
Whenever there is an opportunity for Russia's opposition groups to unite to bring about change in the country, these efforts end in disunity writes former Novaya Gazeta journalist Ivan Zhilin.
Prominent Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh shot dead by Israeli bullet to the head
Despite wearing a press jacket and standing where she is visible to Israeli soldiers firing away, Shireen was killed by a bullet to her ear, right below her helmet.
Pakistan drops 12 points on World Press Freedom Index 2022
A report by Pakistani rights organization Freedom Network reveals that journalists in Pakistan were subjected to violence, legal cases, abductions, detentions and threats last year, mostly from the state actors.
The Philippines: Protests erupt as a former dictator’s son leads the presidential election tally
"It is difficult for voters to be confident in election proceedings marred by machine errors and breakdowns."
In Sri Lanka, a people’s uprising for system change
Sri Lankan jurist, author, poet, and activist Basil Fernando contemplates what lies ahead of Sri Lanka amidst the intensified anti-government protests and the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The death of a toddler adds to Trinidad & Tobago's trauma
In the larger context of the violence the country has been experiencing, citizens feared for the child's well being, and the mood in the local blogosphere was tense.
Nigerian ministers’ political campaigns stir up legal debate
Nigerian cabinet ministers running for office are caught in a legal web between an electoral law that prescribes immediate resignation and the constitution that says they can wait.
Turkey's latest attack on the arts: A provincial governor cancels a long-awaited music festival
While the statement did not specifically mention the upcoming music festival, the event falls under the calendar days mentioned in the statement.
Thugs attacked peaceful protesters, Sri Lanka in turmoil
After 30 days of peaceful protests, the Rajapaksa regime unleashed its thugs on the anti-government protesters in Colombo. The resignation of the Prime Minister followed and violence broke out amid curfew.
In Turkey, a comedy show lands in hot water over a political sketch
The Guldur Guldur Show, a popular comedy show in Turkey, had its sketch removed by a television channel over a satirical bit about Minister of Finance and Treasury Nureddin Nebati.
How accurate is Nepal’s COVID-19 death toll?
Questions regarding what exactly constitutes a COVID-19 death remain elusive. With the lack of comparable data, it's hard to know the true number of COVID-19 deaths in Nepal.
Nigerians demand central banker's resignation for dabbling in partisan politics
"It is difficult to imagine that a person who occupies the sensitive office of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria will be this brazen in actualizing his ambition."
Angola: Activism in danger in a election year
The demonstrators were arrested without the right to a defence as stipulated by law. The 22 activists were then taken to court days later, where they were summarily tried.
Press freedom is marked by fear and insecurity in Mozambique
Among festive messages and recognition of the work done by journalists, the day was marked by a moment of consternation, due to the difficult situation in the local media.
