This is the latest installment of our press freedom round-up, recapping the latest attacks on journalists, their right to publish, and our right to know. Here’s the news for the week of October 12, 2024.

Daniel Hale to receive the inaugural Ellsberg Whistleblower Award

Daniel Hale is announced as the first recipient of the International Ellsberg Whistleblower Award launched by The Reva and David Logan Foundation, the taz Panther Foundation, the Wau Holland Foundation and Whistleblower-Netzwerk.

In 2014, Hale passed classified U.S. military documents to reporters at The Intercept, upon which The Intercept published The Drone Papers, giving the public an unvarnished window into the secretive U.S. remote assassination program, including how it selects targets to kill based on poor evidence, due to which 9 out of 10 drone casualties were innocent bystanders.

For his whistleblowing, Hale was indicted under the 1917 US Espionage Act and convicted to a 45-month prison sentence in 2021. He was released from prison in February 2024 after serving 33 months of his sentence, from which he is now recovering.

UK police raid home, seize devices of journalist Asa Winstanley

British counterterrorism police raided the home and seized several electronic devices belonging to The Electronic Intifada’s associate editor Asa Winstanley.

A letter addressed to Winstanley from the “Counter Terrorism Command” of the Metropolitan Police Service indicates that the authorities are “aware of your profession” as a journalist but that “notwithstanding, police are investigating possible offenses” under sections 1 and 2 of the Terrorism Act (2006). These provisions set out the purported offense of “encouragement of terrorism.”

Earlier this year, a number of reporters and activists in the UK, among others independent journalists Richard Medhurst and Sarah Wilkinson, and Richard Barnard have been arrested and/or charged with violating the Terrorism Act.

Rep. Jim McGovern leading a letter urging Israel to allow independent access for journalists

Drop Site News, Defending Rights and Dissent and Just Foreign Policy have initiated an action to write to Congress in support of the Rep. Jim McGovern letter to President Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken asking them to urge Israel to allow independent access for journalists.

“The absence of foreign media reporting has created significant challenges in obtaining accurate, verifiable information from Gaza, leading to increased skepticism about the limited reports that do emerge.”

Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchina dies in in Russian captivity

Journalist Viktoria Roshchina reportedly died on September 19 while being transferred from southwestern city of Taganrog to Moscow for a prisoner exchange. Following the news of Roshchina’s death, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued a statement demanding from Russian authorities to immediately disclose the circumstances surrounding Roshchina’s death in Russian captivity.

At least 16 journalists and media workers have been killed covering the war since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to CPJ research.

Press freedom groups write to US embassy in Israel over detained US journalist Jeremy Loffredo

The Courage Foundation, Defending Rights & Dissent and the Freedom of the Press Foundation sent a letter to the US Embassy in Jerusalem over the ongoing detention of U.S. journalist Jeremy Loffredo.

“We, the undersigned press freedom and free expression organizations, are writing to express our urgent concern with the situation of US journalist Jeremy Loffredo.

“Loffredo was arrested for reporting on the impact of Iranian missile strikes in Israel. Loffredo’s actions were well within the standard realm of journalism and would have been protected by the First Amendment in the United States.

“Reporting news to the public that a government doesn’t like is not aiding the enemy. It is a hallmark of authoritarian regimes to equate independent journalism with aiding a foreign enemy.”

RCFP urges Congress to pass PRESS Act

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) again urged members of Congress to pass a bipartisan shield bill that would establish robust federal protections for the newsgathering rights of journalists.

In separate letters sent to the U.S. Senate & U.S. House of Representatives RCFP and 107 press rights organizations expressed strong support for the PRESS Act, which passed the House in January and is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

This is the latest installment of our press freedom round-up, recapping the latest attacks on journalists, their right to publish, and our right to know. Here’s the news for the week of October 5, 2024.

Israel detains US journalist reporting on damage to its military bases

Israel has detained American Grayzone journalist Jeremy Loffredo while he was on assignment in Israel. He’s reportedly charged with aiding and providing information to the enemy, apparently for his reporting on Iranian strikes.

According to social media reports, Loffredo was detained along with four other journalists who were “beaten, blindfolded, and taken to an Israeli military base.” They also had their phones confiscated. Loffredo remains in custody, while the others, were released 11 hours later.

Update, via The Intercept on October 11: “Although an Israeli judge granted his release from police custody, [Loffredo] was ordered to remain in the country until October 20.”

Israel targets Palestinian journalists killing one and wounding three

According to DropSite News Palestinian journalist Mohammed Tanani has been killed by Israeli forces while reporting on the ground assault of Jabalia camp. Al Jazeera cameraman Fadi Al-Wahidi was shot in the neck by Israeli sniper and paralyzed for life, while journalist Tamer Lobad was also wounded.

In a separate incident, Ali Al-Attar, a 26-year-old cameraman for Al Jazeera, was severely injured during an Israeli military attack in Deir al-Balah.

A crackdown on US photo and video journalists

US Press Freedom Tracker, a nonpartisan database of press freedom violations, shows that the police is increasingly arresting members of the press at protests, especially those with cameras.

Some of the visual journalists who cover demonstrations across US have dealt with charges well after a protest ended—an unusual recent phenomenon. The Tracker has also logged a more than 50 percent increase over the past year in journalist assaults, the vast majority of them at Gaza-related protests, half—the largest portion—from law enforcement.

Gaza journalist Hassan Hamad killed by artillery fire after threats from Israeli officer

Democracy Now reported that an Israeli artillery shell struck the home of 19-year-old journalist Hassan Hamad in Jabaliya, killing him. In recent weeks Hamad had received death threats via WhatsApp from an Israeli number; he also received phone calls and text messages from an Israeli officer ordering him to stop filming.

Israel responsible for record journalist death toll, says CPJ

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued a report documenting a year of Israel’s war in Gaza which has exacted an unprecedented and horrific toll on Palestinian journalists and the region’s media landscape.

“The killings, along with censorship, arrests, the continued ban on independent media access into Gaza, persistent internet shutdowns, the destruction of media outlets, and displacement of the Gaza media community, have severely restricted reporting on the war and hampered documentation.”

RSF: Israeli forces have methodically destroyed the Palestinian territory’s media infrastructure and stifled journalism

Since the start of the war in Gaza, “the right to information about what is happening in the Palestinian enclave has continued eroding with each passing day as the Israeli army’s media blackout continues”, says Reporters Without Borders (RSF). More than 130 journalists have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, with at least 32 of them targeted and killed while working.

This is the latest installment of our press freedom round-up, recapping the latest attacks on journalists, their right to publish, and our right to know. Here’s the news for the week of September 29, 2024.

Julian Assange testifies before Council of Europe; CoE Parliamentary Assembly recognises Assange as a ‘political prisoner’

Addressing the public for the first time since before his arrest in 2019, Julian Assange spoke before the Legal and Human Rights Committee of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) on October 1 in Strasbourg, about his prosecution, detention and imprisonment.

“I am not free today because the system worked. I am free today because after years of incarceration I pleaded guilty to journalism. I pleaded guilty to seeking information from a source.”

On October 2, PACE adopted a resolution based on a report by Thórhildur Sunna Ævarsdóttir, saying that Assange’s treatment warranted his designation as a “political prisoner”, citing the severe charges brought against him by the United States of America, exposing him to possible life imprisonment, combined with his conviction under the US Espionage Act “for what was – in essence – newsgathering and publishing”.

Palestinian journalist Wafa Aludaini killed by Israel in her home in Gaza

An Israeli air strike killed Palestinian journalist, Wafa Aludaini, a prominent English-speaking reporter who worked with international news outlets. Aludaini was killed alongside her husband and two children in a direct attack on her home in the central Gaza Strip.

Israel has killed more than 170 journalists since the beginning of its assault on Gaza, while dozens of others have been injured or evacuated. For this reason, Courage co-organized a coalition of more than 100 journalists to sign a letter to U.S. Sec. Antony Blinken, urging an immediate U.S. arms embargo on Israel.

UN Security Council urged to not turn a blind eye to Israel’s attacks on press freedom

In his speech at the UN Security Council, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu decried the attacks against journalists perpetuated by Isreal and highlighted that “the veto continues to paralyse the Council from stopping Israel’s genocidal war against the Palestinian people.”

IFJ demands governments stop interfering in the work of journalists

To mark the International Day for Universal Access to Information, the International Federation of Journalists demands that governments around the world make public information public, and stop interfering in the work of journalists.

“Across the world, access to public information is at risk of being restricted in the name of national security and anti-terrorism legislation. These increasingly broaden definitions of ‘classified information’ and limit exceptions for journalism.”

IFJ turned the spotlight to five cases from different regions of the world that illustrate how the universal right to information has been infringed by governments.

Mohammed R. Mhawish writes about his experience as a journalist in Gaza

In an opinion piece for MSNBC Palestinian journalist, Mohammed R. Mhawish, recounts his experience as a journalist working in Northern Gaza.

“I experienced firsthand the dangers of reporting on the ground, and the scrutiny I was subjected to for being affiliated with Al Jazeera. The press badge on my chest, meant to ensure my safety, functioned as a target. In December 2023, my home was bombed with me and my family inside, as a direct result of my work, after I received multiple threats via phone calls and text messages from the Israeli military ordering me to stop reporting and cease writing.”

Latest news from our press freedom round-up, recapping attacks on journalists, their right to publish, and our right to know. Here’s the news for the week of September 22, 2024.

Assange to testify before the Council of Europe

On October 1, Julian Assange will give testimony before the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg. The hearing marks Assange’s first official testimony on his case since before his imprisonment in 2019.

The address comes after PACE’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights approved a draft resolution regarding Julian Assange’s conviction and detention and their chilling effect on human rights, earlier this month.

The hearing will take place on Tuesday 1 October in Room 1 of the Palais de l’Europe, from 8.30 a.m. to 10 a.m. CEST and will be live-streamed on the Assembly’s YouTube channel. Watch here.

Press freedom groups denounce Israel’s raid and closure of Al Jazeera bureau in Ramallah

The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Israeli authorities to stop harassing and obstructing Al Jazeera:

“CPJ is deeply alarmed by Israel’s closure of Al Jazeera’s office in the occupied West Bank, just months after it shuttered Al Jazeera’s operations in Israel after deeming it a threat to national security.”

UK’s National Union of Journalists called the raid a “brazen attack on press freedom” and condemned it as “a dangerous act clearly intended to silence truths and prevent journalists from carrying out their crucial work”.

The Pact for the Future fails to address the issues related to journalism and the global information crisis, says RSF

The Pact for the Future and its annex, the Global Digital Compact, adopted on September 22 by the United Nations General Assembly, fails to address the issues related to journalism and the global information crisis, according to Reporters Without Borders:

“Apart from a few references about the need to protect journalists in war zones and to combat misinformation, the UN member states are not sufficiently committed to the essential issue: guaranteeing everyone’s right to access diverse, reliable and independent information.”

Take a look at the new installment of our press freedom round-up, recapping the latest attacks on journalists, their right to publish, and our right to know. Here’s the news for the week of September 15, 2024.

Israel kills another journalist in Gaza, raising death toll to 173

Another Palestinian journalist, Abdullah Shakshak, was killed in an Israeli air strike on the Gaza Strip, bringing the total number of media professionals killed since October 7, 2023 to 173.

Caitlin Vogus talks about the importance of the PRESS Act

In an interview with First Amendment Watch, Caitlin Vogus, Deputy Director of Advocacy at Freedom of the Press Foundation, discusses the PRESS Act, its proposed protections, and the urgency in getting the law passed before the upcoming election.

“It’s maybe the most important press freedom legislation in history, and the reason is because in the past decade, or maybe even a bit longer, we’ve really seen administrations from both parties that have increasingly spied on journalists and their sources in an attempt to stifle important reporting and prevent government transparency. And the PRESS Act would address that problem by protecting journalists from surveillance, or from being compelled to reveal their sources or newsgathering material, and as a result, it would make sources feel much more comfortable coming forward to talk to journalists, to blow the whistle, to share important information that informs the public.”

Israeli army raids Al Jazeera’s bureau in Ramallah, issues 45-day closure order

Al Jazeera reported that heavily armed and masked Israeli soldiers forcefully entered its bureau in Ramallah at 3am on Sunday and ordered everyone working the overnight shift at the bureau to leave, telling them they could take only their personal belongings. They handed the bureau head, Walid al-Omari, a notice to shut down operations.

Sunday’s raid comes after Israeli government banned Al Jazeera from operating inside Israel in May. The order came from the Israeli military authority despite the bureau being in Area A, an area delineated as being under Palestinian control in the Oslo Accords. Although the order is issued for 45 days, Al Jazeera bureau chief, al-Omari, said that he believes it will be renewed automatically, as has been the case with the previous civilian order Israel issued to close the Al Jazeera bureau in Israel.

This is the latest installment of our new press freedom round-up, recapping the latest attacks on journalists, their right to publish, and our right to know. Here’s the news for the week of September 8, 2024.

Palestinian journalists Anas al-Sharif describes circumstances faced by reporters in Gaza

Writing for DropSite News, Anas Al-Sharif, one of the few reporters who have remained in northern Gaza since October 7, describes what documenting Israel’s genocide every day for 11 months looks like.

“I was threatened by the Israeli occupation army and told I needed to stop reporting from northern Gaza and go to the south. But I refused their order, and I didn’t stop my coverage for one moment despite the threats, despite the bombing, despite the siege. Because I didn’t stop and because of my continuous coverage, the Israeli occupation targeted my home, and the home of my family that led to my father being martyred, may God have mercy on him.”

Defending Rights & Dissent sues the FBI for Assange and Wikileaks files

The civil liberties organization Defending Rights & Dissent filed a Freedom of Information lawsuit against the FBI to compel the release of its files on Julian Assange and Wikileaks.

“With the legal persecution of Julian Assange finally over, the FBI must come clean to the American people”, said Chip Gibbons, the policy director for Defending Rights and Dissent, adding that the organization will work to see that “all files documenting how the FBI criminalized and investigated journalism are made available to the public”.

Read more here, and donate to support to lawsuit effort here.

PACE welcomes release of Julian Assange, condemns harsh treatment and urges Espionage Act reform

Legal Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) welcomed the release of Julian Assange and expressed deep concern at “the disproportionately harsh treatment” he faced. The Committee called on the U.S. to investigate the alleged war crimes and human rights abuses disclosed by Wikileaks and urged the U.S. to “urgently reform” the 1917 Espionage Act to exclude its application to publishers, journalists and whistleblowers who disclose classified information to raise awareness about serious crimes.

Assange’s unprecedented conviction under the Espionage Act, “creates a dangerous chilling effect and a climate of self-censorship affecting all journalists, publishers and others”, concluded the Committee, “severely undermining the protection of journalists and whistleblowers around the world”.

Israel is revoking press credentials of Al Jazeera journalists working in the country

After shutting down Al Jazeera’s Israeli newsroom in May, Israeli government announced it is revoking the press credentials of Al Jazeera journalists working in the country. The decision is to be applied to four full-time Al Jazeera journalists with Israeli citizenship, an official told AFP.

German journalists write an open letter demanding protection for journalists in Gaza

In the open letter, signed by 160 journalists working in Germany, reporters demand protection for journalists in Gaza, the lifting of the Isreali entry ban to the war zone for international journalists, and unbiased reporting.

“As journalists working in the German media, we no longer want to remain silent about the situation of our colleagues in Gaza”, write journalists and conclude that “The killing of journalists and the destruction of journalistic infrastructure in Gaza are strong indications that this war has long since exceeded the limits of international law and proportionality.”

The letter comes after 60 global press freedom and human rights organizations called on the EU to take decisive action against Israel for its attacks on reporters, and our own letter to US Secretary Blinken, signed by 100+ journalists, and two dozen newsroom and free press orgs, urging the US to impose arms embargo on Israel amid the country’s widespread killing of journalists in Palestine.

UN experts urge Israel to stop attacks against journalists in occupied West Bank

Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Irene Khan, and Special Rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, condemned incidents of violence, harassment, intimidation and obstruction of journalists in the occupied West Bank, which have escalated amid Israel’s military offensive.

“We strongly denounce the attacks and harassment of journalists in the illegally occupied West Bank, which are nothing but crude attempts by the Israeli army to block independent reporting on potential war crimes,” the experts said.

This week in press freedom

This is the latest installment of our new press freedom round-up, recapping the latest attacks on journalists, their right to publish, and our right to know. Here’s the news for the week of September 1, 2024.

Journalists injured by Israel army in West Bank 

Israeli forces continue to prevent journalists from covering the destruction in Jenin amid ongoing raids in the occupied West Bank. At least 4 journalists have been injured as they came under direct attacks by Israeli snipers, despite wearing press vests.

IFJ and NUJ condemn UK’s apparent misuse of anti-terror legislation

In a letter to the UK’s Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, the NUJ and IFJ have expressed their grave concern about an apparent crackdown on journalists and activists using terrorism legislation and have urged the government to ensure its powers are used proportionately.

“We seek clarity from you on the nature of the investigation into Richard Medhurst and request an urgent meeting to discuss the use of police powers under anti-terror legislation to detain, question and arrest journalists”, the letter says. “Without swift action to restore confidence over the treatment of journalists and activists, counter-terrorism policing faces an erosion of public confidence and risks a chilling effect on journalists fearing arrest for carrying out their work.”

Reporters covering protests outside the DNC speak out on CPD

Freedom of the Press Foundation convened a forum for independent journalists who reported on the protests outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to discuss their experiences in dealing with the Chicago Police Department. The issues they raised went beyond the usual tension between officers and reporters on the ground: the reporters pointed out that they were threatened with arrest and the revocation of their press credentials if they didn’t comply with orders to disperse. The CPD has also limited the space from which they could cover the protests, further violating their First Amendment rights. 

Australian Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) stands in solidarity with journalists in Gaza

“We remember and honor all media workers killed by Israel in Gaza and express solidarity with journalists in Gaza who are risking their lives every day. These journalists are the eyes of the world, bearing witness,” MEAA Federal Council said in a resolution passed at a meeting in Sydney. 

This week in press freedom

This is the latest installment of our new press freedom round-up, recapping the latest attacks on journalists, their right to publish, and our right to know. Here’s the news for the week of August 25, 2024.

Israel continues targeting journalists

Israeli forces have killed at least four more journalists in Gaza over the course of the last two weeks. According to RSF, “Freelance reporter Ibrahim Muhareb was killed and his colleague Salma al-Qaddoumi was wounded when an Israeli tank deliberately fired on a group of identifiable journalists.” An Israeli airstrike on Nuseirat Camp has killed freelance journalist Sumaya Abd Rabbo and her brother, journalist Mohamed Abd Rabbo of Al-Manara Media, per the Coalition of Women in Press Freedom. In another incident, journalist Ali Taimeh was killed by an Israeli strike that targeted a civilian car near him while he was reporting on displaced people in Khan Younis.

Israel’s IDF has deliberately targeted journalists covering the Israeli incursion into the West Bank city of Jenin. The soldiers shot live bullets at journalists, chasing them with military bulldozers to prevent them from covering the attacks carried out by the Israeli army.

Israel has killed more than 160 journalists since the beginning of its assault on Gaza, while dozens of others have been injured or evacuated. Last month, Courage co-organized a coalition of more than 100 journalists to sign a letter to U.S. Sec. Antony Blinken, urging an immediate U.S. arms embargo on Israel.

Journalists arrested at DNC

At least three credentialed journalists were arrested while covering protests in downtown Chicago during the Democratic National Convention, on August 20th. According to RSF, their credentials were seized and not returned until lawyers acting on their behalf intervened. On August 21, the Chicago Police Department confirmed the journalists were charged with disorderly conduct and failure to obey police.

A crackdown on pro-Palestinian speech and reporting

A number of reporters and activists in the UK, among others independent journalists Richard Medhurst and Sarah Wilkinson, and Richard Barnard, co-founder of Palestinian Action, have been arrested and/or charged with violating section 12 of the Terrorism Act.

In Australia, the Zionist Federation of Australia has brought charges under s18c of the Racial Discrimination Act against journalist Mary Kostakidis for sharing tweets about Gaza. “The Australian Zionist Federation is weaponising Australian law in an attempt to curb criticism of Israel for its acts of genocide”, said Kostakidis in her statement.

60 organizations urge EU action against Israel’s attacks on press freedom

In an urgent appeal, 60 global press freedom and human rights organizations have called on the European Union to take decisive action against Israel for its escalating violations of media freedom and killing of journalists. In a letter addressed to EU leaders, the signatories urged the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and the imposition of targeted sanctions on responsible Israeli officials.

Journalists and media stuff killed in Ukraine and Iraqi Kurdistan

A Russian strike on a hotel in Eastern Ukraine killed a media staffer and injured two journalists. “Ryan Evans is the 12th media worker killed in the line of duty in Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion,” says RSF.

Two journalists from Chatr Media, Gulistan Tara and Hero Bahadin, were killed, and their colleague journalist Rêbîn Bekir was injured on 23 August, when a suspected Turkish drone hit their car in the Said Sadiq district of Sulaymaniyah Province, northern Iraq.