Attacks on the Press - Committee to Protect Journalists

attacks on the press in 2009cpj at a glanceb u r t o n benjamin m e m o r i a l award recipients 1991-2008CPJ AT A GLANCE1991Walter CronkiteCBS News1992Katharine GrahamThe Washington Post Company1993Ted TurnerCNN1994George SorosOpen Society Institute1995Benjamin C. BradleeThe Washington Post1996Arthur Ochs SulzbergerThe New York Times1997Ted KoppelABC News1998Brian LambC-SPAN1999Don HewittCBS News2000Otis ChandlerTimes Mirror Company2001Joseph LelyveldThe New York Times2002Daniel PearlThe Wall Street Journal2003John F. BurnsThe New York Times2004John S. CarrollLos Angeles Times2005Peter JenningsABC News2006Hodding Carter III2007Tom BrokawNBC News2008Beatrice MtetwaHow did CPJ get started? A group of U.S. foreign correspondents created CPJ inresponse to the often brutal treatment of their local colleagues by authoritariangovernments and other enemies of independent journalism.Who runs CPJ? CPJ has a staff of 23 at its New York headquarters, including areaspecialists for each major world region. CPJ has a Washington representative,and consultants stationed around the world. A board of prominent journalistsdirects CPJ’s activities.How is CPJ funded? CPJ is funded solely by contributions from individuals,corporations, and foundations. CPJ does not accept government funding.Why is press freedom important? Without a free press, few other human rightsare attainable. A strong press freedom environment encourages the growth of arobust society, which leads to stable, sustainable democracies and healthy social,political, and economic development. CPJ works in more than 120 countries,many of which suffer under repressive regimes, debilitating civil war, or otherproblems that harm press freedom and democracy.How does CPJ protect journalists? By publicly revealing abuses against the pressand by acting on behalf of imprisoned and threatened journalists, CPJ effectivelywarns journalists and news organizations where attacks on press freedom areoccurring. CPJ organizes vigorous public protests and works through diplomaticchannels to effect change. CPJ regularly issues news alerts and protest letters;publishes press freedom commentary daily on the CPJ Blog; and produces <strong>Attacks</strong>on the Press, a comprehensive annual survey of international press freedom.Where does CPJ get its information? CPJ has full-time program coordinatorsmonitoring the press in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Central Asia, andthe Middle East and North Africa. They track developments through their ownindependent research, fact-finding missions, and firsthand contacts in the field,including reports from other journalists. CPJ shares information on breakingcases with other press freedom organizations through the International Freedomof Expression Exchange, a global electronic network.When would a journalist call upon CPJ? In an emergency. Using local and foreigncontacts, CPJ intervenes whenever local and foreign correspondents are introuble. CPJ notifies news organizations, government officials, and humanrights organizations immediately of press freedom violations. When travelingon assignment. CPJ advises journalists covering dangerous assignments. Whencovering the news. <strong>Attacks</strong> against the press are news, and they often serve as thefirst signal of a crackdown on all freedoms. CPJ is uniquely situated to providejournalists with information and insight into press conditions around the world.352353