SOS for Journalist

At a congressional hearing today, July 11, Carlos Martínez de la Serna, program director at the Committee to Protect Journalists, highlighted the most pressing threats to the media in Cuba and called on Congress to act when and where it can make a difference for Cuba’s journalists.

Venezuelan online and radio journalist Braulio Jatar was formally released from house arrest today after receiving official notification from a criminal court in his home state of Nueva Esparta. He must present himself to the court every 15 days.

Access to the audio-visual on-line magazine ADNCUBA (Cuba’s DNA), was blocked today by the Cuban government to prevent anyone in Cuba from accessing and seeing the website as confirmed by contributors and readers.

On June 18, more than 400 people converged in Mexico City for the Committee for the Protection of Journalist’s (CPJ) Mexico Press Freedom Summit. Energized by a sense that the country is at a point of profound political change under the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the conference delved into the threats for Mexican journalists.

Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was deliberately killed at the hands of state actors and journalists around the world are increasingly seeing the same fate, said a United Nations expert.

Authorities in the Brazilian town of Maricá, in Rio de Janeiro state, must thoroughly investigate the killing of journalist Romário Barros and determine whether the attack was tied to his journalism, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) warned that the indictment could be the opening salvo in a broader attack on First Amendment journalistic protections. The 18th charge against Assange–of violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA)–has garnered far less attention.

The founder, editor, and other members of the The Intercept Brasil staff said they have received threats on email and social media following their publication of politically sensitive stories this month.

Colombian authorities should conduct a swift and comprehensive investigation into the killing of radio journalist Libardo Montenegro and ensure those responsible are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Haitian authorities should conduct a swift and comprehensive investigation into the killing of journalist Pétion Rospide and ensure those responsible are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.