Suppression Blog

Intimidation and punishment of the Press

“It may be bad to suppress a particular opinion, but the really deadly thing is to suppress the news.” —Walter Lippmann, Liberty and the News, 1920

The Week of June 16, 2025

Axios. Press Club alleges LAPD targeted journalists in demonstrations

"Being a journalist in Los Angeles is now a dangerous profession." So says the opening sentence of a lawsuit brought by the LA Press against Los Angeles and LAPD in US District Court. -acs

Guardian. Saudi journalist tweeted against the government, and was executed

The death of Turki al-Jasser was the first high-profile killing of a journalist since the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi. -gjw

Index on Censorship. Exiled Afghan journalist urges UK to provide protection to those endangered for telling the truth

Offers for asylum have greatly diminished in the Western world as truthful journalism grows both more important and dangerous. Journalist Zahra Joya deems this "a clear violation of international human rights laws, which recognise freedom of expression as one of the foundations of a just and democratic society." -acs

Politico. Journalists in Gaza starve as extended blockade has completely exhausted resources

"Every day, [journalists] juggle survival and reporting — and both are slipping." Committee to Protect Journalists covers the battle for local coverage and basic necessities in Gaza as war booms on. -acs

RSF. Reporters Sans Frontières calls on Nepalese authorities to protect journalists, citing recent killings and restrictive lawss

RSF members Thibaut Bruttin, and Binod Dhungel urge Nepal's government to prioritize "protecting journalists, supporting independent outlets and guaranteeing access to information of public interest." This comes as a part of larger effort to ensure citizens’ rights to trustworthy information. -acs

Brown. Brown University study identifies "news graveyards," detailing the cost of war as measured by Journalist fatalities

"Reliable information about wars and conflicts is essential for the wellbeing of local populations and is necessary to enlighten the world on the forces behind wars and the toll on civilians." Nick Turse highlights the impact that "news graveyards" have on the course of history, cultural lagacy, and vulnerable populations. -acs

Amnesty Intl. Azerbaijani authorities crack down on Abzas Media, sentencing seven Journalists to serve time in prison

A member of the Council of Europe since 2001, Azerbaijan has the highest number of imprisoned media workers in the group, with at least 25 journalists currently imprisoned. The sentencing of Abzas Meida members comes as no shock, highlighting a greater issue on the safety of journalists and their right to report the truth. -acs

NPR. Amidst widespread government layoffs, Voice of America Radio does not escape unscathed

In an era where objective news dwindles, budget cuts take public radio to the chopping block. "About 1,400 jobs, or 85% of positions, are being cut at the U.S. Agency for Global Media" this includes valuable cultural programming and news coverage by Voice of America, now all but gutted by these changes. -acs

RSF. The war in Iran has already killed journalists, now the RSF calls for their safety and protection

Rather than liberate journalists, Israel’s strikes reinforced the Iranian regime’s narrative that those loyal to the regime are victims and reporters critical of the authorities are enemies, dangerously escalating the price of free speech. -acs

The Week of June 2, 2025

PEN America. Writers organizations condemn attack on journalists by LA police during protests against ICE raids

First Amendment Coalition, Freedom of the Press Foundation, and Los Angeles Press Club condemned attacks on journalists covering immigration protests in the Los Angeles area. -gjw

NBC. Tom Homan, executive associate director of enforcement and removal operations, threatens California governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass

He did not accuse any politician of impeding enforcement, and when asked about Bass specifically, said that he doesn’t believe “she’s crossed the line yet. -gjw

The Week of May 14, 2025

The Wrap. NYT Publisher Blasts Trump for Anti-Media Rhetoric, Says Free Press Is ‘Under Direct Attack’

“Effectively, in his first term, President Trump exported his anti-press rhetoric to illiberal leaders abroad. Those leaders took that rhetoric as permission to develop and implement an aggressive new playbook for cracking down on journalists.” -A.G. Sulzberger

The Week of May 12, 2025

Columbia Journalism Review. Rural and Tribal Public Radio Stations Brace for Funding Cuts

President Donald Trump’s executive order could wipe out funding appropriated through 2026 and 2027, endangering stations that already operate on razor-thin margins. “If CPB funding disappears, I don’t know how we’d survive,” said Cindy Sweat, KSTK’s general manager. -acb

Current. White House proposes eliminating CPB’s funding in FY26 budget plan

“The recommended funding levels result from a rigorous, line-by-line review of FY 2025 spending, which was found to be laden with spending contrary to the needs of ordinary working Americans and tilted toward funding niche non-governmental organizations and institutions of higher education committed to radical gender and climate ideologies antithetical to the American way of life.” quotes Russell Vought -Director, White House Office of Management and Budget

The Conversation (US). The attack on public broadcasting is part of a growing threat to press freedom and democracy

In the grab to reclaim power from the people, authoritarians and the oligarchs who support them recoil from criticism and dissent, demanding that all people support government positions regardless of the rationality of their claims. - Lorry-Ann Austin -Assistant Professor, Social Work and Human Services, Thompson Rivers University

The Week of May 7, 2025

Variety. Democratic Senators Urge Paramount’s Shari Redstone to Fight Trump’s ‘Bogus’ Lawsuit

“This lawsuit is an attack on the United States Constitution and the First Amendment. It has absolutely no merit and it cannot stand,” the senators wrote in the letter, dated May 7. -acb

The Guardian. Journalist taking Trump administration to court for shutdown of VOA

The lawsuit, backed by Reporters Without Borders and four unions, argues the Trump administration, through the actions of the defendants, USAGM, and the government’s special adviser Kari Lake, are attempting to unlawfully dismantle VOA’s operations because they deem it contrary to the government’s agenda.

NiemanLab. Gannett “adapting to the evolving regulatory environment” by removing DEI information from website

Company removes all mention of DEI. “While we will no longer publish workforce demographic metrics or sustainability and inclusion reports, Gannett is deeply committed to our ethical business model,” Lark-Marie Antón, Gannett’s chief communications officer said. -acb

Access Now. UPDATE: World Press Freedom Day

Highlighting some of the most persistent threats to journalism: the ongoing rise of spyware, persistent attacks on encryption, increased disinformation, and a spate of new laws to enacting to silencing of journalists. -acb

AP. Nicaragua is quitting the UNESCO agency over a press freedom award to La Prensa.

A jury of media professionals recommended Nicaragua’s La Prensa for the 2025 award. The newspaper, founded in 1926, “has made courageous efforts to report the truth to the people of Nicaragua.” -acb

Nieman Lab. Silence and belt-tightening: Environmental Journalism under threat

Society of Environmental Journalists’ annual conference update: Gone are the major sponsors under the Biden Administration: the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative, Deloitte, The Ocean Conservancy, and US government experts. -acb

The Week of March 24, 2025

CPJ. Palestinian reporters Hossam Shabat & Mohammed Mansour killed by IDF

Committee to Protect Journalists questions whether they were deliberately targeted by Israeli forces (journalists are protected under the Geneva Conventions, of which Israel is a signatory). -gjw

CPJ. Pakistan authorities detain independent journalist Farhan Mallick in Karachi

Mallick, founder of the independent online media platform Raftar, was arrested on accusations of running “several programs against the security establishment.” -gjw

RSF. Trump sued in effort to restore VOA

Reporters Without Borders joined VOA employees and their unions in filing a legal complaint against the US Agency for Global Media, the federal agency that oversees VOA, as well as USAGM Senior Advisor Kari Lake and Acting CEO Victor Morales. -gjw

ICIJ. Trump’s cuts threaten reporters with return to repressive regimes

Reporters for Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America could be forced to return to repressive countries where their lives or livelihoods are at risk following an executive order from Mr. Trump last week.

-gjw

The Week of March 17, 2025

WP. Trump is dismantling the free press. We need to stop him.

Dana Milbank’s forceful case for taking direct action against Trump’s broad crackdown on civil liberties. - gjw

Citizen Lab, Munk School, U-Toronto. Banned Books: Analysis of Censorship on Amazon.com

In a deeply researched study, University of Toronto researchers found 17,050 products that Amazon restricted from being shipped to at least one world region. Heaviest censorship involved wifi products and LGBT materials; the most restricted destinations were UAE, Saudia Arabia; other Mid-East countries. - gjw

CJR. The Last Days at Voice of America

VOA reporter Liam Scott documents the end of Voice of America. - gjw

The Week of March 10, 2025

Stet News. Exclusive: Gannett fires Post editorial page editor
Backlash over cartoon viewed as antisemitic leads to Tony Doris’ removal at The Palm Beach Post. - ab

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Media21 outlet shuttered, 4 journalists arrested in Iraq
Security forces closed the outlet’s office in Sulaymaniyah on March 1, saying it lacked a license, confiscated several computers, and ordered staff not to return to work, according to two sources who spoke to CPJ on condition of anonymity. - ab

IFJ. Journalist arrested in Zimbabwe, charged with inciting violence
Journalist Blessed Mhlanga was charged for publishing an interview with member of the former ruling party. - gjw

The Week of March 3, 2025

Mondaq. Press Freedom In India: Still ranks low, according to World Press Freedom report for 2024
The world’s largest democracy is listed behind Pakistan and Sri Lanka according to a report published by Reporters Without Borders. India has taken pride in its democratic ideals: The Constitution of India guarantees freedom of speech and expression, which include freedom of press. - dg

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). UPDATE: Vietnamese journalist Truong Huy San sentenced to 30 months in prison
Hanoi’s People’s Court sentenced Vietnamese journalist Truong Huy San to 30 months in prison on Thursday under a criminal provision that bars “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe on the interests of the State.” - ab

The New York Times. Washington Post opinion editor resigns after owner Jeff Bezos reduces permissible viewpoints
Owner Jeff Bezos has stated that The Washington Post opinion page would promote “personal liberties and free markets,” and decreed that no opposing viewpoints would be allowed. David Shipley, opinion page editor, left his roll after the announcement. The decision to reduce the viewpoints of the opinion pages is regarded as a startling retreat from its historical approach to political and economic content. - dg

Reuters. British journalist missing in Brazil
British journalist who was declared missing a fortnight ago after being seen boarding a bus in Sao Paulo is believed to have “voluntarily disappeared,” Brazilian authorities say. - ab

The Guardian. ‘We have nothing now’: Myanmar’s exiled media face existential crisis after Trump severs aid
“The horrible USAid, the horrible things that they’re spending money on,” Trump said of his shock move to freeze funds to the United States Agency for Development. “It’s got to be kickbacks.” But in Mae Sot, home to about 300 exiled journalists from Myanmar, USAid money is spent supporting independent journalism. - ab

Politico. AP sues Trump officials after being barred from some White House events
Trump administration bars news sites from various locations. AP fights back. - ab

Harvard Kennedy School. Oligarchy in the open: What happens now as the U.S. is forced to confront its plutocracy problem?
Few will be surprised to learn that political outcomes overwhelmingly favor very wealthy people, corporations, and business groups. Recent studies have shown that the influence of ordinary American citizens was at a “non-significant, near-zero level, and the presidential campaign witnessed record support by billionaires. Harvard Kennedy School Professor Archon Fung and Harvard Law School Professor Larry Lessig write that 2024 could be a turning point that will force Americans to confront the country’s trend toward rule by the wealthy. - dg

Persuasion. A New Threat to the Freedom of the Press
President Trump and many of his allies have either explicitly or implicitly called for the Supreme Court to overturn Sullivan, with Trump in 2016 saying he wanted to “open up” libel laws. - ab

Mother Jones. Centralized media ownership continues to worsen in recent decades
In 1983, journalists reported on what came to be called “media monopolies” in newspapers, radio, and television. Today, even smaller numbers of media companies control news reporting and distribution. Media operations have fewer options than ever regarding their independence, as hedge funds and private investment companies continue to buy up media they believe can be profitable, with little care concerning the reliability of journalism. - dg

The Week of February 23, 2025

CJR. NPR and PBS face a moment of truth
FCC Chair Brendan Carr is investigating NPR and PBS for possible commercial violations, raising concerns about public media funding. - jy
European Federation of Journalists. EFJ stands in solidarity with American journalists against Trump administration
The EFJ has shown support for American journalists targeted by the Trump administration, denouncing government actions against press freedom, labor rights, and migrant protections, while calling for worldwide solidarity in safeguarding journalism. - jy

Guardian. Mississippi judge orders removal of editorial in violation of First Amendment
A judge in Mississippi directed a newspaper to retract an editorial that criticized local officials, drawing criticism from press freedom advocates who argue the ruling violates First Amendment protections. - jy
Editor & Publisher. What happens when a city silences a newspaper? An inside look at the Clarksdale censorship case
The removal of an editorial by The Clarksdale Press Register raises major First Amendment concerns, threatening local journalism nationwide. - jy
CPJ. Vietnamese journalist Truong Huy San indicted for ‘abusing democratic freedoms’
Truong Huy San has been charged under Article 331 for allegedly "abusing democratic freedoms" through his Facebook posts, facing a potential seven year prison sentence. - jy
CPJ. Egypt blocks independent media outlet Zawia3 over investigative reporting
Egyptian authorities shut down Zawia3, a Brussels-based outlet, in a move condemned by the CPJ as part of the ongoing crackdown on independent journalism. - jy
GIJN. The USAID Crisis and Funding the Future of Independent Media
The Trump administration's freeze on USAID funding has endangered global independent media, increasing risks for journalists, and forcing newsrooms to seek new funding. - jy
CBS News. 2024 was deadliest year for journalists with 124 reporters killed, Committee to Protect Journalists says
In 2024, 124 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide, primarily Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas war, with others dying in Sudan, Pakistan, Mexico, and Syria. - jy
BBC. Journalist's murder highlights risks of reporting in small-town India
Indian journalist Mukesh Chandrakar was murdered after investigating corruption in Chhattisgarh, highlighting the dangers faced by reporters in conflict zones. - jy

The Week of February 11, 2025

Dallas Morning News. UT-Dallas in fight over student press

Internal conflicts between students and administrators at the University of Texas at Dallas have sparked debates over student media oversight and editorial freedom. - jy

Reuters. Azerbaijan, under fire over press freedom, arrests two more journalists

Azerbaijan has arrested two more journalists on smuggling charges amid ongoing crackdowns on the press, drawing further Western criticism over its human rights record. - jy

KQED. FCC investigates SF radio station for ICE reporting, sparking press freedom fear

The FCC is investigating KCBS for reporting on ICE operations, raising concerns about press freedom and government overreach. - jy

The Week of February 4, 2025

NYT. Soon-Shiong blocks L.A. Times editorial on Trump’s cabinet picks

L.A. Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong thinks he’s creating balance. Katie Robertson gives inside details of the decline of LAT’s editorial independence.

- gjw

The Week of January 28, 2025

NYT. Trump’s Plan to Crush the Academic Left

Chris Rufo is influencing Trump’s administration to target D.E.I. programs and leftist ideologies in academia through investigations and executive orders. Critics warn these efforts could erode academic freedom and free speech. - jy
Alaska Register. Anchorage Daily News owner refuses to recognize guild, hires union-busting lawyers

Ryan Binkley, the head of the group that owns the Anchorage Daily News, has rejected newsroom workers’ request to voluntarily recognize their union. The employees claim Binkley’s decision hinders efforts to address stagnant wages and improve workplace sustainability. - jy