News
World Press bodies protest attacks on journalists in the US and Philippines
View(s):The International Press Institute (IPI) has launched two major press freedom campaigns for journalists in the Philippines and the United States.
The IPI members have been requested to take part in the campaign to protest the case filed against Maria Ressa and the online news site Rappler, which is due to commence on June 15.
The court action is seen as an attempt to silence journalist Ressa and shut down the Rappler site in retaliation for its critical coverage of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration. The IPI National Committee is writing directly to the Philippines embassies in their country, while members have been requested to post Twitter and Facebook messages as part of the campaign.
The IPI is also campaigning for the protection of journalists in the US who have been covering the ‘Black Lives Matter’ protests.
The IPI North American Committee has issued a strong statement condemning the attacks against journalists covering these protests.
“Any officers who abuse their powers to assault journalists should be held accountable for illegal actions to the full extent of the law,” the IPI said.
The IPI has also signed letters of protest coordinated by global press freedom groups including the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists.
Meanwhile, members from 40 countries representing the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) have written to US President Donald Trump to condemn the recent violence against journalists covering protests in the country.
The joint letter calls for perpetrators to be brought to justice and urges President Trump “to forcefully condemn these attacks and show unwavering support for a free press.” The letter, initiated by WAN-IFRA President Fernando De Yarza Lopez-Madrazo and World Editors Forum President Warren Fernandez, is co-signed by 20 national member associations and 45 individual publishers, CEOs, Editors-in-Chief and senior media executives from around the world.