CPJ promotes press freedom worldwide and defends the right of journalists to report the news without fear of reprisal.
PHOTO: JUSTYNA MIELNIKIEWICZ
Polish Photographer Justyna Mielnikiewicz Wins W. Eugene Smith Grant
Her photos bring to life a region still in disarray, nearly 25 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union
PHOTO: KARAM AL-MASRI–AFP/GETTY IMAGES
War Through Syrian Eyes
In their own words, Syrian photographers reflect on the images that moved them most
“Your passport, Facebook, and Twitter please.”
We already told you about the U.S. government’s proposal to add an “optional” field asking you to list your social media accounts every time you cross the border. And thousands of you have already told the U.S. government you think that’s a bad idea. Unfortunately, their proposal just got even worse.
We’ve seen the revised form (PDF download) Customs and Border Protection is proposing, and the “Social Media Identifier” field isn’t even marked as optional — making it mandatory for travelers entering the United States to divulge their social media accounts.
This kind of broad-strokes data collection violates fundamental privacy rights and hinders freedom of expression — and there’s no proof it would do anything to improve security. Instead, it sets a terrible example for countries around the world to start monitoring everyone’s social media at the border.
Take action now to stop the U.S. government’s expansion of social media surveillance.
Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman and other journalists are being punished for covering the protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Local authorities recently issued an arrest warrant for Goodman and arrested at least two independent reporters — and this crackdown on press freedom will continue if we don’t speak up now.
PHOTO: BILL HUDSON–AP PHOTO
How Photographs Define the Civil Rights and Black Lives Matter Movements
The gripping pictures documenting the Black Lives Matter movement are just as stirring as Civil Rights era photographs
Since last month’s attempted coup, trust in the country’s judicial system has hit a new low. “Press freedom is in a worse state than ever before…I would sum it up like this: the coup was prevented, but the junta came to power.” Ahmet Sik, investigative journalist, discusses Turkey’s attempt to close down 102 media outlets and arrest of 48 journalists.
Read more: Stop the press: Turkey’s crackdown on its media goes into overdrive | World news | The Guardian
Sakher al-Mohammad, 27, journalist: “I can’t remember how my life really was before 2011.”
In Syria, Sakher worked as a journalist and had been critical of the Syrian government. He knows the impact that initiatives and protests can have on public opinion. Days after the assaults, he organized a protest on Facebook, drawing up to 500 participants, he said.
Sakher said he was lucky to be in the country. But not everything has been perfect, Sakher said.
He criticized the country’s refugee camps, saying the government had failed to properly monitor them. According to him, drug use was prevalent in the camps while he was there.
“Even my German friends have started questioning me about the role of refugees in carrying out recent terror attacks,” Sakher said. “I expressed my condolences, but I still think it is unfair to associate me with those people. I fled to Germany to start a new life.”
We’ve been sharing more profiles of Syrian refugees like Sakher. Read more here: These Syrians found refuge in Germany, but they’re still seeking peace.
PHOTO: ANGELOS TZORTZINIS
Thousands of migrants and refugees remain stranded in Greece
IWMF fellows during a training scenario. ALL #IWMFfellows receive Hostile Environments & Security Training prior to IWMF-sponsored reporting trips. Photo: IWMF/Hannah Stonebraker