Press Freedom
43 stories related to this topic, newest first.
pakistantoday.com.pkU.S. Administration Expels Chinese Journalist After China Orders Reporter Out
The U.S. administration removed a Chinese journalist from the country. The action followed China’s decision to require a foreign reporter to leave.
straitstimes.comJournalists in Gaza to Receive 2026 Golden Pen of Freedom Award
Three international news agencies will accept the award on behalf of their local staff still reporting from the territory. The World Association of News Publishers cited the journalists' continued coverage under extreme conditions.
ReasonFederal Judge Rejects DHS Warrants in Don Lemon Church Protest Case
A magistrate judge twice denied search warrants sought by a DHS agent for YouTube and iPhone records tied to former CNN anchor Don Lemon and other defendants. The government later withdrew the applications after the judge found no probable cause.
Al JazeeraModi Leaves Norway Press Event Without Answering Questions
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi left a joint news conference in Norway without responding to a reporter's question about taking questions from the press. The exchange occurred during a two-day visit that included meetings with Norway's prime minister and participation in the…
en.rfi.frFrench Judge to Investigate Complaint Against Saudi Crown Prince Over Khashoggi Killing
A French investigative magistrate will examine a complaint filed by rights groups against Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman regarding the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The move follows a court of appeal decision that cleared the way for the case afte…
Le MondeIsrael Sues New York Times Over Column on Alleged Sexual Abuse of Palestinian Detainees
The Israeli government will sue The New York Times after it published Nicholas Kristof's opinion piece detailing accounts of sexual violence against 14 Palestinian detainees. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar directed the action one day after the…
foxnews.comIsrael Sues New York Times for Defamation Over Column on Detainee Treatment
The Israeli government filed a defamation lawsuit against the New York Times targeting a column by Nicholas Kristof that alleged systematic sexual violence against Palestinian detainees. Officials said the column relied on accounts linked to Hamas and described it as one of the w…
Usa TodayWall Street Journal Subpoenaed in Probe of Leaks About Iran Military Plans
The subpoenas, dated March 4, seek records related to a February article detailing Pentagon warnings to President Trump before Operation Epic Fury. Press freedom groups condemned the action on May 12, citing risks to newsgathering during wartime. The development follows earlier a…
France 24Justice Department Subpoenas Wall Street Journal Reporters in Iran Leak Probe
Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the subpoenas on Tuesday, saying they target government leakers of classified information rather than journalists. The subpoenas, received by the Journal on March 4, relate to a Feb. 23 article about Pentagon warnings to President…
680news.comActing Attorney General Says Media Should Expect Subpoenas on National Security Leaks
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said media outlets should not be surprised by subpoenas seeking information on sources for stories involving classified national security material. The statement follows a Wall Street Journal report that it received subpoenas tied to its cover…
abcnews.go.comTrump Administration Directs DOJ to Seek Reporter Subpoenas in Iran War Leak Probe
President Trump has personally urged the Department of Justice to issue subpoenas to reporters covering the Iran war in order to identify their sources. CNN reported the development on Tuesday. The segment featuring the reporting aired at 8:54 a.m. EDT.
upi.comJustice Department Subpoenas Wall Street Journal in Leak Investigation
The Justice Department issued subpoenas to The Wall Street Journal regarding its reporting on government deliberations about potential military action in Iran. The Journal disclosed receipt of the subpoenas. The move has prompted discussion about press freedom.
citizen.co.zaHuman Rights Watch Reports Arbitrary Detentions of Activists and Journalists in DR Congo Amid M23 Conflict
Human Rights Watch said authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are harassing and arbitrarily detaining journalists, activists and opposition members amid tensions over potential constitutional changes and conflict with the M23 group. President Félix Tshisekedi raised the…
jewishpress.comIDF Detains Palestinian Journalist for Year Without Questioning on Terror Charges
The IDF held Ali al-Samoudi in administrative detention for around one year before releasing him without trial. CNN reported that he was never questioned about allegations of ties to Islamic Jihad. The military has not responded to the allegations or to figures on detained Palest…
america.cgtn.comNiger Suspends Nine French Media Outlets Citing National Security
Niger's media regulatory authority suspended nine French outlets late Friday, accusing them of endangering public order and undermining security forces. Reporters Without Borders condemned the move on Saturday, calling the charges fabricated and urging reversal. The suspensions a…
EuronewsNiger Suspends Nine French Media Outlets
Niger's military government imposed an immediate ban on nine French media organizations on Friday, citing repeated broadcasts that it said endangered public order and national unity. The move extends a pattern of restrictions on foreign and local press since the 2023 coup.
The GuardianSomali Police Detain Three Journalists in Mogadishu for Questioning After Prison Torture Report
Mohamed Bulbul, Abdihafid Nor Barre and Abdishakur Mohamed Mohamud were detained Friday evening after Bulbul reported on the alleged torture of prisoner Sadia Moalim Ali. They were beaten, threatened with death by the Mogadishu police chief and released early Saturday. The arrest…
hrw.orgRwandan YouTuber Aimable Karasira Dies in Hospital on Day of Scheduled Prison Release
Aimable Karasira Uzaramba, 48, died at Nyarugenge hospital in Kigali on 8 May 2026 after overdosing on prescribed medication, according to the Rwanda Correctional Service. He had completed pre-release procedures that day at the end of a five-year sentence. The Committee to Protec…
The IndependentFamily Calls for Release of Imprisoned Chinese Journalist Over Health Issues
Family members and activists have called for the release of a Chinese journalist imprisoned since 2022 on espionage charges. The journalist was hospitalized in late April with heart arrhythmia and a lung tumor. The family said he faces a death sentence without medical parole and…
abcnews.go.comSalvadoran News Outlet Reports Asset Freeze on Two Members
A Salvadoran investigative news outlet announced on Thursday that assets belonging to two of its members, including a bank account and property, have been frozen. The outlet said the action follows its reporting on government corruption and comes amid ongoing audits by authoritie…
france24.comTunisian Court to Hear Government Request to Dissolve Al Khatt, Publisher of Inkyfada
A three-judge panel at the Tunis Court of First Instance will examine on Monday a request from Tunisia’s executive office that could dissolve Al Khatt, the nongovernmental organization that publishes and partly funds investigative outlet Inkyfada. The move is the culmination of a…
pbs.orgFBI Opens Leak Investigation Tied to Atlantic Story on FBI Director Kash Patel
The FBI opened a criminal probe into whether classified information was leaked to Sarah Fitzpatrick, the reporter who detailed concerns about FBI Director Kash Patel's drinking. Carol Leonnig reported the investigation was ordered from Patel's executive suite, prompting denials f…
france24.comDRC President Says He Is Open to Third Term After Referendum
Félix Tshisekedi said he would accept a third term if the people want it following a constitutional referendum. A French court ordered the resumption of an investigation into accusations that the widow of Rwanda's ex-president was involved in the 1994 genocide. New allegations of…
vaticannews.vaRubio Meets Pope Leo at Vatican
Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived at the Vatican on May 7, 2026, for talks with Pope Leo following public criticism from President Trump. The meeting comes amid new U.S. sanctions on Cuba announced May 1 and Rubio's recent description of the island as a "failed state" run by…
Al JazeeraMedia Rights Group Accuses Burkina Faso Authorities of Detaining Journalist
Reporters Without Borders said its investigation found that journalist Atiana Serge Oulon has been held in a villa in Ouagadougou since his June 2024 abduction. The group stated this contradicts official accounts that he was conscripted into the military. The report also describe…
news.google.comUS Cancels Tourist Visas for Five Board Members of Costa Rica Newspaper
The US State Department cancelled tourist visas for more than half of the board members of La Nación, Costa Rica’s leading national newspaper. The paper has reported on allegations against President Rodrigo Chaves during his 2022 campaign. La Nación called the visa action an indi…
nationalpost.comWashington Post Reporter's Articles Win Journalism Award Four Months After Device Seizure
A reporter's work for The Washington Post received a journalism award on Monday. This recognition came four months after federal agents searched her home and seized her devices. The articles anchored a package that earned the honor.
Abc NewsUS Revokes Visas of Costa Rican Newspaper Executives
The United States has revoked tourist visas for several board executives at La Nación, a leading Costa Rican media outlet. The newspaper attributes the action to its criticism of the outgoing Costa Rican president, an ally of President Trump, and views it as an attempt to intimid…
news24.comMedia Institute of Southern Africa Releases 2026 Press Freedom Report
The Media Institute of Southern Africa has launched its sixth annual report on press freedom in the region. The document assesses conditions in 11 countries and addresses issues including digital surveillance, journalist safety and media viability. It notes both challenges and pr…
manilatimes.netRSF Releases 2025 Press Freedom Index
On World Press Freedom Day, a leading press freedom organization reported the worst year for media freedom in its history, with more than half of countries facing difficult conditions. The Pope honored journalists killed in conflict zones and condemned violations of media rights.…
theindependent.sgOver a Dozen Southeast Asian News Outlets Issue Joint Statement on AI's Effects on Journalism for World Press Freedom Day
More than a dozen Southeast Asian news organizations issued a joint statement on May 3, 2026, highlighting the adverse effects of large language model AI systems on journalism, facts and democracy. The statement, released on World Press Freedom Day, addresses challenges from big…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewUS Ranks Last Among G7 in RSF World Press Freedom Index
The United States has fallen to 64th place in Reporters Without Borders' annual press freedom index, marking a historic low amid concerns over media consolidation and government policies. The global report highlights a decline in press freedom worldwide, with more than half of co…
upi.comAppeals Court Allows Pentagon Escort Requirement for Reporters During Appeal
A U.S. appeals court ruled that the Defense Department can require journalists to be escorted on Pentagon grounds while appealing a lower court decision. The ruling suspends a district judge's order blocking the policy. Media organizations, including The New York Times, had chall…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewTunisia Orders One-Month Suspension of Human Rights League
Authorities in Tunisia have suspended the operations of the Tunisian League for Human Rights for one month. The group, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, stated it would challenge the decision in court. This action follows similar measures against other nongovernmental organizations…
en.mercopress.comArgentina Restricts Journalists' Access to Presidential Palace
The administration of Argentine President Javier Milei has barred accredited journalists from entering the Casa Rosada following an incident involving alleged unauthorized filming. Officials stated the measure aims to ensure national security. The decision has drawn criticism fro…
reason.comFBI Investigated New York Times Reporter in Death Threat Probe Involving Director's Girlfriend
The FBI investigated New York Times reporter Elizabeth Williamson following a stalking allegation by Alexis Wilkins, girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel. The probe stemmed from Williamson's article on Patel's use of agency resources. Justice Department officials halted the inqu…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewFederal Judge Dismisses Defamation Lawsuit Against Former FBI Official
A federal judge in Texas dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by FBI Director Kash Patel against former FBI assistant director Frank Figliuzzi. The suit stemmed from comments Figliuzzi made on a television program about Patel's activities. The ruling described the comments as rhe…
The Free PressTrump to Attend White House Correspondents’ Dinner
President Donald Trump has announced he will attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner this Saturday, marking his first appearance at the event as president. The decision follows his previous boycotts and comes amid tensions with the press. The dinner will feature mentalist O…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewEric Newcomer Criticizes Blaming New Yorker Reporting for Despicable Act
Eric Newcomer stated that blaming meticulous reporting in The New Yorker for a despicable act is antithetical to a free and thoughtful society. The comment addresses the role of investigative journalism in public discourse. Newcomer emphasized the importance of separating reporti…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewFederal Judge Rejects Pentagon's Revised Press Access Rules in New York Times Lawsuit
A federal judge rejected a set of revised rules adopted by the Pentagon following a prior court ruling that declared an earlier press policy unconstitutional. The case was brought by The New York Times. The decision addresses restrictions on reporters' access at the Pentagon.
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewUS Journalist Shelly Kittleson Freed from Captivity in Iraq After Kidnapping by Kataib Hezbollah
American freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson was released from captivity and transferred to the Iraqi government following her kidnapping in Baghdad last week. The abduction was carried out by Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Shiite paramilitary group. Officials confirmed he…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewGlenn Greenwald Criticizes Efforts to Limit Reporting on Foreign Governments' Statements
Journalist Glenn Greenwald stated that groups supporting Israel are attempting to restrict Americans' free speech and press freedoms by criminalizing the reporting of statements from governments involved in conflicts. He argued that journalists should report statements from all p…
middleeasteye.netGlenn Greenwald Reports on Censorship of US Military Base Attacks in Gulf Region
Journalist Glenn Greenwald has highlighted instances of censorship affecting reporting on attacks that damaged US military bases in the Gulf region. He points to restrictions imposed by Gulf states and the United States, alongside military censorship in Israel related to an ongoi…