Media
Release: China
March
26, 2013
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) launches an interactive website
on press freedom violations in China, covering the period from 2008 to
present.
The website, funded under a National Endowment for Democracy Project, presents
a record of press freedom violations including short descriptions of each
violation, the date and the location of each incident. The website will be
regularly updated as the IFJ continues to monitor attacks against journalists, violations
of journalists’ rights, censorship and threats to freedom of expression and the
right to information.
Having monitored press freedom in China for over ten years, the IFJ has observed
Chinese authorities using newer and more innovative methods to track the
activities of journalists, increasing the risks faced by journalists in
carrying out their work. The suppression also extended to Hong Kong, where the
media in Hong Kong faced significant interference by the Chief Executive of
Hong Kong, Leung Chun-Ying and other politicians.
As established in the IFJ Annual China Press Freedom Reports, the number
of violations between 2011 and 2012 increased. The suppression also extended to Hong Kong, where the media in Hong Kong
faced significant interference by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Leung
Chun-Ying and other politicians.
“Press freedom is a human right and the media must be able to perform
their professional duties without fear and intimidation” The IFJ Asia-Pacific
Office said. “This interactive website will provide a longtitudinal and up to
date record of press freedom violations including details on the nature and
extent of incidents throughout China. It
is expected that the tool will support increased awareness on the situation of
press freedom in China and provide accessible information for analysis.”
For
further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0950
The
IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries
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the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific
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