Committee to Protect Journalists

Committee to Protect Journalists
Abbreviation CPJ
Formation 1981 (1981)
Type Independent nonprofit organization
Purpose Press freedom and journalist human rights
Headquarters 330 Seventh Avenue, 11th Floor
New York City, New York 10001
United States
Region served
International
Executive Director
Joel Simon
Affiliations International Freedom of Expression Exchange
Website cpj.org

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is an American independent non-profit, non-governmental organization, based in New York City, New York with correspondents around the world. CPJ promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists. The American Journalism Review has called the organization "Journalism's Red Cross".[1]

History and programs

The Committee to Protect Journalists was founded in 1981 in response to the harassment of Paraguayan journalist Alcibiades Gonzalez Delvalle.[2] Its founding honorary chairman was Walter Cronkite.[2] Since 1991, it has held the annual CPJ International Press Freedom Awards Dinner,[2] during which journalists and press freedom advocates who have endured beatings, threats, intimidation, and prison for reporting the news receive awards.

Between 2002 and 2008, it published a biannual magazine, Dangerous Assignments.[3] It also publishes an annual worldwide survey of press freedom called Attacks on the Press.[4]

The organization compiles an annual list all journalists killed in the line of duty around the world. As of June 1, 2016, more than 1195 journalists had been killed since 1992  the first year the organization began systematically tracking killings.[5] The organization's figures are typically lower than similar ongoing counts by Reporters Without Borders or the International Federation of Journalists because of CPJ's established parameters and confirmation process.[6] It also publishes an annual census of imprisoned journalists.[7]

The organization is a founding member of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), a global network of more than seventy non-governmental organizations that monitors free-expression violations around the world and defends journalists, writers, and others persecuted for exercising their right to freedom of expression.

Staff and directors

Foreign correspondent Ann Cooper served as executive director from 1998 to 2006.[8]

Since July 2006, journalist Joel Simon has been the organization's executive director; he had previously served as deputy director since 2000.[9]

Its board of directors has included American journalists, including:

See also

References

  1. Ricchiardi, Sherry (December 1997). "Journalism's Red Cross – Under-Staffed and Low-Profile, the Committee to Protect Journalists Rides to the Rescue of Reporters and Editors Who Run Afoul of Governments Hostile to the Press". American Journalism Review. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Committee to Protect Journalists records, 1978-2008". Columbia University Libraries Archival Collections. Columbia University. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  3. Staff (undated). "Dangerous Assignments". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  4. "Attacks on the Press - Committee to Protect Journalists". www.cpj.org. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  5. Staff (undated). "Journalists Killed Since 1992". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  6. Staff (undated). "About CPJ". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  7. "2015 prison census: 199 journalists jailed worldwide - Committee to Protect Journalists". www.cpj.org. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  8. "Poynter Online Forums". Poynter Institute.
  9. Staff (n.d.). "Our People". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved September 12, 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Committee to Protect Journalists.

Coordinates: 40°44′52″N 73°59′36″W / 40.74769°N 73.99327°W / 40.74769; -73.99327

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