Citizens for Justice and Peace
Bastar Journalist Kamal Shukla booked on Sedition charges Had shared cartoon about Judge Loya case on Social Media
01-May-2018
On April 29, Chhattisgarh Police have booked senior journalist and activist Kamal Shukla on sedition charges under Section 124 (A) of the Indian Penal Code. The matter pertains to a cartoon about the Judge Loya case, criticizing the government and judiciary that Shukla shared from his Facebook wall few days ago. However, his lawyer Isha Khandelwal from Jagdalpur…
NWMI demands an End to the Online Vilification of Rana Ayyub Woman journalist threatened after fake tweet goes viral
28-Apr-2018
The Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI) has expressed solidarity with journalist and author Rana Ayyub, after a tweet attributing a fake and controversial quote to her went viral and severely vilified her in the process. Though Ayyub is not new to such vilification and has been in the eye of the storm ever…
Mexican police officers convicted of journalist’s murder
29-Mar-2018
Two police officers in Mexico have been found guilty and sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment for the murder of journalist Moisés Sánchez, an uncommon instance for Mexico, where crimes against members of the media largely go unpunished, the Guardian reported. Sánchez was killed in the violence-ridden state of Veracruz, considered the most dangerous area for journalists…
3 Journalists killed in chillingly similar incidents in Saffron-ruled states Freedom of Expression and Press at stake
28-Mar-2018
Two journalists, Navin Nishchal and Vijay Singh, who worked for the Hindi daily Dainik Bhaskar, were killed when an SUV ran into their bike in Bihar’s Bhojpur district, on Monday, March 26. Locals and family members have alleged that the journalists were “murdered“, and that a former village head was responsible. The SUV involved in the incident was…
How Right Wing media manipulates Public Perception The damage done to the Farmers' Protest by whataboutery, false equivalence and wild conspiracy theories
19-Mar-2018
CJP has been campaigning for farmers’ rights and supporting them in their struggle. Since March 14 we have been bringing to you constant updates from an ongoing Satyagraha by farmers in Odisha. Unfortunately, a large section of the mainstream media has remained indifferent to the protest which has entered the 8th day with the farmers launching a Rail Roko on Monday.…
Reporter first responder in the news chain, knows ground reality and story best: Uma Sudhir Why reporters need to be given freedom to pursue and report on real stories instead of mechanically collecting sound bites
14-Mar-2018
Senior journalist Uma Sudhir, who received the 2017 Chameli Devi Jain award for journalism gave this impromptu acceptance speech dedicating her award to the reporter on the ground. I am very honoured to be chosen for the Chameli Devi Jain award for 2017. I have several people to thank. First the Media Foundation, the jury Lalitha Panicker, Ritu…
Media under Modi Challenges before free press in the world’s so called largest democracy
06-Mar-2018
I am here to make a case that India, which is known as the world’s so-called largest democracy is currently going through an era of self-imposed media censorship under a right wing Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) government. This has not only made the working environment of journalists in India extremely challenging, but the problem…
Social Media & Contemporary Journalism How to Spot and Stop Fake News
28-Feb-2018
On February 27, 2018 when CJP Secretary, Teesta Setalvad arrived at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth to conduct a workshop on how Fake News is spread and what can be done to stop it, her scheduled program was derailed by members of ABVP with tacit support from the police. While Masscommunication Students of the University bravely…
Does NIA know Difference between Journalists & PROs: NWMI Demands justice for illegally detained photo-journalist
16-Feb-2018
The following is a Press Release from the Network of Women in Media (NWMI) in response to the National Investigation Agency’s ‘advice’ to journalists to cover ‘developmental activity’ by government. The NWMI is shocked to read that the NIA has laid down what it considers to be the “moral duty of a journalist”, in…
The Killing of Gauri Lankesh What the assassination of a Bangalore journalist says about media complacency in the face of Hindu nationalism’s violent rise in India
16-Feb-2018
((This article was originally published in the Columbia Journalism Review and is being republished here with their permission. The original article may be read here.)) Last September, as the journalist Gauri Lankesh was returning to her home from work, a man approached her in the driveway, his face obscured by a motorcycle helmet. He fired…
Bombay HC lifts Media Gag Order in Sohrabuddin Case If witness faces threat, testimony can be recorded 'in camera': Bombay HC
24-Jan-2018
The Bombay High Court has quashed the November 2017 order of the CBI Sessions Court preventing journalists from day to day coverage of the controversial Sohrabuddin case. In an order dictated between Jan 23 and 24, 2018, Justice Revati Dere of the Bombay High Court has quashed and set aside the order of the CBI…
Media Censorship by Courts in India A brief history of the clampdown on media
20-Jan-2018
The November 2017 gag order on the coverage of the controversial Sohrabuddin trial where powerful politicians and policemen had been arraigned as accused has led to a debate on how Indian Courts have dealt with curbs on press freedom. Here we take a look at various instances and circumstances related to court strictures against reportage of…
Restore Press Freedom, Allow Coverage of Sohrabuddin Trial: BUJ, Media to HC Media persons move Bombay HC to quash Sessions Court's controversial media gag order passed on November 29, 2017
20-Jan-2018
The Bombay High Court yesterday clubbed two separate legal actions challenging the gag order on press reportage passed by the CBI Court in the Sohrabuddin case on November 29, 2017. The trial in the alleged fake encounter of one Sohrabuddin Sheikh, his wife Kausar Bi and associate Tulsiram Prajapati of Sohrabuddin Sheikh is being conducted…
Ethiopia to release all political prisoners
04-Jan-2018
The Guardian reported that Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has said that “political prisoners that are facing prosecutions and are already under arrest will be released,” adding that “the notorious prison cell that was traditionally called Maekelawi will be closed down and turned into a museum.” This is an attempt to “widen the democratic space for all,”…
Dissent and Democracy in India Keep the #JungJaari for Freedom of Speech and Expression
29-Dec-2017
Voices of dissent are being crushed with impunity in India. How will democracy flourish? Related stories: Criminalisation of Dissent