Global Risks to Journalists Increase, Say Press Advocates
Journalists face threats that include detainment and online harassment, United Nations officials say. Photo: William Volcov/Zuma Press By Caitlin Ostroff May 2, 2023 12:09 pm ET UNITED NATIONS—Press freedom advocates highlighted a growing number of risks to journalists on Tuesday as a record number have been imprisoned, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The United Nations hosted a series of speakers ahead of its 30th World Press Freedom Day on Wednesday. That date will also mark the fifth week of Mr. Gershkovich’s detention by Russia. As of December, 363 journalists were imprisoned in more than 30 countries, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. “Stop detaining and imprisoning journalists for doing their jobs,” said
Journalists face threats that include detainment and online harassment, United Nations officials say.
Photo: William Volcov/Zuma Press
UNITED NATIONS—Press freedom advocates highlighted a growing number of risks to journalists on Tuesday as a record number have been imprisoned, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.
The United Nations hosted a series of speakers ahead of its 30th World Press Freedom Day on Wednesday. That date will also mark the fifth week of Mr. Gershkovich’s detention by Russia. As of December, 363 journalists were imprisoned in more than 30 countries, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
“Stop detaining and imprisoning journalists for doing their jobs,” said António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, in a video message. “As journalists stand up for the truth, the world stands up with them.”
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When the U.N. held its first World Press Freedom Day three decades ago, the world looked different, said A.G. Sulzberger, chairman and publisher of the .
Media organizations were enjoying financial strength, technology was starting to make information more accessible to people globally and Cold War tensions were fading, he said
“This moment proved to be a short-lived high point,” he said on Tuesday.
The internet upended news organizations’ business models and misinformation and clickbait eroded confidence in the press, he said. Reporting in a number of countries, including China, Hungary, Egypt, Nicaragua and India grew more dangerous, he said.
“In Russia, journalists who dare to even acknowledge the Ukraine war face long prison terms,” Mr. Sulzberger said, pointing to Mr. Gershkovich’s detention and calling for his release.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was detained in Russia on March 29 while on a reporting trip and accused of spying. Here’s a breakdown of the events surrounding his arrest and what comes next. Illustration: Todd Johnson
Mr. Gershkovich, 31 years old, was detained on March 29 by Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, while he was on a reporting trip in the city of Yekaterinburg and held on an allegation of espionage that The Wall Street Journal and the U.S. government vehemently deny.
Russian authorities haven’t publicly provided evidence to support the allegation, and the U.S. government has designated Mr. Gershkovich was wrongfully detained. Mr. Gershkovich was accredited to work as a journalist in Russia by the country’s Foreign Ministry at the time of his detention.
Journalists are also facing other threats, including online harassment, U.N. officials said. Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO director-general, said that the intergovernmental organization has helped provide protection equipment to journalists in Ukraine and worked with member states to increase press freedom.
Masih Alinejad, an Iranian-American journalist, said that more than 70 journalists are imprisoned in Iran. She called on U.N. member states to pass a resolution against the transnational repression of journalists.
“We have to take strong action,” she said, adding that “empty words” will not help the journalism community.
Write to Caitlin Ostroff at [email protected]
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