World’s Leading News Organizations Establish One Free Press Coalition To Stand Up For Journalists Under Attack For Pursuing The Truth
Unite To Use Their Collective Reach Of Editorial, Social Platforms To Spotlight “10 Most Urgent” Journalists Under Attack Or Silenced Every Month
NEW YORK – March 15, 2019 – Leading news organizations around the world today announced the formation of the One Free Press Coalition, a united front of prominent editors and publishers using the significant reach of their editorial and social platforms to spotlight journalists who are under attack globally. On the first of every month, members of the One Free Press Coalition will publish across their platforms a “10 Most Urgent” list of journalists whose global press freedoms are being abused or whose cases demand justice. The mission of the coalition is to use the collective voices of its members – which reach more than 1 billion people worldwide – to “stand up for journalists under attack for pursuing the truth.”
The “10 Most Urgent” list, published this morning by all members and at https://www.onefreepresscoalition.com, includes the following journalists (not ranked in a specific order):
Maria Ressa, founder of Rappler, The Philippines
The late Jamal Khashoggi, Washington Post columnist, Saudi Arabia
Eman Al Nafjan, prominent women’s rights blogger, Saudi Arabia
Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, Reuters, Myanmar
Claudia Duque, a veteran investigative reporter, Colombia
Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mohamed, prominent blogger, Mauritania
Anna Nimiriano, editor of Juba Monitor, South Sudan
Pelin Unker, Cumhuriyet, Turkey
Thomas Awah Junior, correspondent for Afrik 2 Radio and publisher of Aghem Messenger, Cameroon
Tran Thi Nga, prominent human rights blogger, Vietnam
The inaugural members of the One Free Press Coalition who have committed to using their powerful platforms to raise awareness of journalists under attack include: The Associated Press, De Standaard, EURACTIV, Financial Times, Forbes, HuffPost, Le Temps, Reuters, Süddesutsche Zeitung, Time and Yahoo News. One Free Press Coalition partners the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) are instrumental in helping identify the most-urgent journalists for the list, which will be updated and published on the first day of every month.
“With the One Free Press Coalition, we are shining an enduring light from all corners of the globe on our fellow journalists who are being persecuted, punished or worse in the pursuit of truth,” said Randall Lane, Chief Content Officer for Forbes, who initiated the concept at a meeting of the International Media Council at the World Economic Forum, another coalition partner. “Our founding members include news organizations who collectively reach more than 1 billion people worldwide, and we encourage other outlets to join us in standing up for those whose voices have been threatened, silenced or are being silenced. Together, our reach online and on social will signal solidarity for our colleagues and simultaneously tell those who threaten free speech that we are watching.”
News organizations throughout the world can join the coalition by emailing info@onefreepresscoalition.com. Members of the public are also encouraged to join the conversation using #OneFreePress and following developments on Twitter @OneFreePress.
Following are quotes from One Free Press Coalition members:
The Associated Press
“The AP applauds and looks forward to working with the One Free Press Coalition, developed by the International Media Council at Davos, to bring attention to the vital cause of reporting without harassment or threat,” said AP Senior Vice President and Executive Editor Sally Buzbee. “Journalism is under attack around the world. We believe journalists must be permitted to pursue facts fearlessly for the greater good of society and democracy, and we are happy that the One Free Press Coalition will join us in that fight.”
De Standaard (Belgium)
“Here in Brussels, in the heart of Europe, we as a political newspaper tolerate no infringements on press freedom,” said Karel Verhoeven, editor-in-chief of De Standaard. “Locally, it is a mild struggle, but even here in Europe, the tide is turning. The word must remain free. After decades of mild concern, it has become the crucial issue of our time. We must speak out on behalf of those who publish the free, critical and investigating word and are being punished for it, tortured, prosecuted and threatened. We must exert our influence so that our readers can exert theirs. For this freedom is a collective treasure, to be defended by all.”
EURACTIV
“EURACTIV, the media network for Europe with a focus on EU affairs, is happy to join the One Free Press Coalition,” said EURACTIV Managing Editor Zoran Radosavljevic. “We welcome this initiative and are honored to be an active participant and an inaugural member. It is essential to ensure the freedom of the media and unhindered work of journalists across the globe."
Forbes
See quote above.
Financial Times
“At its best, journalism puts emerging issues in the spotlight and exposes wrongdoing by people in positions of power,” said Peter Spiegel, news editor of the Financial Times. “Highlighting the fate of fellow reporters who have suffered because they have done that is both critical in the current international environment and an important act of journalism in its own right."
HuffPost
“In these turbulent times, independent journalism is more important than ever. Holding power to account has never been more important, or freighted with greater risk,” said Lydia Polgreen, Editor in Chief of HuffPost. “That’s why HuffPost is proud to stand with the One Free Press Coalition to fight intimidation, harassment and violence against journalists across the globe and support the crucial role journalists play in upholding freedom.”
Le Temps
“The loss of our Slovak colleague Ján Kuciak (working in the same group, Ringier Axel Springer), murdered last year while investigating on corruption, deeply affected us,” said Le Temps Co-Editors in Chief Stéphane Benoit-Godet and Gael Hürlimann. “Followed with repeated tensions in regions where the freedom of press seemed to be established, we feel the need of combatting censorship and repression on journalists all around the world and to support colleagues working in difficult environments.”
Reuters
“Reuters is committed to principles of fair, independent and impartial journalism and we feel strongly that a free press is vital to any democracy,” said Stephen J. Adler, Editor in Chief, Reuters. “We look forward to working with the One Free Press Coalition in raising awareness of the repression of journalists – including our own reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who have been imprisoned for more than a year in Myanmar – and highlighting the importance of press freedom around the world.”
Süddesutsche Zeitung (Germany)
“Intimidation, violence, incendiary speech against journalists and preventing reporters from doing their jobs are crucial issues for our profession in these times,” said Wolfgang Krach, Editor in Chief of Süddesutsche Zeitung. “As we every day see the importance of a free press all over the world and especially in countries ruled by authoritarian regimes, we are willing to take up this fight.”
TIME
“TIME is proud to stand with the One Free Press Coalition and journalists all over the world who are taking great risks in pursuit of greater truths,” said TIME Editor in Chief and CEO Edward Felsenthal.
Yahoo News
“As a global news brand, Yahoo News is deeply concerned about the current climate of fear and repression that journalists around the world face today,” said Daniel Klaidman, Editor in Chief of Yahoo News. “We look forward to joining the One Free Press Coalition alongside other like-minded media brands as well as CPJ, IWMF and WEF to give a platform to journalists under attack and shed light on their important work.”
Following are quotes from One Free Press Coalition partners, the Committee to Protect Journalists and the International Women’s Media Foundation:
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
“Journalists around the world face unprecedented threats amid global efforts to undermine press freedom and the very idea of independent media. Journalists have been jailed at record levels over the past three years and the rate of murder has recently skyrocketed,” said Executive Director Joel Simon at the Committee to Protect Journalists. “The One Free Press Coalition can draw vital attention to 10 cases that demand justice and accountability, boosting awareness of the risks journalists take and ultimately increasing their safety.”
International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF)
“Every day thousands of journalists work to illuminate critical issues despite being under constant attack. Facing censorship, imprisonment and physical harm, these journalists persist so that the world can bear witness to the truth,” said IWMF Executive Director Elisa Lees Muñoz. “The IWMF is proud to join the One Free Press Coalition and bring attention to the numerous cases of injustice facing female journalists. We call for those in power to stop silencing public discourse; these acts of censorship cannot continue with impunity.”
One Free Press Coalition
The One Free Press Coalition every month spotlights the “10 Most Urgent” journalists whose press freedoms are under threat worldwide. The coalition uses the collective voices of participating news organizations to spotlight brave journalists whose voices are being silenced or have been silenced by “standing up for journalists under attack for pursuing the truth.” To see the “10 Most Urgent” list every month and to view a complete list of participating news organizations and supporting partners, please visit https://www.onefreepresscoalition.com or @OneFreePress on Twitter.
Contacts:
One Free Press Coalition: info@onefreepresscoalition.com or pr@onefreepresscoalition.com
Forbes on behalf of One Free Press Coalition: pr@forbes.com
CPJ: Bebe Santa-Wood, press@cpj.org
IWMF: Charlotte Fox, cfox@iwmf.org