Annual Report 2015 COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 | 1 Annual Report 2015

Dear CPJ supporter, threat. By mid-year 2015, imprisoned there. In October, after 18 journalists were behind bars an international campaign, members The January 7 attack on the office in Egypt. of Ethiopia’s Zone 9 blogging of Charlie Hebdo left 12 dead This terror dynamic—in which collective were cleared of trumped- and served as a chilling reminder journalists are caught between the up terrorism charges. that in the global struggle for free violence of militant and criminal We challenged other countries expression, there is no safe haven. groups and the repressive policies that, while not the worst abusers, Days after the attack, millions came of governments—presents a unique were failing to live up to their own together in Paris to express their challenge for press freedom. CPJ standards. In Nairobi, we took the horror and defend their rights. has responded by deepening its Kenyan government to task for At the front of the march, political research, expanding its assistance weakening media protections. In leaders from around the world and security support, and Brussels, we called on the European marched shoulder to shoulder. confronting governments at Union to strengthen press freedom But free expression wasn’t what every turn. protections within its borders in united them. Instead, many leaders CPJ’s research is systematic and order to exercise greater influence exploited the Charlie Hebdo tragedy sustained, and our database of outside them. In Washington, to give their domestic anti-terror journalists killed since 1992 is the we urged the White House to policies a patina of international world’s most comprehensive. Our protect online security in order to ©Lucile Clerc legitimacy. data helps drive global responses, ensure the integrity of journalistic Turkey, represented in the march by including U.N. action to protect communication. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, journalists in conflict zones, We took these actions because was perhaps guilty of the greatest changes to U.S. hostage policy, we believe, like you, that in the hypocrisy. The government there and industry efforts to improve information age, those who provide consistently uses its vague anti- training and standards. the news we depend on must terror law to suppress critical In 2015, CPJ updated its security be protected from violence and speech, jailing dozens of journalists guide to address ever-evolving persecution. The killings in Paris and prosecuting many more. threats to digital security. We were a reminder that our struggle is Russian Foreign Minister Sergey provided direct support to journalists long and hard. With your support, Lavrov was also in Paris. Back escaping violence and persecution, we will continue to fight for the home, Russian authorities were including dozens fleeing Syria. rights of journalists and against laws, ©Signe Wilkinson ©DAILY NEWS, L.P. (NEW york). used with permission. rooting out “extremists,” purging practices, and policies that restrict Through reports, briefings, and their work. the Internet of critical commentary, direct engagement, we confronted The year 2015 began with the murder of eight journalists at the French satirical magazine and using legal and economic the worst offenders. We carried Sincerely, Charlie Hebdo. Cartoonists have an ability to get under the skin of militants and politicians pressure to force the few remaining out a mission to Egypt, calling alike, with satire that transcends borders and languages. That makes them vulnerable; independent media organizations out government efforts to exploit around the world, they have been forced into hiding, imprisoned, and killed, as CPJ out of business. the threat of terrorism to justify documented in the special report, “Drawing the Line: Cartoonists under threat.” But in Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry repression. We helped put press the wake of a brutal attack that was intended to enforce silence, it was also cartoonists marched for Egypt, which has freedom on the agenda when U.S. who responded most eloquently. sought to cast its brutal crackdown President Barack Obama visited Joel Simon on civil society, including the media, Ethiopia in July—a strategy that led to Executive Director as a legitimate response to the terror the release of at least 10 journalists 2015: CONFRONTING THREATS COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 | 3

CPJ PROMOTES PRESS FREEDOM WORLDWIDE AND DEFENDS THE RIGHT OF JOURNALISTS TO REPORT THE NEWS WITHOUT FEAR OF REPRISAL. CPJ ENSURES THE FREE FLOW OF NEWS AND COMMENTARY BY TAKING ACTION WHEREVER JOURNALISTS ARE ATTACKED, IMPRISONED, KILLED, KIDNAPPED, THREATENED, CENSORED, OR HARASSED. AZERBAIJAN CPJ’S PRESS UNCUFFED CAMPAIGN URGED THE RELEASE OF KHADIJA ISMAYILOVA, AN BANGLADESH INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST PUNISHED FOR NILOY NEEL WAS THE FOURTH EXPOSING CORRUPTION. (P. 19) BANGLADESHI BLOGGER KILLED IN SIX UNITED STATES MONTHS. CPJ PUSHED GOVERNMENTS TO CONFRONT THE KILLING OF JOURNALISTS CPJ URGED WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS TO AS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY. (P. 7) BACK DOWN ON A PROPOSAL TO COMPEL BACKDOORS TO ENCRYPTION. (P. 9)

MYANMAR IN MYANMAR, A FRAGILE INDEPENDENT EUROPEAN UNION PRESS IS AGAIN UNDER ATTACK. CPJ TRAVELED THERE TWICE TO MEET WITH IN SEPTEMBER, CPJ LAUNCHED A REPORT JOURNALISTS AHEAD OF HISTORIC ON THE EU’S STRUGGLES TO MEET ITS PRESS SYRIA ELECTIONS. (P. 13) FREEDOM IDEALS WITH THE ACTIONS OF ITS CPJ AND OTHER GROUPS LAUNCHED MEMBER STATES. THE SYRIA MEDIA SAFETY RESOURCE TO HELP JOURNALISTS THERE NAVIGATE THREATS AND FIND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. (P. 11) COLOMBIA TUNISIA THIRTEEN YEARS AFTER THE MURDER OF CPJ URGED TUNISIAN OFFICIALS TO ORLANDO SIERRA HERNÁNDEZ, HIS UPHOLD HARD-WON PRESS FREEDOM KILLERS WERE CONVICTED. PRESIDENT REFORMS, AT RISK AMID A HEAVY-HANDED JUAN MANUEL SANTOS PLEDGED RESPONSE TO TERRORISM. (P. 17) IMPROVEMENTS. (P. 21)

ETHIOPIA AFTER AN INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO MALAYSIA RELEASE THE BLOGGERS OF THE ZONE 9 A SPECIAL CPJ REPORT CALLED ATTENTION COLLECTIVE, ITS MEMBERS WERE TO RISKS FACED BY ZULKIFLEE ANWAR CLEARED OF TRUMPED-UP TERRORISM ULHAQUE (“ZUNAR”) AND OTHER CHARGES THIS YEAR. (P. 23) CARTOONISTS.

BURUNDI AT LEAST 100 JOURNALISTS FLED BURUNDI WHEN THE MEDIA WERE TARGETED. CPJ IS Annual Report 2015 Table of Contents WORKING TO ESTABLISH NETWORKS OF SUPPORT AND ADVOCATE FOR THEIR SAFE RETURN. (P. 5) JOURNALIST ASSISTANCE 5 CAMPAIGN AGAINST IMPUNITY 7 KENYA TECHNOLOGY 9 IN NAIROBI, CPJ LAUNCHED A SPECIAL REPORT ON KENYA’S BROKEN PROMISES, JOURNALIST SECURITY 11 WARNING OF AN ERODING COMMITMENT ASIA: Myanmar 13 TO PRESS FREEDOM. (P. 15) AFRICA: KENYA 15 MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA: Tunisia 17 EUROPE & CENTRAL ASIA: Azerbaijan 19 AMERICAS: COLOMBIA 21 INTERNATIONAL PRESS FREEDOM AWARDS 23 SUPPORTERS 25 FINANCIAL REPORT 27 CPJ HAS ITS HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK AND CONTRIBUTORS IN: CPJ BOARD AND STAFF 28 WASHINGTON, SAN FRANCISCO, SÃO PAULO, BOGOTA, MEXICO CITY, BEIRUT, ISTANBUL, ABUJA, BANGKOK, LONDON, BRUSSELS JOURNALIST ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 | 5 First Responder for Journalists in Crisis

CPJ’s Journalist Assistance program Ultimately, our objective is to provides direct aid to journalists ensure that journalists can live and whose needs cannot be addressed by work safely in their home countries, advocacy alone. Since 2001, CPJ has and our direct assistance is coupled offered direct assistance to more than with advocacy to achieve that goal. 1,000 journalists from 54 countries. In Burundi, President Pierre In Syria alone, CPJ has provided Nkurunziza’s unconstitutional emergency aid to more than 100 bid for a third term this spring journalists forced into exile since the brought protesters to the street current conflict began. and an attempted coup. In the subsequent crackdown, journalists “As a result of our work, our homes were attacked and threatened, and were burned and our families were news outlets shut down and even threatened. Every time we would move burned to the ground. At least 100 to a place, we would be in danger,” said journalists fled the country over Awad Alali, a 27-year-old reporter who a four-month period, mostly to relocated to Europe with CPJ’s help in neighboring Rwanda. late 2014. CPJ met with Burundian journalists CPJ acts as a first responder in crisis in exile in Kigali to help develop a situations. Just as importantly, we network of support. We provided work to develop networks that help grants through local partners with longer-term needs. This year, to support their needs. CPJ also CPJ, in partnership with other media continues to press Burundian groups, set up the Syria Media Safety authorities to reopen news outlets Resource as a one-stop shop for and allow journalists to return to a information to help local journalists safe working environment. work more safely, and to streamline their access to emergency assistance. A Burundian riot police officer sprays tear gas on opposition protesters in Bujumbura on April 27, 2015. We also traveled to Nairobi and Authorities reacted to protests and an attempted coup by cracking down on the media, forcing more than 100 Kampala in April to assess the most journalists to flee Burundi. urgent needs of a wave of displaced Photograph by Eloge Willy Kaneza / AP Photo East African journalists—many of Bottom left and bottom center: them fleeing a renewed crackdown in Demonstrators in Bujumbura. Ethiopia—and to work with partner Bottom right: Journalists gather on World Press Freedom Day organizations to identify resources for in Bujumbura to protest government actions long-term support. against the press. PhotographS by Jerome Delay / AP Photo IMPUNITY COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 | 7

Pushing Democracies to Prosecute Killings “Authorities seem more of Journalists concerned with what bloggers are writing than going after their killers.”

In August, Niloy Neel became the fourth of democracy. CPJ joined the new Bangladeshi blogger in six months to be Working Group on Freedom of hacked to death after criticizing religious Expression of the Community of extremism. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Democracies—an intergovernmental and the nominally secular ruling Awami coalition that aims to strengthen League party have done little to speak out democratic institutions—and worked for justice in these crimes, allowing political successfully to make the campaign interests to trump rule of law. against impunity the group’s first priority. We also met in Brussels with “Authorities seem more concerned with the European External Action Service, what bloggers are writing than going after the EU’s foreign policy arm, to urge it their killers,” blogger Ananya Azad, who fled to raise impunity cases in its bilateral Bangladesh in June following death threats, relations. told CPJ. In the past year, we have also secured The killings pushed Bangladesh onto CPJ’s commitments from heads of state in Global Impunity Index, which spotlights Pakistan and Colombia to streamline the countries where journalists are murdered investigation and prosecution of attacks and their killers go unpunished. This year’s on journalists. Progress is slow, but other addition of South Sudan is emblematic there is reason for hope. Our advocacy of the challenges to achieving justice in was instrumental in bringing about areas wracked by war or where illegal armed convictions in at least five cases of groups actively menace journalists. But murdered journalists around the world more than half the countries on the index in 2015. In three of these cases, the are, like Bangladesh, democracies, where the mastermind was convicted, including main obstruction to prosecuting those who the landmark conviction in Colombia silence journalists is a lack of political will. of the politician who ordered the 2002 murder of popular editor and columnist Impunity in the killing of journalists is a Orlando Sierra Hernández (see p. 21). stark and violent threat to the functioning

Bangladeshi activists protest the killing of blogger Niloy Neel in Dhaka in August 2015.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MUNIR UZ ZAMAN / AFP / COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 | 9

The FBI and U.S. Department of Justice pushed for the creation of technical “backdoors” to unlock data for criminal investigations. CPJ called on Western governments to safeguard encryption in order to When It’s Important protect the integrity of journalistic communication, and keep digital data safe from malicious actors and authoritarian governments. to Lock All the Doors ILLUSTRATION BY ERICK MONTES

The technology that allows journalists to “Encryption is a gather and publish news with unprecedented ease and speed also brings vulnerabilities. lifeblood for freedom Reliable encryption is a fundamental of expression.” precondition to keeping conversations with sources private and mitigating attacks against At a Tech Summit we hosted in San Francisco in newsroom infrastructure. But encryption has June, leaders from the media and tech sectors come under attack. were brought together to find ways to improve digital security. Several participants promised For the past year, the FBI and U.S. Department to work toward the adoption of advanced of Justice have pushed for the creation of security procedures, including by adopting technical “backdoors” to unlock data for HTTPS and STARTTLS encryption, which criminal investigations—a move that would protect web and email traffic by default. CPJ make systems vulnerable to malicious actors introduced robust implementations of both and make it easier for authoritarian states protocols earlier this year. to hack into computer systems and devices. At the same time, U.K. Prime Minister David We also led a fight against the efforts of Western Cameron has threatened to ban encrypted governments to compromise Web security services and devices, while regulatory through the implementation of backdoors. practices of countries including Pakistan, Together with other civil society groups as well Cuba, and Ethiopia interfere with the right of as the world’s leading technology companies individuals to encrypt communication. and top security experts, we sent a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama urging support for “In a country like Ethiopia where journalists strong encryption. CPJ’s Technology team then are consistently watched, [we] need to protect traveled to Washington to take our case directly their communications and their data to do to senior White House and Senate Judiciary reports on sensitive issues,” Endalkachew Committee staff, strengthening momentum on Chala, one of the co-founders of the Zone 9 the issue. In October, the Obama administration blogging collective, told CPJ by email. “I backed off on a proposal to compel technology believe encryption is a lifeblood for freedom companies to create backdoors, though the fight of expression.” is far from over. JOURNALIST SECURITY COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 | 11

A journalist is caught in a cloud of tear gas as Turkish protesters Joining Together clash with police during May Day rallies in Istanbul. PHOTOGRAPH BY to Navigate Danger Scott Peterson / COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

The world is an increasingly and proof-of-life templates, as dangerous place for journalists. well as digital security information Technological advances and related to identity protection newsroom cutbacks have and encryption. transformed newsgathering, putting freelancers, local reporters, The changing economics of the and citizen journalists on the front news business have prompted lines. Repressive governments many of the world’s largest media and violent forces are seeking to companies to rely on the work of manage their own image and shut freelancers. The 2014 murders of down critical voices. Journalists are reporters James Foley and Steven confronting digital censorship and Sotloff in Syria focused the world’s surveillance on an unprecedented attention on the risks faced by scale. And in the past three international freelance journalists. years, they have been killed and CPJ played an instrumental role imprisoned in record numbers. in advancing the Global Safety Our Journalist Security Guide Principles, which commits news provides a vital resource for organizations to treat freelancers the protection of journalists on dangerous assignments as they everywhere. The section on would treat staff. Journalists in turn Technology Security was updated pledge to take appropriate training this year to give journalists crucial and precautions. So far, some 70 tools to protect against digital media outlets and press freedom attacks, and keep confidential groups have signed on, including information private. Agence France-Presse, Al-Jazeera, The Associated Press, Local journalists are by far the most BBC, Bloomberg, The Guardian, vulnerable. In Syria, for example, Reuters, and Vice News. they continue to bear the brunt of the onslaught against independent Among the audience at the launch media and supply the bulk of the of the Principles held at the news that now trickles out of the Columbia University Graduate conflict zone. CPJ, in partnership School of Journalism in New York with other media groups, set up the was Diane Foley, the mother of online Syria Media Safety Resource James Foley. to help local journalists work more safely. It provides tools for physical “I am so encouraged by this security, including risk assessment gathering,” she said. “It’s a huge step.” ASIA COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 | 13

Myanmar “WITHOUT A PRESS FREE TO COVER SENSITIVE TOPICS, MYANMAR’S FRAGILE TRANSITION Backtracks TO A CIVILIAN DEMOCRACY IS AT RISK.”

Newspaper reporter Kyaw Zaw Hein, center, talks to journalists after his release from prison in a presidential amnesty on July 30.

PHOTOGRAPH BY Khin Maung Win / AP Photo

After a promising period of liberalization Five journalists with the independent in 2012, President Thein Sein’s weekly newspaper Unity are serving government has resumed many of the seven years in prison with hard labor for previous junta’s suppressive policies reporting on a secretive military facility. towards the press. Despite a new media Three journalists and two publishers law that broadly protects press freedom, of the independent newspaper Bi Mon and an end to more than four decades of Te Nay were sentenced to two years pre-publication censorship, Myanmar’s in prison on charges of defaming the media policies are reverting to those of state, and then released as part of a mass the past. amnesty. In June the government began defamation proceedings against 17 staff The use of legislation and lawsuits to members of the newspaper Eleven Daily. silence critical voices has created a climate of fear. The 2014 Printers and Former exile-run media outlets that Publishers Registration Law bans news returned to Myanmar in recent years that could be considered insulting to have faced steady harassment after an religion, disturbing to the rule of law, initial grace period. Journalist Saw Yan or harmful to ethnic unity. National Naing, who returned from exile to report security-related laws are used to from inside Myanmar, worries that his threaten and imprison journalists who freedom will be short-lived. report on sensitive military matters. “Journalists have begun to practice CPJ’s representative traveled to independent reporting—something that Myanmar twice in 2015 to meet with I never expected,” he wrote in an article local journalists and report on the for the Global Investigative Journalism challenges they face, including in Network. “But I still worry that Burma covering the lead-up to historic general could go back anytime. There are elections held on November 8. In invisible limits on press freedom, a private meeting with Myanmar’s especially when it comes to reporting on Ministry of Information in March, CPJ military affairs and the Burmese Army.” called for the release of all journalists jailed in relation to their work. Without a press free to cover sensitive topics, Myanmar’s fragile transition to a The government’s crackdown civilian democracy risks being rendered intensified in the run-up to the elections. illegitimate. africa COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 | 15

Holding Kenya Police arrest a man protesting security legislation that could be used against the press on December 18, 2014, in Nairobi. The law was among a series of legislative actions that have to its Promise contributed to a climate of self-censorship in Kenya. PHOTOGRAPH BY SIMON MAINA AFP / COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

“Legal and physical harassment are making it increasingly difficult for journalists to work freely in Kenya.”

During U.S. President Barack Obama’s a mission to Kenya ahead of Obama’s July visit to Kenya, the country’s strong visit. We found that a combination of economic growth and stability were legal and physical harassment, as well on full display. But alongside these as concentration in media ownership, improvements, Kenyans are grappling are making it increasingly difficult for with corruption, land disputes, and a journalists to work freely in Kenya. recurring terrorist threat. Journalists who cover these and other sensitive After initially dismissing CPJ’s topics are subject to harassment, threats, report, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for and even violence. information, communications and technology, Fred Matiang’i, spoke While Kenya’s constitution guarantees frankly with our delegation. We urged freedom of the media, President action regarding unsolved journalist Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee coalition has murder cases, and pressed the Kenyan introduced several bills that undermine government to repeal its criminal self-regulation and allow for harsh fines defamation law. In a press conference and jail terms for journalists. These laws, following the meeting, Matiang’i combined with economic pressure from said that police investigations into the government, are leading to a climate journalists’ murders would ensure of self-censorship. justice.

“This is one of the most hostile regimes “Nothing will tempt us to encroach on we have seen to press freedom,” David press freedom,” he said. Ohito, digital content editor at Kenya’s Standard Group, told CPJ. “Consider the But as we observed at the press number of laws proposed, those enacted, conference, if a commitment to and those that we have challenged in delivering justice is to have meaning, court and remain suspended, and you it must bear results. We continue to see a media situation in Kenya that is press Kenyatta and his government to worse than in the single-party era.” publicly reaffirm their commitment to the role of an independent and robust CPJ launched a special report, “Broken press and nurture it as a cornerstone of Promises: How Kenya is failing to uphold Kenya’s democracy and a vital part of its its commitment to a free press,” during development. MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 | 17

Anti-Terror Actions Put “THE PRESS IS SQUEEZED BETWEEN TERRORISTS Tunisian Press at Risk AND THOSE WHO PURPORT TO FIGHT TERRORISM.”

Hard-won press freedom advances parliamentary approval. The in Tunisia, the birthplace of the parliament then approved anti- Arab Spring, are under threat after terror legislation that provides a two major terrorist attacks this year broad definition of terrorist crimes. increased fears over security. Another draft law would criminalize any criticism of the country’s security Since the March and June attacks in forces. Press freedom advocates fear Tunis and Sousse, which killed more these laws will be used to silence than 60 people, the government critics of the government. has introduced new legislation that could be abused to silence In October, CPJ launched a special the media. Security services are report in Tunis, and met with sensitive to criticism, leading to legal Tunisia’s president and prime harassment of critical journalists minister to raise concerns about and even physical assaults and the fallout for the media amid the threats. Journalists are also subject government’s fight against terrorism. to threats by Islamist extremists, Both leaders vowed to uphold press leaving the press squeezed between freedom as the country transitions to terrorists and those who purport to democracy, and to protect journalists fight terrorism. from the threats posed to them by security forces and extremists. Noureddine Mbarki, editor of digital newspaper Akher Khabar Online, was “Public freedom and freedom of the charged in July under a 2003 anti- press are our red lines, and our role terrorism law for publishing a photo is to make them a reality,” Prime showing the car that purportedly Minister Habib Essid told the CPJ transported the gunman in the delegation. attack on the Sousse beach. “I was accused with complicity in terrorism Essid told CPJ he would consider and facilitating the escape of amendments to bills and existing laws terrorists,” he told CPJ. The arrest that could be used against journalists. marked the first time a Tunisian Doing so will be an essential step to journalist faced terrorism charges ending legislative threats to press since the 2011 revolution. freedom, and safeguarding the country’s democratic gains. In early July, the government A windshield cracked by gunfire near the beach resort withdrew a freedom of information town of Sousse. After terrorist attacks killed 60 people, the government introduced anti-terrorism bill that was ready for final legislation that could be abused to silence the media.

Photograph by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD AFP / COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES EUROPE & CENTRAL ASIA COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 | 19

Missing Players Mar “Corruption is the reason I am in my prison, Azerbaijan’s Games but the regime’s corruption, not mine.”

In September, award-winning Azerbaijani defenders, journalists, and civil society journalist Khadija Ismayilova was activists in advance of the Games. convicted on charges of running an illegal business, abuse of power, and Together with Human Rights Watch, CPJ embezzlement, and sentenced to seven met with the president of the European and a half years in prison. Olympic Committee, Patrick Hickey, in Dublin to urge him to engage with the Ismayilova has repeatedly denied the Azerbaijani government to ensure that charges against her, and CPJ believes she journalists were free to cover all aspects was jailed in retaliation for her work. The of the Games. reporter built her career investigating high-level government corruption, We also joined the Sports for Rights including business ties involving the campaign to draw international attention family of President Ilham Aliyev. to the crackdown. The group urged the European Court of Human Rights “Corruption is the reason I am in my president, Judge Dean Spielmann, to prison, but the regime’s corruption, not ensure an expeditious review of cases mine,” she wrote in a letter from jail concerning jailed journalists. published in The Washington Post. “My arrest proves one more time that we must Following advocacy by CPJ and build a new reality where telling the truth others, the German Olympic Sports will not require courage.” Confederation joined a call for Azerbaijan to release political prisoners before the A year and a half after the government Games. Media freedom defender Emin launched an unprecedented crackdown Huseynov, who spent months in hiding, on human rights, the country’s most was given safe passage out of Azerbaijan. prominent journalists and press freedom advocates have been imprisoned, forced Through our Press Uncuffed campaign, into exile, or are in hiding. Azerbaijan CPJ continues to work for the release of ranks among the 10 most censored places Ismayilova and all those who are being in the world, and at least seven other held for covering issues vital to the public Azerbaijani journalists were behind bars interest. in relation to their work in late 2015.

Khadija Ismayilova, pictured at work in 2013 as a Baku’s hosting of the inaugural European program host on Radio Azadlyg, the Azeri service Games in June brought no reprieve; of the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty, was sentenced in September 2015 to instead, Azerbaijani authorities sought seven and a half years in prison. to silence dozens of human rights Photograph by Fabrizio Giraldi / LUZ / Redux AMERICAS COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 | 21

Journalists protest the killing of colleague Luis Carlos Slow Justice in Colombia Cervantes Solano in Medellin, Colombia, in August 2014. CPJ is investigating Cervantes’ killing to determine whether it was related to his work. PHOTOGRAPH BY RAUL ARBOLEDA / AFP / COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

At least 47 journalists have been killed in In handing down the sentences, the court direct relation to their work in Colombia said that Sierra’s columns criticizing since 1992, largely with impunity. Criminal Tapasco “generated resentment towards investigations have been held up for years, Sierra Hernández for asking questions about delayed by mishandling of evidence and his power, his political leadership.” overburdened prosecutors. And while the security situation in Colombia has The case marked the first time in Colombia improved, threats and violence against that all those involved in a journalist’s journalists continue. murder were brought to justice, but the three men convicted in the case, including During a high-level CPJ mission to Tapasco, remained fugitives. Then, in late Colombia in May, President Juan Manuel 2015, police captured Tapasco, who was Santos promised a joint delegation from hiding in the central Colombian state of CPJ and Colombian press freedom group Manizales. Foundation for a Free Press that combating impunity in crimes against journalists would CPJ urged Colombian authorities to take be a top priority. Santos, himself a former prompt action to prosecute all other attacks journalist, promised to do more to ensure on journalists, especially in those cases journalist security in the face of mounting where there is evidence of criminal acts threats, including by strengthening the by local officials. We also recommended government’s protection mechanism for that journalist security be addressed human rights defenders. in ongoing peace talks between the Colombian government and members of the “I care deeply about the issue,” Santos Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, said. “I can affirm that my administration the Marxist rebel group known as FARC. will actively collaborate to identify those responsible.” Radio journalist Flor Alba Núñez Vargas was murdered in September in retribution for In June, just weeks after the mission, a her reporting. At least two other Colombian Colombian court sentenced politician journalists have been killed in unclear Francisco Ferney Tapasco González to 36 circumstances this year. Santos must now years in prison for ordering the 2002 killing make good on his pledge and work to ensure of muckraking columnist Orlando Sierra that murders of journalists and other attacks Hernández. Two others were sentenced in the are met with justice. same case. The landmark convictions followed years of advocacy by CPJ and local groups. AWARDS COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 | 23

CPJ is proud to honor these courageous journalists with the 2015 International Press Freedom Awards. They have faced down militant extremists, authoritarian governments, and criminal enterprises to hold accountable those in power.

Cándido Figueredo Ruíz Raqqa Is Being Zone 9 Bloggers Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque Paraguay Slaughtered Silently Ethiopia (“Zunar”) Cándido Figueredo Ruíz works for ABC Syria The Zone 9 collective was formed in Malaysia Color, one of Paraguay’s largest national Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS) is May 2012 in response to the evisceration The personal slogan of Zulkiflee Anwar dailies. He reports from Pedro Juan Caballero, one of the few reliable and independent of the independent press and the narrowing Ulhaque, a Malaysian cartoonist who is a small town on the border with Brazil sources of news left in the Islamic State of space for free expression in Ethiopia. With better known as Zunar, is: “How can I be which has become a haven for smugglers stronghold of Raqqa. The group’s Raqqa-based the motto “We Blog Because We Care,” the neutral? Even my pen has a stand.” Zunar of everything from cocaine and marijuana members secretly film and report from within nine-member collective voiced concerns over is best known for his provocative cartoons to cigarettes and electronics. Figueredo’s the city and send the information to members political repression, corruption, and social that lampoon issues of high-level abuse of coverage of drug trafficking, contraband outside of Syria, who transfer the news to local injustice. Mostly blocked in Ethiopia, their government power and corruption, published activities, and the collusion between and international media. RBSS has publicized posts gained a following with Ethiopians both in books and on the Malaysiakini news politicians and traffickers has made him one public lashings, crucifixions, beheadings, and in the diaspora. In April 2014, Ethiopian website. Malaysian police and authorities have of the most respected journalists in Paraguay. draconian social rules, thus providing the world authorities jailed six of its members on claimed on several occasions that Zunar’s Living under 24-hour police protection for with a counter-narrative to Islamic State’s slickly terrorism charges. The remaining members cartoons are “detrimental to public order” more than two decades, he says he has produced version of events. Members have are in exile, and one was charged in absentia. and run afoul of the country’s sedition law. He lost track of the number of death threats he also reported critically on the government of By October 2015, all of the Zone 9 bloggers currently faces nine counts of sedition and has received. Recently, there has been a Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, other rebel had been acquitted and released. Ethiopia up to 43 years in jail in connection with nine dramatic surge in violence against journalists forces, and civilian casualties caused by has used its sweeping anti-terror law to critical tweets, amid a government crackdown in Paraguay. The climate of impunity increases airstrikes. Islamic State has declared RBSS imprison more than a dozen critical journalists on dissent. Despite these threats, Zunar the risks for journalists and leads to self- an enemy of God, and murdered at least two since 2009, according to CPJ research. continues to draw, challenging the same censorship. Figueredo’s work has helped of its members. In late October, Ibrahim Abd forces that seek to silence him. shine a light on press freedom violations in al-Qader, an early member of RBSS, was the dangerous border region. found slain in an apartment with another Syrian journalist. Islamic State claimed responsibility (FROM LEFT) PHOTOGRAPHS BY LUZ PATRICIA for the murders. BELLENZIER, ENDALKACHEW CHALA, ZUNAR. 2014 SUPPORTERS COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 | 25

The Committee to Protect Journalists is extremely grateful to the individuals, R. Larry Jinks Walt S. Mossberg Joel Simon & Ingrid Abramovitch Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Alan Murray Cam Simpson corporations, and foundations whose generosity makes our work possible. We also John S. & James L. Knight Foundation Andy Nahas Randi Singer extend our gratitude to the many contributors who supported CPJ with gifts under Thomas Johnson National Association of Broadcasters Benjamin Smith Alex Jones Victor & Anne Navasky Harry Smith $500, not listed here due to space limitations. This list includes donors who made Jack Kaskey NBC News Michael Smith gifts during the period from January 1 to December 31, 2014. Andrew Katell The New York Community Trust Caleb Solomon Jeff Kearns The New York Times Company Sony Corporation of America Foundation ABC News Kevin Chisholm John W. Foley Donald Kimelman The New Yorker Elizabeth Spayd The Abernathy MacGregor Group Ambereen Choudhury Forbes Inc. Niamh King The Nicholas B. Ottaway Foundation Spectrum Science Communications, Inc. Jill Abramson Citi The Ford Foundation Jonathan Klein Benjamin Nichols Thomas Speechley The Achelis and Bodman Foundations CNN Ford Motor Company Ilan Kolet The Nieman Foundation for Journalism Carl & Barbara Spielvogel Adessium Foundation Sandra Coliver Fox News Kornblith & Lasser Family Fund at Harvard University Paul Steiger & Wendy Brandes Stephen J. Adler James Collier Nene Foxhall Jane Kramer Oak Foundation Susan Stevenson Joneil Adriano Ann K. Cooper & Larry Heinzerling Thomas L. Frank Mhamed Krichen Kate OBrian Victoria Sujata Aetna, Inc. Sheila Coronel Max Frankel & Joyce Purnick Todd Larsen Omidyar Network Fund Inc. Stephanie Sy Andrew Alexander & Beverly Jones The Correspondents Fund Josh Friedman Matt Lauer Open Society Foundations Tampa Bay Times Al-Jazeera America David Corvo Nilay Gandhi Sarah Le Sueur Maureen A. Orth Paul & Karyn Krayer Tash Al-Jazeera Media Network Robert B. Cox Anne Garrels Raymond Learsy The Overbrook Foundation Berrin Tekiner Franz & Marcia Allina Molly Coye GE Foundation Isaac Lee Clarence Page John Temple Christiane Amanpour Euan Craik Getty Images Iara Lee Barclay Palmer TheStreet, Inc. American Express Company James J. Cramer Nancy Giles Barbara Lehman Janet Paskin Mary J. Thompson Americas Business Council Foundation Gordon Crovitz & Minky Worden Brooke Gladstone Richard A. Leibner John Paton Thomson Reuters David Andelman Crowell & Moring LLP Goldman Sachs & Co. Katherine Lewis Norman Pearlstine & Jane Boon Time Inc. Time to Give Back Campaign AOL Huffington Post Media Group CUNY Graduate School of Journalism Jacob Goldston Simon Li PepsiCo, Inc. Richard J. Tofel Argus Media Inc. / Petroleum Argus Chris Daggett Google, Inc. Warren Liebesman Pew Charitable Trusts Craig Torres Tim Armstrong The Dallas Morning News Cheryl A. Gould Steve Liesman Michael Phillips The Tow Foundation Nicholas Ashooh John Daniszewski Graham Holdings Matching Gift Foundation Steve Lipin Robert S. Pirie The Travelers Companies, Inc. The Associated Press Walter Dear Greenberg Traurig, LLP Lara Logan Erwin R. Potts Univision James A. Attwood Debevoise & Plimpton Reto Gregori Jane K. Lombard Practising Law Institute Van Eck Associates Corporation James Bandler Kevin J. Delaney Bryan Gruley Marty Linsky & Lynn Staley The Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation Liam Vaughan Martin Baron Elisabeth DeMarse The Guardian Robert MacNeil Paul V. Profeta Vice Media Richard Barry Deutsche Bank Jeffrey Gural Brian Maddox Prudential Financial Villanova University BBC Mary Devore Michelena Hallie Madigan Family Foundation Megan and Matthew Rand Richard C. Wald The Beatrice R. and Joseph A. Coleman Dow Jones & Company Joseph W. Harrow The Marc Haas Foundation Ahmed Rashid Darren Walker Foundation Dow Jones Foundation Laurie Hays Bret Marcus Dan Rather Rachel Ward Bellwether Advisors LLC Mark Drajem Hearst Newspapers Benjamin Marks Natalie Reid The Washington Post Amanda Bennett DreamHost, LLC Drue Heinz The Marshall Project Retro Report Ivan Watson Alan Berlow & Susan Blaustein Christopher Duffy Sharon Held Kati Marton R. Bruce Rich Maria J. Wawer Tobias J. Bermant Laura Dukess Cherie Henderson & David Poppe Marjorie Massing Kit Roane Weil, Gotshal & Manges Robin Bierstedt Derreth Duncan The Herb Block Foundation Mastercard Courtney R. Rockett John D. Weis Mary Billard & Barry Cooper Egon Zehnder Peter Heydon Craig Matters Royal Rodgers Jacob Weisberg & Deborah Needleman Jonathan Bloom Stanley Eisenberg Michael J. Hirschhorn Joseph M. McCarthy Richard M. Roth David Westphal Bloomberg LP Richard & Gail Elden Anthony Hixon The McClatchy Company Gerard & Sandra M. Rowe Lois Whitman Louis D. Boccardi Elliott Management Corporation HSBC North America David E. McCraw Alan Rusbridger Margaret Whitton David Boies Lindsay Erickson Amy Hubbard Harriet McGuire Pablo Salame Wiley Publishing, Inc. Boies, Schiller & Flexner, LLP Ethics & Excellence in Journalism Foundation Arianna Huffington John P. McMeel Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation Inc. The William Penn Foundation Raymond Bonner Robert T. & Geraldine Fabrikant Metz Kristi Huller Joyce Menschel Robert J. Samuelson Brian Williams Bremen House, Inc. Mohamed Fahmy Kathleen E. Hunt Eliot Merrill The San Francisco Foundation Michael Williams Jeffrey Brown Jeremy Feigelson Charlayne Hunter-Gault Microsoft Corporation Diane Sawyer Richard N. Winfield Brunswick Group LLC Esther Fein & David Remnick Alexander Hurst Michael Milczarek Anya Schiffrin Matt & Lisa Winkler BuzzFeed The Financial Times Alberto & Susana Ibargüen George Miller David Schlesinger Jonathan Wolman Renee Calabro Gavin Finch Gwen Ifill Monocle William Schmidt Abi Wright Kathleen Carroll & Steve Twomey John Finck The Inner Circle John Moore Seabrook Foundation William D. Zabel Hodding Carter III Finsbury Steve & Barbara Isenberg Ann L. Morfogen Philippe Selendy Mortimer B. Zuckerman CBS News Firebird Management Aki Ito Ann Morrison Frank Shanbacker Anonymous (6) Central Valley Foundation First Look Media, Inc. Bob Ivry The Morton K. & Jane Blaustein Jennifer Siebens Rajiv Chandrasekaran FJC Mark Jackson Foundation, Inc. Michael D. Silber FINANCIAL REPORT COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 | 27

Statement of FINANCIAL POSITION AS OF December 31, 2014 Statement of Functional Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 (with comparative totals for December 31, 2013) (with comparative totals for the year ended December 31, 2013)

Program management fundraising TOTAL EXPENSES TOTAL EXPENSES More than three-quarters of services and general 12/31/14 12/31/13 every dollar spent by CPJ goes directly to program activities. SALARIES $ 1,730,570 $ 76,585 $ 391,054 $ 2,198,209 $ 1,977,992 ASSETS 12/31/14 12/31/13 PAYROLL TAXES & BENEFITS 436,780 3,710 81,230 521,720 416,945 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS $ 858,636 $ 233, 661 79% Program Services PROFESSIONAL FEES (including in-kind) 815,970 101,752 97,769 1,015,491 1,144,559 5% 76 PLEDGES RECEIVABLE, NET 3,376,656 2,127,905 Management & 9 15OCCUPANCY 311,284 9,353 61,491 382,128 362,487 General PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER RECEIVABLE 64,904 25,566 TRAVEL (including in-kind) 326,877 - 83,210 410,087 287,640 INVESTMENTS 13,042,120 12,831,408 GRANTS 140,886 - - 140,886 108,378 FIXED ASSETS (net of accumulated depreciation) 135,112 133,556 OFFICE SUPPLIES & MAINTENANCE 61,546 2,458 9,051 73,055 40,284 SECURITY DEPOSIT 83,058 81,567 TELEPHONE & INTERNET 38,038 2,301 6,898 47,237 41,926 TOTAL ASSETS $ 17,560,486 $ 15,433,663 PUBLICATIONS, PRINTING & POSTAGE 26,118 51,588 36,594 114,300 125,422

INSURANCE 26,736 764 9,781 37,281 28,300 LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS FEES 21,968 1,623 10,996 34,587 0 LIABILITIES

DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION 50,946 1,458 9,893 62,297 45,164 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES $ 263,950 $ 321,872 16% BAD DEBT EXPENSE 0 18,640 - 18,640 0 DEFERRED RENT 220,196 250,958 FUNDRAISING OTHER 41,938 6,609 13,598 62,145 87,317 Conditional contribution 300,000 0

TOTAL $ 4,029,657 $ 276,841 $ 811,565 $ 5,118,063 $ 4,666,414 TOTAL LIABILITIES 784,146 572,830

NET ASSETS

UNRESTRICTED 862,860 612,205

TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED 6,413,480 4,748,628

PERMANENTLY RESTRICTED 9,500,000 9,500,000

TOTAL NET ASSETS 16,776,340 14,860,833

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS $ 17,560,486 $ 15,433,663

Complete audited financial statements, including auditors’ notes, are available at our website, CPJ.org. BOARD AND STAFF

Committee to Protect Journalists BOARD

CHAIRMAN Cheryl Gould Clarence Page James C. Goodale Sandra Mims Rowe CHICAGO TRIBUNE Debevoise & Plimpton Arianna Huffington VICE CHAIR AOL HUFFINGTON POST Ahmed Rashid Gwen Ifill Kathleen Carroll MEDIA GROUP PBS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS David Remnick Charlayne Hunter-Gault THE NEW YORKER Steven L. Isenberg HONORARY CHAIRMAN Terry Anderson Jonathan Klein Alan Rusbridger David Marash GETTY IMAGES THE GUARDIAN Charles L. Overby DIRECTORS Jane Kramer David Schlesinger FREEDOM FORUM THE NEW YORKER Stephen J. Adler Paul C. Tash Norman Pearlstine REUTERS Mhamed Krichen TAMPA BAY TIMES TIME INC. AL-JAZEERA Franz Allina Jacob Weisberg Erwin Potts Isaac Lee THE SLATE GROUP Rajiv Chandrasekaran FUSION, UNIVISION NEWS Dan Rather Matthew Winkler HDNET Susan Chira Lara Logan BLOOMBERG NEWS CPJ would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for their generous in-kind contributions: THE NEW YORK TIMES CBS NEWS Gene Roberts UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND Sheila Coronel Rebecca MacKinnon LIFE MEMBERS PHILIP MERRILL COLLEGE OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY JOURNALISM RAUL ARBOLEDA GRADUATE SCHOOL Kati Marton Andrew Alexander OF JOURNALISM Paul E. Steiger LUZ PATRICIA BELLENZIER Michael Massing Christiane Amanpour PROPUBLICA Josh Friedman CNN INTERNATIONAL Bill Bramhall CAREY INSTITUTE FOR Geraldine Fabrikant Metz Brian Williams GLOBAL GOOD THE NEW YORK TIMES Tom Brokaw MSNBC Endalkachew Chala NBC NEWS Anne Garrels Victor Navasky Lucile Clerc THE NATION Jerome Delay Fabrizio Giraldi Committee to Protect Journalists STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS Eloge Willy Kaneza EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SENIOR AMERICAS EUROPE AND CENTRAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM Joel Simon PROGRAM COORDINATOR ASIA RESEARCH ASSOCIATE COORDINATOR SIMON MAINA Carlos Laur´Ia Muzaffar Suleymanov Geoffrey King DEPUTY DIRECTOR Khin Maung Win Robert Mahoney AMERICAS RESEARCH ASSOCIATE EU CORRESPONDENT STAFF TECHNOLOGIST ALEXANDRA ELLERBECK Jean-Paul Marthoz Tom Lowenthal KAVITA MENON DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & OUTREACH MEXICO CORRESPONDENT TURKEY CORRESPONDENT SENIOR EDITOR ERICK MONTES John Weis David Agren Özgür Ögret Jessica Jerreat Scott Peterson DIRECTOR OF FINANCE ANDES CORRESPONDENT MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA DEPUTY EDITOR & ADMINISTRATION John Otis PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR INNOVATION Gabriel Rossi Sue Marcoux Sherif Mansour Kamal Singh Masuta BRAZIL CORRESPONDENT KENZO TRIBOUILLARD EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Andrew Downie MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER Elana Beiser RESEARCH ASSOCIATE Shazdeh Omari Signe Wilkinson ASIA PROGRAM COORDINATOR Jason Stern ADVOCACY DIRECTOR Bob Dietz ADVOCACY OFFICER MUNIR UZ ZAMAN Courtney C. Radsch MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Samantha Libby ASIA RESEARCH ASSOCIATE RESEARCH ASSOCIATE ZUNAR AFRICA PROGRAM Sumit Galhotra Yasmin el-Rifae COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE COORDINATOR Ashley Parent Sue Valentine SENIOR SOUTHEAST MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT ASIA REPRESENTATIVE NadIa Massih PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR AFRICA RESEARCH Shawn W. Crispin Tiffany Ommundsen ASSOCIATE JOURNALIST ASSISTANCE Kerry Paterson NORTHEAST ASIA PROGRAM COORDINATOR BUSINESS & ACCOUNTING MANAGER CORRESPONDENT Maria´ Salazar-Ferro Margaret Abam-DePass EAST AFRICA Yaqiu Wang CPJ ANNUAL REPORT 2015 REPRESENTATIVE JOURNALIST ASSISTANCE DEVELOPMENT Tom Rhodes EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASSOCIATE ASSISTANT/BOARD LIAISON Editor Kristin Jones Writer Maya Taal ASIA PROGRAM COORDINATOR Nicole Schilit Peldun Tenzing WEST AFRICA Nina Ognianova Copy Editor Daniel M. Gold Design Director Damiano Design REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE and IT MANAGER Peter Nkanga Mehdi Rahmati Join us in defending journalists worldwide

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In Buenos Aires, a sign pays tribute to victims of a series of Islamist militant attacks that began with the January 7 assault on the Charlie Hebdo office in Paris.

COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY Gabriel Rossi Latin Content / COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES