Summary
Journalists in Asia warn that press freedom is declining in many countries. Governments in places like China and Myanmar are jailing more journalists, while press freedom groups report increasing harassment and violence against media workers.
Key Facts
- Zhang Zhan, a Chinese citizen journalist, was jailed for four more years for her COVID-19 reporting.
- From 2010 to 2022, detentions of journalists in the Asia-Pacific region increased from 69 to 334.
- China is ranked as the top country for jailing journalists, with 112 currently imprisoned.
- Myanmar has detained 51 journalists since its 2021 coup.
- Former Philippine President Duterte, in office from 2016 to 2022, was linked to rising violence against journalists, with 223 attacks recorded by 2021.
- ABS-CBN, a major Philippine news network, was forced off the air in 2020 under Duterte's administration.
- President Marcos Jr. took office in 2022 and has taken a softer approach, but violence against journalists continues.
