Ahmad Obali, founder of Gunaz TV, describes his journey from a teenager in a prison cell in Iran to a TV network owner in Chicago and his pursuit of human rights for the Iranian Azerbaijani people facing cultural genocide. 

The Coronavirus has exposed the widening gap between trusted news sources and the pandemic of disinformation. Sally Lehrman, Founder and CEO of The Trust Project, has brought together technology platforms and news organisations to bridge this gulf though embedding trust indicators.

Covid-19 exposed and exacerbated the ‘Info-demic of misinformation. But what happens next to find a vaccine to return trust in media and contain the spread of misinformation.

The pandemic of misinformation has been rife during the Coronavirus. Guy Berger, Director for Freedom of Expression and Media Development at UNESCO, describes the fight to combat this infodemic and how to maintain freedom of expression in a post Covid world.

Italy stands at 41st place in the World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders. However, 23 journalists are under police protection for reporting on mafia, neo-fascist groups and organised crime

Coda Story is an award-winning, non-profit news platform focused on the deeper context of ongoing trends and issues. Editor-in-Chief Natalia Antelava explains why shifting the focus of the stories and breaking the 24-hour news cycle is crucial when tackling topics such as Disinformation and the War on Science.

The Coronavirus pandemic news narrative mutated into misinformation to become just as contagious. IOHR and ICFJ invited Dr Julie Posetti, The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), Editor-in-Chief of Blankspot Martin Schibbye, Tom Phillips the editor at Full Fact, Rui Zhong

Nurcan Baysal is a Kurdish journalist from Diyarbakir in south eastern Turkey who continues to defend human rights and stand up for her right to report in the face of persecution and arrest in Turkey.

4,000 prisoners will soon be granted early release in Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Government has announced. Among them is journalist Fekadu Mahtemework, who was unjustly imprisoned last year. Ethiopian blogger Befekadu Hailu shares the motives behind the imprisonment of Fekadu …

Yavuz Baydar is an internationally renowned journalist living in self exile so that he can report reliable and truthful information about his native country Turkey. He founded the online news site, Ahval, to be an independent platform to report at a time when so many Turkish journalists are …

Turkish-Kurdish artist Zehra Doğan recalls how painting landed her in a Turkish prison. In 2017, she was sentenced by the Turkish authorities to two years and nine months incarceration for “terrorist propaganda”. The incident caused an international outcry and she was finally released in February …

Ethiopia is at a tipping point for democracy and with it press freedom. Following the dramatic rise to power of Dr. Abiy Ahmed, his administration enacted democratic reforms, freed journalists and opponents, unblocked 264 websites and allowed banned TV stations to operate.

In the run up to China’s 70th anniversary celebrations on the 1st of October, the world is watching as the protests in Hong Kong escalate from peaceful to more violent. A protester speaks out on the 7 month struggle for democracy.

In 2017 Venezuelan journalist Daniel Lara Farias took political asylum in Germany. Having survived two murder attacks he is lucky to still be alive. We spoke to him about the political turmoil under the Maduro regime, the brutal attacks he suffered and his hopes for the future of the country he loves …

Former Canadian Minister of Justice and Attorney General Dr. Irwin Cotler speaks about press freedom to IOHR on the sideline of the Defend Media Freedom Conference organised by the Canadian and British governments in London. Cotler emphasis the importance of keeping the momentum going …

Chris Yeung, chairperson of the Hong Kong Journalists Association gives an insight into the recent escalation of protests in Hong Kong over the introduction of the Extradition Bill. He highlights the anxiety of the Hong Kong people who face increasing threats to their freedoms from China.

“Give Women a Choice” was the main chant at the protest organized by IOHR outside the Iranian Embassy in London. Dozens of protesters came out to call for the release of women jailed in Iran for protesting against the compulsory hijab (veiling law) forcing …

“Come see for yourself.” says H.E. Mr Fesseha Shawel Gebre, Ethiopian Ambassador to the UK as he describes the new reforms under the new leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who came to power in February 2018. Since then, Ethiopia released 7000 prisoners and today …

IOHR brought civil society activists, exiled journalists, lawyers, and policy makers to the Swiss Press Club in Geneva to raise awareness of the unprecedented threat to human rights in Turkey. The international conference featured a special interview with award winning US journalist Lindsey Snell on her incarceration in Turkey and featured panel discussions with MEPs…

Activists and prominent journalists call on the Myanmar government to release Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo sentenced to seven years in prison on baseless charges while covering the Rohyinga massacres that left thousands killed and more than 750,00 people displaced.

Exiled prominent Turkish journalist Kerim Balci who fled the country fearing for his life speaks about the prosecution of 1544 Turkish lawyers and judges including those given lengthy sentences. Is there any hope for an independent judiciary in Turkey?

Tens of thousands of people from all walks of life took to the streets across the UK protesting against Donald Trump’s policies and his visit. Activists flew a 20-foot tall balloon depicting an angry, orange “Baby Donald” clad only in a diaper and holding a cellphone.

Jim Killock, executive director of the Open Rights Group, speaks on the growing significance of digital rights. He addresses the Cambridge Analytica scandal, the allegations of Russian interference in foreign elections, and discusses how social media users can further protect themselves.

IOHR in collaboration with the Stockholm Center for Freedom organised a panel discussion in Sweden on World Press Freedom Day with a focus on the crackdown on media in Turkey–the worst jailer of journalists. A number of Turkish journalists living in exile called on President Erdogan to free more than 200 jailed journalists.

Taha Siddiqui, an exiled Pakistani journalist and founder of safenewsrooms, speaks on censorship of media and the future of press freedom in Pakistan. He recounts his experience of escaping an attempted abduction and having to flee to Paris with his family.

Johann Bihr, from Reporters Without Borders, debates the Cumhuriyet trial with IOHR TV. “Press freedom and freedom of expression have been crushed in Turkey”, said Johann Bihr in the run-up to the next Cumhuriyet hearing, where 3 employees face up to 43 years in prison.

IOHR organised a panel discussion at the Sorbonne University in Paris to debate the ongoing trial of 17 Cumhuriyet journalists. Muratcan Sabuncu, son of imprisoned editor-in-chief Murat Sabuncu, and Yonca Şik, wife of incarcerated journalist Ahmet Sik, joined Ernest Sagaga, from the International Federation of Journalists and Johann Bihr, head of Reporters Without Borders central…

​Stefan Simanowitz – The Crisis of Press Freedom – Protect Journalists Campaign Amnesty International’s media manager, Stefan Simanowitz, discusses the growing dangers surrounding the profession of journalism, as well as the importance of the Protect Journalists campaign with IOHR TV. The UN has announced that close to 800 journalists have been killed in the past decade…

Muratcan Sabuncu – Son of Murat Sabuncu, incarcerated editor-in-chief of Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet, discusses the mass incarceration of journalists and rights defenders in Turkey. Turkey is the world’s foremost jailer of journalists with almost 150 imprisoned. Muratcan Sabuncu reveals the details of his father’s incarceration and the Turkish state’s neglect of universal human rights and…