New York, November 6, 2018–Amid a challenging time for press freedom around the world, CPJ will honor four exceptional journalists for their courage at the 2018 International Press Freedom Awards on November 20, 2018, in New York City.
Each of the four journalists have faced grave threats for their work. Amal Khalifa Idris Habbani, a Sudanese freelance journalist, has been arrested for her critical reporting. Ukrainian broadcast reporter Anastasiya Stanko was taken hostage. Venezuelan authorities demanded to know the sources of investigative reporter Luz Mely Reyes, who later founded news website Efecto Cocuyo.
Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, who goes by the pen name “Mother Mushroom,” was released from a Vietnamese prison this month–finally able to reunite with her family, but forced into exile in the United States.
CPJ will also present the 2018 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award to Rappler editor Maria Ressa. A 30-year veteran of journalism in Asia, Ressa has been threatened and the website attacked for coverage of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
The awards dinner is open for press coverage. Accreditation requests will be accepted until noon on Friday, November 16. Press interested in taking photographs or conducting interviews during the awards should schedule in advance with press@cpj.org.
WHAT: 28th Annual International Press Freedom Awards Dinner
WHEN: November 20, 2018
6 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Photographs and interviews
7:45 p.m. Award ceremony and dinner
WHERE: Grand Hyatt New York at 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue
WHO: The dinner will be hosted by Bill Whitaker, veteran journalist and “60 Minutes” correspondent.
The 2018 dinner chair is Meher Tatna, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
