The number of journalists imprisoned worldwide hit another record high this year. More than half of those jailed for their work are locked up in Turkey, China and Egypt. The pattern reflects a failure by the international community to address “a global crisis in freedom of the press,” writes the Committee to Protect Journalists. President Donald Trump’s constant “fake news” rhetoric and fixation on Islamic extremism reinforces the framework of accusations and legal charges that allow leaders to jail journalists. The United States has also cozied up to strongmen like Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Nearly three-quarters of journalists are jailed under anti-state charges, broad and vague terror laws, and 21 journalists are imprisoned on a charge of “false news.” There are a total of 262 journalists behind bars around the world. Turkey remains the worst jailer for the second consecutive year, with 73 imprisoned journalists.
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