“The Prison Papers” unveil in-depth reports on incarcerated journalists and their plight for press freedom
An estimated 581 journalists are currently imprisoned around the world for the crime of simply doing their jobs. They are unjustly behind bars for exposing corruption, calling out injustices, and holding states and regimes to account. NGO RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has teamed up with cult French independent magazine Society to create the Prison Papers: a series of articles developed in collaboration with some of the world’s most prominent imprisoned journalists and their families over nine months. With freedom of the press under increasing threat, the magazine’s issue has made the impossible possible, by finally giving incarcerated journalists a voice – sometimes from within their own cells.
The special issue focuses on eight journalists incarcerated across four continents, and a series of articles that together present a powerful plea for freedom. These articles range from direct interviews with imprisoned journalists from inside their own cell, to a profile on an estranged journalist whose whereabouts are completely unknown. From Hong Kong to Cameroon, and Guatemala to India, these articles paint a tumultuous portrait on the state of press freedom.
RSF worked with a team of writers from pioneering French editorial platform Society to uncover these stories, undertaking extraordinary risks over a nine month period, to help the prisoners exercise the right for which they were imprisoned, and to expose the truth. Some of the most compelling articles in the Prison Papers include:
- An interview with Guatemala’s most notorious prisoner and writer for El Periodico Jose Ruben Zamora Marroquin, conducted within his cell, on the rise and fall of the revolutionary newspaper
- An investigation with the family of Eritrean-Swedish journalist Dawit Isaak, currently serving the world’s longest prison sentence without trial for a journalist in the little-known state of Eritrea in Africa
- An interview with Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi, known for her work as deputy director of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, an organization (banned in Iran) that advocates for political prisoners. Mohammedi is currently incarcerated in Tehran for exposing gender apartheid by the Iranian regime.
- An essay on recently convicted Apple Daily media mogul Jimmy Lai that explores state censorship and repression of protests held in Hong Kong through the unusual lens of gastronomy
The issue also features several other stories, including an interview with Philippine journalist Maria Ressa, who became the first journalist since 1935 to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the work on her website ‘Rappler’ - exposing President Rodrigo Duterte's abuses in the Philippines. She speaks about press freedom and her fight to protect journalists, as well as how social networks are making her profession more dangerous.
RSF connected the magazine’s editorial team with imprisoned journalists on every continent, interviewing their relatives, family members, lawyers, or contacts in prison to create the stories their fellow journalists wanted to tell – but were unable to write themselves – through a lengthy process of investigative journalism with outstanding cooperation over a nine month period.
The special issue highlights RSF’s 40-year-old mission to defend journalists worldwide. The series of articles brings together vital stories from across the globe, spotlighting incarcerated Nobel Peace prize winners and high-profile journalists whose names have been practically forgotten after decades behind bars.
“With an unprecedented number of journalists behind bars around the world, it is more crucial than ever that we find new and creative ways of keeping their stories alive. We are so pleased to partner with Society on this innovative project, lending our voices to some of the most emblematic figures of our time, whom powerful forces have tried so hard to silence. We hope seeing their stories in print will spur the world into action to secure their releases and to stop the relentless targeting of journalists once and for all.
"Society is very proud to collaborate with RSF at a time when the work of journalists is more threatened than ever. This issue is dedicated to Christophe Deloire, who devoted his life to fighting for press freedom, and with whom we began this project. We are deeply committed to this issue, working closely with RSF’s teams on these pressing concerns every day.
Watch the campaign video here:
