Dawn Editor Zaffar Abbas set to receive press freedom award

JournalismPakistan.com | Published 6 years ago

NEW YORK — The CPJ will honor six exceptional journalists for their bravery at the 2019 International Press Freedom Awards on November 21, 2019, in New York City.

This year’s awardees have experienced an array of threats in connection to their work, from targeted state-backed online harassment in Brazil to legal threats and detention in Tanzania, to physical threats and drawn-out court battles in India.

Two of the winners, Lucía Pineda Ubau and Miguel Mora, journalists at Nicaraguan news outlet 100% Noticias, were jailed in December 2018 in connection with their coverage of political unrest in the country. They were finally freed in June.

CPJ will present the 2019 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award to Zaffar Abbas. He is the editor of Dawn, Pakistan's leading daily newspaper, and has decades of experience as a reporter in Pakistan. — By CPJ

Dive Deeper

Pakistan’s ad ban on Dawn sparks media freedom concerns

December 14, 2025: Dawn Media Group says Pakistan has imposed an unannounced ban on government advertising, drawing condemnation from media bodies over press freedom and independent journalism.

PFUJ raises alarm over pressure on Dawn Media Group

December 14, 2025: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists condemns the advertising ban on Dawn Media Group, warning that it threatens press freedom and calls on the government to restore ads immediately.

Media bodies condemn ad ban on Dawn TV and radio

December 13, 2025: Pakistani media bodies have condemned the government’s unannounced ban on advertisements to Dawn Media Group’s TV and radio outlets, calling it an attack on press freedom.

RT India deletes video of Shahbaz Sharif waiting to meet Putin

December 13, 2025: RT India deletes a viral video showing Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif allegedly waiting for Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling it a misrepresentation of events.

Dawn struggle deepens as closures raise fears for its future

December 11, 2025: Dawn Media Group faces escalating closures, financial pressure, and political retaliation, raising urgent questions about the future of independent journalism in Pakistan.

Journalists urge courts to quash warrants against Imaan Mazari, husband

December 10, 2025: Veteran journalists and rights activists raise alarm over non-bailable warrants against Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, calling the NCIA case agenda-driven and a threat to free speech.

Rs524m in ads, empty newsrooms: Balochistan’s media paradox

December 10, 2025: Balochistan Assembly documents show over Rs524 million spent on government advertisements for Quetta-based newspapers in one year, raising questions about reach, oversight, and media sustainability.

Pakistan Railways details journalist and senior citizen concessions

December 09, 2025: Pakistan Railways briefed lawmakers on fare concessions for journalists, their families, and senior citizens, outlining costs and usage across the past five years.

Newsroom

Hong Kong conviction of Jimmy Lai draws global criticism

December 15, 2025 Hong Kong’s conviction of Jimmy Lai under the national security law sparks global condemnation from governments and rights groups, intensifying debate over press freedom and judicial independence.

UNESCO report shows global decline in press freedom and safety

December 15, 2025 UNESCO report shows global press freedom and journalist safety declining as self-censorship rises and media economics falter, posing growing risks to independent journalism.

HRW warns Middle East conflict strikes heighten risks for journalists

December 15, 2025 Human Rights Watch updates warn that attacks on civilian infrastructure in Lebanon and frontline areas are increasing risks for journalists, complicating access, verification, and newsroom safety planning.

Iran signals media and tourism push to reshape global image

December 15, 2025 Iran’s government says it will align its media and tourism messaging to rebuild its global image after regional conflicts, signaling an expanded state-led narrative and new challenges for journalists.

Appeals grow for Vietnam journalist Pham Doan Trang's release

December 15, 2025 International rights groups mark the anniversary of Pham Doan Trang’s sentence, renewing calls for her release and highlighting ongoing risks to press freedom and independent reporting in Vietnam.