Black year for journalists, 274 in prison in 2020

2020 was a year to forget for press freedom, with a

(including 34 for publishing 'fake news').

The report drawn up every 12 months by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reveals that as of December 1, 274 journalists ended up in prison for their work.

However, this figure does not include those who have been arrested and released.

For the second consecutive year,

, with 47 members of the media behind bars, followed by

with 37. In

however, 27 journalists are jailed, and 24 in

.

Fifteen are in prison in Iran, where Ruhollah Zam was executed on 12 December after facing 17 counts including spying and spreading false news abroad.

The dossier states that the incarceration of media members increased this year "as governments cracked down on coronavirus coverage or tried to suppress news of political unrest."

UN secretary general

described himself as "dismayed" by the results of the report.

In a statement, the UN Headquarters leader "again urged governments to immediately release journalists detained just for exercising their profession", reiterating "his previous calls for concerted efforts to counter widespread impunity for such crimes".

"In our daily life - he added - journalists and media operators are fundamental in helping us make informed decisions. As the world fights the Covid-19 pandemic, those decisions are even more crucial and can make the difference between life. and death ".