CPJ announces press oppressors' awards amid Trump's fake news awards

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I will be announcing THE MOST DISHONEST & CORRUPT MEDIA AWARDS OF THE YEAR on Monday at 5:00 o’clock. Subjects will cover Dishonesty & Bad Reporting in various categories from the Fake News Media. Stay tuned!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018

“It’s staggering to see the extent to which some world leaders are so fearful of their critics and the truth,” said CPJ advocacy director Courtney Radsch, from Washington, DC. “At a time when the number of journalists in prison globally is at a record high the failure of President Donald Trump and other leaders to stand up for press freedom risks weakening democracy and human rights.”

The Global Press Oppressors list includes four categories as well as an award for the Overall Achievement in Undermining Global Press Freedom.

Most Thin-Skinned

• President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey
• Runner-up: President Donald Trump, United States

Most Outrageous Use of Terror Laws Against The Press

• President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey
• Runner-up: President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Egypt

Tightest Grip on Media*

• President Xi Jinping, China
• Runner-up: President Vladimir Putin, Russia

*This category excludes countries with no independent media, such as North Korea and Eritrea.

Biggest Backslider in Press Freedom

• State Counselor and de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar
• Runner-up: President Andrzej Duda, Poland

Overall Achievement in Undermining Global Press Freedom

• President Donald Trump, United States