Press Uncuffed: A Campaign to Free Imprisoned Journalists

A Pulitzer Prize winner is leading a campaign to secure the release of dozens of journalists around the world who’ve been imprisoned for “attempting the report the facts”.

Dana Priest of the Washington Post was inspired to launch Press Uncuffed when teaching a class at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism.

The team initially raised funds through an Indiegogo campaign, which reached over $30,000 by crowdfunding transparent bracelets, bearing the names of nine journalists who are in prison in various countries. Their convictions cover a wide range of charges including ‘endangering national security’, ‘propaganda against the state’ and ‘terrorism and treason’.

It’s hard to imagine living in a country where the tiniest mockery or slightest defamatory opinion of the establishment will land you in prison. Those pictures you shared of Ed Miliband mid-chomp into a bacon sandwich? Prison. That vine you shared of Nigel Farage malfunctioning during the Leaders’ Debate? Prison. Last year, a Turkish journalist even received a suspended sentence for ‘liking’ a Facebook post that criticised the President.

I spoke to Lejla Sarcevic, journalist & Campaign Director, to find out how this campaign is helping the victims of censorship, and why it’s a problem in the first place.

What is Press Uncuffed?
Press Uncuffed is a campaign aiming to raise awareness about imprisoned journalists around the world by selling transparent, cuff bracelets bearing the names of nine individuals who are jailed in various countries.

Where did the idea come from?
The idea came from a class at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism taught by Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporter Dana Priest. Priest assigned each of her students an imprisoned journalist to profile during a whole semester and some of the students felt compelled to do more.

Who is involved?
The campaign is run entirely by students and alumni of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism in partnership with the Committee to Protect Journalists. Alumna Rosemary Ostmann, runs a communications company in New York City called RoseComm and has been working with the students to get the campaign going.

What steps did you take after deciding to start the project?
We had to decide whom to feature on the bracelets. There are 221 imprisoned journalists around the world; of course, we couldn’t put them all on a bracelet. We chose these nine because they’re imprisoned in different places and for different reasons. We wanted to show the full range of charges they’ve been wrongfully accused of. We had to get partners on board and that was where Rosemary and her team really stepped up. All of our wonderful vendors came on board through Rosemary.

What do you hope to achieve from the campaign?
We really want people to realize what a huge problem this is, not just because these individuals should not be in jail to begin with but because it seriously affects society. If journalists and their freedom of expression is repressed, then citizens can’t be informed. This is a huge problem, so, while we want people to talk about the individuals, the point is also to see the bigger picture.

What response has the campaign had so far?
It’s been fantastic, we reached our Indiegogo goal a week before the campaign ended. We’ve had just a really overwhelming response from all kinds of people, supporting us and telling us that what we’re doing is so important. It’s great to hear that, not just for us. I wish that our imprisoned journalists could hear that. We want them to know that people care.

Tell us about the bracelets. What are they made of? What is the purpose of the bracelets and where do the proceeds go?
They’re made of Lucite, which is a strong plastic that was originally used for WWII fighter planes as windshields, periscopes and gunner turrets. We really wanted to make sure we used a material other than silicone for the bracelets. Our partnership with RoseComm was a gift as Lucite International is one of their clients and they quickly jumped on board. There are two purposes to the bracelets – one is to spark a conversation and we think that they look so great that they will do exactly that. The other, of course, is financial, all proceeds from the sale of the bracelets will go to the Committee to Protect Journalists for use in their emergency assistance fund which can do all sorts of things for journalists in danger, from covering medical costs to helping them get out of dangerous situations.

Why does censorship still exist? How can we end it?
It exists because corruption exists. It exists because corrupt leaders are afraid of the truth getting out. Journalism, I think, is a complex job with a simple function, to inform. An informed citizenry is a powerful citizenry and that frightens corrupt leaders. Knowledge is power. How do we end it? That’s a complex question that requires complex answers that are unique to each situation. But I think in the end, you fight it with information and you get that information out whatever way you can. This is our way.

Now that the crowdfunding campaign has finished, how can others get involved and/or help the cause?
It’s kind of obvious, but tell your friends. Visit our site, read the journalists’ stories, find one that really strikes you and tell your friends over a beer next time. Really, I think it’s as simple as that. People really care about all sorts of things, Ebola, terrorism, poverty, AIDS, corruption etc. These are all things we should care about, but we just want to add press freedom to that, without a free and vigorous press even learning about those things becomes impossible. I think the death of journalism is a myth – it’s more important than ever, we live in an information age and journalists deliver that information. It’s why they’re so fundamental to a robust society.

Visit pressuncuffed.org to find out more and to help raise awareness for the 200+ journalists who are being help captive around the world.