It’s a Nice Place to Visit, But I Wouldn’t Want to Be a Reporter There

[Commentary] President Barack Obama has consistently lavished praise on Recep Tayyip Erdogan, describing the Turkish prime minister as an "outstanding partner and an outstanding friend" and lauding his "great leadership" in promoting democracy in the Middle East. Erdogan has even won plaudits from the U.S. president for his "courageous steps" toward normalizing Turkish-Armenian relations and toward integrating minorities into the democratic process. But when Erdogan visits Washington on May 16, President Obama needs to deliver a different message: Turkey's failure to address its press freedom crisis is undermining the country's strategic relationship with the United States and hindering its regional aspirations.

[Christophe Deloire is director general of Reporters Without Borders. Joel Simon is executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists.]