Pass the PRESS Act

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interview by Kristin Wolff (CC BY 2.0)

Pass the PRESS Act

The federal reporter-source shield law known as the PRESS Act is one of the most important pieces of federal legislation protecting First Amendment rights in modern times. It would stop the government from forcing reporters to reveal their confidential sources and from spying on the press. Tell Congress to pass the PRESS Act today.

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Dear Senator/Representative,

As your constituent, I urge you to support the Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act, a federal reporter-source shield law.

The PRESS Act would protect journalists from being forced to reveal their confidential sources in federal court and would stop the federal government from spying on journalists, including through tech companies like email and social media platforms.

The PRESS Act ensures that the press can publish the information Americans need to hold the powerful accountable and participate in our democracy. Many sources with newsworthy information can only speak out safely if their names are kept confidential. Journalists need to be able to promise sources confidentiality — and be able to keep those promises without going to jail.

The PRESS Act is a bipartisan bill that addresses a bipartisan problem. Under both Democratic and Republican administrations, the Department of Justice has forced journalists to reveal their confidential sources or spied on reporters’ private communications to uncover their sources. The PRESS Act’s definition of “journalist” would protect reporters big and small from across the political spectrum — whether they work at a mainstream news organization, an alternative outlet, or are independent or freelance. The PRESS Act has previously enjoyed broad bipartisan support, including passing in the House unanimously in a previous Congress.

We need the PRESS Act to protect whistleblowers, journalists, and the public’s right to know. Please speak out in favor of the PRESS Act and support passing this important piece of press freedom legislation into law.

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Thank you for urging your lawmakers to protect journalists and their confidential sources by passing the PRESS Act.

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Join me in urging Congress to protect whistleblowers, journalists, and the public’s right to know by passing a federal reporter-source shield law, the PRESS Act: https://freedom.press/action/pass-the-press-act

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