Why press protections need legislative teeth, in DOJ’s own words
Secret Justice Dept. subpoena drives home the need for a strong journalist shield law
Featured Issues
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Pass the PRESS Act
The PRESS Act is the most important press freedom bill in modern history.
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Stop Arresting Journalists
Too often, police arrest journalists for doing their jobs. These arrests and prosecutions chill important reporting.
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Reform Government Secrecy
The U.S. classifies far too many secrets, obstructing democracy.
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The Supreme Court leaks keep coming — and that’s good
In the week since Politico dropped its blockbuster reporting on a draft Supreme Court decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the floodgates of leaks have opened. That’s a good thing.
FPF, dozens of groups condemn LA County sheriff’s retaliatory statements against reporter
The Los Angeles County sheriff’s public threat of retaliatory investigation into a reporter is an outrageous press freedom violation, and Freedom of the Press Foundation has joined over two dozen groups last week in a letter condemning that action.
What’s worse than NYPD press credentialing? An unfair mayor’s office process
New York City Hall is out of line in demanding information about the criminal backgrounds and open cases of journalists applying for press credentials.
Fair use win in screenshot case is a victory for media reporting
In an important ruling for the press’s ability to report freely on the work of other outlets, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that including a screenshot in an article commenting on another article's reporting is not copyright infringement. This is welcome news in an age where copyright can be used to restrict what newspapers can and can’t say about each other.
Senate FOIA hearing brings hard questions for government witnesses
Lawmakers called for modernization and an answer to a “basic question about how FOIA is operating in the context of new technology.”
How independent and international news orgs are circumventing censorship in Russia
Russia has cracked down extensively on independent reporting within its borders since it invaded Ukraine last month, leading many outlets to cease publishing or pull editorial staff from the country entirely. Still, international and independent news outlets that would face official censorship within Russia are finding ways to distribute uncensored news to avid readers.
Supreme Court entrenches ‘state secrets’ privilege, dealing a blow to accountability
The Supreme Court upheld and potentially expanded its pernicious “state secrets” privilege in two opinions late last week relating to expansive government surveillance and anti-terrorism programs.
Arizona moves to restrict recordings of police with unconstitutional proposal
A misguided Arizona bill would make it illegal to take photos or video of the police in certain circumstances, running directly against long-established constitutional protections for such recordings. Freedom of the Press Foundation has joined a coalition of two dozen media and press freedom groups opposing the proposal.
Palin’s push into press freedom precedent
The case Sarah Palin lost against The New York Times this week was the first libel claim to even go to trial against the paper in nearly two decades. That these cases are so rare reflects a critically important precedent in American law — one established by the Times itself. And though it's a cornerstone of press freedom, it's increasingly under attack.
Undead EARN IT Act poses newly urgent threat to press freedom
After public backlash led to a major defeat in 2020, lawmakers are now attempting to rush the anti-privacy legislation through the Senate.
