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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Vigil recognizes journalists killed in Gaza
The deaths of more than 80 journalists in the Israel-Gaza War are horrific and shameful
PRESS Act passes the House
The House of Representatives passed the PRESS Act by unanimous consent on Jan. 18, 2024. The act is a bipartisan reporter’s shield bill that would protect journalists from being forced to name their sources in federal court and would stop the federal government from spying on journalists through their technology providers. It’s the strongest shield bill we’ve ever seen — and also the one with the best chance of becoming law. Now it’s up to the Senate to finish the job.
PRESS Act unanimously passes the House. Now on to the Senate!
The federal reporter’s shield bill is one step closer to becoming law. It’s time for the Senate to do its part to protect press freedom and pass the PRESS Act.
Global censorship campaign raises alarms
The scope of self-censorship by the U.S. and international press in response to an Indian court order is a disturbing sign for the future
Government gag rules muzzle journalists’ sources
Policies prohibiting government employees from speaking to the press violate the First Amendment
Elon Musk: the world’s biggest free speech hypocrite
Musk’s free speech rhetoric is nothing more than a ‘snake-oil salesman’s marketing scheme’
The case for ignoring censorship orders
Our U.S. Press Freedom Tracker documented 11 prior restraints against journalists in 2023, the most since it started tracking them in 2017. The Supreme Court has called prior restraints — or government orders not to publish information — the “most serious” First Amendment violation. They are almost never constitutional. And yet, courts keep entering prior restraints with little regard for the law, leaving journalists censored while often slow-moving appellate processes play out.
The case for ignoring censorship orders
When judges ignore the law to silence journalists, contempt of court is deserved
Press, rights groups demand protections for journalists in Israel-Gaza war
Letter to Biden from leading press freedom and human rights orgs urges administration to protect journalists’ lives and right to report
Government must explain newsroom raid
It’s been more than seven months since the May 2023 FBI raid of Florida journalist Tim Burke’s home newsroom, after Burke found and publicized Fox News interview outtakes where rapper Ye made antisemitic remarks. Yet the government still hasn’t explained the basis for the raid or returned all of Burke’s seized equipment and information.
