The Latest

A screenshot from a video taken during the arrest of KTBC broadcast photographer Carlos Sanchez while he was filming a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas at Austin on April 24, 2024.

Cops on campus arrest, bully journalists

As police stormed several college campuses in recent days and arrested hundreds of students protesting the Israel-Gaza war, the free press was also under attack. Texas Department of Public Safety officers arrested Carlos Sanchez, a photojournalist for the local Fox affiliate, as he was covering protests at the University of Texas at Austin. But police can’t seem to make up their minds about what, exactly, they want us to believe Sanchez did wrong, repeatedly bringing then dropping charges against the photographer.

Published May 3, 2024 Freedom of the Press Foundation

FPF discusses threats to the free press on radio talk show

Court access•Article

WBEZ interview highlights legislative, economic, and cultural headwinds that threaten the Fourth Estate

Published May 3, 2024 Freedom of the Press Foundation

The Sample Gates at Indiana University. Stone gates frame a university building with a clock tower

Student journalist covering protests: ‘We have to do it’

Protests•Article

Students reporting on campus protests have First Amendment rights — and they’re being violated over and over

Published May 2, 2024 Caitlin Vogus

Screenshot of a 2023 "roundtable" hosted by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

Report highlights need for journalists to push back when stonewalled

Court access•Article

News readers need to know when the government withholds information from them

Published May 2, 2024 Freedom of the Press Foundation

A document with the word "Subject" and then additional text that is blurred or blacked out

NJ court to journalist on publication of official’s address: Do you feel lucky, punk?

Prior Restraint•Article

Decision empowers state officials to try to stop reporting they dislike

Published April 30, 2024 Caitlin Vogus

Felony charges against Austin journalist are authoritarian bullying

Arrests/Prosecutions•News Release

Police retaliate against journalist for exercising his First Amendment right to film them violating protesters' First Amendment rights

Published April 29, 2024 Freedom of the Press Foundation

SCOTUS needs to hold officials who ignore press freedom accountable

Arrests/Prosecutions•Article

Texas citizen journalist’s case is an opportunity to push back against criminalization of routine newsgathering

Published April 29, 2024 Seth Stern

An image of a laptop with a single eye staring out from the screen.

Biden signs off on ‘spy draft’

Newsletter

Last week, we warned of a dangerous new bill that would expand the surveillance law Section 702 of FISA. Unfortunately, the Senate approved the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act, or RISAA, over the weekend, officially reauthorizing Section 702 without any significant reforms and with dangerous expansions of the intelligence agencies’ spy powers. President Biden quickly signed the bill into law, authorizing intelligence agencies to essentially “institute a spy draft” that could require ordinary Americans and businesses to help the government surveil online communications, including those of journalists.

Published April 26, 2024 Freedom of the Press Foundation