Dear Friend of Press Freedom,
Here are some of the most important stories we’re following from the U.S. and around the world. If you enjoy reading this newsletter, please forward it to friends and family. If someone has forwarded you this newsletter, please subscribe here.
New York Times pushes for PRESS Act
This week, The New York Times published an important editorial calling on the Senate to pass the PRESS Act, the strongest press freedom bill in modern history.
The PRESS Act has already passed the House unanimously, but it’s been stalled in the Senate, where opponents like Sen. Tom Cotton have held it up based on absurd claims.
We need the PRESS Act now more than ever. As the Times explained in its editorial, this is not simply a matter of “press versus government”:
"This law would effectively protect those who serve the public interest by blowing the whistle on government wrongdoing. And it would help protect all Americans, who deserve nothing less than the full truth about the officials they elect and the government they fund."
Read the editorial here, and consider sending it to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York (who has said he supports the PRESS Act) or your senator. You can also use this easy contact form from the ACLU to tell the Senate to pass the PRESS Act.
Intelligence community must give estimate of ‘incidental’ collections
Declassified reports and other hints have long shown that Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act has been used and abused to spy on Americans.
But despite its promises to Congress, the intelligence community has never given a public estimate of the number of U.S. persons’ communications that are “incidentally” collected as part of the National Security Agency’s Section 702 surveillance.
This week, Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) and more than 20 other organizations joined a letter led by Restore the Fourth calling on the intelligence community to determine and release this estimate. Read it here.
U.S. must intervene on behalf of journalist charged by Israel
FPF also joined a letter led by Defending Rights & Dissent urging the U.S. embassy in Israel to advocate for American journalist Jeremy Loffredo, who was arrested on Oct. 9 and charged with “aiding the enemy during wartime and providing information to the enemy.” We wrote an op-ed about the case for The Guardian last week.
The charges against Loffredo are apparently based on his journalism regarding the impact of Iranian missile strikes in Israel. There must always be consequences when American journalists are punished for reporting news, even if the government responsible is an American ally or the journalist reports for a controversial outlet.
What we’re reading
As US presidential vote looms, newsrooms focus on how to stay safe (Voice of America). As FPF Executive Director Trevor Timm explains, “Police departments feel that they have the power to violate the rights of journalists. Then what ends up happening is it turns into a snowball effect. More police agencies crack down even harder.”
Courage is contagious: Daniel Hale to receive the inaugural Ellsberg Whistleblower Award (Ellsberg Whistleblower Award). Congratulations to Hale! Whistleblowers like Hale — who informed the public about high civilian casualties and governmental misconduct regarding U.S. drone warfare — deserve to be celebrated for their courage.
This reporter was arrested for asking questions. The Supreme Court just revived her lawsuit (Reason). Police and prosecutors who retaliate against journalists for their reporting should take note: The Supreme Court wants people whose First Amendment rights are violated by government retaliation to have their day in court.
The FBI knocked on my door (Ken Klippenstein). What’s the point of the FBI paying a journalist a home visit to tell him something he already knows, other than to say “you’re on our radar”? Ken Klippenstein may not be intimidated, but what if it had been a less experienced journalist?
Beef up the freedom of the press (The Wall Street Journal). “Journalists need to be able to maintain the confidentiality of sources who provide information about government misconduct or other sensitive information.” We need both the PRESS Act and stronger First Amendment protections for the press.
Come see us in Chicago, Washington, or London
On Monday, FPF Advocacy Director Seth Stern and other experts will discuss the threats to press freedom, including Israel's murder of journalists in Gaza, Project 2025, and the prosecution of Julian Assange. Join us at this event, organized by Defending Rights & Dissent, on Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. CT at Nabala Cafe, 4660 N. Broadway in Chicago.
The Double Exposure Festival & Symposium, Nov. 7-10 in Washington, D.C., will have panels, workshops, and master classes focused on investigative storytelling. Don’t miss our Director of Advocacy Seth Stern, who will discuss dangerous government efforts to limit who is a journalist — such as by excluding documentary filmmakers. Purchase your tickets or passes here.
Or come see us in London, where we’re co-hosting Source! the London Logan Symposium with The Centre for Investigative Journalism Nov. 14-15. Hear from journalists from all over the world about press freedom issues and the challenges they face in protecting themselves and their sources. Register to attend here.
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