New bill would fix law that’s failing journalists
Marion County Record
Searches of newsrooms and seizures of journalists’ materials chill reporting.
Police searches of newsrooms and seizures of journalists' communications, electronic devices, notes, and other reporting materials intimidates journalists and sources and chill reporting. Searches and seizures can reveal confidential sources and transform reporters into tools of law enforcement.
Numerous laws protect reporters from searches and seizures, but police routinely violate them. Too often, courts rubber-stamp requests for searches and seizures involving journalists. In some instances, officials even appear to have obtained illegal search warrants to intimidate and silence journalists and news outlets who criticize them.
Featured Items
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Upcoming trial of journalists only tip of anti-press iceberg in Asheville
Search warrant and park bans show officials’ unusual hostility to free speech as June 12 trial approaches
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Judge ignores Constitution to bar press from publishing public documents
St. Louis case continues troubling trend of government trying to claw back records it released
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A judge struck down an anti-press restraining order. Why does it feel so lousy?
Sanctions are needed so other politicians don’t try similar unconstitutional antics
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California judge buries censorship order in the fine print
Newspaper group refuses to comply with unconstitutional order.
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Ohio authorities ignore Supreme Court to arrest journalist
Editor charged and equipment seized after publishing source’s recording of murder trial.
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Exploiting tragedy: Police in Uvalde and Buffalo clamp down on free press
Police have used the aftermath of mass shootings to restrict press access and threaten arrest of journalists on the ground, according to recent reporting by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. In each of those cities, as tragedy unfolded and reporters began working, they have faced unnecessary hurdles erected by law enforcement and public officials.
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Why press protections need legislative teeth, in DOJ’s own words
We’ve repeatedly argued that legislation is necessary to resolve questions about when the Department of Justice media guidelines apply and to provide accountability in case of violations. So, what kind of accountability is there now?
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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.
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Unconstitutional prior restraint against New York Times lifted — for now — in Veritas case
A state appeals court has stayed a prior restraint order in a high-profile case between the New York Times and Project Veritas. Freedom of the Press Foundation responds.
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More than 60 journalists have sued police after protest arrests or assaults
More than 60 journalists have sued police after arrests or assaults at protests, according to new analysis from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. That total amounts to 82% of the lawsuits filed by journalist or media outlet plaintiffs against public officials.
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