Charges dropped against Oregon journalist
Courtesy Joseph Rushmore
Too often, police arrest journalists for doing their jobs. These arrests and prosecutions chill important reporting.
Arrests and prosecutions of journalists often violate the First Amendment, and they undermine the public’s right to learn about newsworthy events.
Data from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker shows that journalists are at heightened risk of arrest while covering protests. But police have also arrested reporters just for gathering news or asking questions. Journalists should never be arrested for doing their jobs.
Featured Items
-
Police are threatening free expression by abusing the law to punish disrespect of law enforcement
It’s not illegal to be disrespectful to police officers. But police officers are abusing their positions of power and co-opting hate crime laws to censor criticism and offensive language.
-
Did ICE detain this Mexican journalist for criticizing U.S. immigration policy?
Newly revealed ICE emails suggest that journalist Emilio Gutiérrez-Soto was targeted for deportation after criticizing U.S. immigration authorities
-
The #J20 trials are about the future of the First Amendment
The government’s ongoing and aggressive prosecution of people arrested merely for their presence at a protest where crimes allegedly occurred is dangerous, and will have chilling effects on the future of dissent in the United States.
-
Manuel Duran could be deported for doing journalism
Memphis journalist Manuel Duran was arrested while covering a protest. Although he faces no charges, he remains in ICE custody and could still be deported for doing his job. His detention is unconscionable, and an affront to press freedom.
-
Why is ICE interfering with journalists covering immigration hearings?
An ICE attorney twice objected to the presence of a reporter at a deportation hearing earlier this month. This isn’t the first time ICE has interfered with journalists doing their jobs.
-
Unconstitutional “ag-gag” laws criminalize journalism and insulate factory farms from accountability
“Ag-gag” laws are intended to protect the animal agriculture industry from public scrutiny by attempting to criminalize journalists and whistleblowers who expose its operating conditions.
-
34 arrests, 44 physical attacks, and more chilling numbers from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker's first year
Counting 2017 press freedom violations in the United States.
-
Indian government, faced with massive data breach, targets journalists
Instead of rushing to fix the problem that has exposed the private information of over a billion Indians, it is criminally investigating the journalists who brought it to the public’s attention.
-
Prosecuting journalists who covered Inauguration Day protests endangers press freedom and the First Amendment
Two journalists still face charges and potentially decades in prison for covering Inauguration Day protests in Washington D.C. The continued prosecution of Aaron Cantú and Alexei Wood for doing their jobs is outrageous, and the U.S. Attorney should immediately drop its charges against these journalists.The Freedom of the Press …
-
Introducing the US Press Freedom Tracker: documenting press freedom violations in United States
Comprehensively counting press freedom violations in the United States.
