Stop Arresting Journalists

Cops on horseback in a crowd

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.

GETTY IMAGES/Alex Kent

Your support for press freedom is more important than ever.

Help Freedom of the Press Foundation meet our goals for the year so we can bring the fight into 2026.

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