Notices by Freedom of the Press (freedomofpress@newsie.social), page 2

The inmate response to his journalism “is huge,” Busby said.

His reporting on the “largest” hunger strike in Texas prison history in 2023 “got the media involved” on the outside, which led the state’s prison system to “rewrite the whole entire use of force plan.”

https://www.projectcensored.org/prison-conditions-palestinian-rights/

Without the PRESS Act, "journalists reporting confidential source information are at risk of losing their freedom. This I know better than most," writes journalist Vanessa Leggett, who spent 168 days locked up for refusing to burn sources in 2001. https://www.statesman.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2024/07/25/press-act-2024-journalist-source-confidentiality-federal-shield-law-democracy-government-protection/74517441007/

We’ve written a lot about why Congress needs to pass the PRESS Act, the bipartisan federal bill that would shield journalists from government spying and from being forced to turn over their confidential sources.

https://freedom.press/news/states-must-step-up-to-protect-journalist-source-confidentiality/

In contrast, a codified reporter’s privilege can address these and other details, giving journalists and sources the certainty they need about when they can rely on the privilege.

https://freedom.press/news/states-must-step-up-to-protect-journalist-source-confidentiality/

“But Congress isn’t the only place where we need a law strengthening the reporter’s privilege,” writes Caitlin Vogus.

“A small number of states also lack a reporter's privilege statute. Without a law on the books, journalists and their sources are still at risk.”

https://freedom.press/news/states-must-step-up-to-protect-journalist-source-confidentiality/

It’s good that courts in states without a statutory reporter’s privilege have stepped in to protect journalists and sources.

But lawmakers in those states shouldn’t be satisfied to sit back and rely on this precedent.

https://freedom.press/news/states-must-step-up-to-protect-journalist-source-confidentiality/

“We need every state in the country, as well as Congress, to pass strong shield laws that comprehensively protect journalists.

“The free press and the public’s right to know is too important to leave the decision up to the courts alone.”

Read more:

https://freedom.press/news/states-must-step-up-to-protect-journalist-source-confidentiality/

Today marks the first anniversary of the passing of the legendary whistleblower, anti-war hero, FPF co-founder Daniel Ellsberg.

His courageous decision to leak the Pentagon Papers to the press in 1971 led to the most important Supreme Court case for press freedom in the century.

🧵 Today marks 53 years since the New York Times started publishing the Pentagon Papers – the 7,000 page top-secret study detailing decades of official lies about the Vietnam War

It was, of course, given to the newspaper by the legendary whistleblower and FPF co-founder Daniel Ellsberg.

Fortunately, Israel reversed course on its censorship of the AP this week.

But the ordeal should be a wake-up call for U.S. officials who keep empowering future administrations to punish the press and chill investigative journalism. https://thehill.com/opinion/4683332-israels-censorship-of-the-ap-is-a-cautionary-tale-for-the-us/

We told Project Censored that lawmakers who say they’re concerned about authoritarianism in a second Trump term need to stop handing future administrations a "dictator’s dream toolkit." https://freedom.press/news/bipartisan-bill-could-let-trump-shut-down-nonprofit-news-outlets/

Criticizing Israel? A new anti-terrorism bill would allow the government to take away vital tax exemptions from nonprofit news outlets.

Freedom of the Press Advocacy Director Seth Stern writes on the Intercept: https://theintercept.com/2024/05/10/terrorism-bill-nonprofit-journalists-israel-hamas/

Awful ruling upholding Indiana’s law against recording police within 25 feet. Similar laws have been ruled unconstitutional elsewhere because recording cops is an established First Amendment right.

The IN lawmaker behind the law reportedly said citizens like those who recorded George Floyd’s murder were “involved in a situation that’s none of their business.” That tells you all you need to know. https://thedissenter.org/us-judge-rules-in-favor-of-police-buffer-law-viewed-as-threat-to-rights-of-journalists/?ref=the-dissenter-newsletter

The FBI raided Florida journalist Tim Burke's home newsroom over his online newsgathering in May, but no one has explained how he broke the law. We led 50+ orgs to demand transparency so other journalists don’t need to worry that their internet research may bring the feds to their door if they do their jobs a little too well. https://freedom.press/news/rights-orgs-broadcasters-demand-info-on-fbi-raid-of-journalists-home/

Allowing governments to install spyware on journalists’ phones isn’t an issue that needs a “nuanced approach,” no matter what politicians say.

EU law should unconditionally ban governments from using spyware against journalists. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/27/mep-spying-journalists-press-freedom-spyware-european-parliament

An investigation by The Intercept showed that only 10 out of 54 officers involved in killings that sparked BLM protests had their police certifications or licenses revoked.

As more states allow officers involved in on-duty killings to keep their names secret, this type of investigation may become impossible. https://theintercept.com/2023/09/16/police-decertification-license/

Freedom of the Press Foundation and its partners successfully petitioned for release of bodycam footage of the arrests of two Asheville Blade journalists for trespassing while reporting on an encampment sweep at a public park. They’re scheduled to stand trial for doing their jobs on April 19th. The footage should be available soon.

https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2023/02/21/city-to-post-bodycam-footage-of-asheville-reporter-arrests-on-youtube/69924123007/