reporter Archives - News/Media Alliance

Statement: News/Media Alliance Applauds Passage of PRESS Act in House

Staff — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 01:12:30 +0000

The News/Media Alliance applauds the House of Representatives for unanimously passing H.R.4250—the Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act (PRESS Act). The PRESS Act would establish reasonable ground rules for when the government can obtain confidential source information from journalists and their third-party service providers obtained throughout the newsgathering process.

Alliance President and CEO Danielle Coffey stated, “The PRESS Act provides a vital safeguard for the important work of the free press in reporting on matters important to our communities, without fear of government interference or intimidation. The Alliance thanks Representatives Kevin Kiley and Jamie Raskin for their leadership on this bill in the House and we look forward to supporting this important bi-partisan bill advancing in the Senate.”

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News Take: Free Press Focus: Preventing Another Capital Gazette Shooting: Why We Need The Journalist Protection Act

Staff — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 14:00:41 +0000

“His sixth life term was for my attempted murder. … I wish every day we could go back to June 27th and have it be like it was with my coworkers and me working in our newsroom and just try to tell the stories from our community. … That’s what keeps me going is trying to honor my colleagues. I struggle every day with PTSD and depression and anxiety … It’s something that I don’t think will ever go away.”

– Paul Gillespie, Capital Gazette

“We need this backstop of federal protection in the event that local authorities decline to act whenever a journalist is attacked … it will send a strong message to the American people that violence against anyone, particularly journalists, seeking and reporting the truth on behalf of the public, will not be tolerated.”

– Dan Shelley, RTDNA

Guests: Paul Gillespie, Capital Gazette and Dan Shelley, RTDNA

In this first episode of News Take: Free Press Focus, a subseries of the News Take podcast, we hear from RTDNA CEO Dan Shelley and Capital Gazette Photojournalist Paul Gillespie about the dangers that journalists face on the job and what can be done to combat the threat of violence. Gillespie is one of six survivors of the 2018 shooting at the Capital Gazette in Maryland and speaks on his experience and the importance of shielding journalists from harm. Dan Shelley speaks to RTDNA’s major priority in passing the Journalist Protection Act, a law that would make assaulting a journalist a federal crime. With extensive experience in the media industry, both Gillespie and Shelley illustrate the significance of journalists as a whole and what we, as a community, can do to support them.

Listen or download the audio file to listen offline:

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Watch with video:

Speaker bios:

Paul Gillespie has been a photojournalist at Capital Gazette Communications since 2000. He is a 2019 Pulitzer Prize recipient and was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year alongside the staff at Capital Gazette. Gillespie is one of six survivors of the 2018 shooting at Capital Gazette in Annapolis, in which he lost five close colleagues. He is one of two survivors who still work for the publication today.

Dan Shelley is the President and CEO of the Radio Television Digital News Association, RTDNA, the world’s largest professional organization dedicated to broadcast and digital journalism. He has an extensive background in digital media, including his previous role as Senior Vice President, Digital Content Strategy at iHeartMedia. Since the Journalist Protection Act was introduced in 2018, RTDNA has heavily advocated for passing the legislation.

Send us your suggestions

Send your suggestions for future News Take guests to Senior Counsel & Director of Public Policy, Charlotte McBirney, at charlotte@newsmediaalliance.org.

News Take Production Team:

Host and Executive Producer: Charlotte McBirney, Senior Counsel & Director of Public Policy, News/Media Alliance

Production Support, Editing & Distribution:

Georgi-Ann Clarke, Social Media & Content Manager, News/Media Alliance
Lindsey Loving, Director, Communications, News/Media Alliance
Kayla Singer, 2023 Summer Intern, News/Media Alliance

Audio & Video Engineer: Current Media Group

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Alliance Joins Brief in Support of Shielding Slain Nevada Journalist’s Confidential Materials

Charlotte McBirney — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 14:35:59 +0000

On August 7th, the Alliance joined a brief in Las Vegas Review-Journal v. State of Nevada, filed in the Supreme Court of Nevada, in support of the Journal’s efforts to shield the confidential materials on slain journalist Jeff German’s devices from law enforcement. After Mr. German was stabbed to death outside his home in September 2022, police seized his cellphone, laptops, and a hard drive. The Journal sought a protective order preventing the district attorney and public defender from reviewing the contents of the devices, which would threaten the confidentiality of Mr. German’s sources, some of whom may be employed by law enforcement. The District Court adopted a search protocol that would allow designated law enforcement officials to review the contents of the devices. The brief, filed by RCFP, argues that the District Court’s order should be vacated as it violates Nevada’s shield law which protects a journalist’s confidential newsgathering materials. The Alliance strongly supports the protection of reporter-source confidentiality which is especially important for investigative journalism. Read more.

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Statement: News/Media Alliance Applauds House Judiciary for Unanimous Vote in Favor of the PRESS Act

Staff — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 17:04:51 +0000

The News/Media Alliance applauds the House Judiciary Committee for unanimously voting, 23-0, in favor of H.R. 4250, the bipartisan ‘Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act’ (“PRESS Act”). The PRESS Act would establish reasonable ground rules for when the government can obtain confidential source information from the media and their third-party service providers. The bill was reintroduced this Congress, by Representatives Kevin Kiley (R-CA-3) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8), after unanimously passing the House last Congress. The bill provides much-needed safeguards to protect the important investigative work of the free press on matters critical to preserving our democracy. The Alliance looks forward to the bill advancing in both the House and Senate and will continue to support legislative efforts that protect journalists throughout the newsgathering process.

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Statement: Bipartisan Federal Shield Bill, the Protect Reporters from Excessive State Suppression (PRESS) Act Reintroduced in House and Senate

Staff — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 21:21:23 +0000

Today, the Protect Reporters from Excessive State Suppression (PRESS) Act, was reintroduced in both the House and Senate on a bipartisan basis. The News/Media Alliance applauds Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mike Lee (R-UT) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Representatives Kevin Kiley (R-CA-3) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8), for introducing this important bill, which establishes reasonable ground rules for when the government can obtain confidential source information from the media and their third-party service providers.

The PRESS Act, which unanimously passed the House last Congress, ensures that journalists can perform their work without fear of government overreach by prohibiting government officials from exposing confidential sources or subpoenaing for protected information. The bill allows the free press to continue their important investigative work to shed light on public matters critical to preserving our democracy, while still enabling enforcement officials to obtain the information they need to investigate and prosecute crimes to keep the nation secure.

Danielle Coffey, News/Media Alliance President & CEO, stated, “The News/Media Alliance proudly supports the PRESS Act and commends Senators Wyden, Durbin and Lee, and Representatives Raskin and Kiley for their leadership and commitment to protecting a free and independent press. The PRESS Act will ensure that journalists can maintain editorial independence and protect confidential sources which are a vital part of producing quality news. We encourage Congress to swiftly pass this important bi-partisan legislation.”

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House Unanimously Passes Resolution Calling on Russia to Release Journalist Evan Gershkovich

Charlotte McBirney — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 21:07:00 +0000

On June 13, the House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution calling for Russia to immediately release wrongfully detained journalist Evan Gershkovich. Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, was arrested by Russian authorities in March 2023 over false allegations made by Russian authorities. The resolution, led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX-10), marks the first time either chamber has officially called for Gershkovich’s release and demonstrates bipartisan unity in fighting for his release and keeping this issue a priority for the Biden administration.

The Alliance previously joined a letter with 25 other organizations calling on the administration to prioritize Gershkovich’s release and published a statement following his arrest. Read more.

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News/Media Alliance Joins Brief Arguing Persistent Pole Camera Surveillance Violates First Amendment

Charlotte McBirney — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 15:45:45 +0000

On May 10, the Alliance joined a brief, filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, where the issue is whether long-term pole camera surveillance constitutes a search under the Fourth Amendment. In United States v. Hay, federal agents installed a surveillance camera on a pole across the street from Bruce Hay’s home as part of a disability-fraud investigation and monitored his home for 68 days. Hay claimed the surveillance violated the Fourth Amendment and moved to suppress evidence obtained through the pole surveillance. The brief, filed by RCFP, argues that not only does the Fourth Amendment require a warrant before engaging in such targeted and persistent surveillance that would chill First Amendment rights, but that the surveillance also threatens reporter-source confidentiality and, thereby, important First Amendment freedoms. Read more.

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Statement: News/Media Alliance Applauds Introduction of Journalist Protection Act

Staff — Wed, 03 May 2023 16:08:10 +0000

On World Press Freedom Day, Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14) introduced the Journalist Protection Act in the House and Senate. The bill would strengthen protections for journalists by making intentionally harming or intimidating a working journalist a federal crime.

Unfortunately, attacks on journalists while gathering and reporting the news continue to occur. In 2022, 40 journalists were reportedly assaulted in 2022 in the United States, according to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, and 86 journalists and media workers around the world were killed, according to UNESCO. “Surging threats and violence against the press demand action,” said Senator Blumenthal. Senator Menendez stated, “Ensuring their freedom and personal safety to perform their jobs is our duty.”

Alliance Executive Vice President & General Counsel Danielle Coffey stated, “We thank Senators Menendez, Blumenthal, and Congressman Swalwell for introducing the Journalist Protection Act and for their commitment in seeking protections for journalists from physical threat or harm while performing vital newsgathering for communities across the country.”

“The Journalist Protection Act will ensure that journalists can do their jobs without fear by sending a message that no matter where the facts may lead, those who seek them must be protected”, said Rep. Swalwell.

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Celebrating World Press Freedom Day

Georgi-Ann Clarke — Wed, 03 May 2023 16:05:47 +0000

Today is the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day, a day to recognize and appreciate the journalists and reporters who strive to keep us informed and connected to the world. To show gratitude, let’s make sure to support our local news industry and the reporters who risk their lives to report the truth.

Learn more about the day, including this year’s theme, “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights” on the UNESCO site.

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn and join the conversation – #WorldPressFreedomDay #supportlocalnews

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Statement: Arrest of Wall Street Journal Reporter in Russia

Staff — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 15:49:35 +0000

The News/Media Alliance joins The Wall Street Journal and the broader journalism industry in its concern over the arrest of journalist Evan Gershkovich yesterday in Russia. Mr. Gershkovich, a U.S. citizen and member of The Wall Street Journal’s Moscow bureau, was arrested while on a reporting trip on Wednesday morning, March 29, for false allegations made by the Russian authorities. Alliance Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Danielle Coffey, stated, “The arrest of Mr. Gershkovich is extremely troubling. Journalists perform a critical service in providing important news and information about local, national and international events to communities across the globe. No journalist should have to do their job in fear of their safety or liberty. We stand with The Wall Street Journal in calling for Mr. Gershkovich’s immediate release.”

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