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FBI’s Atlantic probe shows ‘complete disregard’ for First Amendment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New York, May 6, 2026 — The FBI has reportedly opened a criminal leak investigation into Atlantic magazine journalist Sarah Fitzpatrick’s reporting on Director Kash Patel’s alleged unexplained absences and drinking habits at the bureau. The following can be attributed to Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) Chief of Advocacy Seth Ster
Press groups demand records on potentially corrupt Paramount acquisitions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New York, May 7, 2026 — Today, Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) and Reporters Without Borders, Inc. demanded records from Paramount Skydance Corp. regarding potentially corrupt acquisitions and deals that could result in relinquishing editorial control of major news outlets to the Trump administration. Public reports suggest that
Finally: ABC is fighting back against FCC censorship
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Washington, D.C., May 8, 2026 — ABC is accusing the Federal Communications Commission of violating the First Amendment and chilling press freedom, in a regulatory filing in its dispute with the FCC over whether “The View” is a bona fide news program exempt from the agency’s equal time requirement. The following can be attributed to Fre
Exposing Paramount’s press freedom sellout
Dear Friend of Press Freedom: Billionaires have been hard at work trading away your right to get the news without government interference, but we’re working just as hard to fight back. Read on for the latest press freedom news and how you can join us in standing up for press freedom. Exposing Paramount’s press freedom sellout Between the gutting of CBS News
‘National security’ lies fuel Wall Street Journal probe
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New York, May 12, 2026 — The Wall Street Journal revealed yesterday that the Department of Justice sent grand jury subpoenas to the paper, demanding records of its journalists related to reporting about the lead-up to the Iran war. In recent months, prosecutors have also sent subpoenas to other media organizations, and to email and pho
When ‘national security’ is code for ‘bury the truth’
Dear Friend of Press Freedom: Without whistleblowers, the reality of the war in Iran would stay hidden. The Trump administration is trying to silence those voices — and they want to force the press to help. Read on for how to stop them, and more of this week’s most important press freedom news. ‘National security’ is code for ‘bury the truth’ On Monday, The
Press groups back ABC in fight with FCC over ‘The View,’ Kimmel
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New York, May 19, 2026 — A coalition of 15 press freedom groups joined an open letter in solidarity with ABC, which recently took a stand against Federal Communications Commission efforts to chill protected free speech. The following quote can be attributed to Adam Rose, deputy director of advocacy for Freedom of the Press Foundation (
Complaint: Judge ruled for Trump in Pulitzer case while seeking nomination
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New York, May 19, 2026 — Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) filed a complaint today with the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission against Jeffrey Kuntz, chief judge of the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal. Last February, Kuntz ruled in President Donald Trump’s favor in Trump’s frivolous defamation lawsuit against the Pu
Judge angled for federal gig while hearing Trump’s Pulitzer suit
Dear Friend of Press Freedom: ABC seems to have found its spine, but whether attorney and judicial watchdogs will follow suit when lawless lawyers harm the free press remains an open question. Meanwhile, a major government transparency win temporarily ensures that presidential records can’t be destroyed or locked away. Here’s more on what we’ve been working
Trump’s government-wide NDA seeks to silence whistleblowers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Washington, D.C., May 26, 2026 — The Washington Post reported today that the Trump administration is planning a broad, government-wide nondisclosure agreement to combat leaks to the press. The following can be attributed to Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) Daniel Ellsberg Chair on Government Secrecy Lauren Harper: “The proposal by
Unsealing of failed Don Lemon and Georgia Fort warrants exposes attack on press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New York, May 27, 2026 — A federal judge twice rejected search warrant applications for the YouTube accounts of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, according to court records unsealed yesterday . Federal prosecutors sought the search warrants in connection with the spurious criminal cases they’re pursuing against Lemon and Fort for
Journalists slam proposed Paramount merger as threat to press freedom
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: A group of award-winning journalists and documentarians expressed strong opposition to the proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery during a press conference today, citing the threat the deal poses to journalism and American democracy. Journalists Kara Swisher, Jim Acosta, and Katie Phang along with Emmy-winning doc
Journalists stand up for their independence
Dear Friend of Press Freedom: The fight for the free press is being waged on multiple fronts. This week: media mergers meant to please Trump, search warrants targeting journalists, government gag orders, and Catherine Herridge’s battle to protect confidential sources. Read on for more. Journalists stand up for their independence This week Freedom of the Pres
NJ police to journalists: Papers please
Dear Friend of Press Freedom: Who gets to decide who’s a journalist? Police in New Jersey say it’s up to them. We disagree. Read on for more on that, plus the need for surveillance reform in light of President Donald Trump’s pick for intelligence chief, and what the murder of “60 Minutes” says about the Ellisons’ attempts to buy CNN parent company Warner Bro
PPE protects your right to know
Dear Friend of Press Freedom: “If I hadn’t had it, I’d be dead right now.” That’s how one journalist described the protective gear that kept her alive while covering a protest. So why are authorities trying to take it away? Plus: Our latest fights against the government secrecy and media mergers that are harming the public’s right to know. PPE protects the p
Paramount+ blocks FPF ad about Trump-Ellison censorship threat
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New York, June 16, 2026 — Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) revealed today that Paramount+ rejected an ad calling attention to President Donald Trump’s crooked meddling in media transactions to extract favorable coverage. The ad would have run on the platform during the same time as the UFC Freedom 250 event, broadcast live June 14
At Paramount, criticism is a conflict of interest. Corruption isn’t
Dear Friend of Press Freedom: This week, Paramount suddenly discovers a “conflict of interest,” New Jersey courts drag their feet on an unconstitutional prior restraint against a local newspaper, and Indiana dresses up execution secrecy as dignity. Plus, a birthday wish for the Espionage Act’s 109th: a complete overhaul. At Paramount, criticism is a conflict
Texas man sentenced to 30 years for transporting pamphlets
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New York, June 23, 2026 — Texas artist Daniel “Des” Sanchez Estrada was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison today for transporting a box of zines, or political pamphlets. The prosecution claimed Sanchez moved the zines so they wouldn’t incriminate his wife, who attended a protest outside the Prairieland immigration detention center
Court forces reporter to pay $800 a day for refusing to identify source
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New York, June 24, 2026 — A D.C. appeals court declined yesterday to pause an $800-per-day fine against investigative reporter Catherine Herridge for refusing to identify her confidential sources in response to a civil subpoena. Herridge was held in contempt of court in 2024 for refusing to divulge sources for her reporting at Fox News
Can’t punish reporting it? Punish transporting it
Dear Friend of Press Freedom: A Texas man was sentenced to decades in prison for transporting political publications. We break down what his case means for press freedom. Plus, more on Brendan Carr’s latest attack on the media and journalist Catherine Herridge’s fight to protect her confidential sources. Can’t punish reporting it? Punish transporting it We’v