National Press Club

The World's Leading Professional Organization for Journalists™, Communicators & Newsmakers • Est 1908 • @NPCInstitute • @PFC_NPC

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5/5 A free press does not stop at America’s borders. All journalists, regardless of nationality or country of origin, have the right to report freely while in the United States.”

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WASHINGTON, July 17 – The National Press Club President Mark Schoeff Jr. today issued the following statement on new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rules put in place that would limit the ability of foreign correspondents to live, work, and report in the United States:

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4/5 Further, these rules are likely to put Americans at risk by inviting reciprocal retaliation against American journalists reporting from abroad, making their work to inform the American public harder and less safe. Already, American foreign correspondents face regular denials of their visas in countries such as China that are hostile to independent reporting.

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Get your tickets now ⬇️ https://t.co/pQtB8MWnlt

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To submit questions for the speakers in advance, put “USA250” in the subject line and email to [email protected].

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-Toni Locy, a reporter for 25 years at some of the nation’s largest news organizations, has covered federal, state and local law enforcement, the federal trial and appellate courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Locy was held in contempt by a federal judge in 2008 for refusing to reveal confidential sources behind her USA Today stories on the FBI’s flawed investigation into the deadly 2001 anthrax attacks.

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-Laura Handman, a partner at @DWTLaw, represents U.S. and foreign publishers across digital, print and broadcast, both for-profit and nonprofit.

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-Eric Hageman, a partner at @ClareLockeLLP, manages public-facing crises and represents individuals, corporations, and nonprofit and religious institutions in defamation litigation.

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The panel discussion following her remarks will feature⬇️

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Later this summer, Herridge and her legal team will ask the Supreme Court to consider her First Amendment case, which carries significant implications for journalists nationwide. On July 2, the Court denied Herridge’s request to halt $800-a-day in court fines.

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Before the discussion begins, @C__Herridge will make remarks about her ongoing legal battle. In February 2024, a U.S. federal court held Herridge in civil contempt for refusing to disclose her confidential sources behind a series of 2017 national security reports for Fox News.

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The pair will explore current challenges to the First Amendment with journalism and legal experts during Tuesday evening's discussion — a discussion that will be featured in an episode of the radio program.

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The show examines what government owes its citizens and how the Constitution's promise has been kept, broken, or rewritten since America’s founding.

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As the United States marks its 250th anniversary this year, Bernardoni and Herman, who is now executive director of the Jordan Center for Journalism Advocacy and Innovation at @OleMiss, created the radio show, “America at 250: Due Diligence,” to take a clear-eyed look at where the country stands and where it’s headed.

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WASHINGTON, July 15, 2026 — Former Voice of America White House Bureau Chief @newsguyusa and nationally syndicated radio host @BillBernardoni will lead a discussion on the First Amendment with Eric Hageman, Laura Handman and Toni Locy at a National Press Club Headliners Cocktails & Conversation on Tuesday, July 21 at 6 p.m.

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6/6 A government confident in its actions should never fear independent scrutiny. A free press exists to ask difficult questions, uncover uncomfortable facts and inform the American people. The Constitution protects that work because a democracy cannot hold power accountable without an independent press.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — National Press Club President Mark Schoeff Jr. released the following statement:

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5/6 The greatest danger isn’t the subpoena itself. It’s the message it sends. It tells sources to stay silent. It tells whistleblowers to think twice. And it leaves the American people knowing less about the government that serves them.