Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

The Reporters Committee (RCFP) provides free legal help to journalists and protects their First Amendment rights. Legal Hotline: [phone] | [email protected]

[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press @rcfp]

🏆 @rcfp was at the 2026 News + Documentary @TheEmmys to celebrate public-interest reporting and the First Amendment!

We spoke to @alexgibneyfilm and filmmaker Sam Pollard about holding the powerful to account — and how free legal help can be essential for impactful journalism.

[Journalists and Writers Foundation @JWFoundation_]

Today, we hosted Session 5, the final session of the Media & Journalism Webinars 2026, titled “Introducing Media and Press Freedom Organizations.”

We were honored to welcome Audrey Tanenbaum, Staff Attorney at the @rcfp Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, for an engaging and informative discussion on the role of legal support, institutional advocacy, and press freedom organizations in strengthening independent journalism.

Drawing from her work with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Audrey shared valuable insights on the legal challenges faced by journalists and news organizations, particularly in an evolving media landscape where access to information, reporter protections, and public-interest journalism remain essential to democratic accountability.

The session brought together members of the 2026 cohort from different countries, creating an interactive space for dialogue, questions, and reflection. Participants engaged thoughtfully with the topic and explored how young journalists can better understand the legal, ethical, and institutional frameworks that protect media freedom.

As we conclude this year’s webinar series, we remain committed to empowering young journalists as advocates for press freedom, human rights, and responsible storytelling across borders.

[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press @rcfp]

Last year, a federal court blocked Louisiana from enforcing the statute, finding it unconstitutional.

The judge also noted that the law threatened to chill journalists’ newsgathering rights. https://t.co/GtSLTICrbF

[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press @rcfp]

The latest on a legal challenge — brought by @rcfp attorneys on behalf of a media coalition — to Louisiana's police "buffer zone" law, which interferes with journalists’ right to report on law enforcement activity.

Via @veritenewsnola 👇

[Verite News @veritenewsnola]

A federal appeals court Monday heard a request from the state of Louisiana to overturn a lower court’s decision to block a law establishing a so-called police buffer zone. https://t.co/1i6iEzQZtx

[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press @rcfp]

In its #SafeTogether report, @IWMF spoke with @rcfp about the rising use of law-enforcement powers against journalists — from equipment seizures to pressure targeting confidential sources — and how reporters can prepare for these threats.

Read more: https://t.co/vQmNtf2GMW

[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press @rcfp]

Illinois recently passed legislation to safeguard the editorial independence of public media.

“Residents should feel confident about future access to factual, local journalism that is free from interference,” said @rcfp's Gabe Rottman. https://t.co/AcWG4imiSt

[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press @rcfp]

Update: The Tennessee Supreme Court has instructed the sealed records to be made available to the public — a win that will allow for better accountability of the state's judiciary.

[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press @rcfp]

A media coalition led by @rcfp is supporting @nashvillebanner’s effort to unseal court records related to a trial judge’s decision to recuse herself from a criminal case. https://t.co/EgO5nCxcH2

[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press @rcfp]

.@rcfp attorneys are representing three newsrooms in a new lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a Penn State "gag" policy that censors members of the school’s governing body. https://t.co/7IeSPlrBNN

[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press @rcfp]

A viral video prompted questions about officers’ use of force during the arrest of a North Carolina man.

@whqr, co-represented by @rcfp attorneys, is fighting to access bodycam footage that could shed light on what happened. https://t.co/28Dh9rF4xW

[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press @rcfp]

An @rcfp attorney is representing @Oklahoma_Voice and @readfrontier in a lawsuit seeking records that would shed light on how the Oklahoma Department of Corrections is working with ICE. https://t.co/lUe0KkOKIM

[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press @rcfp]

On behalf of @zackwhittaker, @rcfp attorneys filed a FOIA lawsuit to obtain records that could explain why the FBI visited the journalist’s home to ask him questions about his reporting. https://t.co/ig4bk4sErx

[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press @rcfp]

Restrictions on electronic access to immigration court filings have “harmful consequences on a nationwide scale,” @rcfp argues. https://t.co/uZSCLlwnLU

[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press @rcfp]

🏆 @rcfp is at the 2026 News and Documentary @TheEmmys to celebrate the First Amendment and honor exceptional reporting!

We spoke to @SRuhle and @MarianaVZ about the threats facing America's free press — and why free legal services for journalists are more important than ever.

[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press @rcfp]

New lawsuit: @rcfp attorneys are representing three news outlets in challenging a Penn State University policy that censors the speech of the school’s trustees, making it harder for journalists to report news about the state’s largest university. https://t.co/7IeSPlrBNN

[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press @rcfp]

"Aggressive efforts to stifle interactions between government employees and ​journalists ultimately threaten the public's access to newsworthy information," @rcfp's Gabe Rottman told @Reuters. https://t.co/LnLflsnCAg

[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press @rcfp]

A new Trump administration proposal could require federal employees to sign confidentiality agreements preventing them from sharing important information with journalists — a policy that would undermine the public's right to know. [@Reuters] https://t.co/LnLflsnCAg

[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press @rcfp]

.@rcfp condemns Russia’s designation of @pressfreedom as an “undesirable” organization — an attempt to suppress free speech, silence dissent, and intimidate journalists in an already high-risk environment. https://t.co/2rIJU3exnX

[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press @rcfp]

“This is a systematic attempt to crack down on the flow of information.”

Journalists say the alarming FBI raid on a Washington Post reporter's home is hurting their ability to get important stories to the public. https://t.co/yJ1WYquYmX

[Freedom House @freedomhouse]

At Freedom House’s Annual Awards and 85th Anniversary celebration, Lisa Zycherman of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press highlighted the vital role journalists and legal defenders play in protecting democracy. Freedom House was honored to award @rcfp the Edward R. Murrow Guardian of Democracy Award. #FreedomHouse85

[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press @rcfp]

.@rcfp has filed a new FOIA lawsuit against the Trump administration over its failure to produce records on the recent FBI raid of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson's house. https://t.co/lUx1P9wSDh