Freedom of the Press Foundation

Two lawfare warriors failed to bury reporting on government-released documents through frivolous SLAPP lawsuits. Yet only one target got recourse, because of the court where the case was filed. That's why Congress must pass a federal anti-SLAPP law. @trevortimm.bsky.social explains:

The Espionage Act is a horrible law that's been abused for years to go after sources and whistleblowers, including by Comey's FBI. It's also been used to investigate Clinton, Biden, and Trump. Everyone should hate it by now! Just get rid of it!

The Freedom of Information Act is one of the most powerful tools journalists — and all Americans — have to find out what our public officials are doing. But offices across the administration are being gutted. Tell your lawmakers to protect FOIA:

🔔 How should the press respond when anonymous law enforcement officers evade scrutiny? Join our webinar to discuss how journalists can hold them accountable, with @samstecklow.bsky.social, @ravengeary.bsky.social, and Miriam Nemeth. 🗓️ Oct. 28, 2 pm ET/12 pm CT RSVP: freedom.press/law-enforcement

🔔 How should the press respond when anonymous law enforcement officers evade scrutiny? Join our webinar to discuss how journalists can hold them accountable, with @samstecklow.bsky.social, @ravengeary.bsky.social, and Miriam Nemeth. 🗓️ Oct. 28, 2 pm ET/12 pm CT RSVP: freedom.press/law-enforcem...

"Brendan Carr is not the journalism police. And he is just about the least qualified person in the country to lecture the press about journalistic ethics," FPF's @seth-stern.bsky.social said. Read more in @aljazeera.com.

🔔 How should the press respond when anonymous law enforcement officers evade scrutiny? Join our webinar to discuss how journalists can hold them accountable, with @samstecklow.bsky.social, @ravengeary.bsky.social, and Miriam Nemeth. 🗓️ Oct. 28, 2 pm ET/12 pm CT RSVP: freedom.press/law-enforcem...

Spyware vendors are using ads to breach mobile devices, even if you never click. New research shows journalists have become targets. Read our newsletter to learn more — and subscribe:

Rep. Jason Smith’s targeting of BreakThrough News for views he dislikes shows a blatant disregard of the First Amendment. People who themselves hold controversial political views should know the risk of normalizing fishing expeditions targeting dissent.

The Florida GOP should know news outlets cannot be punished for publishing information from whistleblowers. The Supreme Court case that says it’s not the job of journalists to maintain the government’s confidences literally has Florida in the name. More:

Broadcasters have a First Amendment right to report polling data, even if it proves to be inaccurate, just like they have a First Amendment right to report on Brendan Carr and Trump’s own countless lies, even when they turn out to be inaccurate. More:

🔔 How should the press respond when anonymous law enforcement officers evade scrutiny? Join our webinar to discuss how journalists can hold them accountable, with @samstecklow.bsky.social, @ravengeary.bsky.social, and Miriam Nemeth. 🗓️ Oct. 28, 2 pm ET/12 pm CT RSVP: freedom.press/law-enforcement

Camera networks run by Flock, Axon, and others make it cheap and easy for investigators to link reporters to their sources or for authorities to harass journalists. That’s why FPF is proud to endorse the Get the Flock Out of Our Communities Act.

“The EPA’s insistence on decommissioning its web archive will only continue to erode public trust—at the exact time the public and lawmakers need agency information the most,” FPF's @laurenleharper.bsky.social told @rsanta.bsky.social.

📩 Read in our weekly newsletter: - Help put Flock on the chopping block - Ethically challenged FCC chair lectures press on ethics - Congressional threats to BreakThrough News are unconstitutional harassment - Plus, what we're reading...

🎃 Halloween PSA: Phishing scams are all trick, no treat! Beware of suspicious requests: fpf.training/phish #HappyHalloween

“Literally every time [FCC Chair Brendan Carr] attacks the press, it’s because of reporting that was unfavorable to his boss, Donald Trump, whose gilded face he’s been known to wear as a lapel pin,” FPF's Seth Stern said. More from @brianstelter.bsky.social:

Speaking of unscientific polls, our research shows that 98 percent of the words that come out of Brendan Carr's mouth are unconstitutional bullshit. The other two percent are "where did I put my Donald Trump lapel pin."

How much does it cost to get information about a cop who punched someone in the face? About $2.5M, plus 44,816 hours of staff time, according to the Eugene, OR, Police Department. If that sounds absurd, it’s because it is. Watch @laurenleharper.bsky.social explain:

Broadcasters have a First Amendment right to report polling data, even if it proves to be inaccurate, just like they have a First Amendment right to report on Brendan Carr and Trump’s own countless lies, even when they turn out to be inaccurate. More:

Now that Trump’s ban on @cnn.com, @ms.now, and @politico.com has backfired, his DOJ is trying to weaponize antitrust law to pressure major networks to cover his every move. This is yet another way the administration is trying to chill speech. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social explain:

Speaking of unscientific polls, our research shows that 98 percent of the words that come out of Brendan Carr's mouth are unconstitutional bullshit. The other two percent are "where did I put my Donald Trump lapel pin."

"President Trump has talked about replacing the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room with an indoor swimming pool." You can't make this stuff up.

Spyware vendors are using ads to breach mobile devices, even if you never click. New research shows journalists have become targets. Read our newsletter to learn more — and subscribe:

Camera networks run by Flock, Axon, and others make it cheap and easy for investigators to link reporters to their sources or for authorities to harass journalists. That’s why FPF is proud to endorse the Get the Flock Out of Our Communities Act.

California passed the Community News Act to bolster local journalism and a new public records law that could help uncover mistreatment of immigrants in ICE detention. Two wins for transparency, accountability, and the public’s right to know. Watch @adamrose.bsky.social break it down.

The Florida GOP should know news outlets cannot be punished for publishing information from whistleblowers. The Supreme Court case that says it’s not the job of journalists to maintain the government’s confidences literally has Florida in the name. Our statement:

The private detention centers ICE contracts with to hold thousands of people — including journalists it arrests — shouldn’t be off-limits to FOIA requests. Use our action center to tell your member of Congress: FOIA should apply to private facilities.

Now that Trump’s ban on @cnn.com, @ms.now, and @politico.com has backfired, his DOJ is trying to weaponize antitrust law to pressure major networks to cover his every move. This is yet another way the administration is trying to chill speech. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social explain:

Rep. Jason Smith’s targeting of BreakThrough News for views he dislikes shows a blatant disregard of the First Amendment. People who themselves hold controversial political views should know the risk of normalizing fishing expeditions targeting dissent.

California passed the Community News Act to bolster local journalism and a new public records law that could help uncover mistreatment of immigrants in ICE detention. Two wins for transparency, accountability, and the public’s right to know. Watch @adamrose.bsky.social break it down.

California passed the Community News Act to bolster local journalism and a new public records law that could help uncover mistreatment of immigrants in ICE detention. Two wins for transparency, accountability, and the public’s right to know. Watch @adamrose.bsky.social break it down.

The Florida GOP should know that news outlets cannot be punished or censored for publishing info the gov gave them, even if the gov messed up by releasing it. The seminal case on this issue has Florida in the name.

Who woulda' thought Florida politics could be so swampy? Gov. Ron DeSantis allegedly diverted $10m in taxpayer money to his wife's charity. It's been headline news for months. Now the Florida GOP is suing TV stations, claiming it's a crime to report on records about the scandal.

Winners announced for the Penlight Prize — a $25K journalism award that highlights FOIA-based, paywall-free reporting. Congrats to @usatoday.com’s reporter Austin Fast on securing first place for his investigation, “Sepsis is ‘very treatable.’ For inmates, it’s often a death sentence.”

📩 Read our weekly newsletter: - Congrats to our inaugural Penlight Prize winners - Frivolous lawsuits show need for federal anti-SLAPP law - Maryland gov. retaliates against press - Court smacks down Trump’s media ban again - Plus, what we're reading...

Journalists have been asking our digital security training team: What the heck are passkeys, and do you recommend them? This new way to securely log in without a password does have its complications. Read our digital security advice column to learn more.

Submissions to our inaugural Penlight Prize showed inspiring journalistic grit and perseverance in the face of official stonewalling. Read more about the winners in The Classifieds:

Amendments to a Canadian surveillance bill shortened the length of time providers would have to store your conversational metadata. That's still a no-go for Signal. Read more in our digital security newsletter — and subscribe:

Journalists have been asking our digital security training team: What the heck are passkeys, and do you recommend them? This new way to securely log in without a password does have its complications. Read our digital security advice column to learn more.

Cases in Arkansas and California show how desperately we need a federal law against lawsuits intended to chill free speech. Read more from FPF's @seth-stern.bsky.social in @theintercept.com.

Last year the administration insisted that "bias" in public media needs to be eradicated. Trump literally issued an EO titled "Ending taxpayer subsidization of biased media." Interesting pivot from that to installing PR flacks to run supposedly independent taxpayer funded news outlets.

This decision is a stinging defeat for Trump’s assault on the free press and a powerful vindication of the First Amendment. As Judge Kelly recognized, presidents don’t get to use their power to purge journalists because they don’t like what they report.

The Trump admin is trying to claim the Presidential Records Act is unconstitutional, and they are allowed to keep secret whatever they want. Our lawyers were in front of the DC Court of Appeals court yesterday arguing that is ridiculous.