The News/Media Alliance joined a letter with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, along with over 50 other news media and press rights organizations, calling for the Senate to advance the ‘Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act’ (PRESS Act), S. 2074. 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.
In January, the House passed the PRESS Act on a unanimous basis, led by Representatives Kevin Kiley (R-CA) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD). The Senate bill is led by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Mike Lee (R-UT) and cosponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Ranking Member Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC). The letter urges the Senate to take up the bill, which is critical as journalists currently lack any protections in federal courts against compelled disclosure by federal officials of confidential source information or sensitive newsgathering materials. The News/Media Alliance will continue to vigorously advocate for the passage of the PRESS Act.
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Charlotte McBirney is Senior Counsel and Director, Public Policy for the News/Media Alliance.
