Nicaraguan Police Arrest Journalist
On August 14, Nicaraguan officials arrested the manager of La Presna—a newspaper that was critical of the Nicaraguan government, calling the president a “dictator” among other criticisms.
Advocacy, Free Press-A
free press
News Media for Open Government Encourages Congress to Take Actions to Support Journalists, a Free Press and an Open and More Accountable Government
Recent events continue to demonstrate that journalism and journalists are a necessary part of our democracy and critical to a well-functioning government and an informed electorate. There are many challenges for news media and journalists in today’s landscape. As members of the 117th Congress consider solutions to these challenges, the News Media for Open Government (NMOG) coalition calls on Congress to promote policies that bolster the First Amendment, the value of journalists, a free press, and a more transparent and open government.
Journalism
Resources for Reporters Covering the Inauguration
As journalists prepare to cover the Presidential Inauguration and the anticipated rallies and protests across the country, many may be concerned about facing similar attacks to those experienced by reporters covering the violence at the Capitol earlier this month. Making preparations and being aware of the resources available can help provide reassurance.
Advocacy, Free Press-A, Journalism
To Reap the Value of a Free Press, We Must Allow Them to Do Their Jobs
As we head into what is going to be a truly historic election, we must remember the importance of the freedoms granted by the First Amendment and the value of the free press. For many years – but especially in the last four years – journalists in the United States have been literally under attack for doing their jobs.
Statement: News Media Alliance Supports Australia Right to Know Media Campaign
We strongly support Australia’s Right to Know media freedom campaign, set to launch on October 20, which calls for ending the criminalization of journalists working to report the truth and to hold accountable the Australian government and those in positions of power.
Volunteers Flood Capitol Hill to Help #FreeAustinTice
On September 23, free-press advocates from the National Press Club Journalism Institute and Reporters Without Borders, along with more than 100 volunteers (including myself), canvassed Capitol Hill to ask legislators to support efforts to free American journalist Austin Tice, who has been held captive in Syria since 2012.
News Media Are the First and Most Effective Means for Exercising Our Five First Amendment Freedoms
As we celebrate National Newspaper Week, we are raising awareness about our five First Amendment freedoms, as outlined in the U.S. Constitution — freedom of the press, speech, religion, petition and assembly — and the ways the news media help promote and protect those freedoms. Those five freedoms seem so basic, and we sometimes may take them for granted, but there are surprisingly few channels that allow us to exercise all five freely.
Maryland Stands Up for a Free Press, Honors the Capital Gazette Shooting Victims
June 28 will always be a hard day for any journalist – that was the day, exactly one year ago, that five newsroom staffers were lost to the hands of a gunman who shot his way into The Capital Gazette newsroom in Annapolis, Maryland, barring a grudge against the local paper. While the gunman was later arrested and will soon stand trial, The Capital Gazette is only one of many newsrooms that have faced losses in the past year.
Statement: Alliance Commemorates Maryland Freedom of the Press Day
One year ago, on June 28, 2018, the lives of five newsroom employees from The Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland, were senselessly taken by gun violence. Today, we honor those victims — and the three dozen other journalists lost around the world in the last year — by celebrating Maryland Freedom of the Press Day.
CEO Column: Press Access Is Essential to Democracy
With the release of our newest ad last week, we — along with our Support Real News partners — are responding to recent attacks on the media, highlighting the importance of press access for the preservation of our democracy. In the ad, we called on the public to support press access, noting that the ability of reporters to accurately inform the public depends on their ability to ask questions of those in power.