Dear Friend,

You’re invited to Freedom of the Press Foundation’s (FPF) exclusive membership event, “Advocacy spotlight: Journalism on trial in North Carolina,” tomorrow, May 24 at 3 p.m. ET. 

Asheville Blade journalist Matilda Bliss and Editor David Forbes join FPF’s Director of Advocacy Seth Stern to discuss the arrests and legal battles since the outlet’s 2021 coverage of a Christmas night homeless encampment sweep in the North Carolina city.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83782019307

While it’s rare for journalists to stand trial in the U.S. for newsgathering activities, our U.S. Press Freedom Tracker has documented more than 280 arrests or detentions of journalists in the United States since 2017, with nearly 20 journalists continuing to face charges. Bliss and fellow Blade journalist Veronica Coit were convicted of trespassing in April by a judge who would not even acknowledge they were journalists. They’re scheduled for a second trial, this time before a jury, in June.

Bring your questions and join us tomorrow to discuss prosecutors’ rights — and intentions — when charging journalists with trespassing on public lands, the chilling effects of arresting journalists, and how FPF is working toward ensuring no journalist goes to prison for doing their job.

If you already support our work but haven’t yet opted-in to the membership program, email me at [email protected] today! Or sponsor an independent journalist who needs our help by passing forward a Journalist membership ($84/yr).

Your membership is more than just a donation. When you become a member, you’ll learn digital security directly from the experts who secure newsrooms across the world, explore real-time data visualizations on press freedom with the Tracker and hear directly from FPF board members with our fireside chats.

Sincerely,

Ryan Rice
Membership Coordinator
Freedom of the Press Foundation