Friends of the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker:

Welcome back to your newsletter around press freedom violations in the United States. Find archived editions here, and get this newsletter directly in your inbox by signing up here.

Tracker hits a milestone

When I came on as the Tracker’s managing editor in late 2018, one of my priorities was to start this newsletter. I wanted to create a place that would bring you context and insight into the state of press freedom in the U.S., reliably month over month. I was new to the Tracker and the Tracker was only in its second year of cataloging aggressions against the press. I’m pleased to say this newsletter edition is the 60th of its kind.

All these years on, I hope you’ve learned as much as I have.

Journalists covering local reaction to global events

Across the U.S., from college campuses to city streets and city halls, there are demonstrations around the Israel-Gaza war and American reaction to it, including criticism of the press. Journalists, of course, are covering all of it.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, the Tracker has documented multiple assaults and arrests or detainments of journalists across the United States. We’re using the tag “Israel-Gaza war” to organize related press freedom violations. As of today, we’ve published:

• 13 arrests or detainments of journalists, from New York to Tennessee to California;

• 11 assaults of journalists, all occurring at protests, from October through April;

• 3 chilling statements from public officials, criticizing news organizations’ coverage.

Events are rapidly unfolding and we’re working to thoroughly document all reports of aggressions against journalists. Check the Tracker or X for the most updated data. 

World Press Freedom Day

This Friday, May 3, is World Press Freedom Day. Join us in marking the occasion with these events:

• On May 2 at noon EDT, Freedom of the Press Foundation Deputy Editor Adam Glenn will moderate a panel discussing the intersections of press freedom and the environment, with FPF Deputy Director of Advocacy Caitlin Vogus, freelance journalist Carlos Berríos Polanco and Halle Parker, journalist and board member for the Society of Environmental Journalists, which is co-hosting the event. Register here.

• On May 3, our partner the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press will publish its annual analysis of data from the Tracker, highlighting egregious press freedom violations from the year before. We’ll highlight it on our blog; read last year’s analysis here.

The Tracker in the wild

Earlier this month, I attended the 25th annual International Symposium on Online Journalism in Austin, Texas, where Tracker data makes an appearance in the session, “Global roundup: Lightning presentations about the state of journalism around the world,” as part of a comparative analysis of deaths of journalists in the U.S. and Mexico.

One week later, I was in Berkeley, California, for the Logan Symposium on Investigative Reporting, as part of the panel, “Intimidation Tactics: Threats to Local Investigative Reporting,” using the Tracker database to contextualize personal stories from journalists.

Once a beacon for journalists all over world, no more, said Eric Meyer of Marion County Recorder. Beacon has been extinguished. Compelling panel on rising number of threats against local investigative reporters. @PBSPubEd @brittny_mejia. @intothetussle @TrackerKK pic.twitter.com/0X46FJFmzT

— Alfredo Corchado (@ajcorchado) April 19, 2024

At these events and others like them, I often talk to journalists who tell me about an assault of a journalist or subpoena that isn’t yet in the database. Please do use and share our tips submission portal — it’s more important than ever to understand the landscape of press freedom across the U.S.

More in the Tracker

For the latest on press freedom aggressions across the U.S., explore the database and follow the Tracker on social media — we’re on X and Instagram. As always, your support is crucial to this work; donate today.

Best,
Kirstin McCudden
Managing Editor, U.S. Press Freedom Tracker