Upcoming UK Assange hearing raises press freedom stakes
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Dear Friend of Press Freedom,
Here are some of the most important stories we’re following from the U.S. and around the world. If you enjoy reading this newsletter, please forward it to friends and family. If someone has forwarded you this newsletter, please subscribe here ([link removed]) .
UCLA campus police arrested independent journalist Sean Beckner-Carmitchel while he documented campus protesters’ detentions. (Courtesy of Sean Beckner-Carmitchel)
** California police violate press freedom law
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California police are violating state law “right and left” during the protests and police raids on campus encampments.
That’s according to University of California, Irvine, School of Law professor Susan Seager. We interviewed her ([link removed]) in the wake of arrests of two California journalists in recent weeks, among other press freedom violations.
Suppression of the press isn’t supposed to happen anywhere in America, but especially not in California, where it’s explicitly against the law ([link removed].) for police to intentionally interfere with journalists covering a demonstration.
UK’s May 20 Assange hearing raises press freedom stakes
On Monday, the U.K. High Court will hold another hearing in WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s legal case challenging his extradition to the United States. If the court rejects Assange’s request to appeal, he could be quickly sent to the U.S. to face charges under the Espionage Act.
Prosecuting and convicting Assange under the Espionage Act would be a disaster for press freedom ([link removed]) . Under the government’s legal theory, any journalist could be convicted for acts journalists engage in every day, like seeking and receiving national defense information from sources and publishing the information.
The U.K. High Court should grant Assange’s appeal. But the U.S. shouldn’t wait for the U.K. Tell the Biden administration to drop this dangerous case once and for all. ([link removed])
Censorship bill could hit nonprofit news
We wrote last week about an alarming new bill in Congress ([link removed]) that would allow the secretary of the treasury to unilaterally revoke the tax-exempt status of nonprofit organizations, including nonprofit news outlets, if he deems them “terrorist supporting.”
Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) Advocacy Director Seth Stern recently spoke to the Project Censored Show ([link removed]) about this latest government attempt to go after nonprofits, including news outlets, that challenge official policies and narratives. As Stern said, “We’re in an environment where despite all of these claims that Trump, if he gets a second term, is going to govern as a fascist, and that we’ve got to be on the lookout for authoritarianism, despite all that, we’ve got bipartisan bills providing him a dictator’s dream toolkit.” Listen to the whole episode here ([link removed]) and tell your senator to reject the bill here. ([link removed])
Environmental journalists under threat
Recent events ([link removed]) underscore that protests are one of the most dangerous places for journalists. Unfortunately, environmental journalists aren’t immune from arrests and attacks at protests, as well as other threats ([link removed]) to their newsgathering rights.
FPF and the Society of Environmental Journalists recently hosted a conversation ([link removed]) about the obstacles U.S. journalists face when reporting on environmental issues. Watch the discussion here ([link removed]) or read some highlights on our website ([link removed]) .
** What we’re reading
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Idaho State Police warned InvestigateWest that publishing story about secret recording might violate Idaho law ([link removed]) (InvestigateWest). A detective wrongly warned InvestigateWest that publishing a source’s recording could break the law. It published anyway. Good. As FPF’s Stern said in response, cops who threaten journalists “should do their research and make sure that what they’re implying … has not been expressly rejected by the United States Supreme Court.”
Cowards in Trenton trampled on your right to know. Hold them — and Murphy — accountable ([link removed]) (NorthJersey.com). Shame on the New Jersey legislature for passing a sham "reform" bill that makes it harder for journalists and the public to access public records ([link removed]) . Gov. Phil Murphy must veto ([link removed]) this awful bill.
OTI and CDT lead coalition opposing the Kids Off Social Media Act ([link removed]) (New America). Once again, Congress is pushing pointless legislation in the name of “kids’ safety” that would actually result in online censorship. FPF was proud to join a coalition letter ([link removed]) opposing the latest dangerous bill.
Courtroom photo ban adds to hurdles for Trump trial journalists ([link removed]) (The Washington Post). “Judge Merchan’s collective punishment of the press for a technical violation by one individual is an unnecessary and harmful overreaction,” Stern told The Post. “It’s the public that will ultimately suffer.”
As original as apple pie: The reporter’s privilege at America’s founding ([link removed]) (Medium). Matthew Schafer shows that the idea of protecting journalists from having to burn sources dates back to America’s founding. That’s all the more reason why the Senate should pass the PRESS Act ([link removed]) this year.
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