Photojournalists take pictures as Donald Trump attends his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on May 30, 2024. (Photo: AFP-Pool/Michael M. Santiago)

Dear Friend, 

The clock is ticking. By midnight tonight, you can take a stand for press freedom at a moment when journalists need you most. 

As we approach a pivotal moment in U.S. history, with a second Trump term on the horizon, journalists face unprecedented challenges:

- Sowing distrust: Journalists are labeled as “the enemy of the people,” creating a climate where attacks on the press become normalized. 

- Physical and digital threats: Harassment, particularly against women and journalists of color, is escalating and often leads to real-world violence. 

- Legal and regulatory pressures: Small newsrooms are tied up in libel suits, subpoenas threaten the confidentiality of sources, and nonprofit newsrooms face increasing scrutiny and risk. 

- Police overreach: Local journalists are being arrested simply for covering protests and public demonstrations.

We cannot let these challenges force journalists into silence. This is a moment for all of us to step up and strengthen the press — both here in the U.S. and around the world. 

Your support today helps CPJ continue this vital work: protecting journalists, advocating for federal shield laws, and standing up to threats that would otherwise go unchecked. 

Don’t wait — make your gift now to defend press freedom in 2025.

Together, we can ensure that journalists everywhere have the protection they need to keep telling the truth. 

With gratitude, 

John Weis

Director of Development and Outreach
Committee to Protect Journalists