With immigration enforcement directives among the most politicized and contentious topics in the U.S., reporters on the beat face growing threats on the ground and online. Local and national journalists covering immigration have to navigate the need to protect themselves and their sources alongside increased pressure to get the story right.
With violent clashes between protestors and masked federal agents, local and federal officials sparring in the public square, and vulnerable communities facing uncertainty during intensifying ICE crackdowns, journalists must cover these sensitive stories while keeping their own safety top of mind.
Join the National Press Club Journalism Institute at 12 p.m. ET, on Tuesday, Feb. 10, for a panel discussion with seasoned reporters and editors who will speak about their experiences in the field and newsroom. They’ll share:
- guidance for maintaining digital safety while reporting on a sensitive and highly scrutinized topic
- how to prepare for assignments, protect sources and yourself, and what to include in your field safety kit
- an editor’s perspective on risk assessment and newsroom support
- and how to balance public interest reporting with real-world risks
Register online HERE.
The raid of a Washington Post reporter’s home and the seizure of the reporter’s devices and newsgathering materials is an alarming escalation against the press and emphasizes the need for journalists in the U.S. to take steps to proactively protect their sensitive information.
We invite you to join us for a roundtable discussion on best practices for protecting data and devices for journalists in the U.S. Panelists from Freedom of the Press Foundation and Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press will provide essential tips on safeguarding your data, protecting sources, and your legal rights during searches and seizures.
Panelists:
- Dr. Martin Shelton, Deputy Director of Digital Security, Freedom of the Press Foundation
- Harlo Holmes, Chief Information Security Officer and Director of Digital Security, Freedom of the Press Foundation
- Jen Nelson, Director of Pre-Publication Review and Journalist Support, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
- Abigail LP, Program Manager, Digital Security, Freedom of the Press Foundation (Moderator)
We encourage you to provide questions ahead of time using the prompt below for panelists to answer during the webinar.
This roundtable is being organized by the U.S. Journalist Assistance Network, a coalition of U.S. press freedom organizations specializing in journalist safety and assistance.
Please note that this session will not be recorded for security reasons.
In this webinar, hosted by Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF), we’ll examine how government officials are increasingly labeling routine accountability reporting as “doxxing.” That term originally meant exposing personal information about private people to harass them. But now, government officials are extending it to publication of newsworthy information about public officials. They are intentionally confusing the American public about the role of journalism and even threatening legal action against journalists, newsrooms, and ordinary people for publishing information the public has a right to know.
Register HERE
We’ll hear from journalists who have faced these “doxxing” accusations firsthand:
– Vittoria Elliott, reporter at Wired covering platforms and power
– Gregory Royal Pratt, investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune
– Doug Sovern, award-winning political reporter, formerly of KCBS Radio
– Charlie Kratovil, founder and editor of New Brunswick Today
– Moderated by Caitlin Vogus, senior adviser, FPF
From federal threats against reporters covering Immigration and Customs Enforcement to state laws restricting what journalists can publish about police, government officials are citing “doxxing” to threaten press freedom. When accountability is reframed as harassment, it chills reporting and limits the public’s access to information about how power is exercised.
I hope you’ll join us for this important discussion and support our work defending the First Amendment by donating at freedom.press/donate.
See FULL SCHEDULE.
In recognition of Sunshine Week, the University of Florida Brechner Freedom of Information Project, MuckRock, and the National Freedom of Information Coalition are organizing the second-annual in-person conference to find solutions to pressing problems in freedom of information across all disciplinary and geographic boundaries – local, state, federal and global!
We are bringing together journalists, record custodians, policy makers, historians, state FOI coalitions, librarians, academics, civil society nonprofit groups, commercial data providers, and all other constituencies who care about government transparency. Check out 2025’s Sunshine Fest here.
See a schedule, with topics (to be updated as more speakers are confirmed).
To register, visit our EventBrite page! Cost is $50, limited to 200 people.
From National Day Calendar
HOW TO OBSERVE HUG A NEWSPERSON DAY
- Hug a newsperson. (Ask for permission first.)
- If you aren’t able to hug your newsperson, you can send them a virtual one.
- You can also download our coloring page. When you’re finished coloring it, send it to your favorite newsperson to show them how much you appreciate them.
- Or solve the word search puzzle we created for the day using common news words.
- Use #HugANewspersonDay to post on social media.
From Days of the Year
How to Celebrate National Hug a Newsperson Day
Looking for ideas on how to celebrate National Hug a Newsperson Day? Get creative with various ways to enjoy the day, including getting started with some of these plans:
Hug a Newsperson
Those who have friends or family members who work in the news industry might want to take National Hug a Newsperson Day as an opportunity to give them an extra big bear hug in celebration of the day.
Of course, any time there is a day based around hugging someone, it is important to get their permission first. So don’t think it’s a good idea to be waiting outside the news channel office to attack a random newsperson with a hug!
It’s best just hug the ones you already know, and perhaps offer a handshake or a wave when coming across a newsperson you don’t know.
Watch a News Show
Perhaps it has been quite some time since turning on the television (or heading to a news website) to simply watch a classic news program.
National Hug a Newsperson Day might be just the right time to show support to the news stations and the people who work for them.
Catch some news that comes straight from a TV presenter, whether it is someone who is a local or it’s a nationally-known news personality.
With more than fifty free-to-air television news stations in the United States, and many more available through paid networks, there’s certainly no shortage of newspeople to watch!
Thank a Newsperson
Some folks who don’t run in the personal circles of newspeople may not have an opportunity to thank them in person. But that’s okay!
Perhaps National Hug a Newsperson Day would be a good time to write into a favorite news station or make a comment on a social media page, thanking a newsperson for their contribution to the world.
Or, just for fun, go a little bit old school and send them a card through the postal service!
Watch Some Comedies About Newspeople
One way to have some fun and be entertained in honor of National Hug a Newsperson Day might be to watch (or re-watch) some classic shows and movies that feature the comedic side of newspeople. Check out a few of these in celebration of the day:
- Anchorman (2004). This comedy film starring Will Ferrell shows the absurd side of being a newsperson.
- SNL Weekend Update (1975-present). Part of the Saturday Night Live weekly comedy show on NBC.
- News Radio (1995-1999). Dave Foley, Phil Hartman, Maura Tierney and Vicki Lewis lead out in this sit-com about a radio news show.
- Broadcast News (1987). This film is a satire about American television news, starring Holly Hunter, William Hurt and Albert Brooks.
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And for a bit of music to celebrate, have a listen to The Morning Papers by Johann Strauss II
For details – https://www.unesco.org/en/days/press-freedom
Details coming Soon!
Did you know?
- 162 journalists have been killed in the line of duty in 2023-2024.
- 85 % of cases of journalists’ killings since 2006 are still unresolved or abandoned.
- The number of women journalists killed in 2022 was at its highest level since 2017, with 10 cases.
- Almost half of the deaths took place in countries experiencing armed conflict, compared with 38% in the previous two years.
Read more about the day HERE.