Our weekly roundup of press freedom news, highlighting the latest attacks on journalists, their right to publish, and our right to know. Here’s the news for the week of April 25.
Department of Justice rescinds protections for journalist-source confidentiality
Attorney General Pam Bondi has revoked protections issued by former Attorney General Merrick Garland that offered procedural protections for members of the media from having their records seized or being forced to testify in the course of leak investigation.
“The Bondi memo appears to have rescinded a specific provision protecting journalists from Justice Department subpoenas, court orders and search warrants based on the ‘receipt, possession, or publication’ of classified information. This change would make it easier for Justice Department attorneys to pursue journalists to identify confidential sources in reporting that involves leaks”, writes Gabe Rottman of RCFP for MSNBC.
The second Trump administration’s 100th day in office
Examining Trumps first 100 day in office, U.S. Press Freedom Tracker finds that the White House is leading a multipronged assault on journalists and the First Amendment by limiting access, withdrawing federal funding, threatening legal action or targeting sources.
“The first 100 days of the Trump administration have been marked by a flurry of executive actions that have created a chilling effect and have the potential to curtail media freedoms”, says Committee to Protect Journalists.