Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press provides pro bono legal representation, amicus curiae support, and other legal resources to protect First Amendment freedoms and the newsgathering rights of journalists. The 2023 Freedom of the Press Awards Dinner honors an exceptional line-up of Freedom of the Press awardees in the fields of journalism and law whose work demonstrates a deep commitment to the First Amendment. The funds raised from the Freedom of the Press Awards will support the pro bono legal services The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press provides to journalists and newsrooms across the United States.

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) provides pro bono legal services to reporters, documentary filmmakers, and news outlets. Every year, RCFP attorneys guide journalists and news organizations in the areas of access, freedom of information, libel, reporter’s privilege, and other restrictions on publishing and newsgathering through writing amicus curiae briefs and letters on behalf of large coalitions of media organizations; answering inquiries to a legal hotline; offering pre-publication review for investigative journalists and documentarians; publishing free legal guides and other resources; and regularly delivering legal trainings. This grant provides general operating support and enables RCFP to be responsive to legal needs of small- and medium-sized news outlets across the country that do not have in-house counsel, as well as to address inequities in the media sector by delivering legal services to a wider array of journalists and newsrooms. The intended outcome is that reporting in the public interest, particularly investigative and accountability journalism, can continue despite legal obstacles aimed at impeding or censoring reporters.

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) provides pro bono legal services to reporters, documentary filmmakers, and news outlets. Every year, RCFP attorneys guide journalists and news organizations in the areas of access, freedom of information, libel, reporter’s privilege, and other restrictions on publishing and newsgathering. This grant provides general support and enables RCFP to be responsive to legal needs of small- and medium-sized news outlets around the country that do not have in-house counsel. The intended outcome is that reporting in the public interest, particularly investigative and accountability journalism, can continue despite legal obstacles aimed at impeding or censoring reporters.

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (Reporters Committee) is the only national, nonprofit organization that devotes itself to providing pro-bono legal services to journalists. Reporters Committee provides legal advice and assistance to reporters and newsrooms, conducts prepublication reviews, and pursues direct litigation. Its staff also conduct numerous trainings each year and coordinates law school clinics to improve and expand the availability of legal assistance around the country. This grant enables Reporters Committee to continue to provide its high quality legal assistance to more reporters, particularly those working in state, local, or ethnic newsrooms where hostility toward, and intimidation of, journalists continue to rise.

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (Reporters Committee) is a nationally-recognized organization that devotes itself to safeguarding the First Amendment rights of journalists. Reporters Committee provides advice and assistance to organizations and individuals confronting information access problems, legal threats, subpoenas, and lawsuits, and pursues direct litigation on high impact cases that may lead to important legal precedents. This grant enables Reporters Committee to strengthen its staff capacity to better serve and address the particular needs of a growing nonprofit news sector and community of freelance journalists and filmmakers.