U.S. Press Freedom Tracker

Incident Database

Download dataset
Download full dataset 1,572 incidents Download your filtered data 153 incidents
Filters Clear All
Category
Limit to
General
Arrest/Criminal Charge
Unnecessary use of force?
Assault
Was journalist targeted?
Border Stop
Stopped at border?
Stopped previously?
Denied entry?
Did authorities ask intrusive questions about journalist's work?
Did authorities ask for device access?
Were devices searched or seized?
Did authorities ask for social media username?
Did authorities ask for social media password?
Denial of Access
Equipment Damage
Equipment Search or Seizure
Search warrant obtained?
Leak Case
Charged under espionage act?
Prior Restraint
Subpoena/Legal Order
If subject refused to cooperate, were they held in contempt?
Clear All

153 incidents recorded

Sort by
⇅ Oldest incident date

Sort incidents by

Recently updated Newest incident date Oldest incident date
Incident
Incident Details
Category Details

Citizen journalist Nydia Tisdale arrested and attacked by police officer while filming rally

Incident Details

Date of Incident
August 23, 2014
Location
Dawsonville, Georgia
Targets
Nydia Tisdale (Independent)

Assault

Assailant →
Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →
Yes
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Status of Charges →
Convicted
Arresting Authority →
Dawson County Sheriff’s Office
Current Charges →
Dropped Charges →
Unnecessary use of force? →
Yes

Equipment Damage

Sara Lafleur-Vetter arrested, charged with three misdemeanors at Standing Rock

Incident Details

Date of Incident
October 22, 2016
Location
Morton County, North Dakota
Targets
Sara Lafleur-Vetter (The Guardian)

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Status of Charges →
Acquitted
Arresting Authority →
Morton County Sheriff's Department
Dropped Charges →
Detention Date →
Release Date →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement

Journalist Adam Schrader arrested at Standing Rock

Incident Details

Updated On
August 21, 2017
Date of Incident
October 27, 2016
Location
Morton County, North Dakota
Targets
Adam Schrader (Independent)

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Status of Charges →
Charges dropped
Arresting Authority →
Morton County Sheriff's Department
Dropped Charges →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Unknown
Search Warrant Obtained →
No
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement

Journalist Jenifer Stum charged with trespassing and rioting at Standing Rock

Incident Details

Date of Incident
January 16, 2017
Location
Morton County, North Dakota
Targets
Jenifer Stum (Independent)

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Status of Charges →
Unknown
Arresting Authority →
Morton County Sheriff's Department
Current Charges →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No

Vocativ journalist charged with rioting in Washington, D.C.

Incident Details

Updated On
September 17, 2021
Date of Incident
January 20, 2017
Location
Washington, District of Columbia
Targets
Evan Engel (Vocativ)

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Status of Charges →
Charges dropped
Arresting Authority →
Metropolitan Police Department
Dropped Charges →
Release Date →
Unnecessary use of force? →
Yes
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement

Assault

Assailant →
Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →
Unknown

Journalist Aaron Cantú arrested at Trump inauguration

Incident Details

Updated On
January 16, 2020
Date of Incident
January 20, 2017
Location
Washington, District of Columbia
Case number
1:20-cv-00130
Targets
Aaron Cantú (Independent)
Case Status
Ongoing
Type of case
Civil

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Status of Charges →
Charges dropped
Arresting Authority →
Metropolitan Police Department
Dropped Charges →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No

Producer Jack Keller arrested at Trump inauguration protest

Incident Details

Date of Incident
January 20, 2017
Location
Washington, District of Columbia
Targets
Jack Keller (Story of America)

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Status of Charges →
Charges dropped
Arresting Authority →
Metropolitan Police Department
Dropped Charges →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in part
Search Warrant Obtained →
No
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement

Photojournalist Matthew Hopard arrested at Trump inauguration protest

Incident Details

Date of Incident
January 20, 2017
Location
Washington, District of Columbia
Targets
Matthew Hopard (Independent)

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Status of Charges →
Charges dropped
Arresting Authority →
Metropolitan Police Department
Dropped Charges →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No
Next Page