All Incidents - U.S. Press Freedom Tracker

Injured CBS 6 photojournalist

CBS 6 photojournalist attacked with stick while filming anti-fascist march

August 13, 2017

A CBS 6 photojournalist had to be taken to the emergency room after he was struck in the back of …

Screen shot from WLOS live-stream of demonstration

TV reporter assaulted while covering protest in North Carolina

August 13, 2017

A reporter for local North Carolina TV station WLOS was assaulted while live-streaming a peaceful anti-racist demonstration in Asheville, North …

Taylor Lorenz

Journalist Taylor Lorenz punched while filming aftermath of fatal attack

August 12, 2017

Taylor Lorenz, a journalist for The Hill, was punched in the side of the head while live-streaming the aftermath of …

Screenshot from Unicorn Riot video in Charlottesville

Unicorn Riot journalist attacked while reporting in Charlottesville

August 11, 2017

Christopher Schiano — a reporter for Unicorn Riot, a radical, non-profit journalism organization — was attacked while attempting to interview participants in …

Jeff Sessions speaks at briefing on leaks

Attorney general considers making it easier to subpoena journalists

August 4, 2017

‘We respect the important role that the press plays, and we’ll give them respect, but it is not unlimited,’ Sessions said. ‘They cannot place lives at risk with impunity.’

Journalists interview Sen. Collins in the Senate hallway

U.S. Capitol Police order journalists to delete photos, videos

July 25, 2017

Andrew Desiderio, a Congressional reporter for The Daily Beast, was covering the arrest of protests in a Senate hallway on …

Kat Timpf Twitter

Fox News host soaked with water at Brooklyn bar

July 24, 2017

Katherine Timpf, a co-host on the show “Fox News Specialists” and a reporter for National Review Online, said that she …

A Time Warner Cable truck returns to its office in San Diego, California, U.S., November 2, 2016.

White House advisers allegedly discuss leverage over CNN

July 2017

White House advisers reportedly discussed using the multibillion merger between AT&T and Time Warner as leverage over cable news network …

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Data Summary

Total Results	72
Results in 2017	71
Results in September	1

How we track Arrests And Criminal Charges

Journalists arrested and taken into custody and/or charged with a crime. Journalists who are still facing charges as of August 2, 2017 are included in this category even if the charges were filed in a previous year.

How we track Border Stops

Journalists stopped at the border and subjected to prolonged, invasive questioning or who have their electronic devices searched or are asked to provide passwords. We count border stops even if we are unable to draw a direct connection between the stop and the journalist’s work activities, because the resistance of U.S. authorities to provide information makes it extremely difficult to identify the motive and because invasive questioning or device searches could jeopardize source confidentiality no matter the motive. Not every stop at the border is a press freedom violation, but we believe it is essential to capture patterns related to these stops. This category also includes cases where journalists are prevented from entering the country if it appears that their inability to enter the country is related to their work.

How we track Subpoenas And Legal Orders

Subpoenas issued by government prosecutors or agencies ordering journalists to testify in court. Subpoenas requested by private parties will not be included. This category also includes legal orders for the production of journalist records or work product, which may be targeted at journalists or at third parties who have access to the work product. Because many subpoenas are not publicly reported and legal orders for journalist records are conducted with high levels of secrecy, the numbers in this category are likely to underestimate actual cases.

How we track Leak Cases

Government employees or contractors investigated or prosecuted for disclosing information to journalists or media platforms. This category does not include leak cases where information was not leaked to the media.

How we track Equipment Searches, Seizures And Damage

Journalists’ equipment searched or seized by law enforcement or intentionally damaged in the course of their work.

How we track Physical Attacks

Journalists who face physical violence or injury either as the result of a targeted attack by a public or private individual or in the course of their work. If a journalist is hit by rubber bullets or bean bag rounds, it will be counted in this category. Journalists affected by tear gas, pepper spray, or other mass riot control agents will be counted if the individual suffers serious injury or appears to have been specifically targeted. Incidents that fall outside these parameters and in which multiple journalists were affected by riot control agents may be counted in the “other” category.

How we track Denials Of Access

Denial of access to government events that are traditionally open or attended by the press and where the denial of access either deprives the public of significant information, appears to be retaliatory, or is done without meaningful justification. Concrete changes in policy or practice to restrict or deny access may also be included in this category.

Denial of access to individuals in some cases, such as where the available space limits the number of journalists allowed to attend or where individuals arguing for access do not meet reasonable standards for credentials, can be seen as meaningful justifications and will not be included.

How we track Chilling Statements

Selected public threats made to reporters and media organizations by U.S. politicians and other public figures, which can have a chilling effect on journalism.

How we track Other Incidents

Incidents that fall outside of the above categories. Editorial discretion will determine whether such incidents reach our threshold. Incidents that may be counted in this category include prior restraint, detentions that do not result in charges or arrest, clearly abusive lawsuits, harassment, and vandalism.