Louisiana photojournalist assaulted during investigation of mistaken release of convict Show More Incident Details Updated on March 6, 2023 Date of incident March 3, 2022 Location Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana Targets T.J. Pipitone (WWL-TV) Assault Assailant → Private individual Was the journalist targeted? → Yes
Louisiana reporter assaulted during investigation of mistaken release of convict Show More Incident Details Updated on March 6, 2023 Date of incident March 3, 2022 Location Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana Targets David Hammer (WWL-TV) Assault Assailant → Private individual Was the journalist targeted? → Yes Equipment Damage Equipment damaged → Cellphone, 1 Recording equipment, 1 Actor → Private individual
Utah Senate becomes third state legislature this year to limit journalists’ access Show More Incident Details Updated on February 28, 2022 Date of incident February 15, 2022 Location Salt Lake City, Utah Targets Media Denial of Access Government agency or public official involved → State government: Legislature Type of denial → Change in policy or practice
Subpoena for ABC News’ reporting materials on a ‘Real Housewives’ cast member quashed Show More Incident Details Date of incident February 11, 2022 Location New York, New York Targets ABC News Subpoena/Legal Order Legal orders → subpoena for communications or work product Feb. 11, 2022: Pending Feb. 25, 2022: Objected to May 5, 2022: Quashed Legal order target → Institution Legal order venue → State
Multimedia journalist assaulted while reporting from scene of Providence shootout Show More Incident Details Date of incident February 10, 2022 Location Providence, Rhode Island Targets Joanna Bouras (WJAR) Assault Assailant → Private individual Was the journalist targeted? → Yes
Minneapolis to pay $100,000 settlement over public records lawsuit #public records Show More Incident Details Date of incident January 27, 2022 Location Minneapolis, Minnesota Targets Tony Webster (Independent) Other Incident
Massachusetts city ordered to pay legal fees to news outlet for violating public records law #public records Show More Incident Details Updated on March 1, 2023 Date of incident January 26, 2022 Location Worcester, Massachusetts Case number 1885CV01526 Targets [Worcester] Telegram & Gazette Case status Settled Type of case Civil Other Incident
Tennessee state representative introduces resolution to reprimand AP for reporting Show More Incident Details Date of incident January 20, 2022 Location Nashville, Tennessee Targets The Associated Press Chilling Statement
Radio reporter’s phone seized by North Dakota police, later returned Show More Incident Details Date of incident January 10, 2022 Location Williston, North Dakota Targets Tom Simon (KXWI-FM) Equipment Search or Seizure Equipment searched or seized → Cellphone, 1 Status of equipment → Returned in full Search warrant obtained → No Subpoena/Legal Order Legal orders → warrant for communications or work product Jan. 4, 2022: Pending Jan. 10, 2022: Carried out Legal order target → Journalist Legal order venue → State
Journalists removed from Iowa Senate floor, overturning a century-old practice Show More Incident Details Date of incident January 7, 2022 Location Des Moines, Iowa Targets Media Denial of Access Government agency or public official involved → State government: Legislature Type of denial → Change in policy or practice
Journalists moved from Kansas Senate floor to public gallery for new legislative session Show More Incident Details Date of incident January 4, 2022 Location Topeka, Kansas Targets Media Denial of Access Government agency or public official involved → State government: Legislature Type of denial → Change in policy or practice
Search warrant issued for North Dakota reporter’s phone records amid police investigation Show More Incident Details Date of incident January 4, 2022 Location Williston, North Dakota Targets Tom Simon (KXWI-FM) Subpoena/Legal Order Legal orders → warrant for communications or work product Jan. 4, 2022: Pending Jan. 10, 2022: Dropped Legal order target → Third-party: Verizon Wireless (telecom company) Legal order venue → State
Reporter arrested, phone confiscated while covering NC homeless camp eviction #encampment Show More Incident Details Updated on June 4, 2025 Date of incident December 25, 2021 Location Asheville, North Carolina Case number 1:24-cv-00307 Targets Matilda Bliss (The Asheville Blade) Case status Ongoing Type of case Civil Arrest/Criminal Charge Arrest status → Arrested and released Arresting authority → Asheville Police Department Charges → Trespassing Dec. 26, 2021: Charges pending April 19, 2023: Convicted April 19, 2023: Pending appeal June 16, 2023: Convicted March 22, 2024: Pending appeal June 4, 2025: Convicted Release date → December 26, 2021 Unnecessary use of force? → No Equipment Search or Seizure Equipment searched or seized → Cellphone, 1 Status of equipment → Returned in full Search warrant obtained → Yes Subpoena/Legal Order Legal orders → warrant for communications or work product Jan. 1, 2022: Carried out Legal order target → Journalist Legal order venue → State
Journalist arrested while covering North Carolina homeless camp eviction #encampment Show More Incident Details Updated on June 4, 2025 Date of incident December 25, 2021 Location Asheville, North Carolina Case number 1:24-cv-00307 Targets Veronica Coit (The Asheville Blade) Case status Ongoing Type of case Civil Arrest/Criminal Charge Arrest status → Arrested and released Arresting authority → Asheville Police Department Charges → Trespassing Dec. 26, 2021: Charges pending April 19, 2023: Convicted April 19, 2023: Pending appeal June 16, 2023: Convicted March 22, 2024: Pending appeal June 4, 2025: Convicted Release date → December 26, 2021 Unnecessary use of force? → No
Texas journalist files suit following arrest, equipment seizure Recently updated Show More Incident Details Updated on March 27, 2026 Date of incident December 21, 2021 Location Damon, Texas Case number 4:22-cv-04210 Targets Justin Pulliam (Independent) Case status Verdict issued Type of case Civil Arrest/Criminal Charge Arrest status → Arrested and released Arresting authority → Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office Charges → Obstruction: interference with public duties May 16, 2022: Charges pending May 15, 2024: Charges dropped Unnecessary use of force? → No Equipment Search or Seizure Equipment searched or seized → Camera, 2 Cellphone, 1 External battery, 1 Miscellaneous equipment, 3 Recording equipment, 1 Storage device, 2 Status of equipment → Returned in part Search warrant obtained → Yes Subpoena/Legal Order Legal orders → warrant for communications or work product Jan. 14, 2022: Pending Jan. 14, 2022: Carried out warrant for communications or work product Jan. 14, 2022: Pending Jan. 14, 2022: Carried out Legal order target → Journalist Legal order venue → State
Independent journalist assaulted while documenting anti-vaccine protest #coronavirus #protest Show More Incident Details Date of incident December 18, 2021 Location Los Angeles, California Targets Sean Beckner-Carmitchel (Independent) Assault Assailant → Private individual Was the journalist targeted? → Yes
As many as 20 journalists investigated by secretive CBP division #Department of Homeland Security Show More Incident Details Date of incident December 11, 2021 Location Washington, District of Columbia Targets Ali Watkins (Politico), Arianna Huffington (HuffPost), Martha Mendoza (The Associated Press), Media, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal Chilling Statement
PA radio broadcaster targeted by copper thieves for third time in five years #robbery Show More Incident Details Date of incident December 7, 2021 Location Norwegian Township, Pennsylvania Targets Pottsville Broadcasting Company Equipment Damage Equipment damaged → Broadcast tower, 1 Miscellaneous equipment, 1 Radio transmitter, 1 Actor → Private individual
Former BuzzFeed reporter ordered to submit documents in lawsuit against Kevin Spacey Show More Incident Details Date of incident December 6, 2021 Location New York, New York Targets Adam Vary (BuzzFeed News) Subpoena/Legal Order Legal orders → subpoena for communications or work product Dec. 6, 2021: Pending Dec. 14, 2021: Objected to Dec. 16, 2021: Ignored Dec. 29, 2021: Pending Jan. 12, 2022: Objected to Feb. 22, 2022: Pending Feb. 28, 2022: Objected to May 19, 2022: Upheld May 23, 2022: Objected to Aug. 9, 2022: Upheld Aug. 15, 2022: Carried out Legal order target → Journalist Legal order venue → Federal
San Francisco Chronicle photographer robbed at gunpoint in Oakland, cameras stolen #robbery Show More Incident Details Date of incident December 3, 2021 Location Oakland, California Targets Unidentified photojournalist 14 (San Francisco Chronicle) Assault Assailant → Private individual Was the journalist targeted? → Unknown Equipment Damage Equipment damaged → Camera, 2 Actor → Private individual