First Amendment Coalition
@facoalition.bsky.social
Fighting for free speech, a free press, and the public’s right to know. Inquiries: [email protected]
Support our work! https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/donate
Support our work! https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/donate
Investigative reporter Robert J. Lopez spoke to FAC about the reporting behind his ambitious series on child farmworkers for our Behind the Headlines series. Check it out!
firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/be...
firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/be...
Behind the Headlines: How reporter Robert J. Lopez fought for public records on child farmworkers in California
How one investigative journalist exposed the state’s failure to protect child farmer workers.
firstamendmentcoalition.org
February 11, 2026 at 11:42 PM
Investigative reporter Robert J. Lopez spoke to FAC about the reporting behind his ambitious series on child farmworkers for our Behind the Headlines series. Check it out!
firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/be...
firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/be...
When investigative journalist Albert Serna sought public records about secondary, off-duty employment by El Monte police officers, he was was stonewalled. Other department released the info. What is the El Monte Police Department hiding? firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/fa...
FAC Sues City of El Monte for Withholding Police Records
Many police officers work side jobs. The public has the right to know what they’re doing off-hours.
firstamendmentcoalition.org
February 6, 2026 at 5:59 PM
When investigative journalist Albert Serna sought public records about secondary, off-duty employment by El Monte police officers, he was was stonewalled. Other department released the info. What is the El Monte Police Department hiding? firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/fa...
The arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort last week was outrageous. "The First Amendment protects, above all else , the right to report the news and criticize the government," @davidloy.bsky.social tells Jade Hindmon of @kpbssandiego.bsky.social. ⬇️ www.kpbs.org/podcasts/kpb...
'Journalism is not a crime:' Local free speech expert on arrest of journalists
Independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort were arrested weeks after covering an anti-ICE protest in Minnesota. They were released Friday. We dig into what this means for press freedom and…
www.kpbs.org
February 4, 2026 at 5:59 PM
The arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort last week was outrageous. "The First Amendment protects, above all else , the right to report the news and criticize the government," @davidloy.bsky.social tells Jade Hindmon of @kpbssandiego.bsky.social. ⬇️ www.kpbs.org/podcasts/kpb...
Reporters: are you looking for an easy-to-use guide to publicly available data for journalists in California? Check out our new reporter’s field guide! firstamendmentcoalition.org/handbook/rep...
February 3, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Reporters: are you looking for an easy-to-use guide to publicly available data for journalists in California? Check out our new reporter’s field guide! firstamendmentcoalition.org/handbook/rep...
The First Amendment guarantees the right of the press or public to observe, document, record and report on events that take place in public. FAC Legal Director @davidloy.bsky.social explains: firstamendmentcoalition.org/videos/repor...
January 31, 2026 at 1:30 AM
The First Amendment guarantees the right of the press or public to observe, document, record and report on events that take place in public. FAC Legal Director @davidloy.bsky.social explains: firstamendmentcoalition.org/videos/repor...
Attacks like this by the federal government will never silence a free press. FAC joins the National Association of Black Journalists' condemnation of the arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort. #JournalismIsNotACrime nabjonline.org/blog/nabjout...
NABJ OUTRAGED AT ARRESTS OF DON LEMON, GEORGIA FORT ‘THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS NOT OPTIONAL’
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is outraged and deeply alarmed by the arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort by federal agents, and […]
t.co
January 30, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Attacks like this by the federal government will never silence a free press. FAC joins the National Association of Black Journalists' condemnation of the arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort. #JournalismIsNotACrime nabjonline.org/blog/nabjout...
⏰️ LAST DAY TO SUBMIT A FAC AWARD NOMINATION! ⏰️ Submissions are due at 11:59 PM PT tonight. Submit your nomination here: firstamendmentcoalition.org/2025-fac-awa...
January 30, 2026 at 6:05 PM
⏰️ LAST DAY TO SUBMIT A FAC AWARD NOMINATION! ⏰️ Submissions are due at 11:59 PM PT tonight. Submit your nomination here: firstamendmentcoalition.org/2025-fac-awa...
📢 Attention Reporters! Our new Reporter’s Field Guide: Data Sources in California will point you to publicly available data on criminal justice, education, government finances, health, the environment and more. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/in...
January 30, 2026 at 12:24 AM
📢 Attention Reporters! Our new Reporter’s Field Guide: Data Sources in California will point you to publicly available data on criminal justice, education, government finances, health, the environment and more. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/in...
Many police officers work side jobs. The public has the right to know what they're doing off-hours. FAC represents Investigate LA in lawsuit against the City of El Monte for refusing to release off-duty employment records. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/fa...
January 29, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Many police officers work side jobs. The public has the right to know what they're doing off-hours. FAC represents Investigate LA in lawsuit against the City of El Monte for refusing to release off-duty employment records. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/fa...
Reposted by First Amendment Coalition
Following the recent raid of a Washington Post journalist’s home, we've been getting a lot of quetions about what journalists can do to lower risk to their most sensitive data if they expect someone to snatch their device. freedom.press/digisec/blog...
Advice column: Getting ahead of device snatchers
What can journalists do if they expect someone might take devices with sensitive information?
freedom.press
January 28, 2026 at 10:23 PM
Following the recent raid of a Washington Post journalist’s home, we've been getting a lot of quetions about what journalists can do to lower risk to their most sensitive data if they expect someone to snatch their device. freedom.press/digisec/blog...
Outstanding data reporting by Ari Sen and Brian New of @CBSNews.com and @howardcenterasu.bsky.social on how police officers' side jobs can have dangerous consequences for the public when secondary work policies aren't enforced. www.cbsnews.com/projects/202...
How police departments' loosely-written and poorly-enforced rules enable off-duty police misconduct
Across the U.S., police officers moonlight in bars, clubs, and private security jobs with little oversight. A CBS News and Howard Center investigation reveals how weak policies allow misconduct,…
www.cbsnews.com
January 28, 2026 at 11:42 PM
Outstanding data reporting by Ari Sen and Brian New of @CBSNews.com and @howardcenterasu.bsky.social on how police officers' side jobs can have dangerous consequences for the public when secondary work policies aren't enforced. www.cbsnews.com/projects/202...
FINAL WEEK to submit a nomination for a FAC Free Speech & Open Government Award! We're seeking the best examples of contributions to free speech, free expression, and advancing open government in 2025. Don't delay; submit a nomination now! firstamendmentcoalition.org/2025-fac-awa...
January 27, 2026 at 5:59 PM
FINAL WEEK to submit a nomination for a FAC Free Speech & Open Government Award! We're seeking the best examples of contributions to free speech, free expression, and advancing open government in 2025. Don't delay; submit a nomination now! firstamendmentcoalition.org/2025-fac-awa...
There were more than 100 fatal police shootings in California in 2025. FAC's guide gives reporters step-by-step help on how to cover them. firstamendmentcoalition.org/handbook/rep...
Reporter’s Field Guide: Police Shootings
A guide designed to help reporters use state transparency law to inform in-depth coverage of police shootings.
firstamendmentcoalition.org
January 23, 2026 at 11:42 PM
There were more than 100 fatal police shootings in California in 2025. FAC's guide gives reporters step-by-step help on how to cover them. firstamendmentcoalition.org/handbook/rep...
⌛ The deadline to submissions for a FAC award is 1/30! Don't delay, tell us what you think is the best contribution to free speech and open government of 2025. It's free to enter, and you could win $1,000! firstamendmentcoalition.org/2025-fac-awa...
January 21, 2026 at 5:59 PM
⌛ The deadline to submissions for a FAC award is 1/30! Don't delay, tell us what you think is the best contribution to free speech and open government of 2025. It's free to enter, and you could win $1,000! firstamendmentcoalition.org/2025-fac-awa...
Journalists have a First Amendment right to film police activity in public spaces, as long as you aren’t physically interfering with law enforcement operations. Contact our legal hotline if you need help with your rights covering protests. bit.ly/FACLegalHotl...
January 15, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Journalists have a First Amendment right to film police activity in public spaces, as long as you aren’t physically interfering with law enforcement operations. Contact our legal hotline if you need help with your rights covering protests. bit.ly/FACLegalHotl...
Using a search warrant to search a journalist's home is an extraordinary, and extraordinarily dangerous, step. We'll know more when the affidavit in support of the search warrant becomes public, but on its face, this is truly alarming. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
January 14, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Using a search warrant to search a journalist's home is an extraordinary, and extraordinarily dangerous, step. We'll know more when the affidavit in support of the search warrant becomes public, but on its face, this is truly alarming. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Sharing publicly available information on X isn't a crime. FAC joined with more than 20 other groups in a coalition urging the House to drop the subpoena against journalist Seth Harp. cpj.org/2026/01/cpj-...
CPJ calls on U.S. House Committee to drop Seth Harp subpoena - Committee to Protect Journalists
Washington, D.C., January 13, 2026– The Committee to Protect Journalist calls on the U.S. House Oversight Committee to drop its subpoena of investigative journalist Seth Harp and calls on the Justice…
cpj.org
January 14, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Sharing publicly available information on X isn't a crime. FAC joined with more than 20 other groups in a coalition urging the House to drop the subpoena against journalist Seth Harp. cpj.org/2026/01/cpj-...
“If a city government is making it practically impossible for people to show up or for only a small number of people to show up, that creates significant equity and accountability concerns,” says FAC's @davidloy.bsky.social.
January 13, 2026 at 11:42 PM
“If a city government is making it practically impossible for people to show up or for only a small number of people to show up, that creates significant equity and accountability concerns,” says FAC's @davidloy.bsky.social.
Great public service piece in @laist.com on the Inglewood city council meetings in the middle of the day, when fewer people can attend: laist.com/news/politic...
Yes, yes and more yes: How Inglewood City Council votes
The LA Local examines Inglewood’s quick, nearly unanimous council meetings.
laist.com
January 13, 2026 at 11:42 PM
Great public service piece in @laist.com on the Inglewood city council meetings in the middle of the day, when fewer people can attend: laist.com/news/politic...
You have the right to record police/law enforcement. @washingtonpost offers a roundup of experts, including FAC's @davidloysd, commenting on your rights: www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
January 13, 2026 at 5:59 PM
You have the right to record police/law enforcement. @washingtonpost offers a roundup of experts, including FAC's @davidloysd, commenting on your rights: www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Attention reporters! Are you covering immigration enforcement in California? Could you use tips on accessing state and local public records, courts and detention centers? Get our new Reporter’s Field Guide: Immigration Enforcement. firstamendmentcoalition.org/handbook/rep...
Reporter’s Field Guide: Immigration Enforcement
This guide is designed to help reporters covering immigration enforcement in California understand access to state and local public records, immigration courts and detention centers.
firstamendmentcoalition.org
January 8, 2026 at 11:42 PM
Attention reporters! Are you covering immigration enforcement in California? Could you use tips on accessing state and local public records, courts and detention centers? Get our new Reporter’s Field Guide: Immigration Enforcement. firstamendmentcoalition.org/handbook/rep...
The deadline to submit a nomination for a FAC Free Speech & Open Government award is coming up on January 30. See the rules and show us your best stuff!
2025 FAC Awards
2025 FAC Awards Nomination Form
firstamendmentcoalition.org
January 7, 2026 at 5:59 PM
The deadline to submit a nomination for a FAC Free Speech & Open Government award is coming up on January 30. See the rules and show us your best stuff!
When government meetings happen behind closed doors, democracy suffers. We fight every day to keep our government accountable to you. Because transparency isn't a privilege: it's your right.
January 2, 2026 at 5:59 PM
When government meetings happen behind closed doors, democracy suffers. We fight every day to keep our government accountable to you. Because transparency isn't a privilege: it's your right.
Every open-records victory.
Every journalist we help.
Every policy win for transparency.
It’s all powered by supporters like you.
Help us close the year strong and start 2026 with the resources to keep fighting.
🙏 Donate today.
firstamendmentcoalition.org?form=FACDece...
Every journalist we help.
Every policy win for transparency.
It’s all powered by supporters like you.
Help us close the year strong and start 2026 with the resources to keep fighting.
🙏 Donate today.
firstamendmentcoalition.org?form=FACDece...
December 31, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Every open-records victory.
Every journalist we help.
Every policy win for transparency.
It’s all powered by supporters like you.
Help us close the year strong and start 2026 with the resources to keep fighting.
🙏 Donate today.
firstamendmentcoalition.org?form=FACDece...
Every journalist we help.
Every policy win for transparency.
It’s all powered by supporters like you.
Help us close the year strong and start 2026 with the resources to keep fighting.
🙏 Donate today.
firstamendmentcoalition.org?form=FACDece...
If you believe in open government, free speech, and accountability; support the work that defends it. Donate to FAC before Dec 31st.
firstamendmentcoalition.org?form=FACDece...
firstamendmentcoalition.org?form=FACDece...
December 29, 2025 at 5:59 PM
If you believe in open government, free speech, and accountability; support the work that defends it. Donate to FAC before Dec 31st.
firstamendmentcoalition.org?form=FACDece...
firstamendmentcoalition.org?form=FACDece...