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
BREAKING: FAC has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to prevent San Benito County from violating the First Amendment rights of two anonymous journalists who run Benito Beet Beat, a satirical news outlet on Facebook. firstamendmentcoalition.org/case/doe-v-c...
November 26, 2025 at 8:32 PM
BREAKING: FAC has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to prevent San Benito County from violating the First Amendment rights of two anonymous journalists who run Benito Beet Beat, a satirical news outlet on Facebook. firstamendmentcoalition.org/case/doe-v-c...
Daniel Maher asked Redding police for the bodyworn camera footage of his arrest, in which police used enough force to break his ribs. The city denied his request. FAC intervened. It shouldn't take intervention from a lawyer to get public records.
firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/re...
firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/re...
Redding police release bodycam footage to newsroom after FAC advocacy
Daniel Maher wanted to see the bodycam footage of his own arrest. Redding Police refused, until FAC intervened.
firstamendmentcoalition.org
November 26, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Daniel Maher asked Redding police for the bodyworn camera footage of his arrest, in which police used enough force to break his ribs. The city denied his request. FAC intervened. It shouldn't take intervention from a lawyer to get public records.
firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/re...
firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/re...
A big win! Today an appeals court ruled that plaintiffs cannot automatically hide their identities when they bring a defamation suit. "[T]he right to access court proceedings necessarily includes the right to know the identity of the parties." reason.com/volokh/2025/...
California Appellate Court Generally Rejects Pseudonymity for Defamation Plaintiffs (Including in #TheyLied Sexual Assault Allegation Cases)
From today's opinion in Roe v. Smith, decided by Justice Anne Richardson, joined by Justices Elwood Lui and Victoria Chavez:…
reason.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:49 PM
A big win! Today an appeals court ruled that plaintiffs cannot automatically hide their identities when they bring a defamation suit. "[T]he right to access court proceedings necessarily includes the right to know the identity of the parties." reason.com/volokh/2025/...
FAC teamed up with Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation for a workshop for reporters on how to use transparency laws in their stories, including
✅ covering protests
✅ press rights
✅ our new Reporter's Field Guides
Read more & bring a FAC workshop to you!
firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/su...
✅ covering protests
✅ press rights
✅ our new Reporter's Field Guides
Read more & bring a FAC workshop to you!
firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/su...
Sunshine in the Valley
Dozen of reporters, journalism students and newsroom managers participated in an all-day training led by FAC and the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation.
firstamendmentcoalition.org
November 21, 2025 at 5:59 PM
FAC teamed up with Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation for a workshop for reporters on how to use transparency laws in their stories, including
✅ covering protests
✅ press rights
✅ our new Reporter's Field Guides
Read more & bring a FAC workshop to you!
firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/su...
✅ covering protests
✅ press rights
✅ our new Reporter's Field Guides
Read more & bring a FAC workshop to you!
firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/su...
A must-read: journalist Robert Lopez reviewed thousands of state and county records--and even had to threaten legal action for some records--for this investigation into California's child farmworkers. capitalandmain.com/californias-...
California’s Child Farmworkers: Exhausted, Underpaid and Toiling in Toxic Fields
State officials are failing to protect the health and safety of thousands of young field laborers, an investigation has found.
capitalandmain.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:42 PM
A must-read: journalist Robert Lopez reviewed thousands of state and county records--and even had to threaten legal action for some records--for this investigation into California's child farmworkers. capitalandmain.com/californias-...
Abhorrent.
“‘Things happen.’ Just two words. That’s all it took for Donald Trump to effectively dismiss what is probably the most infamous journalist killing of the last decade.” — CPJ’s CEO @jodieginsberg.bsky.social writes in an op-ed for @theguardian.com.
Read more👇
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Read more👇
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 19, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Abhorrent.
Details of the conversation between SF Mayor Daniel Lurie and Trump are still a secret, despite @sfpublicpress.bsky.social public records request. Moments like these demand transparency, says FAC's David Snyder. www.sfpublicpress.org/critics-say-...
Critics Say Mayor’s Secrecy Over Trump Call Undermines Public Trust
Open-government experts question why Mayor Lurie is withholding records of a call with Trump that reportedly averted a surge of federal forces.
www.sfpublicpress.org
November 19, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Details of the conversation between SF Mayor Daniel Lurie and Trump are still a secret, despite @sfpublicpress.bsky.social public records request. Moments like these demand transparency, says FAC's David Snyder. www.sfpublicpress.org/critics-say-...
Oakland Police must end its restrictive press policy, writes FAC, @spj-norcal.bsky.social and @pmwglocal39521.bsky.social firstamendmentcoalition.org/2025/11/14/p...
Press advocates condemn Oakland Police Department’s press policy
Oakland Police Department must end its restrictive press policy.
firstamendmentcoalition.org
November 15, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Oakland Police must end its restrictive press policy, writes FAC, @spj-norcal.bsky.social and @pmwglocal39521.bsky.social firstamendmentcoalition.org/2025/11/14/p...
Reposted by First Amendment Coalition
A nice look from @knightfoundation.org at how legal support helps journalists do their best work, with shoutouts for @rcfp.org, @splc.org, @facoalition.bsky.social, and more.
How legal support helps journalists do their best work
Knight expands legal aid for local newsrooms amid rising demand and cost barriers
newsatknight.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:14 PM
A nice look from @knightfoundation.org at how legal support helps journalists do their best work, with shoutouts for @rcfp.org, @splc.org, @facoalition.bsky.social, and more.
LAPD is withholding policing data because it might lead to "public panic." FAC's @davidloy.bsky.social tells @laist.com: “The problem with that argument is it would violate — it would destroy — the entire public records act.” laist.com/news/lapd-re...
LAPD refuses to release crime map records, says data could lead to 'public panic'
First Amendment lawyer says LAPD denial goes against principles of public records law.
laist.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:59 PM
LAPD is withholding policing data because it might lead to "public panic." FAC's @davidloy.bsky.social tells @laist.com: “The problem with that argument is it would violate — it would destroy — the entire public records act.” laist.com/news/lapd-re...
#BirdFlu cases are increasing again, and yet the CA Dept of Food & Agriculture is putting public health at risk by refusing to release critical data about which CA dairies are under #birdflu quarantine. www.npr.org/2025/11/05/n...
Reports of bird flu in farm animals raise concerns about the virus
Cases of bird flu have been reported in farm animals across the country. While there are no human cases, some are concerned the shutdown and cuts to federal resources have us flying in the dark.
www.npr.org
November 7, 2025 at 11:42 PM
#BirdFlu cases are increasing again, and yet the CA Dept of Food & Agriculture is putting public health at risk by refusing to release critical data about which CA dairies are under #birdflu quarantine. www.npr.org/2025/11/05/n...
Earlier this week, with California Rural Legal Assistance, we sued the CA Dept of Food & Agriculture for refusing to release information about which CA dairies are under #birdflu quarantine. Withholding this information puts public health at risk. www.latimes.com/science/stor...
State agriculture dept. is hiding bird flu information, legal aid group alleges in lawsuit
A legal aid group that represents farm workers is suing the state agriculture department claiming it is not sharing the locations of dairies that are experiencing H5N1 bird flu outbreaks, and that…
www.latimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Earlier this week, with California Rural Legal Assistance, we sued the CA Dept of Food & Agriculture for refusing to release information about which CA dairies are under #birdflu quarantine. Withholding this information puts public health at risk. www.latimes.com/science/stor...
FAC is representing @vallejosun.bsky.social in a public records lawsuit against the City of Vallejo. The city refuses to hand over video about police officers shooting of man in mental distress; the video they did release improperly blurs officers' faces. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/fa...
FAC Sues City of Vallejo for Police Shooting Records
Vallejo Police are denying the Vallejo Sun video footage of the shooting of Alexander Schumann.
firstamendmentcoalition.org
November 6, 2025 at 5:47 PM
FAC is representing @vallejosun.bsky.social in a public records lawsuit against the City of Vallejo. The city refuses to hand over video about police officers shooting of man in mental distress; the video they did release improperly blurs officers' faces. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/fa...
Right now, every dollar you give will go twice as far thanks to a generous $20,000 matching gift from FAC Board Leadership.
From now until Nov. 14, your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $20,000 –
1/2
From now until Nov. 14, your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $20,000 –
1/2
November 4, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Right now, every dollar you give will go twice as far thanks to a generous $20,000 matching gift from FAC Board Leadership.
From now until Nov. 14, your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $20,000 –
1/2
From now until Nov. 14, your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $20,000 –
1/2
We're disappointed the Berkeley City Council voted to fully encrypt all police radio traffic. This will take away a critical newsgathering tool and reduce public oversight of policing. firstamendmentcoalition.org/2025/10/28/f...
FAC Opposes Berkeley Plan to Encrypt Police Radio Communications
Advocacy
firstamendmentcoalition.org
October 31, 2025 at 10:42 PM
We're disappointed the Berkeley City Council voted to fully encrypt all police radio traffic. This will take away a critical newsgathering tool and reduce public oversight of policing. firstamendmentcoalition.org/2025/10/28/f...
🎉 A First Amendment and press freedom win! The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has denied Alameda County's request to re-hear the case against the sideshow spectator ban. Now back to the trial court! firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/pr...
Press Freedom Prevails in Federal Appeals Court
Our case challenging sideshow spectator bans now goes back to the district court.
firstamendmentcoalition.org
October 29, 2025 at 10:42 PM
🎉 A First Amendment and press freedom win! The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has denied Alameda County's request to re-hear the case against the sideshow spectator ban. Now back to the trial court! firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/pr...
Journalists, Election Day is days away; are you ready to cover it? Check out our new Reporter's Field Guide: Election Day Access to get up to speed: firstamendmentcoalition.org/handbook/rep...
Reporter’s Field Guide: Election Day Access
A guide to help reporters understand their access rights on and around Election Day. By Thadeus Greenson
firstamendmentcoalition.org
October 29, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Journalists, Election Day is days away; are you ready to cover it? Check out our new Reporter's Field Guide: Election Day Access to get up to speed: firstamendmentcoalition.org/handbook/rep...
We were inspired by the enthusiasm & curiosity of hundreds of student journalists who gathered for the regional Journalism Association of Community Colleges conferences this month, where we led sessions on protest coverage and public records. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/po...
Powering the Student Press: FAC Gives Press Rights and Public Records Sessions at Recent Conferences
This month, FAC’s press education team got the chance to speak about protest coverage and public records with hundreds of student journalists from community colleges across the state.
firstamendmentcoalition.org
October 28, 2025 at 10:42 PM
We were inspired by the enthusiasm & curiosity of hundreds of student journalists who gathered for the regional Journalism Association of Community Colleges conferences this month, where we led sessions on protest coverage and public records. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/po...
FAC, @spj-norcal.bsky.social & @pmwglocal39521.bsky.social are urging the Berkeley city council to reject a proposal to silence all police radio traffic. The public loses when journalists and community members can't listen to police radio comms www.berkeleyscanner.com/2025/10/21/c...
Public begins to push back on Berkeley police encryption plan
Other police agencies in California have found solutions that avoid complete encryption.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:15 PM
FAC, @spj-norcal.bsky.social & @pmwglocal39521.bsky.social are urging the Berkeley city council to reject a proposal to silence all police radio traffic. The public loses when journalists and community members can't listen to police radio comms www.berkeleyscanner.com/2025/10/21/c...
TODAY at 1pm PT: FAC will be hosting a virtual gathering with journalists to walk them through our latest Reporter’s Field Guide on Election Day Access. Register below and check out the guide and other educational resources on our website. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/yo...
October 28, 2025 at 4:59 PM
TODAY at 1pm PT: FAC will be hosting a virtual gathering with journalists to walk them through our latest Reporter’s Field Guide on Election Day Access. Register below and check out the guide and other educational resources on our website. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/yo...
If you’re a reporter with questions about what you and others are allowed to do in and around polling places on Election Day, we’ve got answers. Join us for a Q&A on 10/28 1 PM PT about our new election day access guide firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/yo...
Your Detailed Guide to Election Day Access
We’re thrilled to offer our latest Reporter’s Field Guide to help journalists report on elections.
firstamendmentcoalition.org
October 23, 2025 at 4:59 PM
If you’re a reporter with questions about what you and others are allowed to do in and around polling places on Election Day, we’ve got answers. Join us for a Q&A on 10/28 1 PM PT about our new election day access guide firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/yo...
Congrats to FAC Legal Director David Loy, who was named a Visionary Honoree by California Safe Schools and was the keynote speaker at its awards last week! 🎉 www.send2press.com/wire/califor...
California Safe Schools Marks 27 Years of Transformative Environmental Advocacy
LOS ANGELES, Calif., Oct. 16, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Since its founding in 1998, California Safe Schools (CSS) has been at the forefront of protecting children, educators, and communities from…
www.send2press.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Congrats to FAC Legal Director David Loy, who was named a Visionary Honoree by California Safe Schools and was the keynote speaker at its awards last week! 🎉 www.send2press.com/wire/califor...
Berkeley should keep its promise to protect public access and reject a proposal to silence all police radio traffic. The public loses when journalists and community members can't listen to police radio communications. www.berkeleyscanner.com/2025/10/21/c...
Public begins to push back on Berkeley police encryption plan
Other police agencies in California have found solutions that avoid complete encryption.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
October 21, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Berkeley should keep its promise to protect public access and reject a proposal to silence all police radio traffic. The public loses when journalists and community members can't listen to police radio communications. www.berkeleyscanner.com/2025/10/21/c...
FAC’s latest: A reporter’s guide to accessing election polling places and vote counting centers. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/yo...
Your Detailed Guide to Election Day Access
We’re thrilled to offer our latest Reporter’s Field Guide to help journalists report on elections.
firstamendmentcoalition.org
October 21, 2025 at 4:59 PM
FAC’s latest: A reporter’s guide to accessing election polling places and vote counting centers. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/yo...
In lieu of getting a person's rap sheet, are law enforcement agencies required to disclose certain information on arrests under the California Public Records Act? Part 3 of 3
October 20, 2025 at 10:42 PM
In lieu of getting a person's rap sheet, are law enforcement agencies required to disclose certain information on arrests under the California Public Records Act? Part 3 of 3