U.S. Press Freedom Tracker
@pressfreedomtracker.us
The US Press Freedom Tracker is a database that tracks and catalogs press freedom violations in the United States.
A project of @freedom.press.
DM or email [email protected]
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A project of @freedom.press.
DM or email [email protected]
Subscribe: freedom.press/newsletters/
Pinned
Journalist Mario Guevara discusses deportation and ICE detention
YouTube video by Freedom of the Press Foundation
www.youtube.com
“They said I was an illegal alien — I have a work permit for the last 20 years.”
In an exclusive with @pressfreedomtracker.us, journalist Mario Guevara recounts his June arrest at a “No Kings” protest in DeKalb County, GA, and his eventual deportation after spending over 100 days in ICE custody.
In an exclusive with @pressfreedomtracker.us, journalist Mario Guevara recounts his June arrest at a “No Kings” protest in DeKalb County, GA, and his eventual deportation after spending over 100 days in ICE custody.
Update: New York’s high court quashes subpoena today for former Sullivan County Democrat Managing Editor Joseph Abraham’s testimony and documents in defamation case; rules he’s protected by state’s reporter’s privilege.
Former editor subpoenaed in constable’s defamation suit
The former managing editor of the Sullivan County Democrat, a twice-weekly newspaper in New York’s Catskill Mountains, was subpoenaed on …
pressfreedomtracker.us
November 26, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Update: New York’s high court quashes subpoena today for former Sullivan County Democrat Managing Editor Joseph Abraham’s testimony and documents in defamation case; rules he’s protected by state’s reporter’s privilege.
“People have a right to report, even if they’re critical” — Investigative reporter @markpuente.bsky.social, who was briefly blocked from an Ohio county courtroom by security while documenting arraignments Oct. 29.
Reporter temporarily blocked from Ohio courtroom proceedings
Investigative reporter Mark Puente was blocked from observing court proceedings and briefly ordered out of a Lorain, Ohio, municipal courtroom …
pressfreedomtracker.us
November 26, 2025 at 6:32 PM
“People have a right to report, even if they’re critical” — Investigative reporter @markpuente.bsky.social, who was briefly blocked from an Ohio county courtroom by security while documenting arraignments Oct. 29.
📣 Are you a U.S.-based journalist?
Help Media Resilience Network structure support services for journalists by filling out the mental health survey below:
Help Media Resilience Network structure support services for journalists by filling out the mental health survey below:
Stay Tuned: a US journalism mental health survey
Being a journalist these days is tough and we know you are going through a lot.
The Media Resilience Network aims to enhance the well-being and capacity of journalists and media organizations through peer support, trauma-informed care, collaborative problem-solving and community partnerships — building resilience from the inside out.
To better help us help you, please fill out the following questionnaire.
Many of the prompts are open for you to share as much, or as little, as you feel comfortable with.
If you need mental help immediately, please contact our team at [email protected]....
docs.google.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:05 PM
📣 Are you a U.S.-based journalist?
Help Media Resilience Network structure support services for journalists by filling out the mental health survey below:
Help Media Resilience Network structure support services for journalists by filling out the mental health survey below:
Freelance photojournalist @davedeckerphoto.bsky.social was arrested while reporting on an immigration protest outside an ICE facility in Miami on Nov. 22.
He was held in custody for 30-plus hours and released with charges of trespassing and resisting an officer.
He was held in custody for 30-plus hours and released with charges of trespassing and resisting an officer.
Photojournalist arrested at Miami immigration protest, gear seized
Freelance photojournalist Dave Decker was arrested by Miami-Dade Sheriff’s deputies while documenting anti-deportation protests outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement …
pressfreedomtracker.us
November 24, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Freelance photojournalist @davedeckerphoto.bsky.social was arrested while reporting on an immigration protest outside an ICE facility in Miami on Nov. 22.
He was held in custody for 30-plus hours and released with charges of trespassing and resisting an officer.
He was held in custody for 30-plus hours and released with charges of trespassing and resisting an officer.
Update: Former Marion County Record reporter Deb Gruver on Nov. 20 dismissed her federal suit stemming from a 2023 raid on the Kansas newspaper’s office and settled with three county officials associated with the raid.
Kansas reporter injured when cellphone seized during police raid of newsroom
Marion County Record reporter Deb Gruver was injured when local law enforcement executed a search warrant on the newspaper’s offices …
pressfreedomtracker.us
November 24, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Update: Former Marion County Record reporter Deb Gruver on Nov. 20 dismissed her federal suit stemming from a 2023 raid on the Kansas newspaper’s office and settled with three county officials associated with the raid.
If you are a journalist — or know one — who has been attacked, seriously threatened, denied access by a public official or targeted with a legal order in the course of reporting, let us know. You can now submit tips in English or Spanish.
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
November 20, 2025 at 8:45 PM
If you are a journalist — or know one — who has been attacked, seriously threatened, denied access by a public official or targeted with a legal order in the course of reporting, let us know. You can now submit tips in English or Spanish.
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced a new probe Wednesday into alleged “news distortion” by BBC in its editing of a documentary last year.
@npr.org and @pbs.org were notified that the investigation would determine whether either had also broadcast the footage.
@npr.org and @pbs.org were notified that the investigation would determine whether either had also broadcast the footage.
Brendan Carr targets news outlets as chair of the FCC
From the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, Brendan Carr, chair and senior Republican member of the Federal Communications …
pressfreedomtracker.us
November 20, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Update: Appeals court Wednesday suspends preliminary injunction won by Chicago journalists and press groups that restricted federal agents’ violent tactics at immigration protests there; judges call injunction “overbroad,” put it on hold while government appeals.
Journalist shot with pepper balls at Illinois ICE facility protest
Journalist Raven Geary was shot in the face and shoulder with pepper balls by federal officers while reporting on protests …
pressfreedomtracker.us
November 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Update: Appeals court Wednesday suspends preliminary injunction won by Chicago journalists and press groups that restricted federal agents’ violent tactics at immigration protests there; judges call injunction “overbroad,” put it on hold while government appeals.
Student newspaper The Vista at University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond was forced to halt print publication this fall, after administrators criticized its coverage.
@rcfp.org called the move “egregiously anti-free speech.”
@rcfp.org called the move “egregiously anti-free speech.”
University of Central Oklahoma halts student paper’s print publication
The Vista, a student newspaper at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, was formally forced to halt print publication …
pressfreedomtracker.us
November 19, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Student newspaper The Vista at University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond was forced to halt print publication this fall, after administrators criticized its coverage.
@rcfp.org called the move “egregiously anti-free speech.”
@rcfp.org called the move “egregiously anti-free speech.”
Three journalists were assaulted by Illinois State Police while covering protests outside an ICE detention facility in Broadview on Nov. 1.
So far in 2025, the Tracker has documented 157 assaults on journalists.
View the incidents: pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incident...
So far in 2025, the Tracker has documented 157 assaults on journalists.
View the incidents: pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incident...
November 19, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Three journalists were assaulted by Illinois State Police while covering protests outside an ICE detention facility in Broadview on Nov. 1.
So far in 2025, the Tracker has documented 157 assaults on journalists.
View the incidents: pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incident...
So far in 2025, the Tracker has documented 157 assaults on journalists.
View the incidents: pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incident...
Photojournalist Jon Stegenga was shot with pepper balls twice, in the knee and then thigh, by Illinois State Police while covering protests outside an ICE detention facility in Broadview on Nov. 1.
Photojournalist shot with pepper balls by state trooper at immigration protest
Photojournalist Jon Stegenga was shot twice with crowd-control munitions by Illinois State Police while reporting on protests outside an Immigration …
pressfreedomtracker.us
November 19, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Photojournalist Jon Stegenga was shot with pepper balls twice, in the knee and then thigh, by Illinois State Police while covering protests outside an ICE detention facility in Broadview on Nov. 1.
Reposted by U.S. Press Freedom Tracker
Congratulations to First Amendment Watch at NYU for launching the SLAPP Back Initiative, the first database in the U.S. documenting alleged SLAPPS.
SLAPPS are meritless or malicious legal actions that can financially cripple and ultimately silence critical voices, including journalists.
SLAPPS are meritless or malicious legal actions that can financially cripple and ultimately silence critical voices, including journalists.
The SLAPP Back Initiative
The first national database of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) and anti-SLAPP disputes.
slappback.org
November 18, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Congratulations to First Amendment Watch at NYU for launching the SLAPP Back Initiative, the first database in the U.S. documenting alleged SLAPPS.
SLAPPS are meritless or malicious legal actions that can financially cripple and ultimately silence critical voices, including journalists.
SLAPPS are meritless or malicious legal actions that can financially cripple and ultimately silence critical voices, including journalists.
If you are a journalist — or know one — who has been attacked, seriously threatened, denied access by a public official or targeted with a legal order in the course of reporting, let us know. You can now submit tips in English or Spanish.
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
November 17, 2025 at 10:25 PM
If you are a journalist — or know one — who has been attacked, seriously threatened, denied access by a public official or targeted with a legal order in the course of reporting, let us know. You can now submit tips in English or Spanish.
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
📣 Being a journalist can take a heavy toll. Media Resilience Network is working to lessen the load.
If you're a U.S.-based journalist, fill out their mental health survey to help them shape peer support, trauma-informed care, and community partnerships:
If you're a U.S.-based journalist, fill out their mental health survey to help them shape peer support, trauma-informed care, and community partnerships:
Stay Tuned: a US journalism mental health survey
Being a journalist these days is tough and we know you are going through a lot.
The Media Resilience Network aims to enhance the well-being and capacity of journalists and media organizations through peer support, trauma-informed care, collaborative problem-solving and community partnerships — building resilience from the inside out.
To better help us help you, please fill out the following questionnaire.
Many of the prompts are open for you to share as much, or as little, as you feel comfortable with.
If you need mental help immediately, please contact our team at [email protected]....
docs.google.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:40 PM
📣 Being a journalist can take a heavy toll. Media Resilience Network is working to lessen the load.
If you're a U.S.-based journalist, fill out their mental health survey to help them shape peer support, trauma-informed care, and community partnerships:
If you're a U.S.-based journalist, fill out their mental health survey to help them shape peer support, trauma-informed care, and community partnerships:
Tackled by ICE agents, tear-gassed by CBP: Since 2017, @pressfreedomtracker.us has documented immigration-related press freedom violations against journalists, including incidents tagged under immigration, Department of Homeland Security and ICE detention.
Explore more here:
Explore more here:
Immigration-related press freedom violations, 2017-present
Immigration-related press freedom violations, 2017-present
pressfreedomtracker.us
November 14, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Tackled by ICE agents, tear-gassed by CBP: Since 2017, @pressfreedomtracker.us has documented immigration-related press freedom violations against journalists, including incidents tagged under immigration, Department of Homeland Security and ICE detention.
Explore more here:
Explore more here:
Update: Reporter Madeline Fening will no longer have to stand trial over her arrest while documenting a protest on the bridge between Cincinnati and Covington, KY.
The four remaining charges against her were dismissed today.
The four remaining charges against her were dismissed today.
Cincinnati reporter arrested as protest spills across bridge to Kentucky
Two journalists for the Cincinnati alternative newsweekly CityBeat were arrested while documenting a protest across the bridge connecting the Ohio …
pressfreedomtracker.us
November 13, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Update: Reporter Madeline Fening will no longer have to stand trial over her arrest while documenting a protest on the bridge between Cincinnati and Covington, KY.
The four remaining charges against her were dismissed today.
The four remaining charges against her were dismissed today.
If you are a journalist — or know one — who has been attacked, seriously threatened, denied access by a public official or targeted with a legal order in the course of reporting, let us know. You can now submit tips in English or Spanish.
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
November 13, 2025 at 8:25 PM
If you are a journalist — or know one — who has been attacked, seriously threatened, denied access by a public official or targeted with a legal order in the course of reporting, let us know. You can now submit tips in English or Spanish.
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Former Record reporter Phyllis Zorn will receive $600K from the county; she’s still suing Marion city officials, alleging they conspired to punish her and the paper for their reporting.
Kansas reporter files suit after phone seized in newsroom raid
Marion County Record reporter Phyllis Zorn, far left, filed a federal lawsuit on Feb. 6, 2024, alleging her constitutional rights …
pressfreedomtracker.us
November 13, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Former Record reporter Phyllis Zorn will receive $600K from the county; she’s still suing Marion city officials, alleging they conspired to punish her and the paper for their reporting.
“Once they said the press were agitators, whatever they were doing felt intentional” — Kayjel Mairena of The Corsair, who was struck with an LAPD projectile and nearly trampled by a mounted officer while covering an LA “No Kings” protest Oct. 18.
Student reporter hit by projectile, charged by police horse at LA protest
Kayjel Mairena, a student journalist for Santa Monica College’s The Corsair, was struck in the side with a police-fired projectile …
pressfreedomtracker.us
November 13, 2025 at 6:20 PM
“Once they said the press were agitators, whatever they were doing felt intentional” — Kayjel Mairena of The Corsair, who was struck with an LAPD projectile and nearly trampled by a mounted officer while covering an LA “No Kings” protest Oct. 18.
Update: Marion County, Kansas, agreed Nov. 10 to pay more than $3 million for its role in a raid on the Marion County Record newsroom in 2023.
Newsroom, personal equipment seized in Kansas raid
Local law enforcement executed a search warrant on the offices of the Marion County Record on Aug. 11, 2023, seizing …
pressfreedomtracker.us
November 13, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Update: Marion County, Kansas, agreed Nov. 10 to pay more than $3 million for its role in a raid on the Marion County Record newsroom in 2023.
📣 Are you a U.S.-based journalist?
Help Media Resilience Network structure support services for journalists by filling out the mental health survey below:
Help Media Resilience Network structure support services for journalists by filling out the mental health survey below:
Stay Tuned: a US journalism mental health survey
Being a journalist these days is tough and we know you are going through a lot.
The Media Resilience Network aims to enhance the well-being and capacity of journalists and media organizations through peer support, trauma-informed care, collaborative problem-solving and community partnerships — building resilience from the inside out.
To better help us help you, please fill out the following questionnaire.
Many of the prompts are open for you to share as much, or as little, as you feel comfortable with.
If you need mental help immediately, please contact our team at [email protected]....
docs.google.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:35 PM
📣 Are you a U.S.-based journalist?
Help Media Resilience Network structure support services for journalists by filling out the mental health survey below:
Help Media Resilience Network structure support services for journalists by filling out the mental health survey below:
If you are a journalist — or know one — who has been attacked, seriously threatened, denied access by a public official or targeted with a legal order in the course of reporting, let us know. You can now submit tips in English or Spanish.
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
November 10, 2025 at 7:20 PM
If you are a journalist — or know one — who has been attacked, seriously threatened, denied access by a public official or targeted with a legal order in the course of reporting, let us know. You can now submit tips in English or Spanish.
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Press freedom threats surge with ICE raids
Read this article by @kerrymflynn.bsky.social on @axios.com based on data from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.
Read this article by @kerrymflynn.bsky.social on @axios.com based on data from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.
Press freedom attacks surge with ICE raids
Local journalists are facing the most intense threat since the Black Lives Matter protests.
www.axios.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Press freedom threats surge with ICE raids
Read this article by @kerrymflynn.bsky.social on @axios.com based on data from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.
Read this article by @kerrymflynn.bsky.social on @axios.com based on data from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.
Two @cnsmd.bsky.social student reporters were ousted from an immigration court in Hyattsville, MD, on Oct. 28 and told not to return without proper authorization.
A week later, they came back with a letter from the DOJ saying they didn’t need permission to observe.
A week later, they came back with a letter from the DOJ saying they didn’t need permission to observe.
Student journalists ousted from immigration court in Maryland
Student journalists Lillian Glaros and Ruby Siefken were ordered out of an immigration court in Hyattsville, Maryland, on Oct. 28, …
pressfreedomtracker.us
November 7, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Two @cnsmd.bsky.social student reporters were ousted from an immigration court in Hyattsville, MD, on Oct. 28 and told not to return without proper authorization.
A week later, they came back with a letter from the DOJ saying they didn’t need permission to observe.
A week later, they came back with a letter from the DOJ saying they didn’t need permission to observe.
Freelance photojournalist Myraneli Fabian was struck by a police crowd-control projectile while documenting the Dodgers’ World Series celebrations in Los Angeles on Nov. 1.
Photojournalist struck by projectile while covering World Series revelry in LA
Freelance photojournalist Myraneli Fabian was shot with a crowd-control projectile fired by police while she documented celebrations in Los Angeles, …
pressfreedomtracker.us
November 6, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Freelance photojournalist Myraneli Fabian was struck by a police crowd-control projectile while documenting the Dodgers’ World Series celebrations in Los Angeles on Nov. 1.