U.S. Press Freedom Tracker

🧵 For Student Press Freedom Day today, the U.S. Press Tracker is looking back at 2025 and documenting the start of 2026, where already three student journalists have been assaulted at protests and a fourth caught in tear gas fired by federal officers. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

David Clark, a @WPXI photographer, was also there as the crew questioned a former teacher accused of sexual assault. As the car, driven by the suspect’s father, accelerated toward them, Clark said, “Are you going to run me over?” pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

While asking questions after a Pittsburgh-area court hearing Feb. 18, @WPXI reporter @GabriellaDeLuca was nearly run over by a car. The driver now faces charges of simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct; a hearing is set for April. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

Update: Student journalists alleged in a March 23 lawsuit that @UofAlabama violated their First Amendment rights when it shuttered two student magazines in late 2025. The school cited concerns that the outlets violated the Trump admin’s guidance on DEI. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

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: tips@pressfreedomtracker.us

The Department of the @Interior directed the @NatlParkService to stop responding to @SFGate inquiries in apparent retaliation for a Feb. 10 story it didn’t like, the California outlet reported last week. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

Update: In response to a court order calling parts of its press policy unlawful, the Defense Department issued new rules Monday moving journalists to an annex outside the main Pentagon building and ending press access to the Pentagon without an escort. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

BREAKING: The Supreme Court refused today to reverse the dismissal of independent journalist Priscilla Villarreal’s lawsuit against Texas officials for violating her rights when they arrested and subpoenaed her multiple times over her reporting: pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

BREAKING: @nytimes wins reinstatement of Defense Department press credentials for its reporters; federal judge says new credentialing policy’s purpose is “to weed out disfavored journalists”: pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

BREAKING: Estefany Rodríguez of @NashNoticias was released from an ICE facility in Louisiana today, two weeks after her arrest in a news vehicle in Nashville, TN. Rodríguez argued in federal court the arrest was in retaliation for her reporting on ICE. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

For years, our loyal supporters have asked: Besides donating, how can we help you defend press freedom? Well, now you can with our brand new action center — the tool enables you to seamlessly contact your elected representatives. Take action today: freedom.press/action/

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: tips@pressfreedomtracker.us

The Pentagon tightened control over @StarsAndStripes on March 9, restricting wire stories and ordering content be consistent with military’s “good order and discipline.” Ombudsman and press freedom advocates say the moves threaten editorial independence. #March%209" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

On March 14, @BrendanCarrFCC threatened to revoke the licenses of broadcasters that he asserts are “running hoaxes and news distortions,” and quoted a post from @realDonaldTrump in which the president complained about news outlets’ Iran war coverage. #March%2014" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

A Memphis, TN, radio station is still only operating during daytime hours, after major equipment damage from a copper theft in May 2025 shut down the Spanish-language AM broadcaster for six months. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

Pentagon excluded photojournalists from news briefings at its Washington, D.C.-area headquarters March 4 and March 10. @WashingtonPost reported the decision came after staff complained about “unflattering” photos of Defense Secretary @PeteHegseth. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

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: tips@pressfreedomtracker.us

Estefany Rodríguez of @NashNoticias was arrested March 4 by @ICEGov in Tennessee. The Spanish-language reporter is still being held and filed a federal suit alleging the arrest violated her constitutional rights and was in retaliation for her reporting. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

Update: Oregon journalists won preliminary injunction against @DHSgov on March 9, limiting agents’s use of chemical and projectile munitions, and pepper spray, at the Portland ICE building. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

Update: Appeals court vacates preliminary injunction won by Chicago journalists and press groups that restricted federal agents’ violent tactics at immigration protests there; the March 5 ruling called the injunction “constitutionally suspect.” pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

Independent documentarian @PeoplesAperture was wearing a vest, helmet and badge clearly marked as press when he was shoved by a @HennepinSheriff deputy while covering a protest outside a federal building in Fort Snelling, Minnesota on March 1. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…