U.S. Press Freedom Tracker

Update: The government dismissed its obstruction case against photographer John Abernathy on May 6. He was shot with pepper balls, pepper-sprayed and arrested while documenting anti-deportation protests in the Minneapolis area in January. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

Update: Videographer Vishal Singh finalized a settlement on May 7 with the city of Los Angeles and the police officer who fractured Singh’s hand with a baton while Singh was documenting a protest in 2021. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

The Justice Department obtained multiple subpoenas targeting records from @WSJ reporters in March as part of an internal investigation concerning leaks about the Iran war, the newspaper reported Monday. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

Update: @BEKNewsTV lost its appeal of an order to surrender unaired footage of an interview with the key witness in a murder trial; North Dakota’s high court on May 7 said the network must let a lower court judge review the footage privately. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

State @Sen_Stevenson smacked @abc4utah reporter Bayan Wang’s phone out of his hand in Layton, Utah, on May 6, while Wang was working on a story related to a contentious data center development in the area. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

@NickSternPhotos @LAPDHQ @TinaDesireeBerg @ShotOn35mm Weston Rowland, an @LAPressClub attorney held in the kettle, told @uspresstracker police blatantly disregarded legal protections for the press. We documented six assaults and five arrests or detentions of journalists covering the May Day protests in LA. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

@NickSternPhotos @LAPDHQ At least three other journalists — @TinaDesireeBerg, @mel_buer and @shoton35mm — were detained in the police kettle alongside Stern that night. All three were ultimately released without charges. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

Photojournalist @NickSternPhotos was held in a kettle, arrested and struck with batons by @LAPDHQ officers while documenting a “May Day Strong” rally that ended outside a federal immigration detention center in LA on May 1. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

FBI Director Kash Patel ordered dozens of members of his security detail to take polygraphs as part of ongoing efforts to identify sources behind recent @TheAtlantic reporting on his alleged misuse of alcohol, @MSNOWNews reported Thursday. #May%207" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

In the wake of critical reporting about @USEEOC, the agency filed suit against @nytimes on Tuesday, alleging that the newspaper’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion has led to unlawful employment discrimination against white men. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

The FBI has opened an investigation into @TheAtlantic reporter @S_Fitzpatrick after she wrote about FBI Director Kash Patel’s alleged misuse of alcohol, @MSNOW reported on Wednesday. #May%206" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

Update: Florida man who threatened to kill @WashingtonPost columnist Catherine Rampell and @MehdirHasan, CEO of @zeteo_news, was sentenced April 29 to 2+ years in prison. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

Also that day, Fagan, with @DailySundial at @csunorthridge, was pushed by a person attending the protest, who also tried to pull off his press badge. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

Student photojournalist Blake Fagan was shoved and yanked backward by federal agents while covering a “May Day Strong” rally in LA on May 1. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

Photojournalist @itsecohen was shoved by police and flung backward by a federal agent while covering a “May Day Strong” rally in LA on May 1. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

Officers from @LAPDHQ pushed EPA Images photographer Chris Torres against a car with their batons while he was documenting a “May Day Strong” rally in LA on May 1. 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

Update: Independent journalist Mickey Barker sued the city of Virginia Beach on April 28. His lawyer says he was unlawfully arrested while documenting effects of a curfew in its oceanfront area. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…

Photojournalist @NickSternPhotos was arrested and struck with police batons while documenting a “May Day Strong” rally that ended outside a federal immigration detention center in LA on May 1. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…