Freedom of the Press
96 Articles

Journalists Show Power of Solidarity in Response to White House Press Ban
The Washington press corps has offered a masterclass on essential collective resistance to Trump administration assaults on democracy and the rule of law.

Persecution by Other Means: Mexico and the First Test of the ICC’s Cyber Policy
A new report finds that the Mexican government's actions against journalists from 2018 to 2024 could constitute grounds to investigate the crime of persecution.

Tackling Spyware Abuse: What States Must Do Under International Law to Protect Journalists and Strengthen Security
States should treat spyware governance as a top-tier political priority and work toward a binding, enforceable regulatory framework.

The Trump Administration’s Use of State Power Against Media: Keeping Track of the Big Picture
Tracking the use of State power requires systematically identifying linkages between individual developments and broader trends. This interactive graphic offers one method.

Authoritarians Keep Telling Us What They Fear. We Should Listen.
Research shows that, more than military strikes or sanctions, authoritarians fear support for independent media, anti-censorship tech, and civil society.

How Defending Free Speech Can Unite Unlikely Allies
The Trump administration's threats to First Amendment rights have inspired a broad front defending free speech, freedom of the press, protest rights and more.
The Just Security Podcast: Reporting at a Crossroads
A panel hosted by the Reiss Center and Just Security explores challenges facing national security journalism, legal risks, and newsroom leadership in a polarized landscape.

Hungary’s Election Could End Orbán’s Rule — But Will It End His Power?
Hungary's parliamentary election will test Prime Minister Viktor Orban's strength, as well as whether a change could successfully undo 16 years of autocratic rule.

The Philippines Is Jailing Journalists in the Name of “Terror Financing”: Why the World Should Be Alarmed
The case of a jailed journalist in the Philippines is a warning for how efforts to counter terrorism financing can be manipulated into political tools of repression.

The Spirit of Liberty—Horace E. Read Memorial Lecture
Finding the spirit of liberty in the United States requires looking beyond the leadership of elite institutions. Among ordinary citizens, there’s no scarcity of civic courage.

Writers’ Voices Increasingly Missing in Iran Protests As Regime Targets Democracy Advocates
As Iranians protested for freedom, the regime intensified its assault on writers and dissenters, silencing key voices like Narges Mohammadi and Ali Asadollahi.

Weaponizing the Espionage Act: What It Means for Whistleblowers, Reporters, and Democracy
How the Trump administration could weaponize the Espionage Act and its chilling effect to control the press and justify suppression.