Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press is an organization dedicated to protecting the First Amendment rights of journalists in the United States. Founded in response to a grand jury's demand for a reporter to disclose his sources, the committee aims to provide free legal assistance to reporters facing challenges to their freedom of expression. Over the years, it has intervened in pivotal legal battles, including significant Supreme Court cases that have shaped press freedom, such as Nebraska Press Association v. Stuart. Serving approximately two thousand journalists annually, the organization does not charge for its legal services. It also produces a range of publications, including a quarterly magazine and newsletters focused on media law and First Amendment issues. Additionally, the committee offers handbooks and guides to help journalists navigate public information access. Since the 1990s, it has been actively advocating for reporters’ interests in the evolving landscape of the Internet. The organization's mission underscores the importance of safeguarding press freedoms in a democratic society.
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Founded: 1970
Type of organization: Nonprofit association created to protect the media’s free speech rights
Significance: The committee supports reporters’ right to access and publish information
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press was organized at a meeting at Georgetown University prompted when New York Times journalist Earl Caldwell was ordered by a grand jury to reveal his sources in the Black Panthers organization. The resulting committee formed during this meeting wanted to offer frfee legal services to reporters facing infringement of their First Amendment rights.
The committee intervened in a number of free speech battles, including the fight to keep Richard Nixon’s presidential papers public. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has taken part in many significant press freedom cases that have come before the Supreme Court, including Nebraska Press Association v. Stuart. The committee claims that it serves two thousand journalists each year and never requires payment for legal aid. It also produces numbers of publications and resources on free speech issues. It publishes a quarterly magazine, The News Media and The Law, and a biweekly newsletter, News Media Update. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press also publishes handbooks and guides on First Amendment rights, what information is required to be public, and how to access it. In the 1990’s it became a leading advocate for reporters’ interests on the Internet.