Presidential Calls For Reporter Firings Chill Press Freedom
In a statement responding to President Trump’s tweet calling for the firing of the Washington Post’s Dave Weigel, PEN American Director Suzanne Nossel wrote “For the President to call for a reporter […]
What International Journalists Have to Worry About After President’s Recent Twitter Tirade
The Atlantic asks how is the U.S. Department of Justice’s complaint against the proposed AT&T–Time Warner merger related to President Trump’s subsequent tweet against CNN International which caused much consternation on Twitter […]
Leaked Paradise Papers Shed Light On Murky Offshore World
Expanding on the work uncovered by the Panama Papers, German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung obtained 13.4 million records detailing offshore networks and exposing the world’s biggest names from Trump commerce secretary […]
Gene Policinski Commentary – To Trump On NBC ‘License’ Tweet: NO!
The Newseum Institute’s First Amendment expert, Gene Policinski, originally published this commentary on the Newseum blog, and have given First Amendment Watch permission to reprint. There’s only one appropriate, spirit-of-freedom […]
Criticism Escalates Over President Trump’s Threats To Revoke Network Licenses
In a rebuke to President Trump’s threats to revoke broadcast licenses, FCC Chair Ajit Pai said at telecom law event, “The FCC under my leadership will stand for the First Amendment, […]
The President’s Mar-A-Lago Retreat and Presidential Access
Throughout history, U.S. Presidents have relied on private retreats to recharge during the trials of governing. George H.W. Bush had a “Summer White House” in Kennebunkport, Maine, FDR built a “Little White […]
ESPN Anchor Suspended for Repeated Controversial Tweets
When is a tweet a fireable offense? ESPN anchor Jemele Hill has been posting comments that have come under increasing scrutiny. Under Connecticut law, ESPN is bound by First Amendment principles of freedom of speech. The network's recent suspension of Hill for her latest tweets may be an employer stating an employee violated social media guidelines or an action that can be challenged in court.
New Poll Says Trust in the Fourth Estate Growing
Reporters have had a tumultuous time under the new administration: called out as fake news, personally maligned and thwarted in their reporting. Trust in the news media plummeted as a result. Now there may be a turnaround according to a new poll in which Americans say the press doing its job well. Will the administration agree?