DOJ Ignored Some Policies When Seizing Reporters’ Phone Records, Watchdog Finds

The new watchdog report was released as the aggressive practice of hunting for journalists’ sources could again be resurrected.

Washington Post’s Jason Rezaian Delivers Keynote Address at National First Amendment Summit

Jason Rezaian, director of press freedom initiatives for The Washington Post, discussed the vitally important role of journalists in society in his keynote address at the 2024 National First Amendment Summit.

Trump’s Media Company Sues The Washington Post for Defamation, Requests $3.78B in Damages

Donald Trump’s media company which owns his Twitter-like platform, Truth Social, sued the Washington Post May 20 for $3.78 billion in damages, claiming a recently published article on the media company’s finances is defamatory.

U.S. Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Saudi Crown Prince in Journalist’s Killing

A U.S. federal judge dismissed a lawsuit Dec. 6 against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and two of his alleged co-conspirators in the murder of journalist and democracy advocate Jamal Khashoggi. President Biden’s administration insisted that the Saudi prince was immune legally as the head-of-state, and the federal judge heeded its suggestion.

Freelance Writer Files $1 Million Defamation Suit Against The Atlantic

Ruth Shalit Barrett, a freelance writer who wrote a piece for The Atlantic about how some wealthy parents are pushing their children into niche sports in an attempt to get them into Ivy League schools is suing for defamation. The lawsuit, filed on January 7th in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, claims that The Atlantic and editor Donald Peck, “unlawfully smeared” her and damaged her reputation and career. 

Teacher Guide: Disinformation and the First Amendment

Disinformation is more pernicious and widespread today than at any other point in history, largely because of social media and the Internet. For instance, it is now widely known—and verified by the U.S. intelligence community—that Russians interfered with the 2016 presidential election.

Recently Unsealed Court Records Shed Light on Why DoJ Targeted Washington Post Journalists

For months, the three reporters were left in the dark as to why the Justice Department had targeted them and who might have authorized the seizures. Now, thanks to newly unsealed court documents related to the investigation, they finally have some answers.

The Pentagon Papers Case—David Rudenstine on its Meaning a Half Century Later

"The Pentagon Papers case affirms fundamental values and principles. Truth matters— facts matter. The role of the press in the American governing scheme is to serve the 'governed' and not the 'governors.' The protection of a 'cantankerous press, an obstinate press, a ubiquitous press' is essential to a vibrant and strong American democracy. That is the profound and enduring meaning of the case," Cardozo Law Professor David Rudenstine writes.