• by Sara Guaglione , November 7, 2019

Over 30 media organizations, tech companies and nonprofits are joining forces today for a new campaign on protecting press freedom.

Organized by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the Committee to Protect Journalists, the campaign’s media partners include Barron’s, CBS, Comcast-NBC Universal, CNN, Facebook, Gannett's USA Today Network, Los Angeles Times, McClatchy, The New York Times, NPR, Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting, Reuters, Scripps, Sinclair, Twitter, The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones and The Washington Post.

In the U.S., 31 journalists faced violence this past year, and eight journalists were arrested.

The campaign will feature video, radio, digital, print and social-media assets, such as this TV ad urging viewers to “understand the threats” to press freedom.

On the campaign website, visitors can explore the history of freedom of the press in the U.S. and take a quiz to assess their knowledge.

“Americans across the country rely on diverse news sources to help them make informed choices every day, but many don’t see the threats that are putting that information at risk,” stated Bruce Brown, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. 

When a journalist or news source is threatened, "it threatens a fundamental American freedom that’s essential to understanding and participating in our communities," Brown added. 

"We’re proud to bring news outlets and organizations together to have a conversation with the public about press freedom and encourage people to stand up for their right to information.”

So far in 2019, at least 28 journalists have been denied access to government events that are traditionally open to or attended by the press.

In June 2018, five people were murdered at the Capital Gazette newsroom in Annapolis, Maryland. 

About half of Americans do not believe that press freedom is currently under threat, according to research released last year by the Reporters Committee and Democracy Fund.