• by Ray Schultz , Yesterday

The Journalist Protection Act, a bill that would make it a federal crime to harm or intimidate a working journalist, has been reintroduced in Congress by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

The legislators note that at least 124 journalists and media workers have been killed around the world, the most in any year since tracking began. In addition, 80 were attacked in the U.S. in 2024.

The bill would prohibit assaults against reporters, particularly those that cause bodily injury. 

“Our democracy’s survival depends on a free and independent press,” Swalwell says. “As the Trump Administration continues to vilify, threaten, and attack members of the press as ‘enemies of the people,’ the Journalist Protection Act sends a clear message: if you target reporters with violence or intimidation, you will be held accountable.”

The move has been praised by the news industry.

“We thank Senator Blumenthal and Congressman Swalwell for introducing the Journalist Protection Act, and for their commitment to protecting journalists from threat or harm while in the line of work,” says Danielle Coffey, president and CEO of the News/Media Alliance. “Journalists play an important role in providing critical news and information for communities across the country, and they all deserve to perform their work in safety and security.”

Blumenthal comments, “Journalists need protection more than ever against threats and violence that deter truth telling so vital to democracy. Intimidation is hitting new highs in both severity and number of incidents. This measure offers support at a moment of unprecedented peril to a free press.”

The Journalist Protection Act was first introduced in 2023. 

The bill is also co-sponsored by Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). In addition to the News/Media Alliance, it is supported by the Reporters’ Committee for Freedom of the Press, Association of Alternative Newsmedia, Radio Television Digital News Association, Online News Association, National Newspaper Association and National Press Photographers Association.